Lock-down Day 247

I woke up to no power! Yes, it had stormed and rained during the night … sigh! I turned over, half an hour later, still no power. So I got up to cold coffee! I must really make it a habit to boil the kettle every evening and fill the flask – my new air pot should work nicely, as my current flask no longer seals properly. But what a waste of electricity! Boiling the kettle every evening AND again in the morning! Still better than cold coffee – but I really must make a plan to get a gas cooker!

Well, without power there is nothing I can do. I was just contemplating what I’ll do now, when the power came on! Half past six, so: boil the kettle, switch on the geyser … not twenty minutes later the power went off again! At least I have hot coffee now … Sigh!

I tried going online, but the laptop overheats too fast – even with it balanced on top of a paint brush, so I gave up! Started a word document to write my blog.

Well, without power there is really not much I can do! I cleaned the litter boxes, swept the whole house … and then went into the garden.

I had filled the bowl for the stray last night, just before it started to rain, so I thought it would have got washed out – even though I place the bowl under the fire place. But with the wind and the downpour, I figured it would get wet. Well, I don’t know whether it got soggy, but when I went to look, the bowl was clean! Every last crumb eaten! Good!

Today, I decided that the best thing I could do in the garden, would be to maintain what I had already cleared. So I started by weeding the bricks next to the patio out back – outside the kitchen. With the rain, weeds were coming up again, so I had quite a good workload there. And then I continued working along the path, where I had stopped last time I worked there. When that was done, I went over the border from the patio round along the rock garden bed and then along the fence again. Since I had mowed that patch again – yes, again! – yesterday afternoon, I could easily see the grass not reached by the mower, and I could pull it out. As I worked, I also dug out a lot of those thorns. The lawn is full of them, I’m afraid! But I stuck to working along the edges today.

Mippies came and mipped, jumping onto my back … Mewthos had a bit of an issue, not getting ON my back, but staying on, as I’m not bent over so far, that it’s a horizontal surface! He slides off … and … Ouch!

Mini saw this ‘jumping on mommy’s back’ happening and came for her turn – but she also noticed that Mewthos hurt me, so she hesitated. Put her paw on my shoulder – I encouraged her – but she didn’t want to risk hurting me! I had to pick her up and tickle her tummy for a while!

I had just finished maintaining what I had previously cleared, and was about to continue, make some progress … when the sun came out! Problem! Can’t keep working in the sun … and with the clouds, and it’s just past noon, so it’ll be even worse! Sigh … Well, I didn’t give up right away, and worked another meter or so, but then I really had to stop.

So, now what? I decided to check how much rainfall we’d had, but when I came back to the patio door, I thought I heard the fridge! In the excitement, I forgot how much rainfall … but well over 20 mm!

I went inside, and YES! Kitchen light is on, power is back! Half past one! Sigh.

I started the laundry, then went to fry myself a steak … only to find that my steak did not survive these power failures … Grrrr! This really makes me angry! I’ll have to clear out my fridge … grrr … I hate throwing away food!

I ate some cheese … but I meant to make myself a meal today. It’s now just after three … a little late, but what can I do? I need to eat something!

Well, the freezer is full of frozen fruit! And the strawberries are on a Teflon baking sheet on top – good luck with dinner!

I figured the day is pretty much a write-off, so I might just as well go back in the garden and start again tomorrow … then I looked in the kitchen and thought “Do I want to face that again tomorrow morning?” Definitely not! So I washed the dishes!

Then I threw away everything out the fridge that didn’t survive this week’s power outages … grrr. Then I vacuum packed the strawberries and took out a packet of mince for tomorrow. I made myself a raspberry milk shake – partly for the sake of variety and partly as the raspberries have been in the freezer the longest. Delicious, as always!

Then I enjoyed a relaxing bath! I used the mustard & eucalyptus powder – it’s funny, it turns the water yellow! Then add the activated charcoal soap and by the time I get out, the water is green! Not the most ‘clean and fresh’ look, I must say!

I went outside to look for mippies – Mewthos went through the gate again! I am going to put mesh on that gate! Yes, mippies could possibly go underneath – but not Mewthos, with his fat head! And, unlike Ziva, he also can’t jump over the fence! I’d feel much better if Mewthos can’t get out anymore – and I hope the other mippies also get the message!

Mippies are inside and had their treats – all three. Mewthos insisted! I know I call him my little dumb boy, but he definitely can count to three! He’s not really stupid, just different!

Then I filled the bowl for outside and took it out – through the washroom again. Finally I re-filled the kibble dispensers, the FIT 32 was now empty, the Iams low, now they’re all full again!

I didn’t get around to cleaning their water fountain, though. Maybe tomorrow?

Oh, I keep wanting to tell you about the logic that is ABSA! One of South Africa’s biggest and oldest banks – well, it started out as Santam Bank, then became Trust Bank and now ABSA. Anyway, on Monday I get a call. Is this me? Yes. Okay, then start the security questions … after the fourth question, I’m getting impatient and ask what this is about. No, first I must answer more security questions. Sorry, but I’ve never had to answer more than three questions, I’m getting suspicious, so I tell the lady that I’m uncomfortable answering more questions – she adamantly refuses to tell me what this is about. Well, end call – if there’s a problem, I can go to the bank. A couple of hours later I get a message about a piddly amount outstanding on my ABSA account! Yeah, I know, I didn’t make a payment and the account went into the red. We’re talking the price of 3x 2 liter milk, here, so why are you getting your panties in a knot?

Anyway, I made a deposit Monday night – not just the amount ‘owed’, but taking my account out of the red again. Fortunately I did that Monday night, as my PC hasn’t worked since then!

Tuesday afternoon, another message about the payment due, and I see a missed call again. Sheez, the money is in the account by now! Get a life!

Then, on Wednesday, yet another call from ABSA! No security questions – this time they want to increase my credit! Good one, eh?

First they harass me for two days over a measly amount, then they want me to get into a position of owing even more! Plus, of course, to increase my credit they ask NO security questions! Very logical, right? Talk about devious, eh? Good thing I’m not an idiot!

Well, I tried calling At – no reply. I’ll try again in half an hour. Like me, he doesn’t have his phone surgically attached, and – unlike me – he can’t move all that fast, as the lock-down has put an end to his hopes of getting the steel & screws out of the hip he broke almost two years ago. We talked about that, me phoning him, that is. I told him not to worry, and definitely not to risk another accident by rushing to his phone. I’d always call again after a while – and if not, he can always send me a message!

First time this happened, though, he’d lost his phone! Fortunately he got it back – but he missed out on visiting that Sunday, as I couldn’t reach him.

I tried again half an hour later – no reply. Again at eight – still no reply, so I sent a message. Shortly afterwards, he called back! So, we’re all set for tomorrow!