I woke just before my alarm went off at half six, I found Sir Galahad at the window and a helicopter (? not sure, I was half asleep) choppering overhead, flying past from north to south-west by the sound of it. Since no planes may take off, it can only be military. I didn't see it, though, just heard it. And I'm not sure whether it was at half six or half seven. But I didn't imagine it, that much I'm sure of.
Mippies have settled happily to the new routine - they love having mommy at home, every day, all day! They no longer wake me up, but let me sleep until I'm ready to get out of bed, knowing they'll get to go out for as long as they like!
Well, today only a short run. They already KNOW it's 'milkies' day! Mewthos has been mewling atop the counter for his bribe half the morning, Janey and Mini came running inside expectantly just after eight and even Ziva came running when I unlocked the gate! Clever little mippies, aren't they?
I took our worker along and he showed me where he can buy cigarettes. Along the way, everyone is wearing their face masks, in the car, even though they are alone in their car. There's been a joke making the rounds on Facebook, 'If you wear a mask in your car, alone, do you also put on a condom when you sleep alone?' but this morning I saw several posts warning South Africans that they can't be arrested for not wearing the mask when they are alone in their car. Clearly, the South African Police believes that it is illegal to drive alone in your car without a mask!
Unfortunately, he couldn't buy any cigarettes, after all ... he was told the guy was caught by the police, yesterday. Sigh. I gave him money for a packet, anyway - I'm sure he'll find another outlet and will be able to buy himself a packet. It could also be, that they lied to him - on seeing me in the car. They don't know me, so they could just be careful ... just in case I'm a snitch. I can't blame them.
I'm 'cheating' on my smoking plan today, again. I had a smoke in the car. I also gave our worker my spare packet from the car, so he at least has SOMETHING until he can find another source. I told him to keep the money I had given him. I also bought him 2 liter milk.
The farmer asked again, when I would go back to work, so I told him probably only in June. He asked whether I was getting paid, I said 'not a single cent' - he offered to give me milk free of charge, if I'm struggling. Fortunately, I'm still okay, and I told him so. I'm not starving, nor close to starving.
Technically, I could survive another month, even two ... perhaps even three months. I don't have any accounts, debit orders coming off - except insurance. Oh, my cellphone, but that's the cheapest contract on the market - I don't use much. I haven't touched my accounts, yet, except to pay rent and transfer into my credit card account to avoid paying interest on it. I've been depleting my funeral fund for cat food and milk ...
I am going to need cigarettes, though. And bread flour. And litter - I doubt they have the type I use at the vet's. And cats, as you know, are VERY fussy about the type of litter - as my numerous piddle puddle incidents prove! They have finally accepted what I'm using now - at best I could go back to the sand, then go through the whole piddle puddling for weeks on end again ... not a good idea, eh?
I'm not sure what I'm going to do ... for now, they mostly go outside. They only use the litter box at night, so I'm okay for now. I still don't want to drive anywhere ... I saw a road block ahead, just before the toll gate. Not police, but army. I don't know what that's about or how I'm expected to prove I'm only planning to get groceries. So, for now, I'm staying put.
I had a chat with Leon, and asked him if he goes out next time, if he could possibly take my rotting refuse to some bin in town. I showed him the vacuum pack, what I'm talking about and he promised he'd let me know. He and his wife have been going out to shops - as I've mentioned - and he told me the worst part is the queues. Sometimes the queues go round and round the whole parking lot!
The news are still discouraging ... NDZ clearly doesn't fear any legal action, any more than her ex husband - who's trial has conveniently be postponed. Again. She doesn't even feel the need to justify her decisions "Because I say so" is all we're told. Oh, some crap about rolling joints (Zol) ... which has absolutely no relevance to cigarettes.
Internet is down to 3 bars again ... Sigh. Oh, nice! 2 Bars now! Can't even save what I'm writing now ... nor load Google. Never mind searching, just the plain site!
Well, the guy they arrested for running after his toddler updated that they are safe at home, late last night. They're getting legal advice, so ... watch the news!
I'm told the food parcel incident is a hoax. At the same time, the DA is questioning the government's control over food parcels, and that is definitely no hoax.
As the internet is still sitting on 2 bars, I decided to get busy in the kitchen - but first, I really need to sweep the floors! I took some photos of my flowering Spekboom - one of the new one's I've planted from cuttings I got from Rose ... when the camera said "Memory full". I've been taking photos since June last year ... never downloaded, never cleared ... lol ... and, as you know, I haven't uploaded any photo's to this blog since about March last year! So, I've had to download them off the camera onto the PC now. Once I've copied them onto the external hard drive, I can delete them off the camera and take more photos.
Seriously struggling with the internet ... I'm just hoping I'll be able to watch the DA's coronacast today!
Internet was practically offline - at 2 bars, nothing loaded, not even this blog; which uses so little data, I can usually continue writing even if I can't save ... not today. Then I had to close my browser and clear the cache and when I came back, everything has changed ... now the layout of this screen has changed. I hope I don't mess up ...
I started preparing a loaf of bread, but I'm just really not in the mood - though I have to eat something today! I've taken out some cheese to roll into the dough, some chicken hearts for mippies and 2 mutton chops for dinner. Still no internet, so I went into the garden and pruned my basil plants. I noticed some pest on my sage, so I sprinkled some diatomaceous earth over it, moved the rosemary into more sun and moved the oregano into an all-day-full-sun position. It was slowly coming along in the shade, but I think Oregano needs more sun - let's see how that goes. The gooseberry already has some flowers! Beautiful little yellow flowers with a deep purple center! I need to process my photos so I can take some more ...
When I came inside just before 2, I saw to my delight that I had full signal! I immediately tried to load Facebook, so I could watch the coronacast! It worked!
Very interesting - but also heartbreaking. It is true that the police are 'confiscating' food parcels. There are established NGO's wanting to take food to communities where they are known and trusted ... and the police not only deny them access, but take away the food parcels! Apparently government is on the one hand thanking these NGOs for their input - but denies their right to distribute the food themselves. It must go to government officials - who are known to first help themselves and then even charge desperate people for food which was donated to them!
Another, equally heartbreaking problem is SASSA, who are supposed to pay out pensions and grants to people who qualify ... yet their offices are closed. And people are left to starve ... whilst others are paid double their monthly grant - which will be deducted by non-payment next month.
Another frightening fact came to light: NOBODY knows WHO is on this NCC which is currently running the country! Everybody knows that NDZ is in charge of this NCC, but nobody knows who else ... who has a voice, an input in the decisions governing South Africa during this lock-down.
Oh, and I got a phone call from one of the big boys at work! Apparently some business might be happening ... it's all very hush-hush and vague. He just wanted to know where he can find the stock control spreadsheet ... as my phone didn't ring when he called, by the time I saw the missed call and called him back, he had - naturally - found it. It's in the folder named 'Inventory' and called 'Stock Control'. Sigh. I had to listen to him thinking aloud for a couple of minutes ... then he said he'd let me know. I did mention the trouble with MTN in this area, that the phone doesn't ring, etc. I'm thinking that, if we CAN open a little bit of production, it would be better to bring in 2, maybe even 3 operators instead of me. They are sadly paid minimum wage, and even though my salary is low, it equals 2-3 of theirs. Rather pay those who live from hand-to-mouth, and who are now in dire need ... I, at least, won't starve. I'll struggle, of course - and for a long, long time - but I won't go hungry. I didn't get a chance to say anything today ... but I think that I'll suggest that, if I'm called again.
Ah! I figured out how to go back to the 'classic' layout! The one I've gotten used to over the years, so now everything is back to 'normal'!
Okay some news: surfers today protested the logic behind the prohibition to surf. They were arrested for 'standing still' during the 'exercise window'. I kid you not!
Police arrested several Cape Town protesters for "standing still" during the "exercise window" of the Level 4 lockdown as they demonstrated to have beaches opened for surfing.
One guy got away on a bicycle! From motorcycles! Again, I'm not joking!
Another issue the DA brought up was eCommerce. Why, instead of making use of an option to shop, which is totally in line with social distancing, and could relieve the crowds in shops - is it banned?
Oh, and the story of that guy arrested yesterday, for running after his toddler? It's now in the news ... And more about the tobacco ban. An article disproving the initial reasoning of lives vs economy, the completely disorganised repatriation of South Africans, who were left stranded at the airport ... not in any lounge, or even inside any building, but on the tarmac of the runways! And a possible constitutional court battle ... and some sense from our Finance Minister.
Another good thing about the coronacast is that I work on my belt while I listen to it :) It's coming along nicely!
Okay, I've made the bread dough, and rolled it up in three thick slices of the cheese I got from the German butchery. I should really bake some muffins as well, but it's already seven o'clock ... getting a little late. Maybe tomorrow?
Mippies all came without any trouble! Ziva was actually one of the first to arrive, then Mini and Janey was the last tonight. When we all went inside, Ziva thought it was time to go for another walkabout! Eish! Fortunately she changed her mind and came inside!
I fried myself the mutton chops, then had a very, very hard time getting a bite for myself! Mewthos absolutely LOVED them! He was ready to paw them off my plate!
Well, the bread is done and I just had a slice with some of that cheese I made - WOW! Deeelicious! Absolutely delicious! I don't think I can stop eating this! I must remember, in future, to let the cheese drip for only a few hours, not the full 12 hours. It's lovely and creamy this time. I only have one problem now: I just opened my last kg of bread flour! And they didn't have any at the local store ... Sigh.
Anyway, I appeased Mewthos with chicken hearts and bits of my dinner - he's now curled up on the bath mat. Ziva is in her shelf, Janey on the armchair and Mini on the bed.
I had a chat with some fellows from my game, I really need to get busy to make some changes, or I'm going to loose my best crew. With the internet trouble today, I didn't get much done, again.
I must also start making a habit of checking my cellphone ... just in case there's a work message that I need to know. Checking my phone ... yikes! Something most people can't do without - and I have to somehow make it a habit now.
Anyway ... time for bed ...
Okay some news: surfers today protested the logic behind the prohibition to surf. They were arrested for 'standing still' during the 'exercise window'. I kid you not!
Police arrested several Cape Town protesters for "standing still" during the "exercise window" of the Level 4 lockdown as they demonstrated to have beaches opened for surfing.
One guy got away on a bicycle! From motorcycles! Again, I'm not joking!
Another issue the DA brought up was eCommerce. Why, instead of making use of an option to shop, which is totally in line with social distancing, and could relieve the crowds in shops - is it banned?
Oh, and the story of that guy arrested yesterday, for running after his toddler? It's now in the news ... And more about the tobacco ban. An article disproving the initial reasoning of lives vs economy, the completely disorganised repatriation of South Africans, who were left stranded at the airport ... not in any lounge, or even inside any building, but on the tarmac of the runways! And a possible constitutional court battle ... and some sense from our Finance Minister.
Another good thing about the coronacast is that I work on my belt while I listen to it :) It's coming along nicely!
Okay, I've made the bread dough, and rolled it up in three thick slices of the cheese I got from the German butchery. I should really bake some muffins as well, but it's already seven o'clock ... getting a little late. Maybe tomorrow?
Mippies all came without any trouble! Ziva was actually one of the first to arrive, then Mini and Janey was the last tonight. When we all went inside, Ziva thought it was time to go for another walkabout! Eish! Fortunately she changed her mind and came inside!
I fried myself the mutton chops, then had a very, very hard time getting a bite for myself! Mewthos absolutely LOVED them! He was ready to paw them off my plate!
Well, the bread is done and I just had a slice with some of that cheese I made - WOW! Deeelicious! Absolutely delicious! I don't think I can stop eating this! I must remember, in future, to let the cheese drip for only a few hours, not the full 12 hours. It's lovely and creamy this time. I only have one problem now: I just opened my last kg of bread flour! And they didn't have any at the local store ... Sigh.
Anyway, I appeased Mewthos with chicken hearts and bits of my dinner - he's now curled up on the bath mat. Ziva is in her shelf, Janey on the armchair and Mini on the bed.
I had a chat with some fellows from my game, I really need to get busy to make some changes, or I'm going to loose my best crew. With the internet trouble today, I didn't get much done, again.
I must also start making a habit of checking my cellphone ... just in case there's a work message that I need to know. Checking my phone ... yikes! Something most people can't do without - and I have to somehow make it a habit now.
Anyway ... time for bed ...
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