Monday

Not much to say. I woke early, got up, had coffee, dressed, went to work.

Worked.

Cat food was delivered. Went home, got milk on the way.

Sat outside with mippies. Had a laugh, when I watched Tynx start digging in my herb pot and Mewthos sent her off. I thought he was letting her know that flower pots aren't toilets - I was wrong! He just wanted a pre-dug hole to use himself!

All the ladies milled around me, Mewthos went after ginger - I had to come outside and collect him!

I meant to wash the dishes, or do something tonight, but I'm low on energy, so ... just cuddling mippies - against their will - then bed.

PizSunday

Yup! I'm making pizza! The slow way, or rather an extravagant version! I took the time to slice the tomatoes I had bought a while back, in the tin. I also quartered the artichoke hearts and just to add to the extravagance, I cut up some bacon as well. Oh, and I took the time to grate plenty of cheese.

I opted to make simple white bread dough, and I made enough for a thin pizza base plus a loaf of bread. The only trouble was: how can I bake them both at the same time? I only have one rack in the oven, and - since it isn't a standard-sized oven - I can't get another, not easily, anyway. I eventually solved it by wedging the pot racks from the top of the stove as another, albeit askew, shelf. I'm using a plain baking tray with a cooling rack on top of which I'm placing the pizza - so that, if anything drips from the pizza, it drips into the tray and not the oven. Right now they are both rising, when that's done, I'll add the toppings to the pizza and start baking!

Of course, first I washed the dishes, then swept the floors and washed them. On closer examination, it turns out that the polish doesn't make much difference, after all, so I'm back to using just tile cleaner. As I've finished the store bought one, I'm now using the eco friendly version I got online.

Of course, after washing the floors, I got to walk around the whole place and wash mippie Mew-Mew's spray paintings off the walls, the cupboards, my fridge, the passage door, etc. Sigh! I don't know what's up with him, I just hope he gets over it soon!

Oh, and when I went to lift the cat carrier off the bed back to the clean floor, I found it unexpectedly heavy! Turns out Ziva was napping inside!

Of course, once everything is finished baking, I get to clean up the entire kitchen - once again! I opted to bake the bread in a bread form, which will turn out square, but I feel like toast. You know? The type with hot garlic butter melting on freshly toasted bread, preferably with an egg in the center. Hmmm ... my mouth is watering just thinking of it. Oh, and some cheese on top would be nice, too!

As I was preparing the pizza, I took a peek outside the window. Guess what I found? Tynx, curled up in one of the larger round flower pots! It looked so cute, I had to take a photo!

Oh, and I've started making smoothies with my frozen fruits & veggies! I'm using half frozen and half liquid, which turns out really nice! I've been using cold green tea as liquid - I don't have that much milk, since I couldn't get any on Friday. Only down side: I'll have a lot of dishes to wash. I think I'll try another smoothie, this time with milk.

My, did that only turn out yummy! I mixed milk with banana, pawpaw and added a little honey and cocoa. The latter was unnecessary, as the banana makes it quite sweet and also nice and creamy!

The bread looks delicious, the pizza IS extremely delicious and I've cleaned the entire kitchen again!

Oh and I did a teeny bit of gardening: I sowed the green pepper seeds I had collected last weekend. Okay, so it's not much, but considering that I've had only one day - with yesterday such a wash-out - and such a lot of cleaning to do? I'd say I made up for a lot of that today!

Ziva again took her sweet time coming home! So much so, that I was - again - beginning to worry! I don't know why she waits so long, I know she wants to be home and not left outside, and when she does come, she's almost hesitant - I'd say 'afraid' but that's not conceivable, but somewhat uncertain about being welcomed when she comes so late. She stood outside the gate looking at me, as if she expects some sort of punishment if she comes in - and I've NEVER punished any of my mippies for coming home late! Scolded a little for frightening me, but never punished them!

Well, they're all curled up in their places, though Mewthos has crawled into the linen cupboard under the sink. And I'd say it's time to join them ...

Saturday

I slept well, woke early - but had very little energy today. I did the laundry, had something to eat and not much else. So, I figured, I might as well do my shopping today.

That's always fun! I ordered a large stash of chocolates, directly from the manufacturer at the reduced price! They also had a special on a bundle of several of their products, so I decided to give that a try. Funny thing: they also make a coffee filled chocolate, yet that one is not available from them directly, only via Faithful to Nature!?!

Then I spent some time shopping on that site. I ordered a few coffee filled chocolates, another fabric softener - the actual reason for the order, as I'm not short on anything else. I looked at their current special offers, and saw they had one on seeds, so I ordered a few. Herbs and veggies only. And not many, either. I still have so many seeds left over, I really don't need refills, so I only ordered seeds which I don't have.

I saw another couple of intriguing items, like dry shampoo - I've used that before, many years ago. You can't get it in South Africa, well, until now. I also ordered an Oxygen bleach. Bleach is quite useful, but the chloride has always kept me from using it - I don't like it. This bleach contains no chloride, so I'll give it a try. And then I came across a yoghurt starter culture. Hmmm ... making my own yoghurt? Intriguing! I also came across cooked mielie pap! I'm no good at making pap myself, but I do enjoy it at times. Here, they're offering pre-cooked pap in a roll, like polony. You just heat it, and you've got pap, which you can slice or whatever. Again: intriguing!

And then I ordered the cheese making kit! Now that really has me keen! I'm really looking forward to that!

I'll be getting so many deliveries this week, it'll be like I've won the lottery! Cat food, chocolates, groceries, cheese making kit ... 

I still don't have much energy, and I'm not sure what I'll do about lunch tomorrow. I'll leave it all for tomorrow, now. I'm ready to go to bed ...

Friday

Cor, what a dream I had this morning! I dreamed that Ziva lost an eye in a fight with Mewthos! Or not ... there was some indication that her eye was still intact, just under all those scratch marks ... and I was held responsible for not following the first-aid procedure I had been taught just before this happened, where I was supposed to tape her eye open, if it was injured. Weird, weird, weird!

This morning Mewthos ran excitedly into the lounge and wouldn't come back - he so, so much wanted to go out!

I've decided to start a breakfast routine for my mippies as well, give them a sachet in the mornings. I also re-fill all the special kibble bowls in the mornings. They are starting to take to those very expensive Orijen kibble, the one's which smell so delicious. I'm thinking of getting them regularly from now on - they don't eat so many of them, but they are so nutritious that they don't need lots to get what they need.

The new cat food supplier called me yesterday, they are out of stock on the Hills and asked if they could substitute. I've asked they substitute with Royal Canin Sachets, as I had decided to cancel the Hills, since my mippies have been throwing it up, I'm afraid.

An advantage with this scheduling of orders is, that it makes budgeting very simple. I've also noticed that, since the Orijen kibbles have been available, they don't eat as much of the wet food anymore, so I'll be able to reduce the quantities in time.

I just have to keep the December shut-down period in mind. With regards to all groceries, not only the cat food. I'll need to stock up before shut-down and then not order deliveries as soon as we're supposed to be back, since this company isn't very big on planning, and if there aren't orders, we close again using the magic phrase 'operational requirements', which I translate to 'lack of management'. We're very lucky that our main client isn't much better than we are!

I had a quiet chuckle to myself this weekend. My landlord noticed that I was weeding along the cosmos, so he asked me to leave the yellow buds coming up, since those are squash. Turns out he's been 'secretly' sowing seeds in my garden! Ha Ha! I took a stroll along the bed last night and noticed quite a lot of squash coming up along that bed! Should be good! They are those massive, big pumpkins, called Herbert Squash. He's welcome to them, when they're ripe - one of them is enough for me for weeks! I've never bought them in the stores, simply because they come in portions too large for a single person to manage. Unless I make some sort of main course of them. Hmmm ...

In my bedroom, I've noticed that the tiles I polished are still looking clean, whereas the ones I only washed, are covered in mippie paw prints. It would seem that polish is finally delivering what it advertised to do years and years ago! I haven't used it much in the past, simply because I've never seen a difference between washed and polished tiles. I'll give it some thought - or rather: I'll look on my grocery shopping site, what they recommend. I'll need to place an order again this weekend - I also want to add an order of chocolates, like a big stash! I just love those!

As I was getting ready to pack up for the day, I saw a message from my boss' wife: the highway is closed just before my turn-off! I checked to see whether that may have changed, but no.  Apparently there was a massive pile-up involving several cars and trucks and the road was closed in both directions. The biggest problem is, that there is only one single alternative route - which is where traffic was being diverted. And it was bumper-to-bumper all the way!

It took me nearly three hours to get home! I'm just glad that I got home safe and sound! People were driving like absolute suicidal idiots! They turned the single-lane road into a three lanes going one direction, even four lanes! Seriously, they drove full speed in the oncoming traffic's lane! Plus both sand shoulders! Of course, every time there was blockage (either a pothole, or such) all those cars forced their way back into the only legitimate lane ... and those of us in that lane, ended up not moving at all!

I crawled past a sign reading 'Pro Active Panelbeaters' which made me laugh! What a perfect oxymoron! I mean, in what way is panelbeating pro active? It's a re-active profession, only coming into action AFTER an accident, right? The writing under the sign confirmed that 'Truck Accident Repairs'. That kept me occupied for a while.

Along the road, some truck attempted to force me into on-coming traffic! The blerry sod had been speeding along the shoulder of the road, and when there was a dip, he just moved as if I didn't exist! There was no way for me to let him in, no way to move backwards and with the traffic ahead standing still and him just going on, the only place for me to escape being smashed was into on-coming traffic! Fortunately for me, traffic moved at that time and I could put him behind me - but it was quite frightening and continued for quite a while! He was relentless! He eventually pushed the car behind me into oncoming traffic lane - he had no option but to take a chance and race ahead of me into the gap I had left for him!

Traffic continued crazy all the way to the turn at Bon Accord, where traffic police were directing traffic. Sigh, I wish I had know they were there - as I opted not to take that route, since I didn't believe I would be able to get into the bumper-to-bumper across the on-coming traffic! Ah, well. I'm home now. Safe and sound.

There was no update on the traffic report, only on the news. Apparently a veld fire caused poor visibility resulting in a horrific crash involving two trucks and nine cars! The last report said seven dead, the first report was three had burned to death, trapped in their cars! What an absolutely horrific way to die! It's beyond imaginable!

After the Bon Accord off turn, traffic started moving. Only 60 km/h, but that was much, much better than 0.5 km/h! And temperature finally dropped as well - I read 48 degrees at one point! Celsius!

Along the way I drove past a bumper bashing, where a car tried to push a truck out of the way - the car clearly came off the shoulder, forcing its way into the traffic ... that doesn't work so well, when the traffic happens to be a truck!

When I finally got to my turn off ... I found myself facing three lanes of on-coming traffic! Oncoming traffic on my left and two lanes on my right! Crazy! I was beginning to wonder, whether I would be able to turn into the sand road leading to my home! I got lucky, though. A truck had stopped just on the other side of the road, so I could turn without any problem!

I left work at half past two. It was quarter past five when I stopped outside the gate!

I let mippies out and they happily ran off exploring - but not very far! I was glad for that, since traffic on the road remained badly chaotic for a long time, till way past seven! There were accidents along the line, I'm sure. At one time, after the highway was open again, traffic towards the highway was bumper-to-bumper! Crazy!

I gave mippies plenty of time, not hurrying them inside - but Ziva decided to take extra time for herself; which worried me a little, given the traffic! But she's home now, safe and sound! And sounding her demands for attention!

I had planned on making a pasta and grilled sausage dinner, but ended up simply making the sausage, dipping it in curry sauce. I'm quite exhausted, so I'll make it an early night.

Thursday

The cold front is getting to me, I did not sleep very well, spending a lot of time not completely asleep, just awake enough to remember my dreams. And what weird dreams they were! I was somewhere on holiday with my mippies - don't ask! One had been captured by enemies and we were attempting a rescue, and part of the rescue took us through a shopping mall, where I - accidentally - bought a big, expensive, double-door fridge / freezer! And I had to make some sort of red smoothie to release my mippie ... some other people were there, as well, but nobody I can - now awake - identify.

I woke up early, since Ziva decided to let the cold wind in by opening the curtains so she could look outside! They do that a lot. Often they go behind the curtains, but just as often, they sit with their bum on the nice, soft bed, holding the curtain aside with their head while they look outside. I have a very clever collection of mippies!

Also a very active collection: they were zooming around the place like pinballs again!

Arriving early at work ... only to find everything locked up! And the wind today is really cold. I cowered in a corner out of the wind, waiting for someone to come with a key so that we could go inside.

On the way home, I got another bottle of milk. I meant to get two, but - thanks to my hyper-intelligent maths - I was short the exact amount I short-changed myself a the toll booth.

At home, I opened the passage door to another puddle of piddle! Already dried, so I wasn't sure at first. I found the blankie from the armchair under the kitchen table! I found the kitchen scissors on the floor, as well as the magnetic holder! Those are normally at shoulder height! How on earth did that end up on the floor? Ai, ai, ai, we HAVE been busy today, haven't we?

I sat outside with my mippies for a good long time. They had been for their run and milled around under my feet - and then Mewthos decided to go off! The ladies came inside eagerly for their yummies, but I didn't get my Mew-Mew kisses! I was busy dishing out the kibbles when he mewled at the passage door! Took his sweet time, didn't he?

Sigh, I'm missing my hair brush and some other items which used to live on the night stand. Mippies have been busy! Sigh! I had better make a plan to get under the bed again this weekend.

I decided to enjoy a nice, hot bath. Hot for a change, it's actually somewhat cold. I also got my warmer duvet out again, not the feather duvet, just the normal one. Only, I'm too lazy to put a cover on it - mippies have already claimed it!

Mewthos absolutely wanted to join me in the bath, if only it wasn't all full of water! He kept strolling along the rim sirenading me! The mini had me laughing when I got out! To make her fortress (also know as: my work pants) more 'hers', she added some shredded toilet paper into her 'nest' as decoration! Oh, they do so entertain me! Right now, they're all resting - Mewthos on the duvet with Tynx nearby, Janey has the curtains open, sitting in the position described above (bum on bed, head in the window, holding the curtains open) and Ziva is on the armchair.

I'm just about ready to go to bed for cuddles ...

Wednesday is Monday

I woke up somewhat late, but - by skipping coffee - I got to work on time. Work is as chaotic as it would be, when the majority only do 'bare essentials' with no real planning and definitely no interest in communication. It's a bit frustrating, as it results in a lot of rush jobs - and I refuse to rush, now. Rushing leads to mistakes, and those mistakes are then mine.

Never time to do it right ... so where would you find time to continuously do things over?

I use 'not my circus, not my monkeys' as my anti-frustration mantra.

I tried to write my blog at work, but I had logged out and forgotten my password. So, I had to look it up again - at home.

As I was leaving work, I heard on the news that the banks want to strike on Friday and everyone should fill up with petrol and draw whatever cash they'd need by tomorrow. So I decided to fill up the car today, as it would need filling by Friday at the latest. I also stopped to get milk - yummy!

At home, mippies didn't go far nor did they stay out late. I'm now getting up every few minutes to cuddle and tend to my mippies - give them more attention while I'm home.

I fried myself strips of chicken which I had with another portion of my potato salad. I had defrosted some chicken hearts, which I gave my mippies - most of them loved it! But one per kitty is quite enough, as I had six, and two are still waiting for someone to eat them.

I've come to realise that a lot of the headaches I had at work were tension headaches, as they dissipate when I make an effort to relax, not stress, not allow frustration to get to me.

Okay, Ziva is in the shelf next to me mipping quite demandingly, so I'll close this and get to bed for cuddles. Ah, and here's Mewthos mewling as well ...

Heritage Day

Also known as 'National Braai Day' (braai = barbeque), only - it's not likely to happen around here, today. It is overcast, cold and windy - and I love it! It's not really cold, just very, very cool.

I woke up again with a headache, but a very mild one. So mild, I had almost forgotten I had it an hour later. I had my coffee and Miss Jane demanded cuddles and brushies and cuddles and brushies and ... and ... and still goes on.

I had the pleasure of watching Ziva absorbed at play with the little yellow mouse last night! It's really heartwarming to see! She rolls the mousey into the yellow mat then rolls around scratching and catching it! So, I guess, now I know who scrunches up my yellow shower mat during the day!

Aaaand you won't believe what I've just had to wash Mew-Mew marking spray off of! Really! My monitor! I am NOT impressed!

My landlord has the sprinklers going, giving me a chance to water the beds along the path and other areas which the sprinklers don't reach. Mewthos was under my feet the entire time, mewling to be picked up, splashing along the wet path then putting his wet paws on my bum, my hips and just about everywhere! He even sat UNDER the hose pipe while I watered the garden! Okay, not in the path of the main water stream, but he didn't stay completely dry, either! He just sat there, looking up at me with trusting eyes, waiting to be picked up again!

I did a bit of gardening as well, tending to my carnations, which are doing okay in the pot, and a little weeding. Right now, I'm trying to decide what I'd like to do today.

Funny thing, as I was busily bent over the carnations, I heard a galloping across the lawn ending in a happy thud! As Mewthos landed on my back! Happy as a pig in Palestine! And with no intention of leaving!

Well, I didn't get much done before noon. Every time I tried, a mip mipped for attention - mostly Mewthos! I felt like a weight-lifter having to pick him up, cuddle him, let him down, then immediately pick him up again, etc.

Finally, I have some solitude ... well, not quite, but mippies are enjoying their siesta. Good enough. With the temperatures low today, I decided this would be my chance to make the lentil soup I had in a tin! I also took out the last Weisswurst from the freezer to add to my meal - I was in the mood for meat today, so that's a bonus.

Well, that was ... interesting. Apparently lentil soup is nothing but lentils - nothing soupy included. Good to know. I remember lentil soup tasting much better. I guess I'll have to make it myself, after all. Ah, well.

I did manage to get a few things done. I had hoped I could leave the juicer and such safely on the table in the kitchen - I don't exactly have the cupboard space here - but mippies raced across the table regardless, so they are not safe, after all. Sigh. I was able to make some space for the juicer in the cupboard. For now, I'm leaving the blender outside - I have a lot of frozen fruits to blend.

I've prepared another loaf of bread, it's in the oven now. This time I opted for wholemeal again. I also mixed in some of the seed stuff I still had, flax seed and sunflower kernels. I'm slowly reducing my overstock, one tablespoon at a time. I also used the crystalised honey, which I had to cut open to get at.

Well, the bread turned out lovely. Nice and brown on top as well - although ... only because I turned it over and then sort of ... well ... forgot that it was in the oven! Ha ha! Well, I'm still experimenting!

Mippies have demanded a lot of attention through out the long weekend, every single one of them! And there have been loads and loads of smiles from each and every one of my mippies!

Brückentag

Which translates as 'bridging day', as in the day(s) between weekend & public holiday, bridging a long weekend. The point is that I'm off today.

I woke up - again - with a headache. It dissipates after a while, but is still unpleasant to wake up to. My landlord was already watering again, so I took up the hose and watered where the sprinklers don't reach. Mippies were not too impressed with all this water sprinkling all over their playground, ha ha!

Having spent time yesterday cleaning up the kitchen, today I spent time dirtying it.

Mippies helped. They started the day by bringing a dead pigeon into my kitchen! I fear it was one of the semi-tame ones living in my kitchen roof - they haven't been around as much as usual. Sigh. I'm hoping that's due to the weather, not Ziva's breakfast.

I made myself a potato salad, using the steamer and a nice big glass bowl. I'm trying this Martinnaise I got online - it's tasting quite good! I also added all the veggies I could pick in my garden, and all the teeny tiny tomatoes I'd been collecting for a while. A lot of the tomatoes are no bigger than peas! Well, a little bigger, but not much. Not even half the size of a cherry tomato! Well, I added a few radishes and then added the left-over peppers.

The result is quite tasty! Although, for some reason, my stomach isn't happy - I've had cramps most of today. And I can't tell whether it was the food or just another one of those wonderful many-paws effects I'm enjoying.

Speaking of which, my paws are slumbering all over the place. I'm kissing the shaved tummy every chance I get - I'm tempted to re-shave it! Nah, just kidding! The weather seems to be turning, it's overcast this afternoon and unusually windy! I love it! I have tried to take a nap, twice so far, without success. I'm not sure whether to make the effort to clean the kitchen now, or whether to leave it for tomorrow. I've juiced half the carrots, adding to the 'dirtying' of the kitchen. I swept up all the feathers, but I should still wash the floor.

Oh, and right after I swept, Ziva came in covered in leaves and dirt ... and shook them off! Sigh.

After writing this, I decided 'bugger that!' and washed the dishes. Now the kitchen is almost clean - still need to wash the floor, though.

Then, I basically waited for the sun to be low enough so part of the garden would be in the shade, so I could work some more. I sowed two more marrows, two more cucumbers, and a few sunflowers! I got a few seeds as a sample included in one of my grocery boxes. And then I cracked the grow nuts! Literally. I followed instructions and they've been in my garden for months now - nothing! So, I've decided 'bugger that' and I cracked them open with a nut cracker and buried the open halves - I'm hoping the seeds are somewhere in there and I'm hoping to get at least one Gazania growing. I did the same with the Protea grow nuts.

I sowed two pots of tomatoes and one pot just Basil. I'm hoping that, without the tomato plants overshadowing them, they'll grow nice and big! And then I did some weeding around the Cosmos which are growing, then mixed in some compost and sowed Alyssium and Dianthum. Alyssium on the east, the Dianthum on the west. I want flowers! I miss my flower garden! Seeing weird little sprouts, watching them grow, wondering what they'll turn out to be! And this is a start.

Tomorrow, I'd like to tackle the next stretch, and then sow the other two packets of flower seeds I got. Funny thing: I may not have enough seeds! That would be a first! Well, I'll know - hopefully - tomorrow!

Sunday

I got up reasonably early, let my mippies out, enjoyed a leisurely cup of coffee and ate the last scone. I took it nice and easy in the morning - I'm not sure what I busied myself with.

Oh, yeah! In my game, there was a message from one of the fellows that she's taking action to find more fellows. My first thought was: That's not the support I need! Simply because I had trodden that road before and it led to drama ... and then I thought, it may not be the SUPPORT I want, but it does mark exactly the solution to ALL my in-game leadership issues! How? Well, I simply made her the leader! Everybody's happy, including me :)

Now I just have to decide what I want to do about the mini Fellowship I started as a 'boot camp'.

The thing is, that 'playing' is no longer really a pleasure for me, since it feels more like a chore and always 'steals' time from real life. I either give up sleep, time with mippies or work time. It was very different when I first started playing - I had no mippies then, and it filled the gaps in my evenings after work. Then, when the project finished, and my life was on hold, I had lots of time to fill. But now? I have so little time in the evenings, I'd rather spend it with my mippies - once I finished the chores, of course. And on weekends, I'd much rather take any 'spare' time - again, after finishing the chores - to make progress in either my home or my garden.

Maybe one day, when my home and my garden are at a permanent arrangement, not the current 'while I figure out what to do' labyrinth, I'll once again enjoy playing full time. But for now, I just want to keep my cities going. Nothing more.

Okay, I washed blankies, washed the dishes, sorted my bedroom waste bin and a few other things. And then I finally got to spend some time in the garden. I cleaned the tomato plants - they are all wilting, except where there is a fruit still waiting to ripen. I also did some weeding around the Cosmos. I got some flower seeds when I did my grocery shopping, and I've decided I want that bed awash with flowers as much and as long as possible.

Oh, and I nearly forgot: I also started preparing my papaya or pawpaw seeds! I googled how to plant trees from store bought fruit and I'm trying that out now. Each seed is covered in a sort of mini pouch, which needs to be removed. Then the seed should the washed, to get any residual pulp off, dried and then planted into very moist soil. Since I've kept the seed for a couple of days, removing them from that pouch was somewhat tricky, as the outer layer was a little dry so I had to pierce it to get the seed out. Messy and time consuming - but exactly the kind of thing I enjoy doing. I get a lot of pleasure growing things or making things from scratch. I don't get enough time to do that, though.

I meant to take a shower last night, but there was this big spider on it's way to the shower, so I decided on a bath, instead. Not a hot bath, though - I'm hot enough as it is!

I wasn't very hungry, so a few slices of bread served me well. And then I had to spend some time with Ziva, scratching her ears! I had nearly left the kitchen window open again, but fortunately remembered to close it just in time! I must really pay attention! Can't have them roaming outside late at night - I can't shower or go to sleep, until they are all in!

Anyway, that was my Sunday.

Saturday

I had a much better night, much to my relief! I still woke up a little late - mippies insisted I get up, so I obliged. I went and sat on the couch, though it was quite cold - and there was that disturbing pong again ... turns out the cushion as well as the blankie have been drenched at one point! Sigh!

And while I was having my morning smoke, my landlord was already busy watering my garden! It wasn't even seven, yet and he had been busy for quite some time! Makes me feel kind of inadequate, he he.

Well, I had my coffee, which warmed me up somewhat - it really was quite cool this morning. I had a scone for breakfast and then I got busy. I packed everything exuding a pong into the machine, added my clothes and started the machine. It - once again - didn't drain and I ended up hanging up sopping wet laundry! Well, it's dry, folded and packed away now.

I spent the entire morning washing the bedroom floor - the part I normally don't reach. As I had to wash the base cover - which ... you guessed it! It got sprayed. Lots! While I was at it, I took off the mattress, so that I could maybe turn it, too. And that's when I decided to do a little spring cleaning! I washed the walls, and I hand-washed the floor - tile by tile. And then, just for fun, I decided to use up the tile polish I still had, polishing the tiles I don't usually get to wash. I moved furniture around, and I spent a lot of time on the floor. There were - of course - sprays along to wall! Sigh! Everything is clean now, though. I even washed the windows - well, on the inside, at least. And then I swept the rest of the place. What I didn't do, was scrape the paint spatters off the bedroom floor, though. Another time.

For lunch, I fried the steak I had taken out for yesterday's dinner - and ate it off my salt plate! The first time I used it, the food turned somewhat over salted - which I didn't mind - but this time, it was not over salted. It was really pleasant! I'm thinking of getting a larger version! I just still have to work out whether I should get two - one to cook food on and one to eat the food off, since I can't exactly put a hot plate on any surface here like I would a plate.

After lunch I took it easy. Stretched out on the bed, watched an episode of Stargate, got licked by Tynx, and tickled Janey's toes. The beauty is, that there's no pressure today - I don't HAVE to get things done today, nor tomorrow. I have three days to do what needs to be done, which is why I could go off track and spring clean my bedroom today. Tomorrow I would like the dishes washed, but it's no major task - and then I might like to spend some time in the garden.

Mippies came inside without much trouble. Well, Mewthos did. Tynx followed. I had to carry Janey in, and ginger kept Ziva away, yet again! I ended up waiting something like twenty minutes before she showed up - and went towards ginger! But she did come home without trouble. This time I made sure the kitchen window was closed, though! Wouldn't want a repeat of last night's worrying mipless silence!

They're all on or around my bed now, three on the bed and Tynx on the box behind it. She's still not part of the cuddle round, nor the regular lick-fests on my bed - soon, though, I hope!

Friday

I did not get much sleep during the night, I woke up numerous times throughout. As a result, I woke up late - it took Mewthos sirening right in my ear to wake me up! I was just a few minutes late to work, though.

The past few weeks at work have been unpleasant. For me, personally, it also felt like nothing I've done has any value - it didn't prevent the retrenchment. It's also somewhat demotivating that nothing I do is of any interest to management. I often feel like I'm just 'left to play' in the store. When we receive a new purchase order, raw materials are ordered - with no reference to stock. Oh, they'll check the raw material stock, but all that Work-In-Progress I've been cataloging?  Who cares? I do my best to reduce it, by issuing it to production whenever possible ... only to receive 'fresh' load back. As if nobody grasps just what a financial drain 'overstock' really is - they actually think of it as 'buffer' stock! Items, which have not moved in 6, 9, even 12 months are NOT safety or buffer stock!

I've tried to explain, and I've tried to somehow raise awareness ... and all I got was shouted at for 'always coming to me with THINGS'! I've tried adopting the standard attitude to work, which is to do only the absolute bare minimum, and do it slap-dash, just enough to cover my rear ... and that just depressed me even more! It's just not in me to treat my work like a distraction.

So now, I'm going back to the optimistic working on my systems. Working in isolation, with all departments interacting working against the systems I'm designing, is a little frustrating, but it's not as depressing as 'joining the herd'.

I think that's enough about work for today. I'm much happier when I'm busy making progress. That's it.

With the lack of sleep last night, I was not up to the trip to get groceries, not even the short one. No worries, though. On the way home, I stopped to get milk, but it appeared that nobody was home - as I had driven back to the tar road, I saw someone come out, in my rear mirror. I chose not to turn around, though.

At home, as I tried to open the gate, it came off the hinges! I told my landlord and he went to repair it right away! What a difference to all the past landlords I've had, eh? It's all fixed and ready to be used again! Of course, I'll only use it on Wednesday - but still. It's just awesome!

Mippies roamed outside and I finally made myself a milkshake! Just plain ice cream, milk and some cocoa. Lovely, though! I'm too drained to do much else, so I'll make it an early night and hope to get up early tomorrow.

Ginger showed up again, Tynx ran to him happily, Mewthos went to let him know he's not welcome here - I could see the chance of trouble to get them in, so I called them a little early. They all came inside - Janey a little late, but not much. Gave them their treat, after getting my Mew-Mew kisses, then I sat down to write my blog ...

... after a while, I noticed how quiet it seemed - nobody mipped at me for attention? I looked around and found no cat in sight! And then I realised: the kitchen window! I had left that open! Oh, gosh! What a silly thing to do! Well, I went and sat by the door, some of my mips were around, but none wanted to come inside. I wrote some more, sat by the door again ... and eventually they came inside. This time I had shut the kitchen window!

And the mipping began! Ha Ha! I've cuddled, scratched ears, given another treat, added more kibbles, scratched more ears, kissed tummies, kissed noses, tickled tummies ... 

Tynx is still not being accepted by my other ladies - but it is too darling to watch her following Lady Jane when she goes for a walk! They are like a tandem cat, trotting off - one behind the other - happy to explore! Funny thing I watched earlier: Ziva took a hissy swat at Tynx, when Tynx got too close - and Tynx hissy swatted right back at Ziva! Mewthos is more tolerant, but no more forthcoming, either. I've also watched each of my ladies walk up to Tynx to sniff her, so: progress is being made!

Oh, only thing I didn't do? Cook myself dinner. Frankly, I'm not hungry. I am tired, though, so I hope for a night's sleep tonight!

Back to work

Feeling much better, though still not 100%, but time to go back to work. I was quite busy catching up with the past two days, but it's done. My ex store lady kept record while I was sick, so it was all done properly - she's really reliable!

With the heat outside, and the flashing heat throughout the day, I finally caved and placed the stand-up fan I had got for the store, by my desk! It does make quite a big difference! There is no air movement in that store and the roof is quite low. It's not much better in the factory, either.

On the way home, I made a boo boo. At the toll gate, the cashier asked me how much change she owes me! My mind was on buying milk and the R20 notes I'd need for that, so - silly me, I short changed myself! Sigh, an expensive mistake - simple maths, too! Quite embarrassing! R105 - R15 = R80. Very embarrassing!

Well, I did get two bottles of milk, so that's something! My delivery had arrived on Tuesday, so I had quite a heavy box to carry in as well as the milk.

Mippies enjoyed their outside play time, as always. Mewthos and Tynx came in, when called, Lady Jane took a while before she arrived ... and that ginger cat kept Ziva away! Again! That ginger actually came into my lounge and caterwauled at the passage door! I had left to front door open for Ziva - it wasn't late, yet. I went out and chased him off! When he was gone, Ziva finally felt safe enough to come home - and she came running!

I've done lots of cuddle sessions with mippies - Mewthos is mewling for more! I'd better get to bed and scratch his ears for a while. Okay, that made him happy! Cats really do smile from ear to ear, he he!

I may decide on another quick grocery run tomorrow - just to the Spar down the road, which is no problem around nine in the morning. Just a few extras for the long weekend - since we'll be taking leave on Monday, or so I'm told. Tuesday is a public holiday, so I'd have four days at home with my mippies!

Monday - Wednesday

Nothing much worth writing. Work is kind of ... empty. Just a handful of people left in the factory.

And that's all I wrote about Monday. There wasn't much to add Monday night, so I left it for Tuesday ... only ... Tuesday, I never got up! I woke up with such a headache, it was as bad as any migraine I've ever experienced. I couldn't properly move my neck, either, so I just sent a message that I wouldn't come in.

I slept all day. I managed to let the mippies out, but that's about all. I wasn't able to get up to eat, drink, or anything. Well, I managed the necessities, but nothing more. The first time I surfaced - or rather, got up - was after dark! Mippies had come to join me throughout the day, on and off and they made no trouble coming in when I came to the door. Matter of fact, they were gathered around just outside, waiting for me to call them!

Of course, they weren't so nice in the morning. Mewthos deliberately goes and sits first on my keyboard and then in the one shelf mippies aren't allowed - sits there and glares at me! I did not have the energy to tell him off - but he did the same again this morning! Naughty little shite!

Today, I'm feeling a lot better. Able to get out of bed at least, but weak as a newborn kitten! I messaged work that I hope to be back tomorrow. I got ready to go to the doctor, and I was very, very relieved when my landlady offered to drive me! It's not far, and I could have walked - but, the way I was feeling, I would have taken quite a few breaks along the way.

The doctor reckons it's a combination of the heat and many paws and she offered something called Menograine, which should also help for the hot flushes. Not that I'm fond of chronic medication, but if this can help, I'll take them every day!

Mippies brought another bird in today. A fully grown, but small bird. So small, that it got through the bars of the cage and I eventually put it in a box. It seemed well and flew away, then Tynx brought it back! At least, I think it was the same bird, even though it had flown far across the landlords garden! At any rate, it flew away a second time and hasn't been back since.

I have a mild headache again, but I've had less trouble with the hot flashes today - could that be the Menograine? Or maybe the symptoms are just at their worst during the time I would normally have my period? Well, I'll keep taking the meds every day, even if they just relieve the symptoms, it's better than nothing.

I haven't done much today, I've cut the pawpaw and put it in the freezer, I'm baking another loaf in the oven now - this time, I let the bread machine make the dough - and I've washed a few tinkle spots off the walls. I've been trying to find the energy to make at least one smoothie ... but I just don't have it. Nor have I washed the dishes.

Well, the bread looks a lot better than the last one! It's starting to look more like a real bread and less like a knock-off Sasko version. That's one disadvantage of the bread machine, all the breads are in the same rectangular shape.

Whenever I tried baking bread in the past, my trouble was always the rising time. Or maybe the intervals of rising and kneading, or maybe the kneading time - but whatever the trouble I had, the bread maker does all that for me, so it always comes out right.

Well, I can't tell whether today was particularly humid or whether it was just me, but I've put the fan on in the bedroom, just to make the room bearable. I hope I'll have a good night ...

Still busy on Sunday

I think I have figured out what this new piddle thing is all about! It's me! I remembered how one of the many wonderful menopause things is, that I smell different. Not temporarily, but permanently. And not like a different soap or such, but fundamentally. So: suddenly there's this stranger's smell in our home. All Mewthos is doing, is reasserting his home. Overruling this 'stranger' smell in his safe place.

Sigh. Nothing I can do about that. Let's just hope it won't continue for too long.

I took it easy this morning, but not for too long. One problem with Sundays is that there's no next day to leave things to, so, anything that must get done, must be done today. I re-packed and froze the meat. I sliced and froze the cucumber, I picked and froze the grapes, baked the loaf of bread - which did NOT come out like the photo at all! The dough was too dry and I had to add more liquid to get all the flour to form part of the dough. After baking, it looked not much different than before. But it's edible, so ...

I drank just about all the orange juice, except for what I had frozen in ice cube trays. I didn't get around to making any smoothies, and I also still have the lettuce and the peppers to figure out what to do with them. I've decided to make my standard spaghetti, tuna and celery tomorrow night - maybe I'll add some peppers into the mix. I had planned a greek type salad with the lettuce, but didn't get around to it.

That's the thing about Sundays, I have to prioritise. At least I cleaned the bathroom floor as well and I washed the dishes twice, so the kitchen is now clean. For dinner, I sliced part of the rump into strips, added a pepper, also sliced into strips and cooked some Spaetzle. Those are best, when you fry them quickly after boiling.

Oh, and mippies brought a mouse into my house! Into the kitchen, right in the middle of my washing dishes the first time! I had to carry mippies out one by one and shut the door, then I tried catching mousey. No luck. It's a field mouse. It finally hid under the fridge and eventually I couldn't keep mippies out of the kitchen any longer. In fact, Mewthos opened the kitchen door, so it wasn't even my choice. A few hours later, they had got the mouse trapped behind the kitchen door - but couldn't get there, themselves. I placed a box on one end and got lucky: mousey jumped into the box! I closed it and took it outside and was able to release the mouse without mippies seeing!

I had to wait for the bread to be finished before I could take my nap - that's the thing about bread: once you start, you have to keep at it until it has finished baking. And with the time to leaven that's quite a long time. Speaking of which, I think that's where the recipe went wrong, because it mentions only one rising time, bread normally needs to rise twice.

The feather duvet was totally dry today, so I packed it up and away - with help from Janey and Tynx! Tynx is still Miss Underfoot as much as she can! When I took my nap, she came running a few times, licking me awake! Right now she's on the duvet beside me, and when I get up to go somewhere, she's under my feet.

Janey needed lots and lots of cuddles all day long. She mipped at me to be picked up again and again, and if I ignored her, she'd jump on my lap! Apart from Ziva, they've all been underfoot and right by my side the entire day - and even Ziva hasn't been too far for long. I just went and fetched Mewthos - he was on the mat next to the toilet - now he's quite happily washing himself on the bed, by my feet, next to Tynx. They do smile a lot, though! Just go scratch them somewhere and they start smiling! Oh, not with their mouth, but with their ears!

Now I had better give some cuddles before going to sleep ...

Busy Saturday

Busy, yes, but I quite enjoyed myself today. Well, mostly.

The bananas are frozen and packed in a ziplock bag, now I can use them anytime I want to make a smoothie. I meant to cut and freeze the pawpaw next, but it isn't ripe, so I've left it out to ripen.

I repacked the livers and hearts next - and gave mippies a heart each. They loved them! I googled and learned that they contain the vital taurine. So, it's all good. I also cleaned out and re-packed my bag drawer, where I keep my freezer bags. That's how I found the ziplock bag for the bananas! Useful!

For breakfast I baked myself some scones. I enjoyed one with strawberry jam! Then I washed the dishes. There weren't many, just a lot of large pots - looked a lot, but wasn't much.

And then I had seriously had it with seeing the floors - there were several piddle puddles everywhere. I don't know what to think. Behaviour today was quite normal. Mewls, cuddles, mips, cuddles. He didn't go far, though. Right now he's curled up on my nightstand - I've put one of my covers, the elephant I knotted, on top.

Oh, I also did the laundry, starting with the feather duvet - which ... you guessed it: had also been piddled on! But that was in the past, I found it last weekend, when I took the cover off to wash. Once it's completely dry, I'll pack it up for the summer again.

I washed the kitchen, passage, lounge and bedroom floors - only the bathroom left to go. Gotta leave something for tomorrow!

Well, I also squeezed the entire bag of oranges. I've had a couple of glasses of orange juice, and I've just filled a couple of ice cube trays and put them in the freezer, so I'll have some frozen orange juice for smoothies as well.

The only thing I didn't do, today: cook for myself. It's okay, though - I've had another scone and a couple of peanut chocolate cups!

I also took a noon time nap, which I quite enjoyed. Now, I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep ... let's hope that's what I'll get!

Friday the 13th

Good morning. I left my phone at home. On the bed. Surrounded by happy mippies! I hope they don't make any calls! How? Easy - paws press buttons!

Anyway, I got to thinking this morning about cat food, when I saw that - of all the kibble trays, they left the 'best' food alone! That food really IS good, when you open the bag, you can smell food! Not like any of the other bags, where you clearly smell 'pet' food. But that bag smells so nice, I wouldn't mind eating some of that!

What I was getting to, is: for my own food I don't bother with nutrition - I eat what I enjoy! So, then why should I treat my cats any different? They LOVED the chicken liver again, last night, by the way! I just fried it some more to warm it, cut it up and put the plate on the floor - not a single crumb was left! But, since they don't like the very expensive, yummy smelling food - why buy it? Stick to what they already like, and to heck with the ingredients. After all, I'm already changing their litter box to something they don't like so much - they all LOVE the ultra fine sand! But when they wee in that, and it goes into one large clump - that really is just too expensive to throw away every day! Plus, of course, it gets too heavy - the waste bag, I mean, where I put all the little collection bags!

Mewthos is worrying me a little, though. He woke me up around ten last night, mewling around the place, walking over me as well. I got up and cuddled him for quite a while. He is also piddling around the place - I cleaned up a dried up puddle in the passage last night! I'm hoping it's just his reaction to the little one - but I am somewhat worried. He also has open wounds on both sides of his neck, Ziva does, too. I don't know where they get those or how, it's like chunks of their fur get stuck and torn out somewhere? I'll keep a close eye on him this weekend, see how he behaves. He is becoming quite insistent on getting a share of my food, lately. Like last night, when I'm at the stove, his paws are on the oven handle! And if I ignore him, he claws at my legs - well, I'm still in my work pants, so no harm done, but still.

Speaking of my work pants, they are mini's favourite bed! She absolutely loves to curl up inside them - it's her fortress! They are made of strong material, so that when I take them off and put them on the floor, they do hold a shape. And she loves it, when I put them down so she can climb into the waist and look over the belt! It is just too darling, so I do her that favour every evening!

Well, it's Friday morning, and in twenty minutes is the teleconference and after that I'm off! I'll take the highway to avoid traffic and I'll be dashing through the shop. I've written a list of what I'll take - if they have it, I take, if they don't, no problem. None of the usual 'so, what will I take instead' or 'oh, I see that's on special - will I have a use for that before it goes off?' thinking today. I'll also get a bag of ice, to keep it until I get home.

Done! It took just under 15 minutes to get there, about an hour in the shop, another 15 minutes to get back. I had to make some choices, which cause some delay, but otherwise? Whizzzzzz! The bananas looked really ripe, though! I took a bunch, anyway. If it's overripe by the time I get home ... I'll worry about all that when I get home! Nothing I can donow, anyway. I managed to fit only the meat into the cooler box, with the ice, though. All fruit & veg are open in the boot. A nice surprise, though: the cigarettes were cheaper than what I normally pay.

Well, the worst part of today is still ahead of me: Taking Tynx to have her stitches removed!

And then I got a bit of a shock. At closing time, one of the ladies comes to see me, gives me a hug, thanks me for everything I've done for her ... turns out, the retrenchees had their last day today! Sudden change of plan? Apparently they'll get paid next week, just given the time off to hopefully find another job! I wonder when that was decided? And why?

Some good news, though: my store lady has been given the job of the cleaner - as that position hadn't been retrenched. I'm glad that she'll still be around - she really has a wonderful character!

So, on Monday, I will finally find out who was retrenched and who is staying. It will be interesting to see, what the plan is ... or rather, if there is one.

Hit some traffic on the way home, just at the toll gate, though. Mippies were not at all happy about being kept inside - mini least of all! Being bundled into the cat carrier! As expected, it was not a pleasant trip.

At the vet's, though, she was incredibly brave! She held still while they cut and pulled her stitches - well, mostly. I held her front paws and kissed her face - halfway through we took a break. She crawls up me to cuddle my neck - that's where she feels safe! After some cuddles, she was okay to lie still to have the rest of her stitches out. She really is such a darling - except for the drive, she really, really is nothing but a bundle of cuddles and love!

On the way home, just before I was home, I had to brake quite hard to avoid hitting ... what looked like the same bitch I saw on the side of that road earlier this week? Without any puppies, and about 2 km further down the road, I can't be sure as I focused on avoiding her, not what she looked like. It was just the same type of dog: small, like a dachshund, but dark, mostly black colouring. I couldn't see whether today's dog was female, though. 

Mini piddled in the carrier again, but there wasn't much of a smell. We were both glad to finally be home! I put her down inside, Mew & Janey came rushing outside ... Ziva, however, stayed inside. She had rushed to the door when I came home first time and I had to carry her back - I suppose this time she was afraid to go out? I don't know. I eventually carried her to the door and put her on my lap - she was quite happy to jump off and go out.

Coming back inside, after having sat under my feet for at least half an hour - Ziva suddenly decided to go running off?!? I had to give up, as she didn't come when I called and when I tried moving toward her, she ran off. I went inside, fed the mippies, shut the door and went back outside after Ziva! She answered to my 'mippies' call, and started moving towards me. I went towards the gate and coaxed her to come to me - apparently she needed the extra attention, as I had no trouble picking her up and carrying her inside!

After having given them more treats, I showered and then spent at least forty minutes with Ziva in her cuddle cave! At one point Janey came close - Ziva just hissed and swatted at her. Eventually she had all the cuddles she needed - right now, she's curled up with Janey on the armchair.

Next, I tended to Mewthos. He has quite a strange and ugly wound on the side of his neck - almost as if there's a hole in the center? But it has quite a strong scab on it, so I left that on. I cleaned the wound then put some of that healing ointment on ... at first he fought me, but once the ointment was on, he just sat there looking at me! Not at all normal - normally, after having ointment put on, he'll rush off to wash himself! But today? He just sits there and looks at me! Not unhappy or upset ... just quietly. I've also found more puddles, dried by now, so tomorrow I definitely must wash the floors - only ... who is the culprit? Is it definitely Mewthos? I'll have to keep an eye tomorrow ...

Well, I had my hands full carrying everything inside. The frozen goods had unfrozen somewhat - but it's just berries and stir fry mix, so, not much to worry about. The meat, at least, was still cold - and I put that in the fridge. I also unpacked the potatoes, gem squash and oranges and I peeled, cut and froze all the bananas. It's a start.

And now I'm ready for bed. Mini is already curling up next to my pillow ...

Thursday

From now on, when my chocolate arrives, it's my medication! He He He.

Oh, and I just learned that I can order the same items directly for much less! Only catch: it's only the one product. The peanut butter cups. But I CAN add a bottle of Omega capsules. Oh, and, of course, honey as well as peanut butter. Still, buying those peanut butter cups in bulk still makes sense - especially at that price difference. And after all, I DID just order in bulk!

So, then I thought I would get clever and I started looking for other Brands online - no luck! Well, at least I tried!

I did, however, come across a cheese making kit! And a mozzarella making kit! And a butter making kit! To make these from any milk! That's intriguing! And I'm always struggling to find something to put on my bread for lunch - that's why I go buy those cold meats at the German butchery, but although they do have quite a variety, it IS still always cold meat. Jams and such don't work so well, since they squish out on the sides, but cheese? Well, it's not cheddar or Gouda or any such slice-able cheese, but it isn't a soft, squishy paste either. Hmmmm .... I'll give it some thought.

Next, I tried looking for a simple, manual food slicer. Absolutely no luck, whatsoever! I had better go look in store sometime - IF I ever get a chance! Hmm, well, the Pick n Pay Hyper here should have something like that. Well, I'm taking time off tomorrow after the conference call to go get some groceries - I need some fruit & veg. Oh, and cigarettes. With this juice thing having fallen flat, I'm now looking into alternatives. Probably a good thing - as the alternatives will be me making my own, and that will be cheaper anyway. Only problem is, of course, the procurement of ingredients! Ha Ha! Which is why this juice thing was so attractive!

The trouble is, of course, that after hours the shops are absolutely crowded, and it takes twice as long to get the same amount. Ditto Fridays. At least here, where I work, since just about all the factories here close at half past two on Fridays. That's why I'm driving all the way to Pretoria East. And I can't exactly ask for time off once a week so I can get groceries. Saturdays is just as crowded - and, if you know me at all, you know how much I dislike leaving my home!

I've considered taking a day off to shop and stock up - but ... that's not a solution. Especially since I'm changing so much in what I cook, what I eat, what I use. Plus, of course, that would require some sort of savings ... which, with the way things are at work, I do NOT want to use!

And, like I said, I'm changing so much these days, and I still have quite a stock to work off!

So, I'll go and get SOME greens tomorrow, without going overboard, and if I can get some other items as well, I won't have to make a trip to Pretoria East at all this month, either! Okay, so I'm very low on cold meats, but I have been looking at alternatives. And I'm doing okay with my bread baking - although I still want to do more than just their standard loaves. I found a recipe yesterday, which I want to try this weekend - I'll make the dough in the machine, but want to bake the actual bread in the oven & see whether it turns out like the one in the recipe's photo!

I guess I'll be spending a lot of time in the kitchen this weekend! I was also just thinking that I have a lot of teas, which I didn't use over the winter, either, like peppermint tea. Now if I make a cup, let it cool, then blend that with some fruit or veg ice cubes? There's an idea!

But I really should also re-start tending to my garden! Two of the Zucchini seeds are growing - one has been eaten by something; I've got three Cucumbers sprouting and my landlord has placed stakes around the one surviving Brussels Sprout plant - after three or four of them were broken off, most probably by mippies. The spinach seems to be sprouting, and I think the tomato plants have now just about had it. But I do have some empty pots - the legumes were all done - and I'd like to rotate a little. I want to fill one pot with only basil seeds, get a nice bush going there!

I suppose the best I can do is fill my weekend doing whatever I enjoy the most and then take it from there!

Never google your health!

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry. I've been trying to find some help with the symptoms of many paws - and if I see just one more article starting with 'Stay cool', I think I just may scream!

Warning: If I have any male readers: you might want to skip today's blog :)

Okay, so here's what I 'learned' today: Firstly, it's only officially menopause, when you haven't had a period in 12 months. Great! So what am I enjoying? Oh, Perimenopause! Which apparently starts years before the real thing! Uhm ... but then they go on to say how it normally starts in your 40s. Please don't tell me this will go on for another 10 years!

I've had a mild bout of this before, lasting a couple of months. Somehow, instead of 'leading up to' the end of periods, with me it's kind of a see-saw effect: it's either one or the other, never both. This 'bout' started when my period should have started ... and the 'hot flashes' come in waves, throughout the day and night. Although, at night it's apparently called 'night sweats'. It's only been about two weeks, but the sleep deprivation is already getting to me. There's a reason that is such an effective torture!

Anyway on a positive note, apparently only two more things I can do: 1) eat soy - apparently it contains natural estrogen, which has the potential to ease the symptoms (although, as far as I could see, the only substance to this claim is that Chinese & Japanese women, who eat lots of soy, don't report many symptoms), and 2) eat more greens. Other than that, I'm already doing all that the various sites recommend. Well, except staying cool, of course! Ha Ha!

But basically, all the sites say the same thing: don't drink alcohol, don't smoke, eat healthy, exercise, blah blah blah - the same they tell you for everything! Don't live life, and you'll have a long time to enjoy ... not living life.

Anyway, I also found a really lovely suggestion: I should eat dark chocolate, as the cocoa is better than the sugar in milk chocolate! Yipee! So, my nightly chocolate cups (which ARE made of cocoa) are 'medication', he he he! That cheered me up somewhat!

At home, I let my mippies out and had to carry Ziva back inside when it was time. She wasn't quite ready, yet. I tried one of the new sachets - and Ziva won't touch it! The other three had no problem, but clearly, Ziva doesn't take to change.

For myself, I cooked dinner! I took a tin of tuna - sigh, of course, first I gave mippies their treat - then a tin of peas - again, letting each mip sniff the pea to be sure I'm not being ugly for not sharing - warmed it up, added tomato paste & coconut cream, a bit of salt, some lemon juice: Sauce! At the same time I boiled some pasta, which I then added to the sauce and enjoyed a quite yummy dinner!

Why am I making such an issue of that? Well, I'd normally just slap a chunk of meat through the frying pan for my dinner! Tomorrow night, it will be a pork chop.

I actually slept through the night and was able to get up quite early! Funny thing, though: my male colleague got a night sweat attack last night! Giggle. No, he gets that every couple of months, nothing unusual about it!

For now, it's another day at the office ... hopefully without any episodes of The Office!