Lock-down Day 43

Strangely enough, mippies let me sleep fairly late before dismantling the flower fountain in protest. I opened the front door at seven - but mippies stayed inside, playing with each other instead of rushing out? Not for long, though - it's quarter past now, and they're all outside ... somewhere. I can enjoy my morning coffee in peace.

I can't tell you why, but I'm feeling a lot more positive today ... no reason. Like I always say: Feeling isn't reality. When we feel good for no reason, we don't question it, we just enjoy. But when we have negative feelings - we have a tendency to act on those, as if they were facts. That is were it becomes a problem, when we retaliate for FEELING hurt - without evaluating our feelings.

Anyway, I'm now waiting for my mippies to come in, so I can go and get my milk. It's already nine and only Mewly and Mini are underfoot. Ziva was here but left again; I haven't seen Lady Jane, yet.

The headache is back. I don't know what's causing it, but it's at mere nuisance level, so I can live with it. I found my twirly jersey in the kitchen this morning. And now Mewthos and Ziva are driving me insane demanding their milkie bribe ... but Janey isn't here. No Janey, no munchie!

Just after ten, I lost patience. Mewthos was here, so I shut him in and went off. As I came through the lounge, Ziva and Mini came running, so I shut them in with Mewthos and the munchies, and drove off.

The farmers son has now been told that he would only be allowed to leave when the country is at Level 1 - which they expect at the earliest in November! OMG! November? We endured 5 weeks in full lock down. We've now had 8 days at Level 4 - with more citizens arrested on arbitrary charges than new confirmed cases. No data on how many are starving ... dying of starvation right now. Nothing happening to corrupt official nor criminals. Gender-based violence increasing. Everything spinning out of control ... business closing, unemployment rising ... And that after only 6 weeks! Now they want to continue on this road for another 7 months? Ai, ai, ai ... there goes my positive feeling ... down the drain!

When I got back, Janey was standing in the door, mipping questions at me! Why is the door closed? Where were you? How could you shut me out? Why didn't you wait for me? Open the door, now! Ha Ha Ha!

Anyway, now I'm getting irritable and taking it out on my poor mippies. I had better calm down and re-boot my mood channel! Finding a news article that a body of lawyers now want to side with government to keep cigarettes banned is not helping.

It's past eleven now, and I haven't done anything ... oh, I've done all basic game stuff, got my milk, cuddled mippies, written this blog, checked the news, cleaned the litter boxes - twice already ... 

I think I missed the DA's numbers update last night, just found it:

292 153 tested, 8 283 confirmed, 3 153 recovered, 161 deaths.

Oh, and now the sale of cigarettes is not definite in Level 3. Alcohol, yes, cigarettes - unknown.

My landlord just asked to order eggs ... uhm ... just exactly HOW is that supposed to work? He knows full well that I'm not working ... Oh, here's why: THEY aren't bothered much with this lock-down. He's got a permit, as a plumber - though nobody is doing renovations, so he doesn't have much business. She goes to see her clients, just as always - so: no difference in income for her. I'm paying my rent ... so this whole crisis doesn't have much effect on them. They still go out shopping anytime they feel like it, and as often as they like and they've both told me that they believe it would be best to just get everyone infected and let those meant to die, die already ... As I understand it, that will happen anyway. The purpose of these restrictions is, to halt the transmission long enough to prepare. Of course, they believe that, because they have full medical cover, THEY are not really at risk, as they'll be receiving the best treatment available ...

However, we've done all we can to prepare by now ... we've learned all that we can from the data. There is nothing more to be gained from these extreme restrictions ... many people agree. And yet, nothing changes ...

19 000 Prisoners will be paroled to keep them safe from the virus, and anti-corruption work is declared as non-essential. Yet, setting the entire police force and army loose - without clear instructions or even guidelines ... THAT is essential? At a time when reports of corruption are escalating - and going to such despicable extremes as to steal food from  those who are starving? This is unacceptable! And how is that in line with the 'promise' to go after corrupt officials?

I've now started spring cleaning in the kitchen ... and I've taken out another rump steak for dinner tonight. 

No coronacast today, instead an address to the president: We've passed the corona crisis and are now in the lock-down crisis - end the lockdown now! Or at the very least, explain your reasoning! Why add more restrictions (Level 4) rather than ease down, as promised?

Since it was an address, it took only about half an hour, during which I didn't make much progress on my belt. Still, it's coming along nicely!

I've washed a bit of the kitchen floor - starting on one end, I plan to give it a thorough cleaning before I move on. Oh, I cleaned all the visible marks everywhere - it's always motivating to SEE the difference! Then I fried my steak and sat outside to eat it. I'm missing Mini! Haven't seen her for hours - and she's usually right outside, rolling onto her back for tummy tickles every time I come out! I've called, and taken a walk around the whole garden ... no luck. And I've just Mini-proved my Ottoman! She's been using it to sharpen her claws, so I've now put cardboard on her 3 favourite corners ... and she hasn't been home to give it a scratch, yet! I'm trying not to worry. She survived in Rosslyn, so I don't think anything here could hurt her ... well, snakes, I suppose? No, I won't allow my mind to go there ...

I've washed another layer off the kitchen floor - same side. But I also washed the walls, window frame and the gas bottle. It's a visible improvement - which will hopefully motivate me to continue tomorrow. It's nearly five now ... still no Mini! Mewthos is still on the armchair behind me, all cute and cuddly. When he starts going out ... 

Phew! Mini is home! Naughty little girl! By five, I got restless, so I went out to look for her - Ziva and Mewthos in tow! She was simply across the 'road' - not far, just beyond my sight! With 'road', I mean my landlords driveway - leading from his parking to the gate. I join that 'road' at the end of what I refer to as MY driveway. I guess she had been curled up napping somewhere around there. And just didn't feel like coming just because I called her. Like I said: naughty little girl!

Once she was home, I decided to plant more succulents. The ones which were busy outgrowing the little pot Rose made for me, which I now use to 'raise' succulents from broken off leaves and such.

Mippies love my succulent beds! Mewthos in particular often curls up among the plants to sleep or nap there throughout the day! Mini occasionally plays with them - which I try to discourage, but she doesn't do much harm. She also loves to just lie down among those plants!

Now, out of the blue, suddenly there's an article justifying the ban on the sale of cigarettes. Among other fallacies, it claims that the ban on the sale of cigarettes promotes social distancing!

I cannot believe that this study can have ANY validity! 6 weeks ago, there was ZERO data on the transmission rate ... now, out of the blue, there is data on HOW MANY SMOKERS are buying cigarettes illegally AND the transmission rate of THOSE SMOKERS? I do not believe that! Not for a second! But even IF there was any substance to that study - just exactly HOW does buying cigarettes increase the risk of contracting the coronavirus MORE than buying groceries? Absolute fallacy!

They're laying the groundwork to keep the ban on the sale of cigarettes in place. Permanently! With no relation to this pandemic!

And that statement about the financial impact? If our Minister of Finance doesn't believe that - why should anybody?

Furthermore, WHY does the ban include vaping products? That's something I just cannot wrap my head around: just how quickly and with zero justification ALL laws regarding tobacco suddenly apply to vaping as well. Why? How is that justified? I mean, some homes have gas ovens, people spray air freshener, use incense, etc. Sigh.

Awwww, now Mewthos and Mini have curled up together on the armchair! That's a first! And Lady Jane is on the bath mat! I think they're playing 'musical cats' ha ha ha! Ziva is in her shelf ...

Another article listing the fines one can incur during lock-down. I'm puzzled by the 'going to work without a permit' fine ... or 'failure to confine oneself to one's place of residence' ... that looks to me more like 'fine anyone at will'?

Nice! Someone shared a video on how to simply roll a tea cigarette! I've never mastered the art of rolling my own - always had someone else roll for me. And, of course, I had a little roller to help me ... which has been stolen by some ex boyfriend ... I'll be giving this video suggestion a try tomorrow! I did try to roll one today, without success. Hold thumbs!

Anyway, I should get to bed now ...