Lock-down Day 54

Don't want to get out of bed, but Mewthos was extremely insistent! So much so, he chased me out of bed early - I returned the favour by chasing him out early!

I thought I'd have a little time to myself - only to find that I had LOTS and LOTS of time to myself! So much, in fact, that by half past nine I was getting ready to go out and look for them! Only Mini was home, Ziva had come for an ear-scratching but Mewthos? Not a peep! And usually the house is filled with his insistent, annoying mewls! And, as usual, just as I'm getting frantic, they show up! First Mewthos, then, just as I had shut him and Mini inside with a treat, Ziva came running and as I was leaving, Janey came mipping as well! So I shut them all in to get my milk.

For some strange reason, I found it difficult to decide the next milk order - should I get more than usual, for cheese and / or butter experiments? Such a simple decision, and I'm finding it difficult - what shall I blame? Old age? Many paws? Withdrawals? Lock-down? A bit of each, methinks! Anyway, I ordered 5 liter for Friday.

After cutting my smoking so drastically yesterday, I'm back to 1 an hour again today. I was able to wait until 9 for the first one, though. There's a lot of chatter that the ban will be lifted by Wednesday ... nothing official, but a LOT unofficial! Somewhat supported by reports that the prices of illegal cigarettes seem to be dropping - drastically!

I haven't posted the numbers lately, as they no longer have any real meaning. Government isn't testing as much as they promised, recoveries aren't re-tested, tests still take days to process ... no significant improvement in the process achieved in over 50 days! Restrictions, however, are receiving detailed, time consuming attention. If I look at the Infographic published, it doesn't look like they plan on easing the lock-down at all ... remember: only the government is now allowed to give any information!

For non-South Africans: Tshwane = Pretoria. Buffalo City = East London. Nelson Mandela Bay = Port Elizabeth. Mangaung = Bloemfontein. eThekwini = Durban. Don't ask - it's a long story.

Another phone call from work. Apparently they've been busy and need to deliver - but aren't sure how to create a delivery note, nor how to record taking stock from the store ... oh, and there's a parcel for me! So, tomorrow I'm going in to work to collect my parcel and do some paperwork ... oh, and I've been promised another packet of smokes, too!

Oh, great news! Gauteng will be moving to Level 3 in June! Said with extreme sarcasm! Why sarcasm? Because it is Bull! Absolute, utter Bull! What was supposed to be a risk-adjusted strategy has become nothing more than totalitarianism! (= a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state)

Oh, we're now allowed to comment on the proposed Level 3 draft ... which apparently is where those '2000' voices denying tobacco products in Level 4 came from. So all smokers are happily commenting that tobacco must be allowed ... which, in my personal opinion, completely misses the point! Specifying which products are allowed to be sold during a State of Disaster should NOT be legislated at all! It has absolutely no place here - it simply has no application to the Disaster! I mean, take those ridiculous rules of what clothes may be sold during Level 4! How would that apply to the next Disaster? If that takes place in summer, for example? NOWHERE do I see ANYTHING clearly stating that these regulations apply ONLY to the current Disaster!

On the Coronacast the most frightening news is that the government is effectively starving its people! Well established charities may no longer issue food. I just cannot wrap my head around this ... I've been sitting here for ten minutes just shaking my head, trying to find the words ... I wish that every person involved in that decision - whether they proposed it, supported it or knew about it & just let it happen should be starved. Not they should starve, but forced to starve, preferably while looking at food which is kept just out of reach!

I'm glad to see the DA is taking government to court over this - but frankly, that should not be necessary! It just shouldn't happen!

Yet the ANC still maintain all decisions are based on science? What science supports starving people saves lives? And also the ANC admits that they did not consult scientists on lock-down levels. 

Anyway ... we may move to Level 3 sometime in June. Not end of May anymore, but beginning of June. Which could be as last as 10th of June, after all ... or even later. And Level 3 is still not defined. Nobody knows what new specifications will pop out of the magic hat! Or should I say the satanic kopdoek? (kopdoek = material wrapped around the head, African tradition; so kopdoek = NDZ).

I've made a loaf of bread today, but that flour is definitely not okay. The loaf just won't rise like it should, so it's pretty dense. Again. And this time I used less Semolina, as it is nearly finished - since I used it before and got fluffy loaves, that's definitely not the culprit. It's also not the yeast.

I also made another dough for cookies. I've since learned that adding oil was a bad idea, as it makes the dough too dense - just as too warm butter does. Resulting in hard cookies. 'Room temperature' is just soft enough to leave a fingerprint without being so soft that a finger goes right through. I used the hand held mixer to 'cream' the butter and sugar. I added chocolate chips at the end and put the lot into the fridge, wrapped in clingwrap.

When Janey came mipping around early today, I decided to keep her nearby. So I went outside with her and Mini - naughty Mini! She enjoys chasing poor Janey, who doesn't like that attention! Ziva came running very early too, and Mewthos followed soon as well, so they were all inside very early tonight! So early, in fact, that I decided to wash the dishes. How are those two related? Simple: no mip missing, lots of time before I want to bath, so I filled it with something productive.

I'm now contemplating whether I should maybe just bake the cookies tonight still - or should I do that tomorrow, when I get back? I think tomorrow.

As I was enjoying my lovely hot bath, I thought back to baths in PE! When I had to rush to wash as fast as I could, to get done before the water became too cold! Where all the heat from the water was sucked into the bath faster than you'd think possible. Or how, if I got delayed, I'd end up having to take a cold bath! As much as I miss PE - on the whole, I'm a whole lot better off here!

And on that note, I bid you good night!