Lock-down Day 88

I slept quite well and not too late. I'm still keeping the curtains closed, so I have at least the feeling of privacy in my bedroom and my bathroom.

I was feeling energetic today, so I started re-arranging and packing up the lounge. I finished the room divider - well, only LPs and 7" singles were there, and some lever arch files in the bottom. I moved all the boxes and cleaned the floor, then re-arranged them to clear the space in front of the bookshelf. So I can start packing that next.

I had also put my sheets and towels into the machine and washed them, as I thought my landlord was out - it was unusually quiet next door. I'm now guessing that was merely hang-over, as he is now busy burning the fields outside! First I knew of that was when I smelled and heard the fire! I looked outside and there's a wall of fire just behind their garden! Mewthos and Janey are inside, but I don't know where Ziva and Mini are!

Really, he should have told me he was planning to burn the fields - I could have kept my mippies inside! Safe and sound! And I could have closed the only window open on that side - now, I've got ash all over the bed. Good thing I didn't hang my sheets and towels outside, eh? I hung them inside, because I don't like going outside anymore.

He's now burning the field on the west as well. I guess, since he's lost his worker, he can no longer cut the grass ... burning is not a good solution, though, as there is quite some wildlife there, like tortoises, etc. Which is strange, as he loves all nature?

I'm not overly worried about Ziva and Mini, they both lived 'wild' before they chose me - but neither has any experience with fire!

I was feeling a bit like a crook, secretly packing up my lounge - but when he started that fire without warning, I feel mine is definitely the lesser ... well, not crime, more like activity? Anyway, now all that is left in the lounge is books. Although, I've run out of packing tape. I'm going to have to make a plan to go to Makro, where I can buy a packet of rolls cheap. Marko is quite far out of my way, though ... maybe I should go to Wonderpark and try at Game? Definitely the lesser evil. 

My bedroom was so full of smoke, both Mewthos and Janey fled - but outside is even worse, so they've come back! My eyes were watering, too! I could also feel the heat here!

I've also been thinking a lot about finance. Naturally. Knowing that I won't have a full salary to rely on, for who-knows-how-long means that I have to re-write my budget, cutting even more than I did in December. My three biggest expenses are rent, cat food and cigarettes; with the latter two adding up to as much as my rent. Now, if I can get the leaves, that could reduce the cost of smoking radically, down to about 10%! I may have to invest in a rolling machine again, when that's legal again, but that's not big money. And since I have more time on my hands now ... I should be able to keep that up. And with the cat food, it's the wet treats that cost the most. I've already reduced that, and if I can start cooking my own, I could maybe eliminate that cost altogether? It's a work in progress.

So, that leaves rent. The biggest problem with rent is, that it's become standard practice to include a clause in every contract, whereby the rent increases by 10% every year. Which is more than double the increase in property value. I just found an article that claims, South Africans spend less than 20% of their monthly income on rent ... sheez! What fantasy world is that? I spend a third of my salary on rent! Am I doing something wrong? Nope, they base their numbers on 'job adverts' (which are mostly professional, high income jobs) compared to the rental adverts. So, they are comparing the income of people who primarily purchase their home to rents. A bit flawed.

Still haven't seen Ziva nor Mini. But that's not really unusual. Still, until I have seen each of them, my mind won't be at ease. It's only half past three, so they'll be out, gallivanting. They normally show up after four, sometimes only after I call them. Well, Mini likes to hang out under my feet a lot ... Still, I wish they'd pop in for a snack.

It's now twenty to five and both Janey and Mewthos are still huddled together on the bed - which is unusual. And I have still not seen either Mini nor Ziva! I keep telling myself, they've never come from where the fire was, so they were probably nowhere near - but what if they ran away from the smoke & heat? Too far away? Sigh ... I can only hope they'll show up soon ...

There is still no news on the ban of the sale of cigarettes. No decision from the judges. And the other case is being dragged by the courts - they are trying to appoint judges, but they haven't even set a date, yet. FITA's case was heard on 10th June, BATSA is still trying to take their case to court. There have been several posts that store owners were informed that cigarettes could be sold again from 1st July ... I'm guessing that's when Level 2 might come into effect? We've had Level 4 from 1st May, Level 3 from 1st June ... so we can only hope for Level 2 from 1st July. It's been called the longest and most brutal lockdown in the world.

Phew! Twenty past five and Ziva has just popped in for a snack! I followed her to the front door and saw Mini coming out of the store - having set the alarm off in the store! Phew! Now I'm at peace again!

WOW! And now I am gob smacked! Utterly stunned! Practically speechless! I was in the kitchen, frying my steak when my landlord knocked on my kitchen window - softly, almost politely. I opened the window a crack (though we can actually talk through the closed window, as the fanlights are open) and he actually said 'Thank you for the curtain arrangement in your bathroom on Sunday!' I have NEVER heard him say Thank you for anything, ever before! I didn't think he knew the word! (In Afrikaans it is one word: 'Dankie'). And he spoke in a reasonable voice, not raised, not shouting! I was just gob smacked!

We had a short discussion, where I told him that all I ask is that he talks to me in a decent manner, no shouting. I have a lot of stress now, and I just can not handle being shouted at. As expected, he denied shouting, even blamed ME as being the one with the attitude, insisting that he had asked me nicely, not shouted instructions ... I just kept quiet. No use arguing. Surprisingly, he still didn't raise his voice!

He then told me that the fire had destroyed several pipes, and the earliest he could replace them was Thursday - if I could please, please not use a lot of water until then. Really, he asked VERY NICELY!

And now I feel like a heel for thinking he started the fire deliberately! I stopped to think that it's unlike him to endanger wildlife - but didn't think any further. Yes, I know, I could edit that out, since I haven't published yet - but this blog is about reality. And I'm not always a nice person, either.

It seems that somehow some bit of reality found its way into his thinking. Maybe he recounted our encounter to his visitors and someone mentioned how I'm a paying tenant - either how he should be glad for the income or something along those lines. Or maybe someone mentioned that it's illegal to enter my home without my consent. Either way, it means the pressure is off! I no longer have to get out fast. It was the threat of feeling threatened inside my home that pushed me over the edge ... I'm glad I didn't act on what now seems to be an overreaction. I considered calling my boss - now I'm glad I decided to wait until Wednesday.

With today's episode, I'm considering giving them at least 2 months notice ... when the time comes.

But this is really a very big relief! Because moving at this time is really, really only for emergencies! I would feel much better, if I could first secure an income ... know how much I can count on every month. And see how much I use every month, how low I can go on my expenses.

Right now I'm sighing with relief! I can now first focus on earning an income, without anything else going on. Well, not exactly. There's still lots going on, but nothing additional. I don't have to pack, there's no deadline, I can do 'house stuff' when I feel like it and have time for it. Still no bath, but at least I can now shower without fear of having my water cut off mid shower! Well, after Thursday, of course.

And I no longer fear receiving some legal action in the mail! Yeah - I've spent two days living in dread here! Fearing the worst ... will he barge into my home? Will I receive some ugly mail? Will he shout yet another irrational restriction at me? What's coming next, and when? It's really awful! Because I feel so helpless and vulnerable. Not that he would ever lift a hand to me - THAT would never even cross his mind, I'm sure. Like I said, he's not really a bad person, just a very, very thoughtless one. There are many forms of abuse - violence is just the only 'socially acknowledged' as abusive.

Maybe he just did some thinking while sober.

Anyway, just after I spotted Mini coming out of the store, I saw Janey on her way away somewhere, so I called her. Amazingly, she came running to me, with Mini in tow! I decided to get them inside now, safe and sound - even though it was very, very early! They all came without any trouble, I gave them two sachets, then a bit from one of the tins and they all settled down almost immediately and they're all quietly curled up on the bed!

I was feeling ice cold again when I feared for Ziva and Mini! Now, I'm happy to say, I feel relatively warm!

Tonight, I feel sure that I'll sleep well!