Lock-down Day 127

I hear we've now entered yet another Version of Level 3 Lock-down ... what the freak is wrong with our government? Do they have even one working brain cell among the lot of them? They just don't seem to grasp that this country can not afford to stay locked down! All the data, the facts, the images - everything speaking louder than words, screaming to end the lock-down NOW ... and they just play games, and borrow more money ... without even putting anything in place to prevent that money being stolen! History will look at the ANC Government as the single most detrimental factor this country has ever experienced - far, far worse than Apartheid ever was!

How are they still in power? Because in their 'campaign speeches' they instill fear and hatred against whites - their whole campaign is based on 'If you don't vote ANC, you'll get Apartheid back'! After 26 years of ANC Rule - under the false label of Democracy - not many voters actually remember Apartheid. Anyone younger than 35 cannot honestly say they remember anything! Because change started happening long before the first democratic elections - what is remembered of the 5 years leading up to that, is the end of Apartheid. 26+5=31. And anyone trying to tell me that they remember 'what their country was like' at age 4 or younger, is lying! One remembers incidents of one's own life, nothing wider. So you have the majority of the population aged below 40 believing whatever they are told ... and fearing that these horror stories will come true - if they don't vote ANC.

A government that rules on fear - and after 26 years still has absolutely NOTHING to show for themselves ... can only stay in power by unnatural means: either fear or manipulation. They are working on both. Our president continues to instill fear - using the Afrikaans word for farmers as a threat: "If you don't vote ANC, the 'boer' will come back!" meaning, 'Apartheid' will come back! And he sees nothing wrong with saying such a thing! And secondly, they are abusing the pandemic to stage a coup! They are planning to 'postpone' the next elections! They do not want citizens to have a voice - they have already taken full control of the courts, taking away any opportunity to have a voice ... silencing an entire country into submission!

It's just so frustrating and demoralising. Every day we stay locked down ... speeds us closer to the point of no return! It will already take decades to recover - we just can not afford to continue going down, we absolutely must start recovery!

If a simple woman-in-the-street can understand this - how can people with supposedly higher education not comprehend?

Anyway ... back to my little corner. Mewthos was terribly restless last night. He picked fights with Ziva, then with Janey ... it's not like him to bully or fight? I wonder if something is wrong? Only ... he's eating just fine! But he was definitely out of sorts last night ... and it's been building up. The night before he was also somewhat iffy.

I've just come up with another improvement on my cigarette making. I ran out of prepared tubes now - but I do have some paper, the kind for self-rolling. No filter, though. So I folded an ordinary white paper, just a filter-width. Cut enough for one filter, rolled it and fitted it together, like a loop, tucking one end under the other = no glue. Then I hung that 'ring' around my pen, rolled the paper around it = my tube. Then took some tissue paper to serve as a filter and stuffed it into the 'paper ring' and then stuffed my 'tube' as usual! Since the paper I was able to get is 'king size' I simply twirled the end to close the tube - and THAT is really the improvement! The reason I don't pre-stuff my tubes, but take empty tubes and tobacco to work is, because the tobacco falls out at the end. And the receipt paper doesn't 'twirl' nicely. So, maybe this weekend I can go a step further and prepare whole cigarettes for the week!

All this DIY has had me laughing at myself a few times already. Remember a long time ago, when I still bought everything ready-made? Bread, chocolates, cigarettes? And THEN I complained about the time my weekend chores took? And now? I've added heaps more chores - and the one's I used to complain about, I now do 'just by the way', almost like running them in the background! I have to confess, though, that the floors are not looking too good and I'm completely neglecting the garden. So, in a way, I've given up gardening for making my own bread, chocolate treats and cigarettes.

Back at home, I'm trying my method with actual cotton wool - not working. Using standard paper together with the extra thin cigarette paper is just not working as a filter. So, next, I went back to my heavy paper, yet I'm still trying to use the wafer thin cigarette paper, instead of the receipt papers I've been using thus far.

There is such a lot to learn! I mean, it's a whole process from leaf to cigarette and I've got to learn the whole lot! Without the equipment that makes it quick and professional, too! Well, with this last attempt, rolling cigarettes is definitely off the table! The receipt paper at least is free - but the cigarette paper is, after all, specifically for cigarettes. Theoretically, they are gummed, but I think they are old, because the gum isn't working - so I'm using the same glue I used on the receipt tubes.

At least I can take smoke breaks while I think about the next attempt! I meant to make myself fried potatoes for dinner, Bratkartoffeln, but to be perfectly frank, I'm too tired to do anything! I'm washing a batch of leaves - still only washing, drying and cutting them, no flavouring, yet. All things considered, though, I've come a long way already! I know how fine the tobacco needs to be, so I don't get embers falling off while I smoke. I know how to pack the tobacco just right - not too tight and not too lose, ditto filters. Okay, so I still get it wrong at times - but I immediately know what's wrong; and I know how to fix it, too! Cool, eh?

Washing leaves twice, leaves them still too strong for me, so this next batch, I'm washing four times! It's most probably because I don't use a lot of water. I'm reading about some people filling the whole bath for a batch ... whereas I'm using just one small bowl ... 

Anyway ... big leaves are spread over the drying stand. Mippies all came home of their own accord ready for their treat! Very early! And then Mewthos went into hyper-attention mode! I've had to play catch with him, over and over, then I brushed him, pulled him out of boxes and bins, carried him back in my arms, cuddling him until he wriggled free ... then starting the whole thing over again! Sigh!

I'm now just about ready to strangle Mewthos into silence ... so ... bed ... right? Right!

Lock-down Day 126

I'm now Mewthos' twirly ground! Oh, he still uses the same jersey - only, now he uses me as the kneading ground to twirl it on! Mippies were up early again, and I stayed under the covers late - also again.

At work I've started unraveling the complex spreadsheets I've been using - trying to simplify them somewhat, and make them easier to use. I now have more experience on HOW and WHAT I need, than I had when I first designed them ... and then just patched on and on to them, as needed. That's kept me so busy, I've had no time for much else.

I was glad when it was finally five and I could come home! At home, mippies zoomed outside nearly sweeping me off my feet in the process. I packed lunch, etc, and then Mewthos was back - ready for lots of lovies! I took a tour around the garden with him - well, not around, just near the house, but he was very happy to go walkies with mommy!

They all came in without any delay, then I treated them, had my own dinner - which, again, only Mewthos had one piece! Now they are running amok! As I've been trying to write my blog, I keep having to get up to play with mippies, so ... I'm giving up the writing and will give mippies my full attention!

Lock-down Day 125

Mippies woke me much too early, so naturally, I over ... uhm ... dozed. I didn't go back to sleep, just snuggled under the duvet, dozing. Mewthos went trampolining over me, joined by a happy Mini and eventually I had to come out from under MY little fortress.

I've found that finishing my first cup of coffee - even if it delays me - makes a big difference. When I was late, I used to just take a few sips and dash off. Now, I've found that when I take the time to finish it, it somehow lifts my whole day. Funny, eh?

Anyway. Back at home, I stood outside with Ziva and Mewthos who hadn't gone far nor for long. Standing there, it didn't take long for Mini and Janey to come home, either. I took them inside and gave them their treats! Happy mippies!

Then I paid my rent, and tried to write my blog ... but by that time, the internet was acting up again, so I closed it and just watched 'Eureka' while cuddling mippies.

Funny thing, I fried myself a steak - and not one mip would eat a piece! Not even Mini! Well, bargain for me! I decided to take muffins to work, rather than bake more bread - so I baked muffins quickly. Turned out nicely.

And that was about it ...

Lock-down Day 124

Power came back on today just before noon! Now I have a buck-load of work to capture - everything I prepared during the outage ...

Back at home, I have no chores - for a change - and then Mini brings in a pigeon! Alive! I eventually get it off her and put it outside on a chair. At this time, only Janey is still outside, everyone else is inside. Either Janey didn't see the bird, or it had already left by the time she came home.

And then mippies needed lots of attention, I'm afraid! I had Ziva under the duvet, getting her ears scratched for almost an hour just now - she even started licking my hand! Something she's never done before! Only Mewthos is mewling ... I don't know what his problem is, picking him up isn't the answer, scratching his chin doesn't work - and no, I'm not giving him more food! So I'm going back to sitting on the bed to entertain my cats ...

Lock-down Day 123

Late start, got to work a little late ... had to quickly check and pack what they brought in on Friday ... half-way through the power went off! And stayed off, the entire day!

I got a call from an old friend! Lovely surprise!

My delivery arrived - I have my coffee filter! Tomorrow morning, I'll enjoy my first cup of filter coffee! Can't wait!

Let out mippies - and it seems we have another new worker. I showered, unpacked everything, washed the dishes - including the new filter, so I could use it tomorrow! Packed my lunch ... mippies asked to come in ... except for Mewthos. He let me wait a while ...

And I finally cleaned mippies flower fountain again! The filter was ... mucky. Time to change it. I noticed they are - once again - out of stock! I'm glad I got 2 packets, when they were available! Now I wish I had gotten more, ha ha! Well, a packet holds 3 filters, so I'm only on the 2nd one now ...

Janey is in play-mode and not self-play. She's picked the eggshells out of my bin and brought them to the bedroom ... I put them back, she brought them back! And they sat looking at me with mournful eyes - back at their bowls ... I gave in and gave them a 4th sachet! Seriously, this is not going to work, if they get so greedy about it!

Well, I've spent half an hour playing with my mippes! They are not interested in any toys - except for the stick! Mewthos is also somewhat surly ... not sure what to make of this.

Let's see what tomorrow brings ...

Lock-down Day 122

Lazy start of the day, but then I got hyperactive. And still: I'm behind! But only for this weekend! And it's almost two o'clock!

Okay, I got up around seven - as soon as I sit up, mippies sit up staring at me with hopeful excitement! I get up and open the door for them - happy mippies!

For myself, I decided on a slow start, so I played my game first. Then I processed the tobacco - some of which was already crumbly dry! So, a lot of it jumped off the chopping board ... sigh. Then I swept the whole place again and washed the floors before more mess was added! Why did I sweep again? Sigh: Mippies! Who love to roll in dust and dry leaves, then come inside and shake them off! On my floors!

It was past one when I finished all that - but at least I now have plenty of chopped tobacco!

Almost three, everything is ready to go on top of the pizza - I fried some steak, some mushrooms, cut tomatoes and cheese. Dough is in process ... I'm dreading the dishes, ha ha ha!

Half past three and the pizza is in the oven. I'm afraid the dough didn't rise like it should - not a problem for the pizza, but I'm also baking a loaf of bread for At! Cookie dough is in the fridge, too, so all I still MUST get done today is the dishes.

Almost five now, I've washed the dishes - everything! The bread is cooling and a batch of cookies is in the oven, chocolate already cut in half, ready to be added.

Ten past five, At's bread is packed, my pizza is packed - with the rest in the fridge - refuse is in the boot, new bin liner fitted. Smoke-for-the-road is also ready ...

Six o'clock and all my mippies are home and stuffed full of yummies - only, I don't feel like eating after all that cooking and baking today. No problem, I've had some bread and cookies - I'm good.

Well, I'm exhausted - but everything is done! No worries, so I should sleep well tonight.

Lock-down Day 121

Snuggled down till daylight this morning. Then, time to let mippies out and to get busy!

Mippies ALSO got busy, though! I've enjoyed two clean-up-after-mippies exercises already and it isn't even noon! First there was a mouse in the lounge ... and Janey went through my seed stash, toppling it all over ... and now Mewthos brought a dead pigeon into the passage ... feathers everywhere! I've swept them up - in slow-motion, of course, because you don't want to disturb the air!

For myself, I've finished chopping all the leaves, they're now drying on the baking trays. Should be enough for at least a week, hopefully more! I've swept the whole place - not too thoroughly, just perfunctorily, to make it look good. That was BEFORE mippies got busy! The laundry is hanging to dry and I've cleaned the kitchen. I guess I had better start re-packing the groceries for freezing ...

Quarter past noon, half the meat is packed, ready for the freezer. I cut the bags in half, as they're not exactly cheap - and if they end up too small for a steak, I can always use them for chicken hearts.

The first tray of tobacco is dry - at least, dry enough to smoke! No longer too strong! I've packed the tray into a tub with an apple slice - that tray alone should be enough for the week! With the second tray, I should have a nice head-start! So that I'll never have to work flat out all weekend just to meet my week's requirements ... tobacco, cookies, food, everything! As I said before, this isn't living!

I've watered the garden - expected to by the landlord, as he's pumping water now. I was in the middle of processing the mushrooms ... anyway. Mushrooms are sautéed, first batch half-frozen in a bag, still in the freezer, though, with the second batch. Both batches are freezing now. I've filtered another 2 packets, spent a LOT of time cuddling Janey, who demanded my attention quite urgently! She's now curled up on the bed - getting her tummy tickled and kissed sporadically. Mewthos just joined her.

Right, all tobacco is ready for smoking! Packed and sealed in a tub with an apple slice! It's going on half past three ... I'm exhausted!

So I spent some time playing my online game. Then I went and had my first full cigarette! I mean, it's been the first time in ages that I smoked a whole cigarette, rather than just take a few puffs, then nip it. Mippies came without much of a wait - Janey and Ziva took a little time, but as it is really early - no problem!

I've thought about tomorrow, what I still need to do. Actually, it's not all that much. Bake a batch of cookies, make another batch of cookie dough, and I've decided to make myself a pizza. Which still gives me time ... and I've decided to make more tobacco! I'm soaking more leaves now, I'll hang them to dry and they should be good for chopping tomorrow morning!

And now I have 4 spare boxes of filtered tubes! It's not yet half past seven, and I feel I've gotten a good head start on all the 'needs'. I think next weekend will be less 'must' and more 'choose what' I want to do.

Janey has been extremely attached to me today! I almost got the feeling she was sorry for the mess she made - having watched me clean it up - when she went after the mouse in my gardening box. Or maybe she just decided that today is HER day for cuddles! She's quite reserved during the week, in the evenings it's Mewthos and Ziva who take up almost all my time - Janey and Mini get a little neglected. Mini gets her share of cuddles at night, though, when she curl up in my lap and I scratch her ears. Janey seems to have been bitten by a mouse - right next to her nose! Doesn't seem to worry her, though!

Funny thing, I'm exhausted but not really tired ... 

Lock-down Day 120

No Sushi! No more Sushi! I feared this might happen ... it's very sad. That's another batch of jobs lost due to the lock-down. That whole food preparation section is gone ... they made a variety of meals there, sandwiches, and other fresh meals. On weekends you could get a Sunday dinner of your choice there ... gone now ... 

Oh, I forgot to mention that our president was going to address us last night. Sorry, I didn't want to hear which step backwards we're NOW taking ... not at the cost of my data. It could wait for the summarised news today. Yeah, going backwards. Not for any scientific or rational reason, but giving in to pressure ... schools are closing again!

Oh, and remember how he made such a big noise about wanting no investigations into how the pandemic was handled, when it's all over? Yeah, right! How it is being handled is clearly SO BAD he had to eat his words, and has created a special unit to investigate COVID related corruption. They'll have their hands full, won't they?

Shopping was exhausting - but mostly successful. I got almost everything on my list, still no corn starch, though. And they didn't have my preferred baking chocolate. But they did have some, so I took what they had. Sugar was back on the shelves. Pasta was a problem, though, they didn't have my preferred brand and were almost out of Fusilli (which I can't yet make myself). But they did have Chamomile tea and I also saw Ginger tea - which is very good against cold (cold feet, feeling cold, etc). I took tins of cat food tuna and sardines as well, tuna for myself, too. And sour cream was on the shelves again, so I took some of those. I see that Nescafe has brought out two new Instant Coffee's: Brazil and Strong. That's why their 'Original' is on special. But I still have plenty, so I didn't buy any more today. Toilet paper was on special, so I took another shit-load (pun intended!).

I'll have a lot of work tonight and tomorrow, re-packing, processing and freezing everything ...

I've run out of filtered tubes, so I just added a filter before filling a cigarette ... a colleague was busy here and watched me. He tells me he can get me the roller AND filters! I asked him to find out the price - that would save me a lot of time!

And my leaves arrived as well! Lovely!

Only problem today is, without Sushi - I'm hungry! I didn't bring enough bread today, didn't want it to go to waste. That 'smart decision' is biting me in the rear now! Ha Ha!

Back at home, I carried everything inside, put in the freezer what needed to stay froze, packed in the fridge what needs refrigeration and packed everything else into some space. I had to make space for some things, again. Then I washed a batch of leaves - twice - the big ones are now draped over the dryer and the small bits are still in the colander to dry. Spread out as much as I could. I don't have the energy I had last week, so I filtered my tubes.

If I can get a roller, I won't need many more tubes - so how many should I make? And what if it works out too expensive? With the filter, I mean? Can't use my own filters in the roller ... All these headaches will seem silly in a few weeks, when I've mastered the whole process! I see they are now also selling a filling machine - but the price? Yikes! Way, way beyond my budget! No problem - rolling will do, for now.

I just saw mail that my Takealot order will be delayed - one item out of stock. New delivery scheduled 18 August. My first thought was: NO! It's still July - that's a long wait! But actually, it's just a month - and there's nothing in there, that I need urgently. So I think I'll simply wait! It's not the order with my coffee filter, ha ha! THAT one, I'm very eager to receive!

Three mippies came without trouble - Mewthos came a little late, but just before I was going to worry. I gave them several sachets - a last 2 when Mewthos arrived. I think I'm a little too generous with them, ha ha! But they are being such darlings! And they totally clean their bowls!

I fried myself a steak for dinner, even though I wasn't really hungry. Mewthos enjoyed his share!

I made more tubes, another 3 packets. Then I felt the drying leaves and they are just damp - perfect for chopping! Sigh. At eight in the evening ... well, I've chopped half the leaves. Removed all the sticks and veins - with Janey investigating the composting bin ... taking out the egg shells, playing with them ... I guess I'll have to wash the floors tomorrow.

Well, I have a good batch of chopped tobacco drying in the oven now - I'll see about processing the rest of the leaves on the drier.

I really have to find a way to get a head start, so that I can have an actual weekend sometime!

Lock-down Day 119

It's now almost four and this is the first breather I've had all day!

I've been trying to decide about grocery shopping - I need some items, which I can only get at the store ... but with shelves being empty when I do go? How best to go about it? I really should go tomorrow - before most people's payday. The next opening would be in 2 weeks ... but if I go, what time? It's not really ideal anymore, to go from work - first thing in the mornings is best. So, go before work? But I also need frozen vegetables, peas & broccoli ... will they keep? And then, if I do go shopping, how will I find enough time this weekend to process the shopping AND cigarettes? I also still need to make tubes and add filters to tubes, too.

I don't know whether to look forward to the weekend or dread it ... everything is so chaotic. So much to incorporate into some form of routine ... I don't enjoy this kind of challenge in my home. I like things to be familiar, and add new things at my leisure - not have them foisted on me!

So I will treat myself to a Sushi tomorrow! Just because!

Back at home, I find another wet spot in the passage - I think it's a protest against the closed door! Well, paper towels wipe it up ... not nicely, but good enough until I have time to wash the floors again. Sigh. Next I clean the boxes - lots of use in both! As always, with four cats indoors day and night ... then I wrote my shopping list. I was about to go sit by the door for a smoke, when mippies came strolling in! One after the other - I hardly even had to call! Seriously! Aren't they just the most considerate cats ever? And then they were as happy as could be with just 3 sachets! No whining or begging for more - just quietly happy!

Okay, so they did mip at the passage door, wanting to play in the lounge for a while - no problem! They played for a while, then came back to settle on the bed and I closed the door, so I won't have to look for missing mips in the lounge tomorrow morning!

I don't feel like frying my steak, nor do I feel like eating. I just want tomorrow to be over and have the weekend to look forward to.

Lock-down Day 118

Late morning. Very late morning. Half an hour late for work.

Not feeling overly motivated today, so I'm just keeping busy.

And then, latest news: Alcohol and cigarette ban will remain in place the entire lockdown! WTF? Well, not so much worried about either ban - but just how much longer are we supposed to stay in lockdown? How is this happening? Why is there not even a word of moving on? It's as if it has become 'normal' to be stuck in Level 3 lockdown ... indefinitely? It is Day 118! There are people who STILL can't work! Okay, so they've extended the financial relief - TERS Funding ... but just how much can that still help? I am so sick and tired of this government!

Big news today that they've caught millions of Rands worth of stolen cigarettes and how the 'Priority Crime Unit' will investigate ... yet farm attacks are NOT a priority crime! Nor is violence against women and children ...

Those who are making these idiotic decisions do just not seem to grasp that the real crisis is still coming! When the economic fall-out really starts affecting everything and everyone! Oh, except for those making decisions right now - they won't feel any effect! They still eat the same as always, travel wherever they like, spend as much as they want, buy anything that takes their fancy ... they have no clue what hunger is! I'm just so sick and tired of watching things getting worse and worse ... helpless ... unable to prevent what I see moving towards me, about to bury me ... 

I'm trying not to think about it. I bury my head in the sand and just enjoy my little corner, my little life. But what will I do when prices sky-rocket? When business' increase prices just to make ends meet? When a basic food prices rise beyond my affordability? I just don't want to think anymore ...

Back to my own little corner. I've treated myself to the luxury of looking through the DVDs available on Takealot. I've put lots of them onto my wish list. I've thought about actually treating myself to one or two whole series - the one's on special at the moment. And maybe even buy mippies a scratching, climbing toy. But then I thought to myself: imagine five months down the line, and we're still in lock-down, and I haven't earned a full month's salary in a while ... money is running out ... and now there IS no further option available ... what WON'T I regret buying now?

Well, there is a very cheap DVD with some episodes of Bonanza - THAT, I won't regret! Purely for the nostalgia! And I've never seen that available before. I've too often not bought little things like that, expecting them to be available when I can easily afford them - only to find they were off the market by then. So that's the only item I'll treat myself to.

As for mippies, they'll get more Whiskas! IF they don't reject them tonight - first time I open anything thing new, they always gobble like monsters; when they still gobble it the second night, that's when I know I can buy it again! Little monsters!

I'm having a lock-down blues day today. This whole madness is getting to me again, badly today. As a country, we've come to a stand-still ... there's no movement ... no talk of progress. Only more restrictions and going backwards. We have got to lift the lockdown! It's already too late ... argh! If I don't stop thinking about this, I will go insane ...

I'm also unhappy about product availability online. It's bad enough in the stores - but one really just can't plan at all! It's like 'shop when it's in stock regardless of finances or need'.

On Monday I found a simple, cheap filter to make myself filtered coffee - remember when I searched every site & every place I could think of and found absolutely nothing? Then ended up with the product which claimed to make 3 cups but turned out a cup = a sip? And I had looked through shops before with no luck. Then, today, when I wanted to add it to my cart? Gone! They had a second product, equally simple but a designer brand - horrendous price! Then I took a chance and looked on another site - and got lucky! Double the price, but less than half the horrendous price! Long story short: I've placed an order for a simple filter!

But the flip side is: shopping - even online - is becoming a nightmare! Items fly off the shelves, there's no guarantee items will be in stock when you need them ... take chamomile tea! A short while ago, I found it on one of my regular sites. Now? Nothing! Nowhere!

So, I've doubled all my orders. Instead of 1 x 1 kg chocolate pieces for baking, I've ordered 2. Yes, it's a lot of money now - but at least I won't run out! I've ordered more Whiskas as well.

Mippies cleaned their bowls so thoroughly tonight, again and again, that I couldn't withhold another sachet. And another. And another! They're gonna get fat if I keep that up!

I've ordered one cat toy, and I also took one complete series - it was almost half price! And I've seen it once, and quite enjoyed it, so I'll enjoy watching it over and over again.

Oh, and government made yet another U-turn, claiming that news regarding the cigarette and alcohol ban staying in place till the end of lock down? Not true! Yeah, right! I'm pretty sure they just didn't mean for it to go public!

Anyway, I've done my online shopping for the week - looking forward to the delivery! If I have the energy, I may go to Spar on Friday ... 

Now, Mewthos is driving me up the wall again! I'm not hungry, so I didn't fry anything tonight ... everything is ready and packed for tomorrow ... time to sit back and cuddle whichever mippie comes too close!

Lock-down Day 117

Phew! What a day! I've literally been busy the whole day long - receiving, checking, labelling, you name it, I've done it!

My Whiskas has arrived today - let's see tonight, whether mippies still love their Whiskas! I know Janey was always very fond of it.

Back at home, first I unpack the cat food - I'm looking forward to seeing how mippies will react! Then I wash the dishes again, so I have a clean kitchen again. Pack some leaves for a colleague ... and here is Mewthos! Mewl, mewl, mewling for attention.

I go to the door, light a smoke - Janey is here, Mini nearby ... I call ... and Ziva comes as well! Put out the smoke and go inside with mippies! Mew-mew kisses and start with a sachet of Royal Canin. Happy! Then I open the first Whiskas! Ooooh! Happy, happy! Remember that I changed from Whiskas to Royal Canin because they used to leave the meat behind and just lap up the gravy or jelly? Well, they no longer do! They now eat everything! Yum, yum, yum, yum! Open another Whiskas! Gobble, gobble, yum, yum! A great success! I'm glad!

I've put the dough in the oven, loaf of bread now baked. I've packed lunch and taken most of everything to the car, already. Including a smoke for the road. The trick is that I need to light it and take a puff or two, then stub it out. I'm using dry tobacco and when it's filled, it just falls out again - so I light it to sort of 'close it' at the end. Still learning ...

I'm finding wet spots all over the place again. Not quite puddles, but wet spots. I have to say, though, that both litter boxes are fully used by the end of the day as well - I'm not cleaning them in the mornings. I guess I should ... only ... sigh ... morning ... you know? Not the time for hard labour!

Mewthos needs lots and lots of lovies in the evenings ... he is quite wearing me out! Right now he's in the bath - I've scratched his ears, Mini joined ... and he's purring up a storm! With the acoustics in the bath, it's quite loud!

Remember before the lock-down? When I used to come home and sit outside smoking while mippies went walk-about? And only started housework when everybody was inside? Sheez - how did I get things done, then? Well, I didn't give mippies as much attention once they were inside, as I do now! Having me home full-time again for so long has thrown them for a loop - they don't understand why I'm not staying home always. Like I used to, back in PE! Well, it's definitely thrown Mewthos for a loop - he's really not handling my absences well at all!

Of course, I don't have time to play my game in the evenings anymore ... just no time. I can't say that I mind, though. I'm happy to jump through hoops for Mewthos, instead, ha ha ha!

Lock-down Day 116

I didn't want to get out of bed this morning, but finally bullied myself to get up. Poor mippies had hoped for outies - but with the passage door closed, they knew they'd be indoors today. I spoiled them with a treat.

I got to work a bit late, some 20 minutes. And then I had a brilliant idea! I had been thinking of making a plan to get to some large store to look around for some of the household items I could really use, like a coffee filter (not the paper filters, just the filter you put the paper filters in), a stove top kettle, a new hot water flask, packing tape ... and then I tried searching for such items on Takealot - Jackpot! I've had a good look around for items I'd like, which are not expensive, added them to my wish list so I can go through that at home and decide whether I want to purchase.

On a whim, I looked at the DisChem site and it looks like they've also risen to the challenge and made a much wider range of products available online! Not just a handful of high priced items. Cool! I couldn't find Glycerin nor shoe inlays, though. The site is not very good, yet. The search results are rarely related to the item I'm looking for - like, when I look for cornstarch, I get baby powder. Okay, so it's made from cornstarch, but I know they also have cornstarch in their food section, which is what I'm looking for.

On the way home, the speed trap just before the Doornpoort Plaza flashed me ... only, I was going 5km/h UNDER the speed limit. A car overtook me on the left, in the yellow lane. I hope I'm not the one getting the ticket! I checked my speed when I saw the flash, it was halfway between 70 & 80 km/h. And the speed limit is 80 km/h.

Back at home, I get busy in the kitchen. Bake a batch of muffins and preparing a mix for bread dough tomorrow. I was just finished and about to make myself a cigarette to go and call in my mippies ... when my mippies came strolling in all by themselves! Mewthos followed by Ziva followed by Janey! Mini had to be called, but came immediately! How is that for cooperation? What darlings!

Of course, Mewthos and Ziva want special attention as a reward! No problem! I have to share my stew with Ziva - there's no meat left, it's just carrots, potatoes and celery (of course I keep the celery from her!) but I fill a spoon with liquid and let her lap up her fill! Janey pokes her head out the shelf, where she's retreated, wondering what yummies Ziva is lapping! Mewthos also came for a sniff, but he didn't like what he smelled.

I've just spent some ten full minutes waddling after Mewthos, picking him up, holding him, scratching his ears, putting him down, waddling after him again ... etc. He's settled on the kitchen chair now. Muffins are baked and cooling on the rack ... I've packed what I need to make filters for the tubes, maybe I'll get a chance to make some at work tomorrow. If not, I'll have to make some tomorrow night. No worries. For now ... half past seven ... time to relax.

Lock-down Day 115

I slept quite well, but got out of bed somewhat late again. It's still cold! Mippies went hyper when the sun came up - time to open up! We wantz out! Ah, well ... off you go!

Busy day again! I've baked 2 batches of cookies today, 2 loaves of bread, I've spread the cut tobacco to dry - keep turning it on the paper towels - removed all the twigs and veins from the rest of the leaves I had washed and spread them out to dry, rolled a good number of tubes, added filters to about a dozen of them ... it's after one and there's still such a lot to do! Sigh! And I've had a headache all day, which I just can't seem to shake!

Okay, I've taken my credit card back to black and transferred some monies to my friend. I looked at the tobacco site for an order ... the courier costs have increased by 50%! BUT: Now, when you order 2 x 1kg, the courier cost stays the same - which works out even cheaper than the previous courier costs! Someone did query that in the Facebook group, and we learned about the trouble the farmer is having with couriers. The price for the leaves has never changed. Well, I've used the voucher and when this arrives, I'll have enough leaves to last a long time!

I looked at getting some Whiskas pouches for mippies - but the regular cat food company I use, don't offer it. Well, Whiskas is junk food. I'll try the other one, and order another bag of litter as well ... 

Done! Turns out the litter was on special - so special that it paid for 2x boxes of Whiskas treats! Like I said, the wet food is merely a treat - treats can be junk food! They are getting all the nutrients and vitamins and everything they need from the various dry foods they munch all day long!

Twenty to five and I'm exhausted! I haven't sat down for a rest all day, poor mippies did not get much attention, either! Worst of all: I still want to bake a batch of muffins, because the bread won't be enough for lunch tomorrow ... which means that I'll also have to wash the dishes again - and I just finished cleaning the kitchen. Sigh.

No! I just don't have the energy! I'll just have to get something at work tomorrow, if I'm too hungry.

The tobacco was dry and I tried it - it didn't burn nicely. Sparks and stuff falling off. So, back to the chopping board and chop it fine - now it works! That took about an hour, though - and I had to sweep around the chopping area again. Then I took the rest of the leaves, which are still damp, and chopped those as well. I eventually turned to using one of those see-saw type choppers, the one with two handles. It looks like a half-moon knife. I chopped all of it very fine and put it back on the paper towels, which I put on a baking tray so it could dry in the oven. It should be dry by tomorrow evening, then I can tip it into my tub. Funny thing, though - I had chopped it as much as the starter kit tobacco, and that burned perfectly, even with the rougher pieces; yet once I washed it, I needed to chop it much finer. Weird?

Oh, and it's best to chop it when it is damp. Not wet, not dry, damp. Then there's no mess on the board and no tobacco flying all over the place!

I've also made a few more tubes, though I don't think I have enough for the week ... again ... Man, this is a lot of work! At least I have managed to get a head-start on the cookies! I still have dough in the fridge, so next weekend I can simply make one batch of dough and bake one batch. Next weekend's mission will be to get a head-start on the tubes! When the ban is lifted, I will definitely invest in some equipment to make this job a lot less work! Oh, I could buy some now - but pretty much 'unseen'. I'd be buying without being sure whether it's really what I want ... 

I spent the whole day listening to music today, though! Lovely! MY music - not the landlord's crap!

I wish I had another weekend to recover from this weekend! Like I said, I don't think I've sat down to rest for more than five minutes at a time all day! Fortunately, I have a lot to show for that! It's been worth it.

Most mippies came home without much trouble. Janey has been hanging around since about five, Mini came soon after I called ... eventually I took the two inside and gave them their treat. Mewthos arrived a while later ... now it's seven and we're waiting for Ziva! But that's because she was home very early and instead of shutting her in then, I let her go off again. I'm not worried ... yet.

While waiting for Ziva, I made 3 boxes of filter less tubes. I've now got 2 boxes with filters, one of which I'm taking to work tomorrow and the 3 where I still have to make the filters. I'm using my old legal cigarette boxes. And, of course, I can't fit a full 20 tubes into each. Only about 10 or 12.

Well, the cigarettes I'm stuffing now, are all burning nicely. Like real cigarettes. I think I'll have to re-chop the dried tobacco from the previous attempts ... although, maybe I'll just give it away.

I think the headache may also be due to my sitting hunched over for several of the jobs. Like when I roll the balls of cookies, when I roll tubes and when I make filters.

Twenty-five past seven, Ziva mips at the passage door! Phew! Always glad when all my mippies are home safe and sound!

I've taken my refuse out and put it in the boot, my lunch pack and water bottle are out in the car already, so is the loaf of bread I baked for At. All I'll have to take tomorrow is my cigarette kit and coffee.

Almost eight now, I'm going to join mippies in bed and watch an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Hour!

Lock-down Day 114

Mippies were active during the night! First Mini came and curled up in my arms. Not like Mynx, who used to sleep on his side, snuggling up to me. Mini prefers to rest on her tummy, with her paws on my arm while I tickle her tummy! Or kiss her head - which she now tolerates!

While she was in my arms, Mewthos got restless and meandered around, looking for something ... I offered him a place under the duvet, but he didn't want to join us. When I had to answer a call from nature, Mini left to curl up on top of the duvet. When I later turned on my right side, Mewthos came meandering again and this time he snuggled under the duvet. For a while, at least. It was lovely to get so many cuddles!

I slept very well - and very late, too! Why get out into a cold home when you don't have to get out from under the warm duvet?

It's now noon, laundry is hanging to dry, cookie dough (times 2) is in progress - waiting for the margarine to warm up a little, stewing beef is defrosting, leaves are soaking, and I think now I'll start rolling tubes for the week. I've already chopped up the whole starter pack - enough to last me through the weekend ... maybe I should chop the left-overs from my last washing attempt before I make more tubes?

Actually, I made the cookie dough's! Both batches. I had Mewthos for company - and before you start cooing "Awww, how sweet" ask me why! Why? Oh, because he brought in a mouse, let it go and it ran behind the stove! He had no real interest in MY company - he just wanted his mouse back! Ha Ha Ha!

And my leaves are washed and outside in the sun ... in the colander, though, so not drying all that beautifully - but drying. The beef stew is stewing ... and I'm getting rather hungry now! It's just gone three, and all I've had so far was a few slices of bread. And the last few cookies ... I should probably bake another batch ...

It looks like that new worker here didn't work out, after all. I haven't seen him since Monday morning - and he's not skulking around here this weekend.

Right. One batch of cookies are cooling on the rack! I think I should bake some more tomorrow. It's now just after four - no, baking cookies doesn't take an hour, but I'm interrupted by mippies and smoke-breaks and chat and ... you know, weekend fun stuff!

Okay, going on five now. Kitchen is clean again, and I'm ready to start working on tobacco ... I'm always tempted to leave some jobs for Sunday ... and then on Sundays, I don't have any energy left. So today, I just keep going ... I'll need to do banking tomorrow. I tried today - as I received another call for help from my friend - but the internet connection is wonky again. I don't want to risk being disconnected mid transaction. I may even do some online shopping tomorrow ... I'm thinking of ordering another kg of leaves, as I've received a small voucher, which is valid only until Monday.

Seven o'clock, mippies have been home over an hour already and have already settled down on the bed! Happy mommy! They enjoyed a sachet and a tin of sardines. I enjoyed the potatoes I added to the stew - the meat is probably still somewhat tough, so I'm not even trying that today.

I chopped up all the previous attempts at washing and drying leaves - they were too dry, and jumped all over the place! So I ended up having to sweep the floor again afterwards. Half the leaves I washed today are relatively dry, so I laboriously removed the veins, rolled up the flaps of leaves and cut teeny little rolls off. Then I chopped those up and put them into a margarine tub - they're not completely dry, I'll probably have to spread them on some paper to dry some more tomorrow. Then I took the small stuff and placed it between paper towels ... until tomorrow.

Well, I've definitely got enough tobacco for the week - though not the nicest result. But it's smokeable. So tomorrow I'll work on a stash of tubes to keep me going. I should also bake another batch of cookies, as they - as always - turned out irresistible!

Now it's eight, Mewthos is on the prowl again for even-he-knows-not-what ... I pick him up, he purrs happily, wriggles down and mewls again. My little ball of trouble!

Lock-down Day 113

Winter! My least favourite season! Urgh, I'm cold. And I'm still forgetting my gloves - hopefully this weekend I'll find the brains to take them out!

Mewthos was restless last night. He kept prowling around, but wouldn't come in for a cuddle - I even turned over onto his preferred side, dislodging 3 comfy mips and myself. He just stuck his nose under the duvet and turned around again. Ditto Mini, but she wasn't as restless.

I got up a little late this morning, and was a few minutes late for work.

I'm glad it's Friday today. I'm ready to spend some time at home.

First thing I did was to wash the dishes. I'm seeing 2 piddle puddles in just the kitchen - urgh, the floor looks as if it hasn't been cleaned in months! So, I sweep and now I'm busy washing the floors! Not even half the kitchen and the water is already black! Now I'm waiting for it to dry, so I can get more water and carry on. Mippies are off gallivanting! I have no idea where ... 

Phew! Kitchen floors are clean! That's 1/4 done. If I didn't have to go to work all day, every day, I wouldn't have this problem ... just thinking out loud here, stating some more motivation to work on my income options.

Phew! Done! That's much better! My Mister Piddles has been busy! Well, it's quarter past five now, and the worst weekend work is behind me - although, with my luck, I'll have no energy left tomorrow! But I need energy! I need to bake more cookies, and maybe a batch of muffins - the bread alone just wasn't enough at work this week, even though I've made plenty! The laundry isn't a big deal - but the smoking preparations will take time. I want to prepare plenty of tubes and wash some leaves.

I had wondered why my leaves looked nothing like those 'granny panties' everyone else showed in their photo's on the washing line - mine look more like patches. Turns out it's most likely hail damage. No problem - the colander washing option I'm using works on those. Just the drying is a bit of an issue. And it explains why I'm not getting that 'roll up the leaves in a tight sausage, then cut in thin strips' thing working for me.

Mippies are strolling in one by one, Mini, Ziva ... mipping to say 'Hello!'

While I was washing the floors, I was reflecting on my home situation. To the casual reader it must seem like I've gone from 'the best landlord ever' to 'landlord from hell' practically overnight. That's not exactly a true reflection, though. They are not bad landlords. He put in a lot of sprinkler systems for my garden, and he used to water my plants last year, during winter, when I came home too late do safely do so. He's not doing that now, because I'm no longer tending the garden - I haven't done anything there for ages. If anything breaks, he repairs it immediately. So, on that score, he is still the 'best landlord ever'. The problem really is, that they both don't seem to grasp the whole 'renting' thing. They still firmly believe that this is THEIR house and THEIR garden - so they believe that I MUST live by their rules. That's where all those restrictions come in ... although I have a feeling they've been set right about that - yet they haven't lifted any of the restrictions ... I still fear that if I try to run a bath, they'll cut my water. Not sure, but I'm not willing to push the issue.

Also, this whole lock-down has affected them, financially, as well. And they've had to cut costs, too. And they simply believed that by 'including' electricity in the rent, that gives them the right to control electricity use ... only ... I'm paying electricity! They missed that one, too! All this 'you're wasting my water' is actually about electricity - pumping water. THAT's his problem, both with the bath and my washing machine. The pump works for too long for both. With regards to the bath, that's his own fault: He installed the system, limiting the amount of water coming out of the tap per minute! So, what brought everything to a head is very simply that this crisis has revealed many true colours! And my landlord's true colours are simply not generous; that's all.

So, on the whole, if they had grasped this 'renting means it's MY home, not theirs' from the beginning, I probably would have continued to try and make this my home.

BUT: The real problem is, that this place just isn't right for me. If I had seen it before moving in, I would never have taken it! The layout is just not working for me at all - I don't have room to be ... What I mean is, that there is no room to rearrange anything. And there's no room for additions - I haven't even put up my display stand, because there is no room for it. I'd have to get rid of something to make space. And the dining table can go only in the kitchen. To take it out of the kitchen, I have to remove the legs - and there's no other place where it can fit. So, I can't use it for hobbies ... 

None of that is my landlord's fault. The issues he's caused, have just made me accept this reality - nothing more.

Oh, nice! I just received a message that June UIF payment has come through! I should put my credit card back into the black tomorrow! Grin, right now, my bank balance is looking better than it has in years!

My ladies have come home without much of a wait. I gave them their treat - and they cleaned their bowls so thoroughly, I gave them more, and more, and more! It was a pleasure to watch! But when I opened the third sachet ... I had to stop. Keeping some back for Mewthos.

Only ... it's now seven at night, and Mewthos is still not home! I've gone outside with the LED lamp to look for him ... nothing! Now I'm worried! I've walked all the way to the gate, shone the torch across the field, walked the other way to the west ... no cat eyes anywhere! No mewl either. I'm telling myself that this is not the first time ... but it has happened only once before! And that time, I did actually see him when I went out to look for him - although I thought at the time, that I must be mistaken, as I expected Mewthos to come to me. When he didn't, I assumed it couldn't have been Mewthos. That was when he went with Sir Galahad. But what is keeping him away now?

Half past seven ... still no Mewthos! I have a bad feeling about this ... I'm trying not to give into it, but ... I am just so worried, now!

Quarter to eight, still nothing! And there is nothing I can do! If he's hurt, he's either too far or quiet. He is so accident prone, it's not far fetched that something happened to him ... but ... wouldn't Ziva have called me, like she did before? Would any of the other mippies know? Yes, I think they would ... I hope ... but why isn't he coming home? Is it one of the black males I've seen around? I hope so! I found my jersey had been twirlied across the armchair today. 

The ladies have settled on the bed, curled into little furry shrimps. Mini investigated my tube-making stuff, but she's also settled down now. I've fried myself steak for dinner, which I shared with Ziva and Mini. Janey came to investigate, but didn't eat any. Mini is so clever, she noticed that I had washed the floor, so she cleans the floor where she eats!

Five to eight, a mip at the door! Phew! Mewthos! Right past me, straight to the food bowl and 'where's my treat'? I don't know whether to smack him or hug him! Of course, I hug him! I put his treat in his bowl - Janey comes and sits hopeful at hers, so I give her more as well! Then I go and have a 'relief smoke'! Not three puffs, when Mewthos demands I come back and give him more treat! I tell him 'No! You were late!' but Janey sits at her bowl looking at me as well, so ... I give in and give them all another sachet! That's five in one night! But I'm just so relieved ... so incredibly relieved! All my mippies home, safe and sound!

The girls have settled down on the bed again, and Mewthos? He's sitting on the sleeper couch, looking out the window! If he could, he'd go back outside, right now! The girls are far more sensitive to my feelings. They learn what upsets me and avoid it ... for a long time. Now and then, nature takes over and they upset me by staying out late ... and then come home early again for a long time. Mewthos isn't trying to upset me, and it's such a rare thing for HIM to stay out late ... so I guess it's not that he isn't sensitive to my feelings. He's naturally more attached to me, than the ladies. More of a mama's boy. Whereas the girls are simply a little more independent. Except for Mini! She's as attached to me as Mewthos is!

Anyway ... stressing over Mewthos has also tired me ... I better crawl under the duvet and go to sleep now. It's only twenty past eight!

Lock-down Day 112

Of course, when I got home and finally switched on the PC - I had full internet! And could have finished writing this blog last night. Ah, well ...

I spend my evening predominantly with my mippies, instead! Mewthos is piddling outside the box again, which is not a good sign. Well they went dashing out when I arrived - as usual, and came back fairly early again! I had cooked myself some pasta with tuna and peas and added the last sour cream. Yummy! Funny thing: Ziva also enjoyed that! She doesn't like the raw meat, but she enjoys my starch - pasta, potatoes & rice!

I chopped up some of the starter pack and made myself a cigarette, as I had nothing left - that burned nicely, without any trouble! So I chopped more of that for myself for today and I packed my 'tube making kit' so that I could maybe make some more at work.

I'm going to have to build up stock over weekends, not during the week in the evenings. My evenings are just too short - and mippies deserve my time, too! That's putting quite a lot of pressure on my weekends, though, as I need to clean, and stock up on tubes, cut tobacco, cookies and food for myself ... ah, well! I'll figure it out somehow.

So far, I've been extremely busy at work. 

I bought some tomatoes and potatoes from the street vendors. Then, on the way home, I collected my milk and said goodbye to the farmers son - who is FINALLY able to fly home! At a price - but he's willing to pay it. When he said he's planning to visit again in January, I mentioned that we might not meet again, as I'm planning to move. I told him why - he could NOT believe what I've put up with; but he does understand that it's different for us women. Which he clearly understood - which is rare in men. Anyway, apparently his brother rents property - not sure whether he's an agent or owner - and he said he'd give him a call and will let me know. I gave him my card, so he has my contact details. I told him I have 4 cats - that's the worst about me :)

As a result, I came home rather late - and mippies dashed out faster than usual! Still, they came home fairly soon - only Mewthos let me wait a little. Now they're all home, safe and sound!

I've just eaten the rest of the pasta, then added filters to some more tubes, cut up more tobacco for myself and packed more leaves for a colleague! Word has gotten around about the leaves - some are still shy to ask, though. I think, giving out the leaves is fine - but I won't cut it for anyone but myself :) After all, I'm still on the first bag - though I've used the 2nd 'starter kit' for myself already.

I got a message that the annuity has been paid into my account - that's a big relief! At least I'm now financially secure - no fear about rent, food, cat food, etc. As a result of the economy, the annuity has also lost in value, already. I suppose it's one of those high-risk investment portfolios - not my personal preference. I'm not a gambler! Anyway, I won't have to stress about money for essential needs for a while. Big relief!

Since I got home late, and mippies came home soon, they've had some time play-time after their treat! Ha Ha! My little love bugs! Ziva is so incredibly lovey-dovey lately - first one home, mipping for cuddles, mipping for attention ... I was just thinking tonight, just how different she is now! Remember back in PE? When I learned that I had to relocate? And I was so anxious whether it would be good for Ziva to force her to come along? Or whether it may be kinder to leave her in her home territory? Well, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind anymore! She's much happier with me - no matter where we are! I'm so glad about that!

They've now all settled on the bed again, and I'm ready to join them. Tomorrow is Friday, so I'll be home early - which they will love! And so will I! Despite the bucket load of work ahead of me this weekend!

Lock-down Day 111

Urgh! It is freezing cold today! Even colder than yesterday, I'm sure! Don't ask me where I found the 'get-up-and-go' to get out of bed this morning. Right now, I'm regretting it! The store, aka my office, is ice cold! I type a few lines, then huff on my hands to warm them again, before I type again. Why am I not wearing my fingerless gloves? Because I forgot about them! Tomorrow they come out again!

Remember my tirade about government not holding up their end of the lock-down bargain? Here's a full article stating exactly that!

At work, I'm still just re-doing & checking activities recorded during the lock down.

I also want to spend more time with my mippies! I feel so bad about last night: they all came home lovely and early, giving me no worries whatsoever - and I don't have time to play with them! Not cool! They are being considerate and are not rewarded for making such a lovely effort! If there was any rational reason for my sitting in this office, rather than at home, sure ... but there isn't.

Anyway ... today I'll publish this blog before I go home. 

Lock-down Day 110

I managed to forget my jacket at work yesterday. This morning I really felt the difference - it is FREEZING cold today! There was a snowflake next to the temperature in my car, when I drove to work! Fortunately it disappeared half-way to work. This morning I was up and off very early, and arrived about quarter to seven. An hour earlier than yesterday.

I keep forgetting to mention that my landlord has hired another worker. I've seen him skulking around over the weekend, and Monday morning he was outside the gate. THAT is how I'm introduced :) I introduced myself.

At work, I'm working towards getting home-office going. Only ... now they bring in so much, I'm not getting to it.

Anyway, I'm not sure whether I should take a chance again, and keep this as a draft or whether I should publish it now? Yeah, keeping the draft & will try to publish tonight. If I can't, then I can't. Life in South Africa - going from bad to worse very fast, now!

Oh, and our Minister of Health announced that the reason for the alcohol ban is, that they can't have hospitals clogged up by people who are bleeding! Seriously! What was the point of the lock-down? HE clearly doesn't remember! It was to increase the capacity of the health care system to deal with the expected surge of corona virus cases! Which they have not done! So now, we the law abiding citizens - who even do our best to abide by the current irrational laws - must suffer the consequences!

Even though I don't drink anymore, this affects me! Who do you think will be charged increased taxes to make up for the loss of income? It just makes me want to scream!

Back at home, first thing I did was take the dough out, shape it and keep it in the oven to rise. Only ... it's looking like a tight lump, not at all fluffy or light. Sigh. It had better be edible, though! I put the stew on ... and burned it, ha ha! I had to cut tobacco leaves, as I had given my last stash away ...

Mippies did not let me wait at all last night! Ziva was home very early, soon followed by Janey and Mini ... only Mewthos took his time, but not very long, either! I'm going to need more sachets for them before the end of the month - but I don't have any money now. UIF hasn't paid out for June, yet - and anyone still forced to stay home in July, is no longer allowed to apply. 

Well, I spent the rest of the evening rolling tubes and preparing filters for tubes. Sigh - I think I need to make a plan to do that on weekends as well, and leave nothing to be done during the week. Man, it's too cold to think!

Of course, I had a little internet at home - just a teaser. Then it went off again. So ... publish from work the next morning, again ...

Lock-down Day 109

I published yesterday's blog this morning. And learned that we're once again tightening the lock-down restrictions! I couldn't watch the president's address last night, of course. I wouldn't have, anyway.

What a circus! No, that's not right, a circus has only one ringmaster. This country is 'governed' by the height of incompetence! Alcohol sales are banned again, curfew is back - even though the president himself stated last time, that the curfew was 'nonsense'. Oh, and wearing masks is now mandatory - even though everyone in public has been doing so, some even before the lock-down. And every workplace has to select a 'lock-down police officer' who must make sure that everyone wears their mask at all times and keeps a distance of 2m from everyone. If there was at least some logic involved somewhere along the line ... but we're moving away from logic even faster than we're moving towards arbitrary dictatorship! It's like in Terry Pratchetts book 'Monstrous Regiment' where we're now all worshiping Nuggan, the God of Borogravia.

Oh, and Minibus Taxis are allowed to operate at 100% capacity, inside Provinces, provided they open a window! That's 15 people jam-packed into one vehicle! But passenger vehicles, as in cars, may have no more than 2 passengers? I can't remember whether that's passengers or people. I just don't know anymore ...

Anyway, I was very late this morning. I woke up in the middle of the night and struggled to go back to sleep. So this morning, I struggled to wake up. I got to work almost an hour late! Mippies wrangled a morning treat out of me - I didn't even have coffee at home, this morning! Now I'm at work, and I'm struggling to get started. It is freezing! At one point, during the drive here, the thermostat read '0 degrees'!

With the latest announcement from our Squirrel, aka President, we now have to wear masks at all times at work. Sigh. We're not allowed to go into the office, as there isn't enough ventilation to accommodate additional people - we get to stand at the door and call, if we need anything. Lock-down Level 3, Version 3. Oh, and cigarettes are still banned. FITA is appealing the judgement - but I have no hope left.

Speaking of cigarettes, I'm now offering all employees here tobacco leaves. No, I'm not selling, I'm giving them away. These are hard times, and we absolutely must help each other where we can!

I wonder whether I'll have internet at home tonight? I'm going to take the chance and leave the blog in draft, unpublished. Worst case scenario, I finish & publish tomorrow morning.

Quite some hassle at home. First the PC tells me the BIOS was reset ... which start-up option should I choose? Sigh. I'm clueless with such things! I just clicked one and hoped for the best! Then, the internet wouldn't connect. Not just 'no signal', but 'no internet'! I ended up removing the modem, opening it up, removing the battery, waiting a minute, then putting everything back. And then I could get into at least this page!

Mippies did not come when I called. Only Mini! I gave her a little treat but left the door open, and she promptly went out again. I had prepared the ingredients for a loaf of bread - I'll need one tomorrow evening - and my own dinner, just re-heated the stew.

Then Ziva arrived, followed by Mini. I shut them in, gave them their treat ... and Mewthos arrived. Now it's an hour later, half past seven, and I'm still waiting for Janey! Again!

Twenty to eight she comes strolling in! Like nothing happened! I was already worrying, little minx!

And that was as much as I could write last night ... then the internet went 'bye-bye' again ... Sigh!

Lock-down Day 108

Urgh! What a day! I woke up around one at night and was wide awake - unable to go back to sleep! That messed up my day to start with - as I woke up late. Mippies did not wake me, they pinned me down, instead!

I found out what that transaction was: my anti-virus! Supposed to protect me from unauthorised activity - it goes ahead and makes its own! It expires today, so it decided to simply renew itself - and charge my account! Even though - having fallen for that once before - I had gone through every option with a fine toothed comb to make sure that nowhere am I giving authorisation to self-renew! Well, I was able to delete my account, uninstall the program ... but when I tried to install the freeware I had chosen ... internet went down! And stayed down! For over 4 hours!

I mustn't forget to send proof of residence today - I've already called the bank to re-activate my credit card. Oh gosh, and here's another e-mail telling me of a failed transaction - same one, again! Dang! Eejots! Right now, I'm installing the new Antivirus ... 

I'm cooking myself mutton stew again - this time, since it's only for me, not mippies, I'm adding veggies as well! Two loaves of bread are rising in the oven, ready to start baking any time. And I've tried the leaves I washed yesterday: very light! It'll take a while to get used to the light smokes again, after the strong crap I've had to smoke lately.

Okay, proof of residence sent. Of my residence when I opened the Savings account. In 2010! Funny how that's perfectly acceptable, eh? Anyway, that's my 'must do's done. Now all I still should do, is wash the dishes.

I've had a lovely hot shower, prepared some tubes for cigarettes, bread is baked and cooling off. New antivirus is installed and running - just hope the old one stops trying to suck money out of my account. And it's quarter to four! 

I've enjoyed two bowls of mutton stew and I've washed all dishes for the last time this weekend. I've also packed my lunch and chopped all the leaves at hand. Now I have still one tub of leaves to chop. I'm still making tubes with receipts, as that still works out well with the filters. I'll use the rolling paper maybe next week, when I build myself one of those home-rolling contraptions again. Okay, not much building, just a strip of paper stuck to the board on one end and something to roll on the other. Still, I'm not in the mood now.

Argh! And now the internet is down to 3 bars again, which means: nothing going, nothing happening! Grumble.

It's now six and I've called in my mippies. Only Mini answered. Three mips still missing. More grumble! Well, I think they sort of feel that tomorrow will be different from today ... they'll be shut in again.

Ziva has come in, so I've given her and Mini their treat ... waiting for Mewthos and Janey. Not a long wait for Mewthos, not when it comes to munchies, ha ha ha! Still waiting for Janey now. Quarter to seven, still no Janey. Ah, not 2 minutes later, she mips at the passage door! Phew! I'm always relieved when all my mippies are home, safe and sound!

Crap, and now the internet is down to 4 bars - and I can't even save this post, nor publish it! Seriously! This is frustrating ... I'm cold, I'd rather be under the duvet, snuggling mippies than sitting at the PC!

Lock-down Day 107

As it's Saturday, I can allow myself the luxury of waiting for daylight before I get out of bed. Nice! Of course, mippies were active before daylight! That resulted in some weird early morning dreams! Ah, well ... I'm up, mippies are out and I have my coffee.

Not half an hour later and all mippies are back! Wanting attention ... 

Okay, mippies got their cuddles, played catch, picked up, and now three are curled up on the bed. I've loaded the machine, so I'll have clean clothes next week.

I miss having an open-plan kitchen ... I don't like being shut in while pottering in the kitchen, without entertainment and away from mippies. I used to enjoy chopping and preparing everything at my leisure with a show on the PC, or an audiobook - I've always done it that way. Ah, well ... hopefully, one day again! For now, I'll just have to make do. I guess that's also why I haven't made many special dishes for myself here ...

I've baked two trays of cookies, and I'm in the process of making another batch of cookie dough. And then ... internet crap again! Seriously - I detest all this 'sign in', 'log in' and password crap.

Well, the cold front is clearly here - it's as windy as PE here today! And cold! Yikes! Unfortunately, baking doesn't warm up the kitchen.

Oh great! Just received an SMS that a transaction on my credit card has been declined - I'm not trying to make a transaction, so ... call the Fraud Hotline! Enquiries is useless - after 4 minutes of listening to crap, I called the Fraud Hotline. They want details from the SMS itself - said he'd call me back ... that was 5 minutes ago! Sigh! Ah, call received. He doesn't see any attempt at a transaction, no 'declined' transaction on his side, so he suggests to put the card on temporary hold. Only catch: I need to call again tomorrow, to lift that hold. No problem! Better safe than sorry! Can't afford someone else spending money that I then have to pay back!

So now that my cookie jar is filled to the brim again, what's my next move? Well, it's now three in the afternoon - the internet is not lekker. Which is a problem, as I still need to send out proof of residence - in the form of a bank statement. Which I get online. Sigh. And what I'm writing now, isn't saving, either ... ai,ai, ai! You'd think I live in the middle of Africa, wouldn't you? This is not supposed to be a backwards, third world country with no technology ... although I'm beginning to wonder whether that's where we're going, now?

Anyway, I'm now starting to play around with the tobacco leaves. I have some half-processed stuff in tubs (I'm using margarine tubs) and the batch I left in water and then put on a tray to dry during last week. The whole lot is somewhat too strong for me, but I'll have to use it up or give it away or something.

I've now taken about a leaf and a half - I don't know how others get these picture-perfect leaves out of the bag. Mine don't look quite that pretty. More like they're half shredded, with quite a lot of shreds, too. Anyway, I've taken about a leaf and a half and put that inside a sieve into a bowl of luke warm water. I let it soak about ten minutes, then lift it out and change the water. During the first soak, once the leaves were soft, I did my best to tear out the hard veins. It helps to wring out the leaves in the water, like a sponge. That's when most of the strength comes out and the water turns brown. It's now soaking the third time, after which I'll lay it out on a baking tray again to dry. Can't put it outside - too windy. Can't hang it up, like everyone else seems to be doing - the pieces just aren't big enough anymore. Even before I remove the veins, they don't look like whole leaves.

Anyway, this whole 'roll into a tight sausage and cut thin strips off' isn't working for me, either. So I'm just cutting think strips off the bunch, and then cut cross-wise again. I've now got fairly large pieces, which I've spread on a baking sheet on a tray - trying to separate them as much as I can. Then I put the oven on, and just let it heat up. Now the whole kit and caboodle is in the oven ... leaving it there till tomorrow to dry.

Three mips were home very, very early! I decided to get them inside, rather than have them go off again and leaving me to wait till late. Only Mini was still out - but she never lets me wait long! They were inside by about half past five today!

I decided to take a shower, just to warm up. I've had more potatoes, re-steamed ... I think I'll treat myself to a custard now! And then off to bed ...