Monday

I'm afraid that I did not sleep very well. It's hot, the mosquitoes are hungry and - even with the fan blowing right above me - I was an all-night buffet! I woke up several times throughout the night - surrounded by mippies - itching in all sorts of places from my feet to my arms. Fortunately my face was spared.

I would struggle to fall asleep and when I did, I'd have some disturbing dreams - until I'd wake up again. I remember a car accident in one dream and some strange snakey thing in another.

The alarm didn't wake me, but Mewthos did - thank goodness! That was twenty past five. Mippies were disappointed when I closed the door to the lounge - they know when I do that, it means I'm going out and they are shut in.

Mewthos sat with a sad face in the kitchen window watching me open the gate and drive off ... sigh, I wish I didn't have to!

At work, I've spent an hour on rocking chair paperwork - sigh. But I've decided to set up some one-on-one talks with my staff, starting Wednesday. Tomorrow morning I will announce it, giving them time to think about what they'd like to tell me. There's been an issue of a go-slow on Friday from some of my staff and on reflection, I've decided to try and find out the cause. So I took some time to put together a few questions to get to know my staff better and see how we can get together to build a strong team.

Now I'm working on a task list, all the things which I feel need to be in place - well, should have been in place long ago, to be frank. Basically the knowledge exists, but nothing has been documented. There's lots and lots of paperwork in existence - and everything is captured ... rocking chair, you know?

I had a good laugh this morning, though, when I got mail from our planner. He's just set up his new e-mail account and I noticed he 'stole' my tagline: "Only lemmings jump to conclusions" I'll have to find another one for myself, now - fortunately I have some excellent material!

Lunch, I must say, I quite enjoyed! I didn't add any spices or oil to the potatoes and vegetables, but I did make myself some stuffed eggs with paprika and walnut oil. You know, hard boiled eggs, mix the yolks with spices then scoop them back in. I've still got enough left for another two days lunch. I've decided to take the 'heavy' meal to work and have the bread in the evenings, rather than the other way around. For breakfast, I'm still enjoying cookies!

After that sleepless night, I don't think I'll go shopping after work today. Hopefully I sleep better tonight and will have more energy left by five tomorrow evening than I'm likely to have today.

With the sight of Mewthos' sad face in the window, I forgot to take out the trash this morning - sigh. I hope I remember tomorrow morning! Since we're not on a municipal route, my landlord takes it to the landfill - no set day of the week, I can put it outside whenever I need to.

When I got home and opened the door to the passage, Mewthos and Ziva shot straight passed me without so much as a glance! They ran to the front door and then sat at the open door contemplating ... for a minute or so, then they went out. Lady Jane sat in the passage but when I reached down to scratch her ears she joined Ziva and Mewthos! Sigh - I feel rejected!

I figured I might as well take a shower while they're out on their stroll, and I found my twirly jersey twirled all the way into the bathroom onto the grass mat! I showered unattended, but when I stepped outside I could hear Mewly sirening through the lounge, down the passage coming towards me. Of course he comes and wants cuddles at the most inconvenient times - like when I'm stark naked and dripping wet!

They enjoyed about an hour outside - Mewthos went to explore my landlords garden extensively! He went quite far afield and right passed doggie Lady without a hiss or a bark! Of course it was Mewthos who set the time for munchies, mewling and herding his family inside so he could gobble! And boy does he gobble! You'd think he's been starved for weeks the way he slurps and gobbles his munchie! And when his bowl is emptier than the one next to him, his head wobbles until he's bobbing over the next bowl! And then he wants more! I just pick him up and cuddle him, ha ha, he doesn't like that but can't help purring either! This is NOT cuddle time!

I think I'll try to do the shopping at lunch time tomorrow, I'll risk coming back late. I've had a good day at work, mostly because I've had no interaction with the upsetting mentalities. I hope to maintain my equilibrium - regardless of interaction.

As I suspected, the lack of sleep is catching up with me - although only now. It's twenty past seven and I'm ready to sleep ...