Lock-down Day 95

Ooof! Where to start? It's now three in the afternoon, and I finally get to sit down to start writing today.

I got up somewhat late, had a cup of coffee and left for work. Well, first I went shopping. Shelves are empty! Lots of things are not being delivered, like spices - I don't think they are allowed to work, yet? Those shelves looked just too sad. The produce is fully stocked - but not looking too good. Quite a lot is looking rather ... wilted. No wonder, since the prices are now beyond most people's budget. Store managers clearly haven't caught on to that, yet. A lot of produce is still sold only processed (cleaned & cut). That was a good strategy when people had money and no time - but now, a lot of us have plenty of time but no money. We'd now rather buy fresh and clean it ourselves. Especially since cleaning, cutting and mix- pre-packing doubles the price.

I took a packet of mushrooms, which were on special, some celery and a small bag of potatoes. Nothing else looked appetising or affordable. When I got to the sugar shelf - it was empty! No white sugar, no brown sugar - only the organic hyper priced sugar! Or 10 kg bags! Then I saw at the back of the top shelf some 500 gram bags of brown sugar - I stood on tiptoe and took 6 bags, which was all I could reach! Lucky I got sugar! I was also lucky to get baking chocolate - I took 5 slabs! That should keep me going for a while! Then I was happy to see the bread machine instant yeast! So I grabbed several packets.

I was very happy to see a special on coffee! A real special, not the 'sign up that it's on special, but the price is the normal price' gimmick. I grabbed 5 of those :) I was equally happy to see butter on special, too! So I stocked up, as well as on the baking margarine, which was also on special! I was able to get almost everything on my list! Even some cat food tins!

I also got some groceries for At. Meat is expensive, so I took some stewing meat - I want to try and see if I can feed it to my mippies as a treat! If I can change them over to real meat instead of sachets, that'll have a big impact on my finances.

Even the dairy shelves have gaping holes ... no products ...

Then I went to work. First thing, I called the courier. Lady answered and gave me just the standard reply 'you'll get it when you get it - it's out for delivery today'. Nothing I can do, so ...

I got busy with work, there isn't much to do, though. I arranged all that I could, to make sure I don't need to come in tomorrow ... enjoyed lunch time with At again! I learned that, when I ask a colleague to get my cigarettes, he doesn't add a fee - so I saved a bit on the packets I bought today. Enough to last me until Thursday - by which time, my delivery will hopefully be here!

I also told him about the curtain-debacle here at home, and how my landlord totally changed his tune Monday evening. He agrees that Leon probably DID try to take legal action against me, trying to force his will on me in my home - and possibly learned that, in fact, I could take him to court for breach of contract when he turned my water off! Maybe he was even told that he should count his lucky stars to have a tenant who is STILL paying full rent, at this time of crisis!

I called the courier again, this time a guy answered and he gave me some relevant feedback: firstly, he couldn't understand why it wasn't delivered on Friday - it went out for delivery, but came back ... no reason given. And they worked till late into the night on Friday, so there was someone on site. Then he told me it's definitely on the truck for delivery today, I should receive a call when he's nearby. That's good to hear!

I arranged to come in again on Thursday, unless I'm told I'm not needed.

And then: My delivery arrived! I did a happy dance! Happy, happy, happy! Finally my smoking woes are over! Yippee, hee hee, happy, happy!

It was going on three, when I finally got home and let my mippies out - who nearly toppled me in their rush to get out!

First, I unloaded the car, then I packed everything that needed to go into the fridge. Then I enjoyed a smoke! Ha Ha! I had given At a couple as well! Then I packed the rest of the groceries away - I'll have quite a bit of re-packing to do with the meat.

Then I took out my tobacco leaves! Arranged them nicely and took a photo! I received a large bag, plus a 'starter bag' (small bag with crumb-like tobacco - not whole leaves), and a sticker. I'm so happy that my smoking straits are no longer dire! I feel so uplifted! Motivated to spring into action and do lots of stuff, now! Ha Ha Ha! All I've done, so far, is write all this! Oh, and smoked a few cigarettes, ha ha!

Well, it's now almost eight. I've updated the game spreadsheet, done the basics for my cities, warmed up and at the last of my pizza ... and then called in my mippies. Janey was late and Ziva even later! Janey came in, ate and wanted to go out again. Sorry, my darling! Yes, you're home fairly early, but if I let you out now, you won't come back till very late - and I'll be worried sick by then!

I was trying to plan all that needs doing now, making cigarettes, baking cookies, re-packing the groceries, laundry, making pet food ... when, just to spoil my mood, I got a message from HR! Everybody to show up Thursday at ten for a meeting. Sigh, that's NEVER good!

I was leaving the tobacco for tomorrow, but then I thought: why not let some dry overnight? So I put a couple of leaves into lukewarm water and let it soak for about 2 hours. Then I patted them with a towel and placed them on the laundry stand to dry overnight. I still don't know what paper to use or how I'll make myself filters. Well, that's tomorrow's problem ... 

I must say, it has been absolutely awesome to be able to have a smoke anytime I like, without having to count, stop, calculate, ration ... very different from last night!

I just decided to put the nicotine water into the oven. It's in a bowl - and I don't want my mippies to drink from it. Not that they are likely to, as they don't like the smell, and it was atop the kitchen counter next to the stove ... but better safe than sorry! I don't think I can throw that down the drain - I think it would kill the bacteria. And I don't want to go outside after dark, to throw it out, either.

Mewthos and Ziva got a bit restless and decided to play catch with each other! Zooming around like pinballs! Earlier, Mewthos went into the cat carrier to sulk, when I didn't pay him enough attention - Mini went and sat in front of it, puzzled about Mewthos behind bars! Too funny! She pawed at the bars while he sniffed her paws! They've all settled on the bed now ... and I'm ready to join them.