We explore the labyrinth!

I woke up at two, turned over and went back to sleep. Then I woke again at four. I decided to get up. Mippies love having me around, they now keep themselves busy, but come for attention every now and then. I took the time to catch up on my game a bit.

I missed the sunrise, but did enjoy the colouring just before it actually rises. By six, when I came inside from a smoke, I opened the door to the lounge. Ziva and Mewthos started exploring quite eagerly! Lady Jane was hiding somewhere, but has joined the fun as well!

My landlady showed me how to use the gas oven and I’ve baked up the bread I took out of the freezer last night – that will make for a delicious breakfast!

Mewthos has developed a new habit, where he stands with his tail high in the air and it twitches just like Romeo used to! Fortunately, also like Romeo, he doesn’t actually spray!

I’ve been busy in the kitchen, unpacking and washing up. Getting out for a smoke is now quite tricky, since I need to ensure none of my mippies are in the lounge when I open the door!

My landlady made an interesting suggestion: apparently she always planted Nasturtiums in a raised pot or raised bed, from which they would! That actually makes a lot of sense, since they do twist and tangle themselves in flat beds.

Apparently she also got caught with water stopping mid-shower, so now she’s not waiting for her husband, but has gone to get the part herself!

It’s only half past ten, and I’ve already unpacked all the boxes on the kitchen counter, tidied up outside, put up the flower stand and washed all dishes. The bread has cooled down, so time for breakfast.

I cleaned the basin and curious mippies re-decorated it with lots of dusty paw-prints! I can not win, ha ha! They seem to have got into the habit of sleeping under the bed most of the day – I have only seen Ziva these past two hours! I got down to look under the bed, and I’m sure they two minis are both curled up there.

By noon, I’ve pulled the weeds out from the pavement and trimmed all my Dianthus. The Afrikaans name ‘gras angelier’ approx. ‘grass carnation’ is far more descriptive – they do look like carnations, though much smaller and with a lot of green, as if they are sprouting their own grass. Anyway, some of them looked dead, but there was quite a lot of green – just hidden under the yellow. Now I really want a nice, cool shower!

By one I’m getting not just tired, but sleepy, so I tried to take a nap. Successfully, until an unknown number rang and woke me up. It is awfully hot today – inside it’s worse than outside. Outside there is at least a gentle breeze. It’s 37°C in the shade, and the breeze is not much more than hot air swirling around.

I’ve unpacked bedroom and bathroom boxes, working slowly – in this heat – but steadily. I’m still just putting things away, not really packing the cupboards nicely – I’ve got basic themes, but not really organized, yet.

The corner where I’m thinking of planting the Nasturtiums is still in the sun, even at four. I’ll have to wait until it’s in the shade. Mippies are beginning to stir, now. They spent most of the day under the bed sleeping. No wonder, in this heat!

My patience ran out before six and I started digging and scraping in the dry, hard sand to make something akin to a hole for the Nasturtiums. I’m afraid most of them won’t survive, because I couldn’t get many roots – as digging for those in the pots would have risked damaging the spekboom, etc roots. I plonked what I could into the hole then added a handful of the seeds I’ve been collecting these past few months. And then I watered – with the hose pipe! What a pleasure! So much easier than using the watering can! And my hose pipe reaches even the far end of my garden.

And then I decided it was time to inaugurate the bath! Oh what luxury! The bath is not very long, but it is so deep, it’s pure pleasure! It is even wide enough for me to turn around without any risk of injury! I didn’t fill it all the way to the top, but if I did, I would be completely submerged! No special gymnastics to get all parts washed and rinsed, even submerged! Of course, as soon as I started running the bath, both Mewthos and Lady Jane had to jump in to investigate. They didn’t like the water filling up, so they left their paw prints on the way out.

Afterwards I cooled off in a cool shower. Despite which, I already feel sticky again. It really is unpleasantly hot here, without any cooling wind. I planned to finish the experience with a foot spa – but I just don’t have the energy left. It’s only half past seven, but I’m about ready to go to sleep.

Mewthos, however, is just coming awake! He’s been sirening non-stop for no apparent reason. I tickle his tummy and he shuts up for a bit. I pick him up and he shuts up for a bit – but after each, he walks off and starts mew, mew, mewling non-stop. By rights he should have no voice left! I’m also not particularly hungry, so I’m not going to make anything for dinner.

Ziva has been surprisingly easy going. Whenever I want to go out for a smoke, she has no trouble going into the passage and lets me shut the door on her without any trouble. Even though she may then sit and meow behind the door, but she’s never tried to dash out or get through the front door.

Well, I’ve done a lot today. I’m sure I’ll sleep well.