Lock-down Day 311

Woke reasonably early again, now I'm having difficulty deciding what I should do. As soon as I had let mippies out and made my coffee, I published yesterday's blog. I couldn't do that last night, because Mewthos had settled on my chair, again!

Something stung or bit me on my neck yesterday, it's a big red welt today. It looks like three holes in a row in the center of that large raised red welt. Might even have been a ponytail frond - one of those 'caressed' my eyeball yesterday! Despite my glasses! Ah well ...

It's overcast, and rain is forecast at 90% just before noon for the rest of the day. You see my dilemma? Oh, I just checked again and it's now 90% only from three this afternoon ... still, how to schedule my day today?

Part of me is really keen on finishing the beds in the lawn. It'll make such a huge difference! But ... I need to do chores, too! I'll need to bake bread and clean the kitchen. I've turned the geyser on, so I'll have hot water soon to wash the dishes.

Done. The dough is almost ready and the dishes are done. I'm planning on trying to bake the pasta with cheese and eggs over bread dough in my new Pyrex dish. Let's see how that turns out. And half the dough is going in the fridge again, so I can bake another loaf mid-week.

Outside, it's overcast with the occasional sunbursts. It's almost ten, so ... should I go outside? And if I do, should I continue with the ponytail beds or the succulent bed? Those weeds are just shooting, getting taller by the minute!

Did you know that rotten eggs explode, when you try to crack them? There's your fun fact of the day! Seeing as I bought the eggs before shut-down, it's really my fault for keeping them too long! It's almost surprising, that it hasn't happened more often - they end up staying in the fridge for so many weeks!

Anyway, my dish is ready, just waiting for the oven to heat up, now. Oh, and according to the latest weather report, it's only going to rain late at night - with less than 50% chance of rain by three. 90% Chance at eleven tonight.

I think I'll do the second round of dishes while my dish is baking, so that the kitchen is clean again. That'll all chores done, and I can go out and play!

Mission accomplished! Kitchen is clean, dish is baked, and I even completed two bonus chores: I cleaned mippies water fountain - something was turning yellow in the bowl, as well as in the reservoir. Which is strange, as they get exactly the same water I drink, and use to fill my water bottle for work. Anyway, it's all clean, now. Plus, I swept the whole house. And I took the refuse to the garage, if you want to count that. Well, I wasn't going to have the place pong of rotten egg, now was I?

All these 'mission accomplished' make me feel really good! Oh, before you credit the vitamins I've started taking again: remember it was around the same time that the weather turned! From debilitating sunshine, hot and humid to overcast and humid. And temperatures have dropped ... a little. The forecast says maximum 24, but I read 28 on mine! Which hangs inside, by the open front door.

Message received: my delivery is due tomorrow! Nice - one day early! That'll be mippies wet food - the fish variety - and my smartphone!

Predictably, as soon as I'm outside, it starts to drizzle! I had started to cut the roses - and I finished that, drizzle or no drizzle! Equally predictably, now that I've finished that task, and I'm back inside ... no more drizzle!

Ah, now it's raining! That's the 20% chance of rain forecast for noon, today! Lovely, though! Smeagol arrived just before the drizzle. I gave him the kitten wet food, which Mewthos wheedled out of me - and then left, barely touched! Smeagol loves it! I left the outside room open, so Smeagol can go in there to keep dry. Atop the freezer is pretty dry as well - the roof from that outside room extends quite far.

I decided to go out and do some weeding. Smeagol wasn't in the outside room - I guess he has somewhere dry to stay? Ziva and Janey came to look what their crazy mommy is doing outside in this weather! I decided to weed the succulent bed, as that's near the house, and I can walk under roof most of the way to the outside room, then back inside.

Another shower. It started with a drizzle, which sent Ziva and Janey inside ... I was a bit more stubborn and stayed until it was clear that actual rain was about to start. Quite lovely to watch and hear ... but I'm getting a headache again. Sigh.

It looked like it would rain for some time, so I decided to busy myself on the veranda again. I got some pots, filled them with ground from the bottomless pots, placed them ... I'm not sure about the placement, though. I fear that the pots I placed on the wall of the veranda are going to be toppled by mippies ... and I can't say I'm too happy with the crowding out front. Well, I've been thinking for a long time, where I should place them - ever since I moved here - and I haven't come up with any better ideas, yet!

I sowed garlic chives and spring onions - in pots on my stand, out of mippie territory. I sowed thyme and celery, and pansies, and poppies, and lavender ... I still have a couple of pots, and I'm not sure what to sow. I don't have many flower seeds, especially not for pots. Nor many herb seeds - they were supposed to be growing in the garden by now. I don't want to sow vegetables - the pots are too small for that. Hmmm ... I'm 'low' on seeds only because I stopped buying. I still don't need to buy - I'll buy some at the end of winter, for spring!

I found some more and sowed: Chrysanthemum, Lemon Balm (when I was writing that sign, the letter-jumble happened again, and I wrote Lemon Blam!), Morning Glory, Viola Sorbet, Lovage and Dill. I now have so many pots growing seeds outside, that a watering can is not going to cut it! I had better run the hosepipe through the lounge to water the veranda, from now on!

Oh, that's a lot less messy than it sounds! The hose pipe is currently connected to the tap outside the kitchen - which is next to the lounge. Then, instead of around the house & garage, I just take the hosepipe from the back porch through the lounge to the veranda. Plus, it will keep the ants under control! They are building nests on my veranda like they're in some sort of competition! And the spiders? I'm telling you, cleaning that veranda the other day was like a study in entomology, with a good dose of arachnology! 

Oh, and since two, we're back to sunshine again! I carried on with my potting, though. It's now three, not exactly sunny, but definitely dry. Mippies are very happy to stroll outside! Janey was driving me insane while it was raining: mipping, demanding attention ... on and on and on! Definitely related to Mewthos! Ha Ha! Of course she got attention! I picked her up a number of times, until she jumped off! Not a minute later, and she's back!

All in all, we had some 16-17 mm rain! Nice!

Quarter past four and I've done what I can reach in the succulent bed. I've taken a Disprin, which seems to have dissolved the headache. And an anti-histamine, because my neck seems to keep swelling, and I can feel it. Just feel it (without touching, of course), no pain, no pressure ... well, maybe a little pressure. Let's hope the anti-histamine helps.

Smeagol is back, totally dry - looking almost groomed, actually! I think the tick & flea powder is helping! I still saw one tick, though. At least, I think it's a tick - I didn't get a close look. It could also be a scab.

No, he still has ticks. He allowed me to stroke him, and I was able to remove one tick from above his eye. His fur does look shinier, though - could be the good food I feed him? At least the powder is definitely keeping the ants out of his food bowl, so I can keep food in there at all times. He's curled up atop the freezer now ...

I finished that ponytail bed. Leaving a bed half-cleaned really bothered me ... and it wasn't too hard labour, as I had already loosened the soil with the fork yesterday, before I moved on. It looks good, now! When that was done, I moved to the gate and started clearing along the wall. Well, I only got as far as the gate motor - then it started raining again. Just a soft, steady rain. Lovely, but too much to stay out in. Good thing too, as it was half past five!

I had my 'victory' smoke with my mippies on the veranda, surveying all my achievements and planning my next move. Then I brought mippies in, treated them and now I'm running my bath.

Lovely hot bath, enjoyed my dinner, packed lunch ... half past seven, now for an episode of Columbo, before I go to sleep ...

Lock-down Day 310

Ziva insisted I get up at six! She's really a remarkable cat, I'm really very lucky she chose me! She has grown so much - not in size, but in character. She's gone from timid, quiet lap-cat to playful, responsible and loving companion ... she is such a help to me, in keeping the other three safe and in line ... it's just remarkable!

Well, well, well! I let the mippies out and guess what? It had rained! Not much, just about 1 mm, but everything was wet and still dripping! Good thing I mowed the lawn when I could! I'm not sure what I want to do today, I'm still un-fuzzing my brain - with coffee.

Sun is out, so it could be a dry day today. I've taken a look around outside and I really think that clearing the existing beds, then making the bed along the wall would make the biggest difference.

Sadly, even that won't get the place back to 'as neat as when I moved in' ... which is really depressing me somewhat. All this work, and I seem to have gone backwards, not made any progress! Oh, some areas are looking better than they did, when I moved in - but the big picture still looks like I haven't kept up!

My new shorts are not yet dry - bugger that, I've put them on, anyway. The sun is out, they can air & butt dry!

Twenty to ten. Second load of laundry is on the line, and I'm in the garden. The weather forecasts rain tonight and 90% chance of rain most of tomorrow. So there's little chance of gardening tomorrow and I have to adapt. I started by clearing the driveway again, in front of the garage. It's still mostly clear, but some green stuff is trying its luck again. I put a stop to that! And then I started on the bed around the ponytail in the center ... lots of grass and weeds, which are coming out nicely, root and all. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm only here to make it look clean - not deep cleaning. There are lots of tiny weeds poking through - I just grab what I can, but if I get caught up picking them all, I won't get far today. The only deep-clean place is my succulent bed - the rest is just for looks. To make me feel good!

The difficulty really is, when it comes to the 'border'. Where does the bed end and the lawn start? Because what I optimistically call lawn is really just weeds and Kikuyu and that creeper-grass. Same stuff that's taking over the bed. Plus, an added downside: the sun keeps coming out! I've tried wearing my new hat ... but, as I feared, I don't do well with hats, ha ha! Not when I'm balancing on a rock, leaning forward to grab a root, then trying to pull it out without falling flat on my arse! I'll give the hat another try, when I've got some light weeding to do!

Around noon it started to drizzle, so I came in. After a smoke break, it had stopped, so I went back out. I finished the center bed - looks nice, now! Then widened the bed around the avocado tree, which didn't take long. Then I started on the bed around the ponytail next to the avocado tree. But the sun came out again and it really got too hot to continue working there, so I packed my tools and moved to the ponytail bed next to the gate - having finished only half that bed. When I had done about half of THAT bed, my head was aching too much and I came inside for a break. But the headache felt like an oncoming migraine, so I took my cocktail ... which made me sleeply, so I took a nap.

I had come in earlier to write my blog, but Mewthos was snoozing on my chair. Apart from the 'aw, cute' factor, with Mewthos, letting him stay has the added benefit of silence! Ha Ha, he has a really annoying mewl, so when he's quiet, I leave him! I saw that he'd twirled my jersey again, before settling on my chair.

I woke around four, an hours nap. And I was surprisingly cold! Outside it's overcast again - I could carry on working ... but ... I'm really, really hungry now. So I went out and packed everything away.

I meant to do a pasta dish, with a cheese sauce, but ... I was too hungry. Instead of a cheese sauce, I just cut up the cheese and mixed it with the pasta and brussels sprouts after they'd finished cooking.

I took another walk outside, and I'm really happy! It looks almost as neat as when I moved in. Of course, there are still the partitions to be dealt with ... I've done bits in each, and none complete.

The Pelargonium and the Geranium did not survive this last move, I'm afraid. It was simply the worst possible time, as they were both in bloom, when I moved. I cut them back, hoping to see some life ... I've left both stumps, in hopes of a miracle!

While relaxing in the bath, I considered what I should - or rather would like to - do tomorrow. I must bake bread for the week, and wash the dishes. Once that's done, though ... I think I'll carry on with the ponytail bed next to the avocado, as that's pretty much inside the lawn. And then I can start along the wall - that will take me to the first ponytail bed, all the rose beds, and once I've cleared all of that, there's very little jungle left to mow!

What if it rains? Well ... then I'll think of some indoor fun! Smeagol didn't show up today ... no cause for concern, though.

Lock-down Day 309

Rain, rain, rain! Lovely! I woke up to the sound of a steady drizzle outside, which had been going on for quite some time ... mippies wish I could make it stop, they want outies - but ... I have to go to work, anyway.

Yes, all this rain means that I probably won't be able to garden this weekend - but it also means that I can turn a lot of ground, during dry spells! I'll be able to loosen the ground along the wall, where I want to plant my Spekboom, and I can loosen the ground around the Jacaranda, where I think I'll put my bottomless pots - I just have to be careful, not to pierce the septic tank. But since I only use any force when I hit resistance (and I'm sure I know WHAT that is), I don't have to really worry. And then I can weed those areas at my leisure.

I'll be spending most of the weekend inside, though - by the look of things, and going by the weather report. Cookies! Ha Ha! I can bake cookies, I can try a new dish with my new Pyrex bowl, and I can do more unpacking. Yes, I know, I SHOULD be steam cleaning ... heaven knows, it's needed! But I'll do what I feel like doing, thank you very much!

My new shoes are working out quite well - on the whole. Yes, there is some chafing on my right heel, I've placed some cotton wool in my sock as a cushion. Skin is broken, but that won't be for ever, and it's not very painful.

Some news I don't understand: Eskom allowed to raise the price of electricity to 'recover' revenue. Huh? Just how is this even legal? Basically, what it means is: Write off all the corruption and mismanagement in your past - just keep doing what you're doing! No accountability, no responsibility ... I give up ... I just give up!

Back into my own little world. When I get home, this afternoon, I think I'll start with laundry. Do a load of light colour, low temperature. Funny thing nowadays: ALL your laundry labels ALWAYS say, either cold wash or 30 C ... it's like even our clothes are turning into snowflakes! Might as well just go stand in the rain and call it 'laundry day'!

Happy place! Happy place ... stop the negative thinking! Okay, so I'll wash the 'duck egg' coloured new shorts with light coloured clothes and the navy with the dark. Also low temperature. Considering the weather, starting at least the first load today is probably the only way I can be sure my clothes will be dry by Sunday night. No problem.

Then ... during dry spells ... gardening ... WHAT? Yes, the succulent bed needs to get finished, but the problem there is that the ground is too soft. I can weed what I can reach from outside the bed - but what's in the middle, I can't reach. And if I step in the bed ... I just sink in! However, what's bad for the mid-bed weeding is good for the new bed making! If I feel like heavy labour, I can take out the fork and start turning ground. Or I might want to clear the center bed. The one with the big ponytail right in the middle of the lawn out front? So ... some options close, others open!

I got home and found everything dry! The gauge showed 18 mm rain, most of which must have been during the night and this morning. The grass was dry, so I got out the lawnmower and got busy. I was a bit worried that I might not be able to mow this weekend - and by next weekend, it would be difficult again. And guess what? I mowed in sunshine! Yip, so much for 'you won't see sun till next week'!

Well, the lawn is mowed. And I made some more progress on the jungle bit. It took about two hours just to mow the lawn, and I spent another hour tackling the tall grass. That's as much as I had energy for. I did, however, fetch the fork and gave the ground by the wall a couple of pokes - goes in like butter! If it's dry tomorrow, that's what I'll be working on. That'll achieve two things: 1 - make room for my Spekboom and 2 - finish the lawn. If I can clear all those round beds around the roses and ponytails, that will make a big difference!

Ziva is pestering me for attention, even though I just spent five minutes scratching her ears ... she's most insistent, so ... good night!

Lock-down Day 308

Mew-larm is on the frizz again - which means I was allowed to wake up naturally! Early morning, coffee, Smeagol outside, so I took him breakfast on my way out.

It seems to have rained, though not much. Still overcast, and I see in the news that we're in for 'no sun till next week', thanks to Eloise.

Nice and busy at work!

I took my bank token thingamajig to work, so that I could do my banking at work. First, I tried checking out my phone order ... bleh! Out of stock! Now what? After all that research yesterday? Hmm ... Okay, I had ordered the dual-SIM (because that was R100 cheaper), but the single-SIM is still available! Cool! Go for it! Oh, I see the dual-SIM is still available, just at a higher price ... a lot higher. Single-SIM it is, then! Oh, and I see that today they suddenly also offer the fish-in-jelly option of Whiskas! Cool! Toss a couple of those into the basket, as well! Done. Scheduled delivery date: Tuesday 2nd February.

You thought I was going to chicken out, didn't you? Weeeelll ... I confess, I considered it. But the thought of having to re-do all that research ... or having to drive to a store, not knowing what kind of assistance (if any) I'll get ... I'm glad I thought to look what's still available!

Pouring rain just after noon. I got lucky, and took my empty lunch box to the car just before it started raining!

Banking done ... sigh ... with two not-exactly-planned big purchases (shoes, shorts, etc & the phone), my balance is looking really sad. Someone tried "Wingardium Leviosa!" but, alas, it doesn't work! Oh, and let's not forget my annual DisChem stock-up! Next month, I had better stick to ONLY groceries - no extra's! Well, none of these major expenses, at any rate!

Considering my personal dislike of shopping, together with the lack of internet at home, that shouldn't be an issue!

Did you notice, though, just how many missions I've accomplished ... since I've started taking those vitamins again? Most of the 'missions' are predominantly mental, not physical - like all that research to figure out the minimum requirements for a phone. That, for me, really was a mission, since I'm really not interested in all that technical info. That's why I had initially planned to just go to a store - but, well ... that leaves me at the mercy of sales staff ... 

Anyway, although I still have some large-amount purchases on my mission list, they can wait. One is a ladder. I'll need one to get into the roof and to reach the higher branches I need to saw off ... but there's so much work on the ground to keep me busy, it really can wait. Another is underwear, and for that, I've been thinking of taking a day off ... not in the near future, though.

Another 'want' is a sewing machine ... something I've wanted for years, now! But that's not much fun, if I can't buy material, too, so ... that one will stay on the back burner for a while longer ...

I still have such a lot of plans, ideas, jobs, tasks, projects, etc. in my head, that I'm really not bothered about leaving 'expensive' ones for later. Gives me more time to think them through, anyway!

Well, with the rain, I won't be able to mow the lawn tonight (huge sigh of relief! Ha ha!). Which leaves me wondering what I WILL do, though. To be perfectly honest, I really feel like doing something creative! Can't think of anything, though, so, I guess, if it's not raining, I'll just carry on weeding the succulent bed.

And if it is raining?

Well, it wasn't raining, although we had 8 mm during the day.

As I was driving through the gate, I saw Smeagol on his freezer, curled up ... so the first thing I did, after feeding him, was to clean his 'bed'. I took the mats off the freezer, shook them out, swept the top of the freezer, then layered a good amount of tick & flea powder on top, placed the mats on top of the powder and doused them as well. Hopefully enough powder will transfer to Smeagol's fur to help get rid of the ticks he's got!

And then I carried on weeding the succulent bed. I cleared two of my plants - a desert rose and a ... knobbly thing that goes orange in winter. That's as far as I got - the bed is really covered in weeds, all sizes. With the ground as soggy as it is, I'm getting roots out with no resistance. Not just the taproots (which are thin as a hair) but all attached hairline roots, as well!

Well, that's another day done and dusted. Time to cuddle mippies, watch another episode, then go to sleep ...

Oh, Mini was VERY hungry for MY dinner, tonight! Whereas Mewthos and Ziva had a few pieces, then walked off - Mini stayed until the last bite! She matched me piece for piece! Of course, her pieces are a lot smaller than mine, but still ... 

Lock-down Day 307

Since Mewthos has now permanently moved back into the bedroom, joining the rest of us, I have my Mew-larm back! At some point during the night he had to twirl his twirly, only ... he absolutely had to twirl on top of me! Having a funky smelling jersey dragged across your face is not the best way to wake up! Especially when it's nowhere near time to wake up! My little weirdo nonchalantly continued, kneading body parts as he twirled around the bed. I love my little weirdo!

I woke up quite late, though. Still enjoyed a quiet coffee before leaving for work. As I walked past the lounge, I saw Smeagol sitting on the outside freezer (not mine, not working - it was there, when I moved in), so I prepared him breakfast and took it out as I was leaving.

It's still overcast, but doesn't look like it rained during the night. Still, the ground is not looking dry, so ... good.

On the way to work, a dog walked across the road, right into the rush hour traffic! Fortunately, it was behind me, so I didn't see what happened ... but he didn't come out on the other side. I saw it only in my rear view mirror - and I'm just grateful it wasn't me, nor did I see! Yet, even the image of him walking right into the traffic is haunting me ...

Okay, I've just spent a lot of time researching smartphones and tablets. Pros, cons, specifications & what they mean ... trying to prepare for my trip to the store to buy a phone for WhatsApp. I don't want to spend too much money, and I don't need a high-end, gaming phone. I do, however, prefer a screen where the keyboard can be used by fingers, not claws or tweezer-tips. So, a slightly larger screen. Having read a stack of reviews of different phones & tablets, looked at prices ... had many, many smoke breaks, just to clear my head ... I think I've come to a decision.

I asked a colleague to look at the specs and tell me what he thinks, and he told me how his mother found it easy to use - always a good sign! ha ha! Yes, there was a time when that would have been offensive - not I'm at the age, where I find that comforting!

Turns out, it's also cheaper than I had expected - considering the size preference. On the whole, I opted for a phone rather than a tablet simply for the price - since I'm ONLY going to use it for one purpose! Oh, and I just may use it to start posting photos on my blog again! THAT should work fine!

AND: The cheapest place to buy it is one of the online stores I already use!

The next problem, of course, is: how or where do I keep it safe from Mini? I think I've come up with an idea: I'll wedge my old (now rather torn) shorts between the bed & mattress, then store it in one of the back pockets! That's within reach, out of sight (depending on which side of the bed I place it) and mippie-safe!

Now, now, don't get all excited! I haven't got it, yet! But yes, I am going to place the order tonight. Funny thing, it'll probably arrive before the order I placed Monday night! Ha Ha! That one is due for delivery 9th Feb. No worries - just gotta juggle the mippies' whiskas treats a little.

I'm wearing my new shoes today - so far, so good. Only a little chafing at the back. Fortunately, I don't need to walk much. I hope they soften up soon, though!

The weather has been it's usual crazy: rain in the morning, sunshine at noon, downpour in the afternoon ... now it looks like the sun is coming out again.

I drove home in sunshine! Funny, eh? At home, we had about 1 mm rainfall - probably during the night, as the grass was fairly dry. I could have started mowing - I'll have to, tomorrow. Smeagol was waiting for his dinner and some head stroking - he likes me to stroke just the top of his head! He tolerates me stroking his back, but is most at ease when I touch only the top of his head.

I pulled off & out weeds threatening to flower, first in the 'herb garden' and then under the Jacaranda tree. That filled two buckets - and after that, I would have liked to continue weeding my succulent bed ... but I've got banking to do tonight. Rent, Electricity, and the new phone - I'd like that done tonight. No need to wait until the last day and take a chance on some outage making it impossible!

See what I mean? Can't do ANYTHING tonight! Apart from this blog, no other site will open ... I've now tried for half an hour ... enough. Good night!

Lock-down Day 306

Mippies were busy last night! They opened the lid on their flower fountain and half the water splashed outside! The towel, on which I place it, was dripping wet. I carried it through to the laundry room, then had to mop up the drip trail! Put a new towel down, re-filled their fountain ... happy mippies!

Left a little late for work ... arrived about half an hour late. Although it's still overcast, I didn't see any rainfall in my gauge. 

Another mission accomplished! I've just got back from shopping! The plan was to just quickly go through DisChem, then to Cell C for a phone, so I can join WhatsApp ... only ... well, I saw a Cape Union Mart on the way to DisChem. And figured that it can't do any harm to look ... 

Well, guess what? They had shoes I liked AND fit perfectly AND are comfortable! That's a rare thing! Remember how many stores I wandered through last time I went looking for shoes? And today, I wasn't looking - serendipitous!

I've been wearing my 'gardening' shoes since the start of lock-down ... I'm not wearing my safety boots at work anymore. And they were never meant to be worn this much - they look it, AND I'm beginning to walk through them. Now I can keep them just for gardening and wear my new shoes to work!

And then I also saw some nice shorts! I tried a pair - I always start with their largest size, and usually that turns out too small. Today, again, I got lucky! They fit AND they're comfortable! They had only 2 pairs in that size - one navy blue and one duck-egg. Yeah ... when I took a look at the receipt later, and saw 'Duck-egg' I was puzzled, too! It's a light blue.

Next, I saw a straw wide-brim sun hat! Exactly what I've been looking for! That'll keep my neck and shoulders from burning every time I DON'T put up the gazebo!

Yes, I spent more money than I had planned - planned today, that is. It WAS on my budget for the year, just not this month. I'm very happy about it, though! I'll be looking really stunning next time I'm gardening! Ha Ha! I hope my mippies will appreciate that!

I got really lucky finding items I've needed for a while! All fit comfortably!

Next, the dreaded DisChem. The queue at the self-medication counter wasn't very long - but with only half the counters manned, it was a quarter hour wait ... got almost everything, though. Then a few items off the shelves ... and then we get to the most important item: Starch! I need that for my cookies. Cornstarch, potato starch - doesn't matter, which. I haven't found it online, nor at any store I've been to - and I've been looking for months! I last bought a packet of potato starch at DisChem, so ... well ... I'm walking up and down their 'gluten free' and 'all natural' food items ... nobody there to help, and I've read every label twice, by now. A security guard walks past, so I ask HIM if he knows anyone who can help me ... a minute or two later, he brings someone ... who works at the store, but doesn't know. The lady who DOES know, has better things to do than help customers (that was her attitude when she was asked by the guy trying to help me). Nice! So, now there's two of us wandering up and down the shelves reading every label. Suddenly he points: Tapioca Starch! Sigh ... it's the ONLY starch they have, so ... not like I have a choice, eh? But seriously, the enthusiasm to help a customer? I'm glad I won't have to go back for at least another year!

Anyway, I'm stocked (mostly ingredients for my migraine cocktail) and even got some happy purchases! I can't wait to wash and wear my new shorts, hat & shoes! Though, of course, I won't be washing the hat & shoes!

The weather is still a roller-coaster ride: sunshine, rain, drizzle ... never know what's next. Fortunately, we're only experiencing the outlying, mild effects of Eloise.

At home, Smeagol is impatiently calling, as soon as I get out of the car to open the garage! Yes, boy! I'm coming! I offload everything, park the car, go inside, and feed Smeagol! While he's eating - and mippies are outside - I carry everything inside and unpack. I take the bread dough out of the fridge to let it rise before I bake it later.

I put my new shoes on and take a walk to the rain gauge - just one measly mm of rain! But, as it's overcast, the ground has neither dried nor baked! I go back inside, put on my gardening shoes (I'm about to enter muddy grounds) then first have a look whether any seeds are poking through? Indeed! I can see some sweet peas coming up and a few other sprouts here and there, though I can't tell what's what, yet!

Then I get my things and settle down to carry on weeding the succulent bed. I didn't cover a lot of ground - but I did clear the little ground I covered, very thoroughly! Absolutely covered in sprouting weeds! Half the 'easy' bright green weeds, that grow tall so quickly, and half the dark green ones, which blend so cleverly with any ground that they're often overlooked. Also, they start growing flat along the ground, rather than up, tall. So they really are easy to overlook. With the ground as soaked and soft, I'm able to pull a lot of them out without even breaking the hairline roots! Some of those dark green things, with only one or two teeny tiny leaves - barely visible - yet their roots are already an inch or longer! And the are growing so thick together, at times I think I'm picking one single plant, but three come out! Well, I've got fingers, not tweezers, you know?

Smeagol didn't seem to want lovies tonight - although he did hang around and meow, he wasn't keen on being touched. I was allowed a few strokes, but then he meandered off. 

I came in, not too late, treated mippies, had a bath, baked bread rolls, fried and ate my steak - shared generously with mippies ... now it's past nine, and I'd like to watch the episode I started last night ...

Lock-down Day 305

It rained during the night! Over 10 mm! Lovely! And it was still drizzling when I got up, made coffee, left for work!

It was dry this morning, but in the afternoon it started raining again. At work: actual rain, not drizzling - let's see what it looks like at home!

I'm not sure whether I'll go outside tonight - I've been thinking that I don't really need to weed the succulent bed urgently, as long as I don't let them get too tall. Tonight will depend on the temperature - it's nicely cool, almost cold today! And what I feel like.

I've been putting of a shopping trip to DisChem for weeks now ... I'm really low on some of the meds I use, like anti-inflammatory, re-hydrating electrolytes, anti-cramps ... I haven't procured any since before the lock-down. Which should give you an idea just how much 'safety stock' I normally keep! Especially with some of the meds, where our government has now restricted the quantity per person per day! To prevent me from accidentally killing myself with an overdose ... Okay, so that's been law for a couple of years already, but it's still annoying!

Well, I'd need to write a list. At home, where I can check on stock levels. I've been meaning to do that for weeks, too! But there is just so much to do at home ...

I've filled a shopping cart online, mippies treats are low, I could really use another pair of shorts! I'm taking a chance buying those online - I'm not worried about how they'll look, just whether they'll fit. And then I decided to treat myself to some arts & craft! Something completely different, just for fun! Modelling clay! I'm no good at modelling anything ... so this should be fun!

By the way, my mini pizza's are delicious! Except the one, where the cheese slid off and melted on the tray, rather than on the roll, they turned out really cool!

I've been thinking what I should do with my bottomless pots. The ground here isn't as rock hard, so I don't really need them for veggies ... but I could use them out back, where I think the septic tank is. I can use them for herbs, too.

On the way home, it rained, then drizzled, then rained ... at home it had petered out to a drizzle again. We had a total 28 mm rainfall! That's including the less than 2 mm yesterday afternoon. Nice!

First thing I heard was Smeagol calling for his dinner. I missed him yesterday! Poor boy! He was quite hungry and ate a lot. When he had eaten, he called again - as always. He wants attention, I know, but ... Guess what? Today I had a full lovie session with Smeagol! HE started by head-butting my hand! He let me stroke his head over and over for at least five full minutes! Shame, the poor boy is full of lumps, bumps and ticks! I was only able to get one tick off him ... he pushed my hand away after a while. I went inside, did some chores, came back outside and he called me again! More lovies! He purred happily! It was really lovely! We're making progress!

I wrote my shopping list, did a few chores and then mippies wanted to come inside! Honestly! Instead of struggling to get them in to come home, having to wait for them to show up ... here, THEY were already assembled on the veranda for our quality time, and soon they started strolling inside! I gave them their treats, and another one ... Mewthos begged and the bowls were fairly clean. My little darlings!

I ran myself a bath, then played a bit ... I guess I should check out my shopping cart now, before I go to bed ...

Lock-down Day 304

Mewthos insisted I get up early today, I held out till after six, but not much after six. He wants breakfast, instead, I opened the door! He's a glutton! Loves wet food - yet, at the same time, he's quite particular!

It feels a lot cooler today and it's overcast. I'm hoping for rain - as always!

Around nine, mippies came zooming in ... wet! A bit of a drizzle outside. I wouldn't call it rain, yet. But it's still overcast, so ... hope prevails!

It's still lovely and cool, so I'm planning on indoor activities again ... and go outside only AFTER I've washed the dishes! Ha Ha, you know the old story: once I'm in the garden, I forget everything else!

To prevent myself going outside before inside is finished, I decided to start tackling the bathroom. Oh! My! Gosh! Part of me wishes I hadn't! The mats were no surprise, of course. I brushed them as best I could, then put them in the machine to wash. Then I swept the floor, also no surprise there. But then I started steam cleaning the shower floor ... yuk! Yuk! Yuk! How could I have been showering in THAT for the past 3 months? Well ... I wear glasses, so, when I step into the shower, I don't see too well. I had scrubbed it before - but didn't look too closely, that time. This time, however, I'm steam cleaning, tile by tile, getting a really close look! NOT GOOD!

Well, it's much better now! The floor is clean! But I'm not touching the walls! Steam cleaning really isn't a summer job - can you imagine how hot it gets in the shower cubicle? With steam? Yeah, so ... I've done the floor and everything I need to touch. The rest will have to wait until winter. But what a difference!

Unfortunately, something went poof when I unplugged the steam cleaner ... I'm hoping it's just the extension, not the steam cleaner!

The dough is almost done, and outside it's drizzling again. There was some sun earlier, but now - I'm happy to say - it's overcast again. Mippies are sprawled around the house: Mini in the 2nd basket from the top in their furniture, Mewthos on the bed ... Janey and Ziva probably in the lounge. Wait a minute ... nope ... Janey is in my wardrobe. She loves it there!

Mission accomplished! I divided the dough in half, put half in a bag in the fridge and divided the other half into 10 buns, which I rolled flat, placed a slice of tomato, some steak and cheese on top and baked them! Mats are hanging to dry. AND: I've washed the dishes! Even my morning coffee cup! NOW I can do whatever I like - everything is done!

Okay, so the on-off continuous drizzle puts a bit of a limit to my gardening activities - well, I can't exactly work in the garden itself, but I CAN work on the veranda! Out front. That's under a roof, so the drizzle doesn't get there. And, with just the drizzle, I can walk around in the garden without getting more than a few drops.

All that drizzle doesn't even add up to 2 mm rainfall! Nice, eh? But at least it has cooled down!

I've just worked for two hours on the veranda. My lovely flower stand is rather rusty, so I put a lot of elbow grease into cleaning that. It looks better, but it's a long way from clean. No worries, I'll keep working on it. At least it's now forever out of the rain! Then I moved all the pots and swept ... spider webs, ant nests, you name it! What a mess! Most of the pots are the bottomless ones ... anyway, it looks good now! I'm happy!

Okay, what is it with Janey and the toilet? When I'm sitting on the toilet, she jumps onto my lap! When I'm on the armchair, she jumps OFF! When she mips at me for attention and I follow her, she leads me to the toilet. I sit down and she jumps onto my lap! I go to the armchair, she mips ... won't jump on my lap, if I pick her up, she jumps off!

Part of me wants to take a lovely shower on the clean floors! But another part wants a hot bath to ease the pain in my lower back ...

Shower won! I just HAD to enjoy the clean floor! Absolutely lovely!

Mippies are in, no trouble. We all sat on the veranda, like we do every night, then everyone went inside. Except Mini, like every night. She needs a special invitation! Almost every night! I have to pick her up and carry her inside ...

Well, that's it for today ... 

Lock-down Day 303

Very late start today. Oh, I just decided to get the whole 'catching up on my sleep' bit out of the way. No need to keep mippies shut in, though, so I opened the back sliding door for them.

I woke around nine - with all mips sprawled around in the bedroom! I got up to make coffee and mips took this as an invitation to play outside again - cool! I don't know why they need an invitation, though?

I tried writing this blog, but the internet is giving me a real headache. I got this page open eventually, but nothing else will load - no worries! Smeagol showed up for breakfast and I gave him mippies' left overs. I decided, with Smeagol around, I can buy those Petley tins again - with just my mippies, a third always went to waste, because they don't eat a full tin in one evening, and never like the rest from the tin (even though I cover it, so it stays fresh) the following evening. But Smeagol is not quite that picky ... yet.

I decided that I'd spend today predominantly indoors. Start with the kitchen - I've got that meat to cut, vacuum pack and freeze. I also got some bananas yesterday. And I've had enough of the shower floor! I had already sprayed, bleached and scrubbed the floor - but it's not up to my standards, yet. So, today I want to steam clean it.

I've looked at the weather report, another scorching hot day ahead! It should cool down tomorrow, and we might even get some rain tomorrow evening ... I sure hope so!

Washing the dishes is ... urgh! Hot! And using piping hot water doesn't help! But I'm at least getting a pleasure out of using some new products! I got a washing cloth and scrubber, hand-knitted out of 100% cotton and sisal respectively. I get a lot of pleasure out of such little things!

Sigh, it shows 4-bar signal, yet I can't even open Facebook! Ah, well! Fortunately I'm quite busy away from the PC. As long as I can type my blog, I'm happy! It's often won't update for quite a while, but since it always updates (or saves changes) eventually ... no worries!

Now I'm trying to vacuum pack the meat ... and the effing sealer is giving me trouble! It'll either just seal - no problem, OR vacuum but not seal! I don't know why! It vacuums, then goes on a too-short seal cycle and ... I'm swearing at the top of my voice! Bags are clean. Machine is clean. Bags are flat. Bags are placed correctly. Machine sucks, then pretends to seal ... but doesn't. So far, I've got 6 unsealed and 2 that sealed properly. At the same time, I'm swatting flies like a hallucinating tennis champion!

On the subject of flies: since I've deep-cleaned the bin drawer, I have far less flies in the kitchen! Mission accomplished! At least SOMETHING that worked out, in the kitchen!

Okay, it seems that, between placing the bag and closing the lid, the bag curls or crumples a little - so that when the lid comes down, the bag isn't smooth. You need 4 hands to stretch the bag across while at the same time closing the lid - which you have to press down to lock on both sides. Although there are 12 willing paws to help - none of them have thumbs! So, each bag gets one chance: vacuum seal first time, or plain seal! So far, I'm winning 7:5! I'll put the plain sealed once on top, so I use those first.

Why haven't I run into this problem before? You know, that's a very good question! Let me know if you come up with an equally good answer!

Final score: 14-6! I win! Oh, and 10 flies! Although, it's now three in the afternoon ... not much left of the day ... Well, the laundry is on the line as well, so ... I feel like I deserve some time out, to go into the garden ... 

I had put on the radio for something to listen to while I'm busy in the kitchen, but frankly, today's music is just too ... moody! It has almost no beat - at best a slow, steady rhythm ... not even a little uplifting! More like something you'd put on low volume in the background while you're reading a book ... or, more likely: faffing on your phone. I find it quite depressing. I better make some time to load some real music on a USB so I can listen to that!

The Bloubul (=blue bulls, our local rugby team) Steak I bought was not a good choice. Oh, there's nothing wrong with it - it's just not a good choice for me! It is one single 3kg steak! I've had to cut it, so that it fit into even my biggest frying pan! It's meant to be grilled on open flame, so in a frying pan, it doesn't come out too nicely. Still good, just not as good as it could be! So, what I've decided to do, is fry the whole thing, then cut it into pieces to either freeze or slice into small pieces to put on bread. It's very tasty, as it's marinated. But I won't be buying that again. Well, until can get my grill organised!

Done! I've cut up the whole steak and packed, what was left, into my lunch boxes and put them in the fridge. I'm not sure what to do with it, now ... I'm thinking of trying mini-pizzas. I'll see whether I'll actually carry it through, tomorrow.

I've allowed myself a few minutes of gardening: I sowed sunflower seeds! Oh, and now I'm watering. That's really all for today ... it's now five, and I really don't feel like anything ... just going to lounge around. Watch a bit of Columbo ... oh, speaking of that, last night's DVD had a bonus episode, of a spin-off series called Mrs Columbo! Interesting! Captain Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager played Mrs Columbo. It's okay, but she doesn't fit the descriptions Columbo keeps giving of his wife, I'm afraid. And that kind of spoiled it for me.

I haven't done very much today, have I? Dishes, laundry, meat ... a few odds and ends not  even worth mentioning ... But then, I did only get up at nine! And it's not like I started chores right way, either!

I took a look at my succulent bed, and I can't delay weeding that much longer. The weeds are already an inch tall! Another week and I've lost the battle again! So, I hope to have some time tomorrow to get busy on that.

I just need to bake bread and wash the dishes again ... heard that one before, have we? I'm thinking of baking bread rolls instead of bread. And I really want the bread machine clean, so I can use it during the week. Actually, I think I'll try keeping some dough in the fridge. You know, like they sell bread dough? Let's see how that works out ...

When I sat outside with my mippies, as we now do every evening, I smelled rain - which is strange, as there aren't even clouds in the sky. It also felt like a cool evening - cooler than any for quite some time. Hopefully that means it will be cooler tomorrow!

Lock-down Day 302

I made a mistake last night, and paid for it! Ziva came for her daily attention while I was busy on the computer - and I sent her away. Quite abruptly. She left ... but woke me up when I was fast asleep! At half past eleven! She absolutely must have her cuddles! Poor girl, I won't be doing that to her again!

Some might think she 'got her revenge' - but that's not how cats work. It's not in their nature. She had a need, I refused to meet her need and she suffered ... until her need was filled!

My last delivery arrived today - yay! Lots of toys! Okay ... it's all household needs, so what? I'm happy! I also quickly went to Spar to get milk and bananas. Oh, and I also got myself an energy drink ... with the sleep interruption last night, I won't make it through the day otherwise ...

Well, I made it, but when I got home, I was just too tired. I took a nap ... slept for about two hours! Then I just watered the garden. Hard work! Had to open the tap! Ha Ha! Oh, I also watered the avocado tree ... it's not looking good. I'm not giving up, though.

Smeagol came for dinner ... he definitely wants more than just food - yet, he's still hissing and wary of me. He stays around until we go inside, though ... just hangs around ... meows when he sees me ... follows me around, yet keeping his distance.

I've had a headache all day, and still can't shake it. I took a Disprin now, let's hope it works! I've taken a bath tonight ... didn't feel like a shower. I also didn't enjoy the bath - I felt like a stranded whale ... ah, well. Better luck tomorrow, I hope!

Lock-down Day 301

This is gonna be a short post. I slept well, woke early ... went to work ... 

Came home ... Smeagol was waiting for me by the gate! He's as clever as any cat. I gave him the usual kibbles and he figures, when he didn't eat them yesterday, he got wet food, much more delicious! So he tired 'not eating' again ... sorry, boy! That's not how it works! Yesterday ants got into your food very fast - THAT is why I offered you a treat, to make up for the disappointment! Today, however, I've added some diatomaceous earth to your food - seeing how skinny you still are, I think you might have worms. The earth should sort that out for you! So ... that's your dinner. Beggars can't be choosers, ha ha!

Then I mowed the lawn. First the back lawn - could have waited another couple of days, but done is done. Then I set the sprinkler on that lawn while I went and mowed the front. I mowed every bit and piece I could easily mow - in every one of the partitions, as well. I left the 'walk in the park: Jurassic Park' bit, though. It took me quite a while to just mow everything ... no time to tackle the jungle tonight.

Smeagol is watching with sad eyes as mippies are called inside ... like he also wants a home! Yet, I still can't touch him! And he won't come in, anyway.

Well, I'm planning on tackling that last bit of overgrown grass out front tomorrow afternoon. I'll be real glad when that is finished! Then I had better do something about the weeds around the Jacaranda - not proper weeding, just keeping them down. Maybe pull out whatever comes out easily. I just don't want that to get out of hand again.

After that, I'll carry on with the portion outside my bedroom. Oh, I don't think I'll get far tomorrow - but that's the plan from here on ... oh, and I should really go do something about the grapes! Maybe do that first? I'll see ...

For now, time to relax ... mippies are already driving me insane! Time to return the favour, eh?

Lock-down Day 300

I had a really lovely dream, this morning, about my dad! We were in my garden, at the back fence, where a fish eagle had built a nest, and we were working together to save the chick ... yeah, that part makes no sense whatsoever, but hey: it's a dream! Anyway, we were talking, and my dad was telling me how proud he is, that I'm so happy! He'd never have thought it possible, I've achieved none of the goals he'd been so sure one must achieve in life to be happy - and yet, I'm undeniably happy! He asked if we could talk sometime, and I said that I'd like that very much ... and then the alarm went off ...

The dream started to evaporate as soon as I woke up, but I held on to the memory - it did, however, leave me feeling deeply loved! Given, that the last thing my dad ever said to me, was how much of a burden I am ... anyway, not going to taint my feeling with outdated memories now!

Back at home (I'm skipping work - nothing worth writing about), I didn't see Smeagol. Again. Now I'm getting worried, it's not like him to skip two days in a row? Ah, but he was just waiting for me to come outside! As soon as he saw me, he called and came for his dinner! And then he wouldn't eat? When I looked, it was already covered in ants ... within minutes! So I gave him a pouch of Royal Canin wet food. The kitten one, which my mippies are currently not too keen on. He gobbled that up in no time! Funny thing: he's been eating well. Good, nutritious food. Yet he still looks really skinny? Maybe it'll just take some time?

I didn't have much energy tonight, so I just watered. Then went inside - mippies came without any trouble - gave them their treats, showered ... now I made myself a milk shake, I'll watch an episode then bed.

I've been finding this lack of energy somewhat irritating. I know it's a lot to do with many paws, because I get these episodes where I feel like I'm burning up, in the middle of the night. And the same throughout the day. One minute I'm cool, next minute I'm soaked! Fun, eh? Well, I've decided to go back on the vitamins I used to take for a while. I stopped when the price went up again - but I found them on special, substantially cheaper than what I used to pay. No, I wasn't stupid then - I compared prices, I always do! Anyway, they should arrive this week.

The meat I ordered arrived today - even though I specified delivery for Thursday. Sigh. No worries, though. It'll keep! I'm hoping the other delivery arrives tomorrow!

Now Mewthos is next to me, mewling his heart out!

He wouldn't stop until I gave in and opened another pouch! Even though their bowls were not empty ... greedy little munchkin!

Lock-down Day 299

I switched to audiobook at quarter to nine, then lay back, doing my best to relax and fall asleep. Of course, that's not how it works! I can't fall asleep 'to order'. But I have some relaxation techniques that help ... Nine o'clock came and went ... I was beginning to hope (just beginning to!) that maybe load shedding had been suspended, after all ... but not holding my breath. Good thing, too ... quarter past, the power went out!

My PC has enough battery (in the UPS) to keep the audiobook going for over half an hour - IF the monitor and everything else is off. Which, at night, it is. So I just continued trying to fall asleep ... with some success! I napped until half past ten! Then I must have had another hot flash, because I woke up in unbearable heat ... I tried everything, but there was no chance of falling asleep again.

I got up, had some milk, and sat down for a smoke. Mippies lifted the flower fountain for a drink. But I was really just tired, wishing I could sleep. Those last fifteen minutes felt like an eternity ... but at eleven, the power was back on! I turned the ceiling fan up another notch, turned my audiobook on again and went to sleep.

I'm told load shedding has - again - been suspended. Let's hope so!

No Smeagol tonight! I'm actually worried ... weird, eh? Well, I meant to wash the dishes ... but didn't. I did some light weeding in the succulent bed ... that carpet of green sprouts. Then I tore out what was growing in the bed in front of it - just keeping the weeds short, not yet digging them out. Just making sure they don't get to seed.

I put the sprinkler on that bed for a while, then mippies were ready to come in. I gave them their treat, showered ... oh, litter box & lunch were already done before I went out ... boiled the kettle, just in case they re-implement load shedding. We're due to be off from five to half eight. Not gonna take a chance with my morning coffee!

Now I'll just watch an episode, then go to sleep ...

Lock-down Day 298

I had some really weird dreams throughout the night - I think it may be my current audiobook? They don't normally intrude on my dreams ... well, I struggled to get out of bed, although I had to snatch my phone fast, before Mini snoozed it - or tossed it off the bed. You can never tell WHY she's hunting it!

Although that woke me at half past five, I then snoozed till half past six. Sigh ... late for work. Fortunately, that isn't an issue anymore - since our COO has left. And my work is always done on time, every time.

I see load shedding is going to continue today ... bit of a problem there: The Flower Fountain! When the power goes out, mippies lift the lid ... then the power comes back: Fountain! Splish, splash!

I see in the news that our taxes are to be raised to fund vaccination against COVID-19. Huh? Didn't we get 500 Billion to fight the pandemic? I really shouldn't try to keep up with the news ... my face can't take any more face palms!

Our local Energy expert, Ted Blom, reckons that Eskom is still going downhill, not uphill - as I've been thinking. Ouch! Another face palm! Honestly ... I'm glad that I'm not young anymore. I'm beginning to feel that I've outlived my time. I am struggling to fit into todays standards and values ... they're almost the opposite of mine. It's one of the reasons I mostly retreat into my own little world, filled with cats and my garden.

I quickly went to buy milk, cheese and cigarettes. Milk price has gone down again - halfway between last weeks and the 'normal' special.

Cat food has arrived! Now I'm stocked for another 3 months! Although ... I'll probably need more FIT 32 soon. And Whiskas ... 

In the meantime, I've placed an order for meat and done some extensive Faithful to Nature shopping ... I'll have to complete both orders tonight.

No gardening planned tonight. Watering, yes. That's it. I need to wash the dishes and complete my online orders ...

Quarter past six and I finally finished the basic chores: litter box ... with Lady Jane under my feet, wanting a clean box to use ... NOW! Ha Ha! Fed Smeagol, watered my plants - the avocado tree (which is still looking droopy) and the new bed, then the sprinkler on the succulent bed. Re-filled the water fountain and the kibble dispensers. Offloaded and unpacked everything, made and packed my lunch for tomorrow.

Now the internet is slow ... slow ... slow ... and I'm trying to pay online! Sigh ...

One full hour! Mippies were already impatient for their treat! A full hour! That's how long it took me to place and pay the order - pity I couldn't fill my basket at work. For some strange reason, it wouldn't work today.

It's half past seven, so I'm just going to shower, eat dinner ... no way am I going to wash dishes now! Not when the power is going out at nine again! I'd like to be asleep by then, thank you very much!

I was able to touch Smeagol for the first time today! Just a light brush, and he retreated right away - but: progress! I've been getting the strong impression that he's wanting more than just food from me, for some time now. Like he's craving attention, lovies ... so, I'm trying to meet his needs.

Anyway, it's after eight, I'll watch an episode, then bed ...

Lock-down Day 297

Load shedding again from 05:00 - 07:00. Good thing I boiled water last night, eh? Yet it stopped at 07:00, not 07:30? Possibly they suspended load shedding again for the day. They don't announce that, nor do they update their website right away. I suppose they think we don't need to know if they suspend load shedding - we'll find out, when our power stays on.

Oh and I finally put two and two together regarding the lack of load shedding at my previous residence: An ANC VIP lived across the road! My ex landlord was always bitching about whatever that VIP was doing ... that's how I know. But I paid so little attention to what he was saying - I find all that trash-talking everyone very irritating - it took me this long to add it up! I used to think it was, because we were so far out, and such few residences over such a large area - but that is true here, as well. Yet, here, we're in full load shedding. Which got me to thinking ... and solving the puzzle.

I couldn't resist watching a second Columbo, so I only went to sleep after 10 ... and only got up after seven this morning! Taking it very easy this morning ... coffee ... feed Smeagol. I gave him what my mippies left over from last nights treat. He loved what they rejected! I had opened a tin of Weruva for them - a special treat! Not good enough for mippies anymore, ha ha! Smeagol loved it, though!

Having Smeagol around keeps my mippies close by, he he! On the other hand, I've also noticed that my mippies no longer rush me off my feet to get out, when I come home! I still open for them as soon as I get home - but they don't all rush outside! They often hang around me for a while, before going out!

Columbo joke: the character has sever vertigo. He's talking about it and closes with "As a matter of fact, I don't even like being this tall!" I love those little gems!

Bread is on the go, laundry folded and packed away, bed sheets washing in the machine ...

I went into the garden, finishing the bed out back. Half past one I came inside ... power out! The second load shedding of the day! Well, at least now I know for sure that I've got the right schedule! Good to know for future reference!

Well, I finished the bed, then went to carry the bulb plants from the front to the back. I've planted the Amaryllis' and Iris' in colour sequence: red Amaryllis, Iris, white Amaryllis, I didn't have another red Amaryllis, so I planted the Alströmeira, then Iris, then white Amaryllis. I applied the trick I learned from Rose: fill the hole with water, then place the plant! They all did well in the shade under the veranda, so I think they should do well in that bed. It's shaded most of the day: in the mornings from the outside room, and then from the Jacaranda tree. 

Power came back just before three ... bread was finished before the power went out, the laundry was finished washing, it was in the drying cycle - so: no problem!

I've sowed flower seeds: Sweet Pea, Poppy, Calendula and Pansy. I've sowed so the colours go together everywhere - never done that before, ha ha! I used to just throw seeds, then wonder what's that sprouting there. Which is why Rose called mine the Wonder Garden! Well, half those seeds should - ideally - be sowed in trays, so it's still a Wonder Garden: I wonder whether it'll grow? Ha Ha! They're all 'sow-in-autumn-or-winter' seeds. Okay, so it's still summer ... but what the heck?

At one place, I dug up a bulb - I think it's one of those creepers - it's the size of a baby potato! I couldn't pull it out, but managed to dig till below the bulb ... well, the top bulb, I suspect there's another one lower down ... and I had to cut it. I also found yet another slate or plate placed in the garden! Seriously! What the ... man, WHY? Why bury such a lot of plates and stuff? And in such odd places?

It's going on four, I've re-started the drying cycle for the bed sheets, I've achieved what I wanted out the back ... I think I'll now move outside my bedroom. In an hour, or so, the new bed should be shaded again, then I'll water it thoroughly!

Smeagol came to look for me, because he wanted his dinner! Seriously, he came wandering around the house until he saw me, then meowed until I got up, and led me to his food bowl!

Right, I've now cleared about 2/3 of the pavement, as well as the lawn from the pavement to the wall. Guess what? I found a small sheet of corrugated iron under the ground next to the wall! What is this? A garden or the setting of a bizarre kind of junkyard treasure hunt? Honestly, what the eff?

Around six, I'd had enough! I'm happy with my achievement! So, I watered the new bed, smiling happily to myself seeing my flowers! Well, when they flower, they'll be flowers. Either way, I'm very happy!

Of course, I didn't wash the dishes ... and honestly? I'm pooped! I've enjoyed a lovely, relaxing bath, and I just want to go to bed now ...

I still have to pack my lunch, though, and eat some dinner ... I'm even too tired now, to even fry a steak. Fortunately I have lots of tuna salad! Pasta, potatoes, rice, Brussel sprouts, etc. Mewthos likes the smell of the tuna, so he nibbles on a pasta and licks a potato! My little weirdo!

Lock-down Day 296

Early night, power outage did not wake me, so I got up fairly early. I'm hoping to get into my game before the power goes out ... in about half an hour. I'm not holding my breath, though - internet is usually extremely slow when I first turn on the PC. Almost as if it needs time to warm up ...

Okay ... weird. It's half past seven and our power is still on. I double-checked the schedule to see whether I maybe got our Group wrong - but no! I definitely know we were off from 23:00 - 01:30 on the 14th, and that's Groups 11 & 15. Both of which should be off today from 07:00 - 09:30. I checked Eskom's site: yes, they ARE load shedding. Stage 2. So ... I really don't know ... I guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, eh?

Well, I can't mow anyway, as the grass is too wet. Morning dew. We also had 1 1/2 mm rain yesterday - it did drizzle, when I first wanted to start gardening, but soon stopped.

I'm doing my indoor chores today, as we are scheduled for 2 sets of load shedding tomorrow - wouldn't want to get caught! I've washed the dishes, two loads of laundry ... as I was hanging up the first load, I noticed that one of my avocado trees doesn't seem to be doing too well. Nothing I can do, but plant it outside and hope.

I hadn't decided where to plant them, yet ... I took a walk around and eventually chose a spot near the trees along the east wall. That way, it's not completely in the sun, and watering it won't be too much of a mission, as it's halfway between the rain gauge and one of the outside taps. It's not exactly IN the lawn - I picked a spot where it's mostly weeds. Most likely, due to the shade from the trees - grass doesn't like shade. I dug a hole, pulled out all the weeds ... well, thorns. Then, as I went to get the tree, Ziva used the hole! Ha Ha! So I had to re-dig it before I could place the tree.

Okay, muffins are baked, second load of laundry hanging, back lawn is mowed (that literally takes no more than 15 minutes!), I mowed, what I could, under and around the Jacaranda tree, then tried outside my bedroom - but that is just dried stems. I'll have to work that by hand, and then I can mow it. I mowed what I could in the partition, where the compost heap is, then did some three rows of the main lawn. It's noon, the worst possible time to be outside!

I looked a bit closer at the grapevine, though, and saw that a lot of grapes are already ripe - just deep, deep under cover! Some have even turned to raisins, already! I'd better give that some attention today or tomorrow!

The pavement in the front partition is somewhat in the shade, so I decided to re-clean that! Just in time, too! Weeds were growing tall between the pavement again! I also need to sweep again. Partly the leaves from the tree - but really, the entire pavement is covered in grass cuttings! That's not good, because it provides a lovely place for weeds to grow! Sigh ...

I was somewhat tired, so I locked up and decided to take a nap. Didn't last long. Lady Jane got entangled in my PC wires! Oh, no harm done, I caught her in time - being mommy to four lively cats ...

Now I'm cooking a pasta dinner again. I've added the potatoes from the garden, and some brown rice. Don't ask me where all this energy is coming from, I have no clue! I guess it's the knowledge that I probably won't have the opportunity tomorrow ... load shedding ... twice.

In another insane fit of energy, I started mowing the lawn. Around three. Just a walk in the park, so it didn't take long. At first it was really hot, but then clouds moved in, and there was a nice breeze ... When I was done, I started tackling the still tall part. Yes, the cut it down quite a bit, but now it's not only tall, but lots of dead stalks in between. I suppose you could call that a walk in the park ... Jurassic Park!

I made a lot of progress, though! I'd say about half of all that's left! All in all, I mowed for about three hours!

I gave up eventually, I was just too exhausted! But shining with pride at my achievement! I had my victory smoke out front on the veranda - surrounded by my mippies! Then we went inside, I treated them and ran myself a bath! Lovely! I feel much, much better now!

Smeagol still hangs around a lot. Meowing whenever I come past ... retreating, if I come too close. He chased Lady Jane up the Jacaranda tree this morning - so I had to chase him away!

I just checked the Eskom site again: No load shedding in progress! THAT is why my power stayed on! I have already boiled the kettle, though. No harm done - the water stays really hot in my new thermos! I won't need to re-boil it tomorrow morning!

Well, tomorrow I'll have to bake a loaf of bread - I've decided on a simple white bread, baked in the machine. Then wash the dishes and pack away my laundry. That's all! And now I'm going to sit back, eat some lovely cold paste, rice & tuna salad and watch an episode of Columbo!

Oh, I also changed the bed sheets today. Mippies were all playing outside, so I got it done really quickly! Mewthos is already snoozing on it, though!

Lock-down Day 295

Yup! Just after eleven, the power went out again! Load shedding! Lovely, eh?

I couldn't sleep, I was up most of the night. I spent most of the day putting together MY load shedding schedule. Not just for the currently planned few days - but the whole thing. I have not been able to find one, so I had to make my own. I've finished cleaning up to Stage 5 ... Day 1-31 (same for all months), with the times in chronological order listed per day, per stage.

Tonight, we're going out at eleven again, then tomorrow From seven to half past nine. I've boiled the kettle and filled the thermos, so, even if I get up late, I can have hot coffee!

I spent the afternoon clearing the driveway. It looks really neat now, I cleaned both sets of bricks - completely - this time! After that, I just pottered around outside my bedroom. I didn't want to come in too late ...

I've showered, cleaned the litter boxes and for dinner I decided to try one of the frozen meals I got last week: Cottage Pie. Pre-heating the oven now - if I like it, I might get some more.

Smeagol seems to be wanting more than just food from me, now. He still won't let me touch him, though ... but he hangs around, mewls when he sees me, performs for me. Tonight he went onto the dog hut roof. I got the feeling that - having seen the attention MY mippies get, when they're on the roof - he decided to try that. Yet, I don't know what attention he wants. Maybe some toys?

Am I crazy? Considering toys for a cat who won't even let me touch him? Ha Ha!

Depending on what time I get up, I've decided to mow the lawn while the power is out. It needs mowing again, or I'll loose what ground I've gained and sit with a problem again. Not quite there, not even near - but better safe that sorry again, eh?

Well, pie is in the oven, I'm watching Columbo ... after dinner, I'll try for an early night. Hopefully the power outage won't wake me during the night.

Lock-down Day 294

Looks like my post didn't publish last night ... I suppose the internet wouldn't co-operate. Funny, though, it showed up as 'published' ... but when I looked just now: Draft! Ah, well, it's published now ...

Oh great! Stage 2 load shedding starting again at noon today! Why? Oh, more breakdowns ... Sigh, I understand that it's going to take a while, before they've overcome the decades of neglect.

A bit like my gardening, eh? I'm trying to keep up with nature, while at the same time cleaning up years of neglect!

I've just spent over an hour trying to find out WHEN I will be affected by load shedding! Oh, yeah, there's a schedule on their website! Pffft! It's not exactly reliable, is it? Plus, of course, it is really, really unfriendly format! You can't filter, headings aren't 'fixed' ... so you end up holding your finger on the screen on the column you want to look at, while you scroll down! Can't export it, can't print it ... well, unless you want to print the bits, then tape them into a useful thing. And trying to figure out which Block I'm in? Impossible! No kidding, it is NOT possible!

Only way to know, is to wait until your lights go out, then check against the schedule, which group was affected at that time. First problem: the schedule shows only 1 group - but in reality, 2 groups are affected. Last load shedding was last week, 7th & 8th. I was out until 7:00, if I remember correctly? Or was I out until 5:00? Go back to my blog ... it was until 5:00. Now look up which groups were out on Day 7 AND Day 8 until 5:00. None. Different groups on different dates ...

Search some more, find the City of Tshwane Tweet. Ah: they didn't bother with the schedule, but just used one schedule for both days. Grrr. What's the point of a schedule, then? Anyway ... Okay, so it looks like I'm either group 7 or 11.

Now comes the finger-on-the-screen scrolling to find out when either of these blocks are scheduled the next 4 days. Right. Looks like I'll be in the dark:

Thu : 15:00-17:30
Fri   : 15:00 - 17:30, and again
         23:00 - 01:00
Sat  : 07:00 - 09:30
Sun : 05:00 - 07:30, and again

         13:00 - 15:30

That's going to bugger up my weekend! No coffee! Well, Saturday should be no problem, but Sunday? I'll have to boil water Saturday night and put it in the flask!

Of course, that is ONLY if we stay at Stage 2! If we go to Stage 3 ... And looking at the schedule ... it doesn't make sense! Stage 3 means longer outages ... so, a group should appear in two time schedules. It doesn't.

Oh, okay! Apparently, you need to look not only at the current stage, but ALL LESSER STAGES, at the same time! That's why in Stage 2 there are 2 Groups.

Okay, re-checking the schedule ...

Now it's getting tricky. I don't know whether I'm Group 7 or 11. And I don't know whether Stage 3 comes up. Let's look ONLY at Stage 2:

Hang on a minute ... let me re-look at the tweet from last week. Something's bugging me ... heading: Load shedding 7 - 8 January. Let me scroll down a bit ... Yup! There it is! Another tweet heading: Load shedding 6 - 7 January! 03:00 - 05:00 Groups 11 & 15! THAT fits with Eskom's schedule! AND it means that I'm in group 11!

Right, that simplifies it for me. Let's look at the schedule again ... unfortunately, it scrolls down over several pages by time ... so I have to look at all 4 days, write it down, then re-arrange it by date.

17th Stage 2 05:00 - 07:30
16th Stage 1 07:00 - 09:30
17th Stage 1 13:00 - 15:30
14th Stage 2 15:00 - 17:30
15th Stage 3 15:00 - 17:30
14th Stage 1 23:00 - 01:30
15th Stage 2 23:00 - 01:30
16th Stage 3 23:00 - 01:30

By Date:

14th Stage 2 15:00 - 17:30
        Stage 1 23:00 - 01:30
15th Stage 3 15:00 - 17:30
        Stage 2 23:00 - 01:30
16th Stage 1 07:00 - 09:30
        Stage 3 23:00 - 01:30
17th Stage 2 05:00 - 07:30
        Stage 1 13:00 - 15:30

That agrees with the latest tweet ... although that ends at 23:00, though Eskom states it will continue from 12:00 today through Sunday 11pm. I'll find out tonight, won't I?

The purple, Stage 3, may not apply, but I put it down for myself as a reference. But whether I'm Stage 1 or Stage 2 - since Eskom implemented Stage 2, both will apply to me.

What a mission, though! Three hours! Oh, and Eskom's schedule isn't from Eskom's website - can't get a schedule from that site ... I had to get it off the City of Tshwane's website, which is about as useful as a chocolate kettle!

But now, I can read their schedule! And, in future, won't need to rely on twits ... erm, I mean tweets ... to find out when I'll be without power! Provided I'm right, and I really am Group 11! Ha Ha!

Normally, I would have copy-typed the schedule into Excel, but with my current typo issue ... it hasn't gone away, I still think the correct letters and occasionally type the wrong ones. I try to 'catch' these typo's before I publish, and since everything now has automatic spell-checker, I should pick them up easily ... but, you may have noticed that I type labour, not labor? Yeah, so there are ALWAYS some words showing up as errors ...

Oh, by the way: No, I don't have Twitter! You don't need it to see tweets, as long as you have a link to them, somewhere.

Finally, time to go home! Half-way home, I see the robots are out - I take that as confirmation, that my research and work was correct: we're out from 15:00 - 17:30! At home, I see the light on the water tower is out ... it's not yet 17:30.

Also on the way home, I made up these lyrics, to 'The Sound of Silence':

Hello, darkness, my old friend!
Here comes the load shed shit again,
Eskom can not get their service right
All we see are yet more pricing hikes
Should we endure
in silence?

I sang that all the way home, until I had the lyrics just right. Fortunately, I have magic ears: I don't hear what I really sound like, but what it should sound like!

It's also rained a fair bit! 11 mm! Awesome! Okay, so I can't mow the lawn, as I had planned - but I can dig up weeds! I start with the herb garden area, where some weeds have already had time to grow. Better pull those out, before they get out of hand again. Then I clear the car port again. I'm able to dig out a few creeper roots, as well! This time, I also work along the front of the car port - which is 98% weeds, nothing else.

By the time I got to the driveway end, it was getting dark, so I went inside. Twenty past seven! No power! Huh? What the ... Did I get it wrong? After all that research? Are we out from five to half eight?

Half eight comes and goes ... no light. So, I start calling. My next door neighbour doesn't answer. The neighbour on the west is busy on his phone. Finally, the lady neighbour I met New Year answers! Turns out some twatwaddle drove into an electrical pole, near Onderstepoort ... Around ten this morning! They've been working to repair that ever since.

Ironic, isn't it?

Anyway, I was lucky enough to get enough water into the bath, so I could at least wash myself properly. I even got some warm water!

Now, it's nearing eleven ... I better publish quickly, in case we're being load shat at eleven ... having enjoyed a mere half hours electricity since 10 this morning!