Today, the kitchen, tomorrow, the world!

Just after I posted last night, I got a message from my sister that a very close friend of the family had died, quite unexpectedly. I’ve known him all my life, we lived down the road for the first five years of my life; his wife and my mum have been best friends since their childhood.

Next I saw a message posted on Facebook by a member of my online game fellowship, confirming what I feared: Her sister passed away. She had been terminally ill for some time.

Moving away from the sad …

When I tried to take my first bath, I realized that I don’t have a plug! Ha Ha! So I showered again. I had some difficulty getting the mippies out of the shower after I had stepped inside before I could turn on the water! This time they didn’t dash away, but sat outside the glass walls watching with interest!

I suppose I could start another countdown: Day 3 of 21 of Indoor Mippies! I wonder whether I’ll be able to stay sane that long? They are already eager to explore and getting quite restless.

I fell asleep within about an hour, but mippies woke me in the middle of the night. I tried to go back to sleep, but no luck. When I looked at the time, it was twenty to two. Sigh. I tried going back to sleep when it started to rain, thunder and lightning scaring all my mippies! They’ve never experienced such loud thunder nor such a lot of lightning before. I did my best to calm them down, explaining that it was normal and nothing to be afraid of. When I looked at the time it was ten to three. Sigh. So I got up.

The mippies were irritatingly demanding, Mewthos went so far as to go under this desk and pull at the PC cables! I dragged him out and gave him a couple of smacks and he slouched away to sulk.

I went back to bed and finally woke up again after eight. I am concerned about getting to work every day, if my mippies continue to disrupt my sleep every night!

I decided to introduce my mippies to the kitchen. I opened the door to the passage – but they showed no real interest. Then I opened the door to the kitchen, still no real interest. I had to coax them out of the bedroom and then the fun started! Every corner was inspected, every wall measured, the washing machine sniffed excitedly – I had to open it, so Mewthos could inspect the inside of the machine as well! It looked too funny seeing his wide bum hanging out, tail in the air, head going left and right inspecting the inside of my washing machine!

I had to open the cupboards and let them stroll inside to see what I’m hiding. Each one tested their boundaries by jumping on counters and I had my hands full picking mippies off surfaces they’re not welcome on.

When they saw doggies in the garden, their necks became as long as a giraffe! They stood on the window sill looking to see whether that’s really a dog? Outside their home? Hmmm … I wonder what they made of that!

It took me a long time to get started, since I was still quite tired. Eventually I just got up and started unpacking. At first I started in the kitchen, but then I realized that I would need clothes for work, so I looked through the pile of boxes in the lounge for anything that said ‘clothes’. Unfortunately they are piled in such a way, that I can’t really get at most of them – but I think I found enough to keep me going.

My landlord came to connect the washing machine – that was the last time I saw my mippies! Ha Ha! They all dashed under the bed and stayed there long after he had left! I was able to coax Ziva out and she came quite close to meeting my landlord, but turned away uncertainly before she even saw him.

I washed the blanket I use to protect the table surface and Mewthos’ twirly jersey. Next load I did my clothes. I finally unpacked the travel suitcase and I finally put some of those material stickers under my chair, so it’s no longer wood scraping on tiles when I move it – which is really quite loud, especially late in the evenings or early mornings.

I washed the dishes, unpacked some kitchen wares, packed the meat I had bought Friday into the freezer – this time I made sure the drawer isn’t too full, so it won’t get stuck again!

Then I swept the kitchen and bedroom, hung up my laundry, took a shower – yes, still showering, though I now have a plug for the bath!

Mippies finally crawled out from under the bed – sigh, when I went for a smoke break, Mewthos was mewling so loudly, I wish he had stayed under the bed! That boy should be hoarse by rights – he keeps going and going and going. Even right now, he’s in the bathroom, mewling!

My landlord offered to fit some mesh over the windows, as he feels sorry for me in this heat, with the windows closed! Of course, I’ll happily pay for the material and labour – if I could at least put the bedroom ceiling fan on that would help. But he is right, it is very hot in this part of the flat. When I step into the lounge, it’s lovely and cool! It would be lovely to be able to open at least the fan lights!

Speaking of landlords, I received an sms from the bank, that an amount had been deposited into my account – my security deposit from the PE flat. That beech deducted a hefty amount for … I don’t know what. I considered contacting her to ask for a breakdown of the deductions – but decided that there isn’t enough money in the bank to make it worth having any further contact with that … thing. If I ever get a breakdown, I’ll have a look – I suspect she deducted for damaged from past tenants, and I may reply stating so, but I’m not in the mood for initiating contact.

I have been a tenant for over thirty years – even a drunk tenant for a lot of that time; yet I have never, ever had so much as a single cent deducted from my security deposit! I left that place in better condition than it was when I moved in, as I always do. My conscience is clear. Subject closed.

I didn’t have breakfast, but I did enjoy a few Litchi and I fried the rump steak for dinner. All my mippies joined me in the kitchen – and behaved very well! I decided to share my dinner, but instead of taking bits to their treat bowls in the bathroom, I placed one of the outside bowls on the chair next to me. Mewthos had no trouble with that arrangement – Ziva, however, was uncertain about this change in permission. I had to pick her off the floor and place her on the chair for every piece. Lady Jane didn’t show up.

I worked most of the day, I ate well, and I’m still loving my home! I think I should have no trouble sleeping tonight. I called work and let them know I’d come in tomorrow – two of the guys want to meet to prepare for Wednesdays meeting. I’m not going to worry about that tonight – I have clothes to wear, and that’s as much as I can prepare at this point.

I called my mum’s friend and offered my condolences. We spoke for a while – the reality hasn’t set in, yet. It will come, though. I’ll try to call her again next week.

Early night for me, mippies slept all day – I hope they don’t wake me up again!