Lock-down Day 85

I was just thinking back, when this whole lock down started. 21 days - that was the plan. Big plans to make use of this unexpected holiday, then back to work and life as normal. There would be some financial implications, but nothing we wouldn't be able to weather - and everyone was promised financial support from the government!

Yeah ... now we're on Day 85 ... business are bankrupt, people are broke and hungry and our president is making empty speeches. Everybody is angry. The longer this continues the worse it's getting ... violent crime is on the increase, and the police are hunting down illegal cigarettes.

Yeah, they are STILL illegal! The judges have not made a ruling ... I just don't get it! You'd think they are deciding something of grave importance! I read today that somebody called FITA's offices and made such awful threats that a young lady, who works there, is now afraid to go to work!

I hoped that my next carton would be at legal prices again ... but it doesn't look like it ... and illegal prices are skyrocketing, out of my league! The leaves I ordered won't come any time soon - I'm reading of people who received their delivery some 6 days AFTER they started packing, and I haven't even received THAT yet. Remember my making plans with the left-over cigarettes? Yeah, looks like I'm going to run out rather than pack away.

I heard from my friend in PE again. Things are bad for him, they are sitting without electricity, so they take the baby to grandma over night. He's going around asking for work, anything, anywhere - no luck. Since I got my UIF, I could help him a little. He's been through plenty of tough times himself, but I've never heard him so ... close to depressed. That is frightening ... what this is doing to good, hard working people.

Every day in one of the lockdown facebook groups there is someone sharing a sad story. Not whining, nor looking for attention or such, just sharing ... it is really, really frightening. I often scroll past, simply because I just can't take much more ... there is so much of it, so much suffering. Too much is just too close to home ...

Mewthos is being extremely difficult tonight! He is absolutely adamant that he deserves another sachet - I am just as adamant, that I cannot afford that. I can't go back to 3, I just can't. And it's not like he's hungry, and not even lacking attention, either! Tonight I'm just about ready to throttle him! You know, I move my hand fast towards his face, as if I'm about to slap him - he doesn't even flinch! Just looks up at me with those baby eyes, filled with love ... sigh ...

I've warmed myself a few cups of milk tonight. I was going to add honey, but didn't.

And then I received a surprise call from an old friend! Turns out she stays not far from me and promised to come visit! See? It pays to keep the same number :) I've had the same cell phone number for as long as I've had a cellphone! Mewthos was being difficult while I was on the phone ... eventually I shut them all inside while I sat in the lounge. Having almost a whole of my few, last, precious cigarettes. Crap as they are.

Mewthos has finally settled down ... FINALLY! 

I didn't get much done today, I'm afraid. I washed the laundry and the dishes, baked myself some lovely pies - first time! Oh, I've wrapped stuff into pie dough and baked it, before, but I've never made several small pies. I used the large muffin tray. I topped them with a slice of potato and a dollop of my cottage cheese. Quite nice! Very nice, actually!

I didn't do much planning, though. I spent more time chatting than I did thinking, today. The Coronacast was about the current surge of violent crimes, a lot about the gender based violence, or GBV as it's referred to, and femicide, but also farm murders. It was very upsetting to learn that - for all the speeches - in reality, government isn't lifting a finger!

Right now, I'm just a little too cold for comfort, so I think I'll brew myself a chamomile tea and go sit in bed, watching a bit more AHP. Irritating, isn't it? This trend of using initials? I really dislike it. I'll be watching Alfred Hitchcock Presents :)