Lock-down Day 153

Good night, mewly morning! All good, though ...

I checked both my orders last night, both are being processed, so I'm just waiting for delivery. Hopefully I get lucky, and my chocolates arrive today.

At work, I've got a bit of time - I should use it to make some calls, looking for a new home. I'm fighting an overpowering dread ... I don't want to move! If only there was some magic way to pop from one home to the next - without the packing, breakages in transit, trauma to my cats ...

Well, I've taken the bull by the horn and made a few calls. A lot of the properties are no longer available - I'm not worried about that, though. None of them really attracted me.

I really need to look at my preferences. I've spent a lot of time now, looking around at what's available - and, basically, there are 2 viable options: 1) same as what I've got; a separate unit on someone else's plot or, as they call it in less rural areas, a garden cottage or 2) a house with a garden.

The problem with 1 is the complete lack of privacy. The last few times I looked for places in Pretoria, this agent ALWAYS took me to garden cottages. Not one offered me independent privacy - which is why I didn't seriously consider any one of them. For security reasons, I always opted for a flat - independent and private. But with my mippies, that's no longer an option. I do need some bit of outside for them to play, preferably with some trees ... and at the same time, where they cannot get out of the garden. Tall order, right?

The problem is, that houses don't come with the same budget as flats. Firstly, the rent for a decent place (& in a reasonably quiet area) is never low - I'll have to expect to pay at least as much as I would after the next increase. Maybe even more? And secondly, electricity, water, and other such essentials are usually more expensive. A house uses more electricity than a flat. I'm going to have to seriously re-budget ...

A gas stove & oven would help a lot!

I think, I just have to hope I get lucky and find something suitable in my price range. I've read the expected trends on properties: lots of people are going to down-size and the market will be hyper active now. Also, with evictions now allowed, there will likely be more people looking for a place, than places available. Since these articles are written by property agents, they won't predict a price drop in rents ... but that's what I read between the lines. People will be letting their homes to move into something smaller until they can sell ... 

Oh, and my meat delivery arrived! Looking good!

I'm thinking of looking at 2 houses currently on the market in Mountain View. Maybe one of them can work, but mostly to get a feel for the agents letting it. Maybe I can ask them to look out for something next week, when new places will become available again. Get a little head-start. The agent, who's letting 2 places nearby, hasn't contacted me back - I told her I have 4 cats and I smoke, but she has one house listed with a garden, where that shouldn't be an issue - I guess she's not interested.

This is really depressing. Well, maybe I won't be given notice on Monday ... who knows? But I really need to move ... I need 'home' to re-charge, not to drain me.

On the way home, I was so deep in thought, I drove right past the farmer - I completely forgot to pick up my milk! I only realised that, after I had parked the car ...

I really should make something for lunch tomorrow, but I just don't have any energy. None, whatsoever. I feel completely drained. Thanks to a lovely weekend ... sigh. I'm going to have to make a plan to buy something edible tomorrow ... urgh ... fast food!

The landlords are in party mood! Alcohol has already flown heavily by the time I got home - I got a cheery 'hello' from her, and he's watering my windows and noising about, terrorising my mippies ... although that is probably not his intention. Funny how it's okay for him to hosepipe whatever he wants, whenever he wants - but it's not okay for me to have a bath. Sigh, boeremusik blaring, he's whooping and going on ...

Mippies came in, except for Mini - she needed a written invitation, i.e. I had to go back out and carry her in, after appeasing those who came on time with a first treat!

Just had a prolonged cuddle session with Janey, her walking along my arms again, like she did when she was little ... she LOVES that!

I made a start at baking muffins ... but packed everything away again. No energy. Well, tomorrow will be ... lots to deal with ...