Thursday

What a lovely way to start the day! I woke up before five, played with mippies, played the litter box fill & empty game, had my coffee and left at ten to six for work. That's how mornings should be!

Well, except for the part, where I arrive at work nearly an hour early, ha ha! I was here at quarter past six. I am working on refusing to stress myself - like I said, I need to pace myself and not set unrealistic standards for myself. That's how I FEEL tired and drained, even though I haven't really done much physical work. To some extent, it IS all in the mind, and it's up to me to set my mind right.

Our resident worker tripped the power twice this morning, switching off my PC mid-type. Not fun, but no major problem either.

On Tuesday I ordered cat food online, but I haven't heard from them. So today I was trying to track my order and was puzzled to see it marked 'completed' followed by an identical order marked 'cancelled'? I was still trying to decide whether to try and call, when it was delivered! Yay! Another item off my physical shopping list!


Now I'm quite eager to place more orders, since it's such a breeze - but I don't want to actually spend any money; so I guess I had better wait until I actually need something again!

When I got home and opened the box, I found a card inside with a note 'Thanks for shopping with us ... we love your cat-titude!' which I thought kind of cute, seeing as it's hand-written, not printed, and addressed to me. On the other side is a picture of a cat with a dangle-toy in its paws and the caption 'You're a great catch'. You don't get that kind of service in stores anymore - not even at the vet's!

I don't know what it is with Mewthos lately, but whenever he's busy in a litter box he mewls and mewls - does he want me to come and watch or cheer him on? That's our Mewthos!

I'm actually quite tired and it's only just gone seven! Is that the come-back for getting up early? Not cool!

Ooooh! Mippies love the way the bell on the white strap, Rose made, tinkles on the tiles! I have all three mippies surrounding me with curiosity! Ziva tries to chew the bell, Lady just tries to hide it and Mewthos watches all excitement!

Well, I'm going to make it an early night and hope that tomorrow will be a bit longer for me ...

Wednesday

I had the strangest dream this morning! I dreamed that I was in a large house, divided into two sections and Rose lived in the other section. During the night my house was visited by a Poltergeist, with taps opening, furniture being tumbled, and for some strange reason Romeo got locked into one of the rooms! Rose and I were investigating and assessing the damage ... when I woke up!

I woke on time to three mippies in full play mode! This time it was Mewthos who played soccer with the yellow glitter ball - it flies across the tiles into corners and walls, bouncing off and flying back, something it didn't do on the carpet. They are all loving that!

He is also still totally fascinated with the running tap! I sometimes forget to close it, simply because he just stays looking and pawing at it for such a long time!

Bit of work irony: There's this new space-saving thingamajig being built for the store - only we don't have space for it! It will have to stand outside the store.

Back at home, the first thing I did was shower! With Mewthos sitting on the sink counter watching me through the glass!?! I had to pick up their toys out of the shower first. I also saw that they had been left with no water! Urgh! How could that happen? I'm not sure, but the sink was empty as well as their dispenser - I refilled both right after I got out of the shower!

We now have a new game, revolving around the litter box! I clean it ... and a mippie climbs in to use it right away. I clean that ... and the next mippie climbs in! We play this every morning and every evening! I do my best to keep it as clean as possible, so I don't mind cleaning it over and over again while I'm at home - in return, they don't use any alternatives.

I steamed potatoes meant for dinner tonight - but frankly, it's so hot, the thought of hot potatoes doesn't appeal to me in the least! I think I'll cut them up, add them to the mushroom sauce and have that as a cold salad tomorrow evening.

I also opened another packet of biscuits. I've worked out, that when I cut open the bottom and just slide them into my cookie jar, they look as pretty as they do in their packet! One of them broke, though, so I had to eat it - for aesthetic reasons, you understand?

I didn't find any signs of twirling, but I do see that Mewthos has flossed again - if he keeps this up, my bed sheet will be nothing more than floss marks held together by bits of unused string!

Quarter past eight, time to sleep - I'm struggling to keep my eyes open ...

Tuesday

I had a good night and woke up on time. Mippies are still fascinated with the vibrating phone, one of them sat on the night stand watching it! I cleaned their litter box, had my coffee, got dressed and went to work.

At work I’m a little stumped at the moment – I’m trying to design a simple, yet accurate means of keeping track of inventory. Bits of the puzzle are buzzing around in my head, but they are not quite falling into place, yet. We took housekeeping a step further today, and more machines got washed – well, we have no production orders. Evidently everyone is keen on training, though!

I also came across an article which suggested that if you work a 50-hour week, you should maybe not have pets – sadly, there’s truth in that. My mippies do need my attention when I’m home those two hours in the evening. Two and a half hours, when all goes well.

I ordered cat food online today, it should arrive by Friday. If not, that’s also fine, since I haven’t exactly run out, yet. I also ordered some more Royal Canin Sachets, they may be more expensive than Whiskas, but my mippies clean the bowl – whereas with Whiskas, they leave the ‘meat’.

Sigh, this isn’t exactly the life I had envisioned – I’m spending so much time away from home, away from my darling mippies. They’ve been so good about this whole separation, and not really given me any trouble. This morning I watched Ziva chase one of those glitter balls all over the bedroom! She also still burrows under the duvet when she wants attention. Rather than running around or trying to get out, she just wants more attention from me. I do pick them up, scratch their ears, and cuddle them as much as possible in the evenings.

It hasn’t rained today, and I’m so tempted to let them out – and hope they come when I call for munchies. But maybe I had better give it another weekend before I try that. I’m just remembering how naughty they got in PE, when I had to walk up and down the garden path and they still wouldn’t come inside! I can’t have that happening now …

When I got home I found a long-sleeve top of mine on the bed twirled into a knot! I guess Mewly didn’t manage to pull his favourite twirly out from under my pants, so he used the one he could get.

I spent the entire evening with my mippies, cleaning their litter box, giving them a treat, talking to them while I made my lunch and then cooked and ate my dinner – I made myself a steak with a mushroom sauce! Ziva insisted on her share of the steak and wouldn’t even let Lady Jane get a piece! I picked up Mewthos every few minutes, scratched Ziva’s ears every time I walked past – Lady Jane did not want to be picked up, though.

After dinner, I made myself an ice cream again – not so much for myself, but simply for the ritual sharing with my mippies! Even Ziva came and sat on the arm of the armchair and shared, rather than waiting until I finished!

In only switched the PC on just before I went to bed, at twenty to eight! I had an extensive cuddle session with Ziva, I patiently scratched her ears and head until she decided she’s had enough and then I went to bed.

I had left my blog-stick at work, so I couldn’t write nor post – I’m thinking, from now on, at work, I can write online and save the draft, so I can continue at home and post it there. I just need my password …

Monday

I tried going to sleep with the fan off, but Mr Mosquito buzzed his song of hunger in my ear, so I switched it on. I fell asleep, then woke up around midnight to an epiphany, work related, sigh. It took over an hour to get back to sleep.

My vibrating phone woke me up at quarter past five – Mewthos was practically sitting on it, puzzled by this moving phone. I got dressed – and frankly, whoever designed these work clothes can’t be familiar with the human shape. I’m not impressed. They feel and sit just like chunky jeans, designed for the toilet-sign man who always stands with feet apart – as that’s the only way to keep them up. I’ve had to use a belt! I have worn work pants – overall, in fact – before, and really, they don’t have to look and feel so uncomfortable! Ah, well …

Work was … busy for me, though we don’t have enough orders to keep all workers producing, so I left them to see if they’ll do housekeeping without special instructions. Ha Ha, they didn’t. I’ll address that in tomorrow’s morning meeting again. When I woke up last night, I had a great idea for a new way of monitoring work-in-progress, which I implemented today. It was useful, but the interruption to my sleep caught up with me in the afternoon – I couldn’t wait to get home.

Around half five it started to rain in Rosslyn, so the drive home was firstly in rain and secondly bumper-to-bumper down the old road – I have no idea what caused the traffic jam. Where I turn off, the road was fairly covered in water, with several deep puddles and little rivulets running on the shoulder of the road – fortunately the car in front of me clued me in on the depth of each puddle, so I didn’t get stuck. Where I turn onto the dirt road for the last 500m, there were also rivulets and puddles – but none very deep.

My landlord had thoughtfully left the gate on the latch, so I didn’t have to unlock the padlock – it would have been faster for me to get through, if I had come across this before and knew where the hook was. Next time I’ll know. They had also, equally thoughtfully, opened my gate for me, so I could just drive in and only had to lock it!

It had clearly been raining hard and heavy for quite a while before I got home, the lawn was swimming and looked almost like one big pool! Inside, my landlord had also come to check and on finding that water had come through the minute gap at the bottom of the door, had put a towel down to stop it! They didn’t even use my own towel, which was lying there, but got one of theirs!

Unfortunately some water had already got in. I’ll have to check whether there’s any damage to the bottom of my wooden box, which stands near the door. But two boxes got wet – they are far apart from each other, and the boxes next to either of them are dry! Don’t ask – I can’t explain it. Well, I had to unpack those two boxes, fast, since both contained paper – one had all my technical books in (none of them got wet) and the other had mostly comics, but some of my mums travel books got wet, as they were at the bottom. I looked around to check if any other boxes got wet – none that I could see. I just hope that none in that tower under and around the desk got wet. If my landlord hadn’t come to check, and put the towel down, it would have been a lot worse!

Since it was thunder and lightning, the power flickered off every now and again, so I didn’t bother to switch on the PC. First thing I did was to sit down with the left over pasta from last night, munching happily while watching the rain outside, with my mippies mipping about their day. Then I gave them their treat – they hadn’t used the litter box during the day, it seems they go mostly at night. Then I checked the lounge and unpacked the two boxes and by the time I was finished, the storm seemed to have passed and I decided to take a chance and shower.

By the time I was done, I figured the power was now on for good and I switched on the PC. I’ve been for two smokes since, and both times Mewthos mewls the entire ‘Orphan Annie’ concert at the top of his voice! How is it that he still has any voice left?

Oh, and this weekend, I found my bathroom scale in one of the boxes. Of course I had to try it out! It seems that I have lost five kg somewhere along the way. I found one of them, when I picked up Mewthos, the scale went up by seven kg – so he collected one of the kg I lost. Ha ha, he is such a greedy chops, it’s no wonder! Would you believe he is sitting right next to me and mewling and yawning at the same time?

At least the rain made it unnecessary for me to decide whether to let mippies out when I get home, during the week. On the whole, I think it best not to, since I get home so close to dark, that it would be more of a tease than a treat for them. I’m also not up to playing catch on a weekday, yet.

This weekend I must get more bread, and especially something to put onto bread. If I don’t get that done on Friday, then I must go on Saturday – that should motivate me to go on Friday!

Sigh, it feels like I only just got home, yet it’s already twenty past eight. I’ve done what needed doing, so I better get to bed and hope I can sleep without interruption.

Mippies explore further

I had an absolutely awful night! It was too hot for comfort and to make matters worse, there was an errant mosquito buzzing around! I was dead tired and yet just could not go to sleep. By midnight I put the ceiling fan on, there was just no other way. I worry that one day, a kittie might jump at the fan – and it has metal blades, blood will flow, if not worse! So one of today’s projects will be to set up the desk fan – that has only plastic blades, plus it has a cage around them, so curious mips can’t get hurt.

As a result, I woke up very late – I only got out of bed at seven. And then I decided to take it really easy today. As much as I would love to carry on in the garden, I also need to pay some attention to the kitchen.

I started the day with coffee outside, enjoying the cool air as well as the view. I spent time thinking about next Saturday’s gardening, the succulents really need to get out of the pot and into the ground – but where? The ground here is very sandy, and the succulents can handle that, so ideally, they don’t need to be in the beds next to the path. I was thinking of planting them around the little two-plank bench, the ground there is quite awful, only succulents can survive there.

I took a walk around the whole garden – my first one – and saw some good grass in some areas, some flowers, discovered more spekboom growing well and found my mippies strutting around! The landlady wanted to take a weed eater to that garden, to cut the tall grass – it does need cutting – but I said that wasn’t necessary, I’ll get around to it in my own time. After all, cut it today, and in a week it needs cutting again, so it might as well wait until I’m ready to clean up properly.

So, where shall I put the succulents? I’ve already started on the bed along the path, do I really want to start a new area before finishing that? Hmmm.

In the end, I decided that I would put the succulents into the bed across from the dianthum and alyssum – for now. It will get them out of the pots, they can start to spread.

With that decided, I moved inside … and silly mippies followed! They are again mipping at me to go outside … sigh. It’s a good thing, true, but it is a nuisance.

I’ve been re-thinking this smartphone thing. My problem with a smartphone is, that they are designed to last two years. Period. I had one, which was meant to be my phone – rather than for special purpose. If I remember correctly, I got that phone in 2012, just before I moved to East London. Then, a year later, when I wanted to install WhatsApp – it was too old for that app! That’s when I got my first ‘special purpose’ phone. And another year later, that phone simply went haywire and I couldn’t use it anymore. It hadn’t been dropped or damaged – it just went nuts. Someone would try to call me, the phone would ring but I couldn’t answer – and it continued ringing, even after the ringer had hung up, until I took out the battery! So, all in all, it lasted about 3 years. Considering the cost, that’s not acceptable – at least, not to me. Sure, you can ‘upgrade’ and pay for the phone with your contract – but that’s not my thing anymore.

Why? Well, frankly, I would rather keep my monthly costs down and buy luxuries at a once-off purchase price when I can afford it, or rather, when I have saved up for it. Furthermore, I’ve outgrown the interest in the latest gadgetry – look at how long I’ve survived without WhatsApp! And last time, when I wanted WhatsApp, I bought a phone – which developed an error message, which can’t be cleared, I was told I must upgrade (i.e. get a new phone)! And now, when I do want to use it – I can’t! So, that was pretty much a waste of money for me. When I could still use it, it was so slow, it was just not worth it.

And yet, I want WhatsApp now! That’s why I’ve been considering buying a smartphone – however, that is actually not my only option! I had previously dismissed getting a Tablet since the prices were beyond my means – but now I realise, I hadn’t been looking properly. Also, I had liked the idea of being able to take care of certain aspects of my online game from work – however, work is nothing like I had expected at the time. I’m actually quite busy, although that is going to change, once I’ve got everything organized. But there’s still my own work rule of no phones in the factory – ha ha, seems like I shot myself in the foot there, doesn’t it?

Not really, since I don’t actually want additional work-related communication – and a smartphone, with WhatsApp, would mean I should join the work’s WhatsApp group, give colleagues my WhatsApp number, etc. etc. None of which I want. So, I’m beginning to lean towards a Tablet!

It’s got a nice big screen, can WhatsApp AND game – and it would get me to do both away from the PC. I could even write the blog on the Tablet, instead of writing it on PC – although I think I will prefer to keep typing with an actual keyboard, rather than a virtual one. But the thing is, I could WhatsApp outside on the porch, or even in the garden! Not stuck in this hot bedroom! Oh, I’d still use the PC, but I wouldn’t have to come inside for every online thing anymore!

I’ve been reading various user’s reviews today, and a lot of people say that their tablet still works after four years – as good as new; very unlike my current smartphone. Okay, so gaming is somewhat slower, but I don’t mind that!

So, I’ll have a chat with my young colleague tomorrow and hear what he thinks – he did actually suggest a tablet would be best, but I declined that suggestion based on my erroneous assumptions – ha ha, how ironic, that I fall into the assume trap myself!

Well, I’ve taken it very easy today. I washed the blanket covering the armchair, since that got quite dirty during the move. It’s not perfectly clean, but much better. I washed the dishes, of course, and then unpacked some more kitchen boxes, washed any dishes I unpacked and put them away.

I took a bread and spread out of the freezer and baked up the bread. Well, baking up is a direct translation from the German ‘aufbacken’. The correct translation should be warming up – but that doesn’t quite convey the same meaning. I’m not simply warming the bread, but re-baking it to crisp the crust plus to get rid of any moisture from the defrosting. I guess partial baking or re-baking would be more appropriate?

I cooked myself some pasta and mixed it with celery, tomatoes and tuna – which is the closest I’ve come to a healthy meal this week. While I waited for the pasta to cool down, I went to wter the garden. Mewthos is still fascinated with the hose pipe! My landlord noticed the pipe was coming loose – before I could do anything, it came off the end piece and I got showered!

While he re-fitted it for me, we talked about the cats and dogs. I mentioned that I was planning on leaving the kitchen window open, when I go to work tomorrow and he immediately said ‘No!’ The cats and dogs haven’t really got to know each other, yet, and he’s worried that his largest dog might catch and kill – he thinks it would be best to let the cats out only while everybody is at home, until all the dogs have made their peace with all the cats. So far only Lady has proved to be harmless – their other little indoor dog growls and even barks at the cats, though won’t come near them. And there has been no outdoor interaction with either of the larger dogs – and I have seen Mewthos strutting around outside my garden, where the dogs have access.

So it’s back to indoor lifestyle for at least another five days for my mippies! Poor mippies – but I would rather be safe than sorry, for sure!

I called them in, closed the windows and gave them a treat – silly of me to forget to shut the front door, though! They all went back outside after finishing their treat! Sigh. Lady Jane came inside right away, so I filled the Whiskas bowl for her and closed the bedroom door. Ziva also came inside without much trouble. Only Mewthos decided to play the clown and tried to get me to play catch with him! I bribed him with another munchie, though!

Overall, I took it a bit too easy for too long this morning, and now I’m running somewhat late. I opted for a quick shower instead of a bath, made my lunch, re-filled the dispenser for the cat’s food, and it’s now twenty to nine …

Mippies first day out!

By about eleven last night it started to pour with rain, waking me and my mippies. What woke me was the first short power outage – which lasted less than a minute, but made my UPS beep me awake.

I’ve been thinking that maybe it would be better, if I continue to keep my mippies shut in at night. I’m not too worried about Ziva and Lady Jane – but have you met Mewthos? In weather like this, he’s quite capable of huddling under a bush, soaking wet, feeling sorry for himself! I should know – I got soaked through and through once, looking for him during a downpour!

Lady Jane has taken advantage of my being up now and come for a couple of cuddle sessions – love it! It’s now twenty to one, I’ve put my audio book back on and I think the mini power outages are now past, so I’ll try to go back to sleep.

I woke up to my cell phone vibrating off the nightstand again, surrounded by curious mips! It’s still set for quarter past five, but it was quarter to six when I finally got up. I had my first cup of coffee and then came the big moment!

Mippies Outies!

I opened the door to the lounge and all three followed me, I opened the front door and gate … and they sat down inside and watched. After much encouragement, Ziva ventured outside … slowly and cautiously. It didn’t help that everything was wet – but Ziva did take a short tour through a small part of the garden, all the while mipping for reassurance? I encouraged her as best I could, though my heart beat at the thought of her getting a fright and running in the wrong direction. It all went well – but she hasn’t ventured out for another tour.

My landlord has picked Mangoes off his tree and generously gave me three! I can’t wait for them to ripen – I’m sure they’ll taste delicious!

The little dog, Lady, from next door is very excited to see mippies out! Her tail is wagging so hard, I’m waiting for her to take off like a helicopter! I’ve opened the kitchen window as well, so mippies have a second route in and out – that’s the one I plan on leaving open from Monday onward.

Mippies need loads and loads of reassurance from me, the whole time. Both Mewthos and Ziva venture to the door, but only when I’m outside. They’ve both taken a short tour nearby, but not ventured further. Lady Jane prefers to sit atop the highest bookshelf and watch these strange goings on. Mewthos is driving me nuts mewling incessantly … he’s already enjoyed a walk through the high weeds, I think he wants more garden time.

I’ll put the first load of washing into the machine, and then I’ll go out and garden for a bit. Sigh, I just may dig a hole to shut up Mewthos! Ha Ha, nah – despite his Mewsance factor, I do love the little darling.

I’ll have to do three loads of laundry today, first my normal clothes at 30° followed by the black work tops – the label says cold wash! Huh? Work clothes? Cold wash? What idiocy is this? They claim to be 100% pure cotton, so why only cold wash? I’ve decided to give them a try at 30°, but separately, since I don’t yet know whether their colour stays or washes out. And lastly my work pants at 40° together with my socks.

As soon as I start to garden, all three mippies come out and explore! The stalk through the tall weeds, they climb the tree, they sit on top of my car, they see the freshly turned soil and decide: Oooh! Mummy is making us a new litter place! Gotta use it right away! Sigh. And before I know it, they are exploring the neighbour’s garden!

As soon as I go inside, though, they follow, mipping for reassurance – except Lady Jane, she’s now enjoying the outside too much!

Lady Jane has found the tree, and from the tree the roof over the car, she also found the car itself and stretched across the car roof. Mewthos saw his chance when I was weeding under the tree – he strolled up the tree and from there jumped onto my back!

All three are still cautious, though, and when doggie Lady arrived, the sat inside the door, Ziva’s fur bushing somewhat. Lady was not deterred, she’s determined to closely investigate these funny furballs … and got caught by Ziva in the kitchen! There was a yelp, followed by a doggie jumping out of the kitchen window and running home at top speed!

I worked steadily until the sun caught up with me. I cleared the one side of the path, quite a wide space, I cleared around the three spekboom and started on the opposite (lawn) side of the path as well – but there I found a host of clovers! They have practically taken over that side, so I will have to dig and pull roots for at least another weekend before I can plant anything there. I also didn’t finish that bed, so I’ll have to see how far I get tomorrow. I mixed some compost with the soil on the clean side and now I’m waiting for the sun to set, so I can start planting. I worked from around nine until about two. I now feel about a hundred! Every muscle is letting me know it’s not happy with me and I have the beginning of a blister on the palm of my right hand, where I used the hand fork to dig. My big fork somehow didn’t make it here …

Mippies have also decided it’s too hot to be outside, Lady Jane is stretched across my chest of drawers, Ziva is … somewhere around, usually under my feet, and I am guessing Mewthos is under the bed. I’m too sore to get on the floor and check. Ah, no, he’s curled up on the tiles of the bath.

First load of laundry is hanging up to dry, second load is in the machine. I think I’ll take a nap. After taking a smoke-break look at my achievements today!

Cor blimey! My flower pots are overflowing! Everything is growing like crazy! Even the small decoration Rose made just before I left – it’s just covered in green! That round pot, where I collected a variety of succulents from Rose, including the cabbage plant, is bursting at the seams! I urgently need to take something out of there – but put it where?

The bed I managed to finish today is for the Dianthum. They all need to go into the ground where they can spread as well – they are all doing their best to flower continuously! I barely cut the flowers, when new ones appear. I may place some of the succulents under the tree, although I’d prefer some time to find out where the cats prefer to walk, so I don’t put plants in their path. Since it’ll be the plants which will suffer.

I napped just over an hour, with Ziva by my side. When I got up, mippies started stirring as well – it’s just after five. I hadn’t eaten last night, nor did I have breakfast – apart from a cookie or two – so by now I was quite hungry. I fried my steak, after I’d hung up the washing and put the last load into the machine. I ate with Ziva’s usual insistence she get some of my food – it’s not so much about the food itself, it’s mostly a reassuring token of my love. Mewthos also got a piece, Lady Jane sniffed one, but didn’t fancy it.

I went back outside and planted all the Dianthum from the pots into the garden, as well as the Alyssum. I emptied the Alyssum seed packets at the back of the bed. The bed is nice and narrow, and the Dianthum are planted close enough to the path, that I can comfortably tend to them without needing rubber arms.

And then I totally confounded Mewthos by watering the garden with a hose pipe! Ha Ha! He watched with a look of bewilderment as the water came out and the ground got wet! At the same time, he was fascinated with the sprinklers which were busily watering everywhere!

I watched the two ladies watching each other on opposite sides of the fence. Lady Jane almost invisible in the tall grass and Lady barking with frustration.

Then I sat outside looking at today’s achievement, watching my mippies – none of which went outside the garden … yet. And then I gave Rose a call, to let her know the mippies survived their first day out. She told me Romeo is still Romeo – spraying and caterwauling. Her new neighbours now use my lawn – the one I cleared so thoroughly of all weeds – as a parking lot, although they haven’t run over the Snapdragons, yet. Well, I also pulled nails out of that ‘lawn’ … I wouldn’t risk parking there – but then, I wouldn’t park there anyway. At least they are polite and no trouble to Rose!

As we were talking, I saw my landlord going outside with a torch – was the power off again? No! Fortunately it wasn’t! When I came inside, mippies followed me quite happily, I didn’t even have to call them in. I shut the kitchen window then the gate and finally the front door – mippies safe and sound inside!

Then I took a shower – what a pleasure, washing the day’s heat and dirt off! I hung up the last load of washing, wrote this and now I’m ready for bed. Somewhat later than usual, but then, I had an hour’s nap during the day.

Friday

I woke up just before five, got up, started my coffee and enjoyed a leisurely start to the day.

Work was … work. Not much to tell. I initialized a major housekeeping exercise, since there wasn’t much work – and some of the results were truly impressive! I managed to wrangle a treat out of my boss – got everyone a burger and a coke; which, I’m afraid, arrived somewhat later than planned.

At home, I started with a cold shower again. I see Mewthos is still using my bed sheet to floss. No comment. Tomorrow is a big day for my mippies! They’re coming outside! I soaked the beds I want to work on very thoroughly, as they were as hard as rock when I tried to dig this evening. After I soaked them, they were lovely and soft! Yeah, can’t call it watering, I just opened the hosepipe and waited for pools to form, then moved on – and kept going back over and over again.

I’m actually quite tired, so I didn’t do anything except play online and wait for eight, so I can go to bed. What a weird thing to write – and even weirder to live! I’ve switched to listening to an audiobook again at night, rather than listening to the TV Series Doctor Who. I’m now listening to an unabridged version of Frank Herbert’s Dune. Funny that I’ve never read it before!

I’ve got a full program this weekend – as every weekend – and I’m really looking forward to it! Just a pity I didn’t have the energy to start today.

Shopping!

I woke up nice and early and to three mippies in full play mode! Seeing Ziva lead the play is such a pleasure – she has come such a long way! They chase each other, they chase toys (their toy drawer is always open) they wash each other – though they don’t seem to like the armchair as much as they used to. Mewthos is too funny when he tries to catch the water coming out of the tap, with his paws! Lady Jane loves to lap the running water from the tap – Ziva seems to prefer the dispenser on the floor. She doesn’t really jump up to the basins – I’ve picked her up and placed her there a few times, but it’s not quite her scene.

On the way to work, there was a major accident at the R80 (Mabopane Highway) and N4 interchange – I was lucky, it was on a section I don’t travel, I get onto the R80 at that interchange. But traffic was completely blocked in my direction, nothing was coming from before the interchange, and the opposite side was standing still. Nothing was moving on that Highway, except the few of us travelling the same way I did.

At work, I’m cleaning up the stock movement captured in the past, so I can start linking it to our inventory. I’ve had our two new clocks hung up, so nobody needs their phone to know the time anymore. Our morning meetings are going, though enthusiasm is still missing. It will come in time.

They used some methylated spirits for cleaning in the factory and the strong smell was beginning to irritate me – fortunately it was past half eleven, so I could go out to do my shopping.

What a mission! Well, I got a lot done – the only thing still missing is: bread!

First, I stopped at Builders Express, where I got some compost (so I can start gardening this weekend – I’ll need to mix some into the ground for plants to grow) and some potting soil for herbs – don’t ask! I have no clue what’s so special about that! But at least the compost is guaranteed to be free of weed seeds. I’ve been wondering, whether some of the parasites came into my garden in PE with the compost. I also bought a small 5 liter watering can, so Mew-Mew and I can water the garden together. I don’t really need it, since I can use the hose-pipe here – but I love the time with my Mew-Mew, it’s so darling the way he always sticks his head under the water stream!

I should also mention that I walked past the shelves with seeds and only bought two packets of Alyssum! True story! If you know me at all, you’ll know why it’s so incredible. I had planned on getting a packet of each – one packet white, one purple – and that is exactly what I did get. Not a single seed more! :)

Then I drove to the main center, where I started with a shoe shop I happened to be passing, where I got some inserts for my safety boots. Now, all I need to do is silicone the cracks in the soles and they’re good for another twenty years! I do not want to have to get new safety shoes – they just don’t make good quality anymore. I’ve looked on our supplier’s website … I’m not keen on buying.

Then I looked for Cell C … they are right at the other end of the shopping center, quite a long walk! It all worked and now I’m set for another year online. From there, I had seen a sign pointing to a DisChem, so I went there to get the now-restricted-for-dummies medication: Allergex and Panamor, as well as Paracetemol. That’s my migraine cocktail stocked up for a while – I forgot to get Re-Hydrat, rats! I was happy to find some Nivea hand wash, though and I also got a few other odds and ends. It also put a smile on my face seeing a range of 4711 ‘Echt Kölnisch Wasser’ on the shelf there! I stocked up on what I would need for the next couple of months – but it wasn’t much, since I had stocked up on most things in PE already. Ha ha, that’s one of the reasons there are such a lot of boxes: I’ve brought a fully stocked household with me! Well? I had the time there, I don’t have it now. And it didn’t cost me extra to transport it here, so why not?

I loaded that into the car and went off to Pick n Pay. Sigh. Not fun! At least the coffee and margarine were on special, so I stocked up on those. I got butter as well, since I need it, but they didn’t have tonic nor did they have any decent bread. It’s more of a Spar thing, so I should try and get to Nina Park Spar some time to check whether they now have decent bread. If not, I’ll have to go to Pretoria East next Friday. Well, might not be a bad idea, anyway, since I can also get more Aufschnitt. Last time I was there, I bought more sausages than Aufschnitt – just because I haven’t seen such a large variety in such a long time, ha ha ha! Not a good premise to shop on!

I did get some greens, though and I also got some juice – I’m quite enjoying my glass of fruit juice in the evenings now. And it lasts about a month, unopened, so I don’t need to buy every week. Tissues are another mission! It seems that the 3-ply Softique I’ve been using for decades is now out of production – I haven’t been able to find them anywhere! So now I have no choice but to try a new brand – I can’t find Tempo here, either. I got three samples – I’ll see which one I like best.

My work clothes also arrived yesterday, so my car is now loaded full of goodies! I’ll have a big job offloading everything tonight! I stopped at PnP Liquor on the way out and got my Tonic as well as a bag of ice – I’ve packed the milk, marg, butter and greens into the cooler bag with the ice and I took the fruit juices and eggs into the air conditioned office – not my office, I’m in the factory! If I leave the eggs in the car, they’ll be hard boiled by the time I get home! It is baking hot today, and I can barely touch the steering wheel!

My legs are now quite painful from walking for over two hours non-stop! But it was worth it! I’ve got everything I’ll need for a long time, so I can now take my time researching where to buy what online. And then, all I’ll need is to get fresh produce – milk, fruit, veg and meat. And I plan to grow some fruits and all my vegetables myself, as well as herbs! I’m also planning on baking my own bread, so then it’s just milk, fruit and meat – all of which I can get around the corner from work.

When I got home, I found that Mewthos had bitten my bed sheet again – I don’t know whether he thinks he’s flossing or what. He also keeps trying to paw the stream of water coming out of the tap! I’m having a lot of fun watching him!

I confuzzled my landlord when I parked the car totally skew under the roof! Ha Ha, he asked what was wrong, so I told him that what was wrong is that I’m lazy. I had a lot of heavy shopping in the boot, so I parked with the boot right at the path to the flat – shortest distance to walk! And it was a lot to carry! But it’s a really short distance, especially compared to PE, where it was the whole length of the garden followed by the stairs!

First thing I did at home, even before I unpacked the shopping, was a cold shower! I added hardly any warm water – it was bliss! Then I scooped the poofie box – and mippies promptly stepped in to add more! I gave them two treats and re-filled the Whiskas bowl for Lady Jane – who prefers Whiskas to treats!

I watered my plants – I’ve placed the big can under the gutter spout, so it is always filled with rain water, which I decant into the smaller can. I packed tomorrows lunch and fried myself three Nürnberger – that’s sausages with some herbs in them. When I let them cool on the plate, I came back to find Ziva had fished one off the plate and onto the floor … but it was hot, so she just sat there looking at it! I cleaned it off and put it back on my plate – and while my back was turned, Ziva tried to fish it off again! I stopped her – but I did put a slice into their kitchen treat bowl. Ha Ha, Ziva sniffed at it and didn’t know what to do with it! It was Lady Jane who started chewing it – which got Ziva’s attention again and she eventually ate it, after Lady Jane had walked away.

It’s twenty to nine and I’m struggling to keep my eyes open, so I’ll post this and go to bed. Fortunately tomorrow is a short day, we finish work at half three.

Tuesday & Wednesday

I went to bed late and woke up somewhat late – twenty to six. Still managed to leave for work on time, though.

At work, I finally managed to make some head-way. I’m still waiting for my safety clothes – our driver has been off for nearly a week. I had said that I could pop around and collect it myself, it’s just down the road, but I’m not following up – I have my hands full following up on my own staff.

I’m quite busy at work, and I need to pace myself. There IS much that needs to be done, but Rome wasn’t built in a day – I don’t have a deadline. After all, it’s not as if anyone can set me targets, nor needs to. If I get too much done too fast, I’m setting myself up for unrealistic expectations, so I need to pace myself. Like Scotty (USS Enterprise – Star Trek) always said: A good engineer gives himself enough leeway to perform miracles.

I’ve decided to ask for an extended lunch on Thursday, so that I can go to Pick ‘n Pay and hopefully get some okayish bread and some needed groceries. I really don’t want to do any shopping on weekends – it’s just too much time out of my life, since I’m a half hours drive from the nearest shopping center.

I’ve started using the gas stove and I must say, I’m very happy with it! The meat I’ve fried on the gas has turned out absolutely awesome! Just done perfectly – cooked through (since it was pork and lamb) yet not dry. Of course, it also helped that it was good meat! Very good quality meat!

I went to bed a little late again – and just could not go to sleep! Sigh. Mippies were romping, too – I think it’s the full moon. I just kept tossing and turning. I’ve got the dark brown curtains up in my bedroom, so it’s not exactly daylight in here even with the full moon, but I simply could not fall asleep.

I woke up very early this morning – the phone vibrated off the nightstand with a great clash! This time the mippies were innocent! At least my phone can take it, it’s not smart enough to require trauma-care!

I cleaned the litter box, got dressed and went to work. Nice and early. I’m taking the toll-free road mornings and evenings now. On the way home, it gets quite slow, some days going no more than 50 km/h – in a 100 km/h zone! But only on that last stretch. But in the mornings, I turn off just after the traffic starts so I miss it all.

At work today, I asked for extended lunch tomorrow – no problem. I must just write a shopping list of the urgent stuff. Apparently our driver goes to Makro once a month, too, so next month, I can put together an order for collection when he goes again. I must just find out if I can order & pay for cigarettes online.

There are some politics at work which I really don’t even want to waste time thinking about. I just quietly get things done in my own time and my own way. Since I produce results, the ‘how’ isn’t being asked about too much. Let’s just say that I have my work cut out trying to improve morale and create a team spirit! However, I’ve had some great experience doing just that with my online game these past few months! So, I know I can do it.

At home, I checked the litter box – clean!?! Then gave my mippies a treat before I stepped into the shower. As soon as my back was turned, mippies climbed in and scratched and widdled, so I cleaned that just now. I also gave them another treat. Mewthos is as much a glutton as always – I have to flick his ears to keep him from gobbling his way through all three bowls!

It’s twenty to eight now and I can barely keep my eyes open – I should have no trouble sleeping tonight!

Monday

I woke up to the alarm without a problem, even though I went to bed later than usual. I suppose I’ve caught up on some of the lost sleep. Ziva tried to burrow through the sheet at one stage, I just reached out and tickled her tummy and she was happy.

Overall, I’m rather surprised that I haven’t overslept – not once! All my life I’ve had trouble waking up on time, regardless which job. I’ve agonized over this so often, keeping away purely in fear of not waking up on time – yet now? I go to sleep and I hear the alarm. I just hope I didn’t jinx it by writing it down!

Mippies were active this morning, when I opened the curtains, I saw the stray dogs my landlord had been after, right there in their garden! I had some coffee, scooped the litter box, got dressed and went to work. I dropped the rubbish outside the gate, and from today onwards, I’ll be closing my gate when I leave, as well.

Coming towards the mills, traffic came to a near stand still, I guess there must have been an accident – fortunately, I turn off there, so I missed the worst of it. I switched off my PC at five to six and parked the car at work at eighteen past – so, all together it takes me about twenty-five minutes from chair to chair (home to office).

They fixed the pothole in my office on Friday, so I had been sitting at the storeman’s desk on Friday while it was still drying. Today it’s dry and I’m back at my own desk. I’m trying to get a grip of material movements – but it’s quite challenging. There are systems in place and a lot of information is recorded and even captured – but nothing links or talks to each other … yet. I’m working on that. I feel like the Sherlock Holmes of spreadsheets at the moment!

I spoke to a colleague today, who also has a cat … or maybe had. His cat looked very ill Thursday evening, so he rushed him to the vet who diagnosed tick-bite fever and gave medication. The cat seemed recovered – and then looked a bit down again. Before he could take him back to the vet, the cat disappeared! I do hope he comes home! What really has me worried about this is the tick-bite fever bit! I’ve been hearing more and more stories about pets dying of it – even when they were being treated! I did ask my vet in PE whether I had to worry about any parasites in Pretoria – and she told me ‘none at all! They’ll have even less trouble with fleas in the dry climate.’ Yeah – so much for that! The minis have their collars, which should prevent ticks from biting … but what about Ziva? I may have to start treating her with Spot-on … that stuff you put on the back of their necks.

My landlady also told me she has had no good experience with the vet down the road. Three times she took animals to him, and all three died. She now goes to a vet in Sinoville – who has three cats! But also has office hours – if I come home and find one of my darlings unwell, I’ll have to rush off to the Training Hospital, Onderstepoort. Fortunately, that’s not too far.

Back at home, the lounge curtains are up again. Mippies are happy to see me – and there’s a new chapter available for my online game! Well, that will have to wait till the weekend – I need to plan a layout again, and I really can’t do that in the evenings.

I managed to get done what needed doing, and now … you guessed it: Time for bed!