Lock-down Day 172

The mew-larm was a little late this morning, but no less insistent. I got up, gave them their morning bribe, had my coffee and went to work.

I notice there's more traffic than usual this morning and I wondered whether I'd missed some news announcement? It's really concerning by how much traffic has reduced as a result of the lock-down ... how many people no longer have work to go to ... we have about half the volume now, if not less!

At work, first thing I do, is check the properties to let. There's a really lovely house available in Gezina! It's beautiful and very spacious inside - a little too big for me, perhaps? But such a rare beauty! The price is a little above my budget, though I could manage. But ... Gezina. It's where I lived when I first started this job, and although it isn't all that far in terms of distance, it is a long drive during rush-hour. Plus, the garden walls are quite low - I would have to add a lot to make it safe for my mippies. But it's so beautiful in every way ... high ceiling, extremely large lounge, a fire place in one room ... okay, it's carpeted, but I still have my vacuum cleaner. Houses like that usually go for twice what they're asking ... but, I've given it some thought and ... I'm afraid it's out of my league. Apart from the rent, I'd also have to pay electricity, and that's just a tad beyond my means ... And the kitchen has a built-in electric oven and separately a built-in hob. And I really need the gas cooking option to reduce the electricity costs ... such a pity!

Then there's a ... well, it's a garden cottage but too large to be called a cottage ... in Florauna, nice area, near work. Only two photos are up, but I called and she mailed me a whole bunch of pictures. They're in Nelspruit this week, everyone interested can have a look next week, when they're back. I'm a little concerned about the 'in their yard' situation, plus the 'garden' looks perfectly landscaped! I did mention that I have 4 cats, but I don't think she registered them as living entities ... I've replied that it looks lovely and I'd be in touch next week ... but ... I don't think it'll be suitable. Oh, and she said that quite a few people are already interested ...

I'm now even considering places I previously rejected. I'm not very keen on the set-up of most of them. They seem to be 'Garden Cottage' type of thing. One, even though it's a separate house on it's own property - rent from the owner, though ... I get the impression the owner lives next door. Plus, it's 300m from the N1 High-way! Not mip-friendly at all! Then another one with a similar situation - No B, right next to a large house with number A ... I don't think I like the idea of a landlord living on my door step. Not after my experiences here ...

Then, I called a place called 'Best of both Worlds', which is a communal set-up, though with private cottages, for single ladies. I called, and the only problems are the communal kitchen and that mippies would have to wear bells! And that it is far along a notorious road ... The bells are for the sake of the wildlife living there, which is reasonable. With Mynx that wouldn't be an issue - the closest he ever came to catching ANYTHING was to sit and 'kekeke' at it! He never even brought as much as a grasshopper home! But then again, he was born in a warehouse, not outdoors.

I think I'm stressing a bit too much right now. It's the middle of the month, so there aren't many new places coming up - just one or two, here and there. There were quite a few nice ones at the beginning of the month, when I couldn't get over my anxiety. But, I now have a good idea of the market! I've called quite a few places - many of which won't allow all my mippies and many which have already been taken. I just wasn't fast enough. Lessons learned!

I forgot to mention the weird dream I had this morning! It was really strange, as I dreamed about my mippies ... but they weren't with me. Like, an alternate reality, where we didn't cross paths at the right time. Mini was really tiny, scruffy and pregnant. Ziva was also a lot skinnier, and also pregnant again ... and Mewthos and Janey didn't feature. Almost as if they didn't exist ... I'm happy they are in my life - my life is better for having them in it!

I've given some thought to putting bells around mippies necks ... and on the whole, I don't think that's going to work. Not only will they hate it - but they are so clever, they'll figure out a way to take them off! I mean, remember that time I caught Mini pawing the keys in the front door? Trying to unlock the front door? Or flushing the toilet? Yeah - I don't see any kind of collar she can't outwit. And she's not the only clever one! Remember when Janey caught a bat? Or Ziva, when she came to fetch me, when Mewthos had fallen out the window? Okay, so I can't think of an example where Mewthos has been particularly clever ... but he's good at manipulating us ladies with love! Or annoyance! Ha Ha Ha - you could say, he's a special kind of clever!

I'll try to relax a bit, stop stressing ... if I can ...