Lock-down Day 461

Very early morning, for a change. Mippies timed their wake-me-up activities with my alarm - not an hour or two earlier, nor later. I also slept through most of the night, which made a nice change.

At work, I feel like I'm drowning. I thought that once I got the orders we received into action, I could slow down and work my way through building the systems, one step at a time ... but really, the faster I can get everything in place, the better! There's just so much to be done ... 

I managed to make good progress on organising the drawings ... 

Anyway, back at home, Smeagol was waiting for me again. I started giving him some attention, but then he got distracted by my mippies ... and was getting ready to attack ... sorry, sweetie, but I can't have that. So I walked away and shut the door ... I don't know what else I can do! At first I stayed in our 'lovies zone' - there's a specific area, where he likes to get attention. He rubs himself around a pole of the outside room and I stroke his head whenever it's within reach. I stayed there ... and called him ... but he moved towards my lounge door, growling at Mewthos. When he wouldn't come back ... well, that's when I walked away.

Mippies are demanding lots and lots of attention ... too much ... they've started queueing! Literally! While Lady Jane is on my lap, getting her share of my attention, Ziva sits next to me, mipping to let me know that it's her turn next!

It's twenty past eight, I've eaten, bathed and I feel ready to just go to sleep right now ... but I have some cuddle duties ahead ...

Lock-down Day 460

I woke up again and again throughout the night ... work issues on my mind. Every time, I'd focus on my audiobook to clear my mind, then go back to sleep.

First, I'm going to get a few groceries. Before I go into Spar, I check out the Hartbeeshoek Butchery next door. I do know that they have the butchery bags I use, and while I'm there, I have a poke around. I decided to try some of their sausages - to bake into bread rolls. See how that works out.

At the Spar, toilet paper is on special - about time, too! I'm low ... anyway, I forgot to check for Sauerkraut. Sigh! I ordered an Eisbein, so I'll have to get the Sauerkraut elsewhere ... anyway, I got a few groceries - their fruit & veg prices are sky high! Way out of my league ... come September, I really have to start growing my own! So, the sooner I can finish that last jungle partition, the sooner I can start creating more beds ...

My spinach and carrots are sprouting under the tunnel, though - that's something! Oh, and the Brussels Sprouts seem to have fully recovered from the grazing - they're looking strong ... I have hopes!

It's almost four and I'm still catching up with today's 'to do' list ... I haven't made any progress on the drawings, yet.

At least my juice delivery has arrived already! That's nice!

Back at home, I had quite a bit of unpacking to do - and mippies got into the garage while I was taking things through! Fortunately it's a really, really short walk. I reverse into the garage, so I offload from the boot to the door - that's about 2 steps. And then I just slide it from the door into the lounge - to try to avoid mippies getting into the garage. But today it was a bit too much, and they got past me, ha ha! The longest stretch I have to carry anything is through the lounge! Yeah, awesome, isn't it?

I just took things into the lounge, and from there only after mippies were all safely inside.

For dinner I fried myself a steak! Oh, how I missed my red meat! That's one thing South Africa still has got right: meat prices are NOT completely beyond my means!

Mippies came to share, but had about one piece each and left ... Mini tried burying her third piece! Under my duvet, of all places! Sigh ... well, I enjoyed my dinner!

I've already spent time brushing Ziva, cuddling and singing to Janey, holding Mewthos, and now Mini wants her brushies ... busy evening!

Lock-down Day 459

With that very late finish of the president's address, I got to sleep very late and woke up quite late, as well.

I almost felt sorry for our president last night. He seemed worn down and exhausted ... and, unlike in the past, when he issued instructions or dictated behaviour - he was pleading with us to just please follow the safety protocols of wearing a mask, sanitising and avoiding social gatherings ...

With all the stop and re-starting of the speech, I missed the part where I now qualify to register for vaccination from 1st July!

Well, we're back to Level 4, version ... gosh, who knows which one? At least there's no ban on tobacco products - but alcohol is banned again. Other than that, with my isolated life-style, there's no effect on my life.

At work, I'm sorting through our drawings. Linking them with the products.

I get home to find: No electricity! First thing to check is the neighbourhood WhatsApp group. Ah, they're replacing a transformer ... that message was sent around one this afternoon! No indication when we get our power back ...

Smeagol was waiting for me on the veranda, so first I go out to give him his lovies - he's already eaten, and just wants attention. When I'm finally able to get away - no, I don't think he ever gets enough - I start cleaning the litter boxes.

While I'm busy, I hear my PC beep: power is back. Not quite six, so ... not too long a wait for me!

Mippies want their attention now ...

Lock-down Day 458

I woke with a very unpleasant headache. Mippies had pinned me down - by parking left and right of me, on the duvet. I finally got up and let them out ...

... only ... Mini, as usual, won't go out, but runs excitedly under my feet. Janey also comes mipping for loves and soon Ziva follows. And my head is just pounding away ...

I also had a very strange dream this morning, where my sister was sitting on my bed, my mum's best friend's husband was visiting, my cousin, from the same town, was also visiting. It was strange, but at the same time reassuringly peaceful. It resonated harmony.

Not sure how that dream, and the headache came together in the same head.

Well, some relaxation techniques and a little breakfast have reduced the headache to manageable - and then I took some Paracetemol.

Well, I've done my banking - paid electricity, rent and the juice order. And the good news is: I'm not broke! My strict budget is paying off! And given the situation at work, I need that just to keep from stressing.

Anyway, I'm happy to say that the headache has dissipated! And I'm now turning towards my Sunday.

First, set the bread dough going. Then, start the pies. I rolled out the dough, and made some rectangles, plopped a dollop of sweet in the center, and folded it. I used something like Nutella in the one's with the 'C' on top, and Jam in the others. Then I still had a lot of dough left over, no clue what to do with it, so I spread Nutella inside and rolled it up.

I brushed egg on top ... should be interesting to see how they turn out! I considered adding a sugar coat after they've baked, but I no longer feel like making that extra effort ...

Well, they turned out delicious! Even without the sugar coating!

For dinner, I'm making ... well, I'm boiling home-made pasta with brussels sprouts, carrots and peas in water with a can of tomatoes. And some spices. On top of that entire ... stew ... I'm steaming chicken breasts. I'll still add sour cream to that whole concoction.

Of course, first I will need to clean the kitchen ... again ...

Done. Now it's time for all the end-of-day last little bits of 'needs to be done'. Like taking out the trash, making sure all water containers / fountains are full, etc. ...

And done. Quarter to six, mippies are inside, happily treated and all I still need to do is bath and eat dinner!

Oh, and at eight? Another 'family meeting'! Having just read that Sydney just shut down completely - again ... I'm quite worried!

On top of that, the internet's still iffy ... I keep checking the news site for a link to the live stream ... so far, the 'latest' news item is from 7 hours ago ... 

Oh, and my headache is coming back.

Ah, there's the link! And I've taken my migraine cocktail ... let's hear the worst, then bed ...

Nope. Can't hear it ... it's now half past eight, and I've only heard about the first 5 minutes, so far ... it's 'loading ... loading ... loading ...' the whole fecken' time ... At times like this, I REALLY wish I had stronger internet!

Lock-down Day 457

Late start to my day, as I'm none too eager to enter the cold outside-the-bed. Mippies were patiently sitting around my head, waiting for me to let them out ... only ... there's noises outside, and they won't go out at all! They're busy with the caterpillar again, next door.

Mippies are restless. Predictably. I've had Janey on my lap again and again and again. Mewthos mewling to be picked up, Ziva wanting her ears scratched ... busy morning. When I started to clean out the litter boxes, all four mips came to join me. As soon as I cleaned the first one, Mini used it! I cleaned it again. Then Janey came to use the next one. I cleaned it again.

I was able to start the laundry, at least. It's going on ten, and that's all I've managed to get done ... 

Laundry is hanging and pie dough is in the fridge. Mippies are giving me little time to even think, let alone get anything done. It's times like these, where I kind of half wish we weren't quite as close a family, as we are!

Well, I didn't do much today, just the necessary stuff. Ordered meat and juice ... and then got the payment part wrong! Again! Dang!

Anyway, I'm out of sorts ... better cuddle some mippies and go to bed ...

Lock-down Day 456

Bit of a late morning, courtesy of mippies, of course!

At work, I'm ... busy. And stressing, again.

Back at home, I got stuck into that final jungle, again. I've made good progress.

And that's about all there is to say about today ...

Lock-down Day 455

Mippies were up very early and demanded I get out from under the snug, warm covers NOW! Ai, ai, ai, lovely start to my day, eh?

As you can imagine, I've got a lot of birthday posts on Facebook. This one's my favourite, so far:

Yes, the cat theme prevails! I've also got mail from my aunt in the States - always happy to hear from her! She amazes me, she lives such an active life! So totally the opposite of me, ha ha!

And this came up in my memories the other day, dating back 3 years:

My latest Magic trick:

First, I check the entire flat. Right? No Ziva anywhere. Then, I check outside. My garden? No Ziva. My neighbour's garden? No Ziva! She is no where to be seen.

Then, I open a pack of Biltong ...

TA DAAA!

Quite a magic trick, eh? My darling Ziva, who started the whole many-paws invasion into my life! Thanks to her, my home is filled with absolute, unconditional, purrfect love! So much so, that I often find myself singing at the top of my voice, on the way home - just filled with happiness of what awaits me at home! And they no longer dash right past me to get out, like they used to in the previous place! They first say hello, then go out for a quick relief, then come back inside to watch me clean their poop! Ha Ha!

This is how my eggs were delivered this morning! I buy them from my boss' wife - fresh, free range, and from happy hens!

And this is what she sent me with the eggs: cookies shaped like hearts and teapots, with a slit, so I can put them on the rim of my coffee cup!

When I got home, all my mippies came running towards me to greet me! That's a bit unusual, but hey, I'm happy! Smeagol was also sitting outside hoping for lovies - he got a bit over enthusiastic ...

Well, I gave him a treat - Mewthos didn't like that, but tough! He gets plenty!

Mippies under my feet while I'm busy in the kitchen, now I'm going to enjoy dinner and a movie ... well, an episode of Warehouse 13.

Lock-down Day 454

I worked on my serenity last night, which seems to have paid off, as the head cold seems to have disappeared. Even though Mewthos used my head for a pedestal ...

I'm stepping back from some of the responsibilities - simply, because all of them are just too much for one person.

There's a lot more I'd like to say - but this is not the place.

Back at home, mippies go for an extended outdoor stroll - no worries, though. They all came running when I started calling! My darlings!

And that's all, folks!

Lock-down Day 453

My mip-larm went off early this morning. Around three! Urgh! Well, I got up after five, gave them their morning instead-of-going-out treat and sat down to a cup of coffee.

At work, still hectic.

I'm feeling a kind of head cold coming on. You know when your head feels like it's filled with cotton wool? And all sound is blanketed? Yeah, been feeling that for the past two days ... let's just hope it passes.

Anyway, that's my day. Again. Not much, eh?

Lock-down Day 452

Finally! Solstice! I've been counting down the days ... from now on, it will stay light longer again. Today is the shortest day of the year, Sunrise at 06:53 and Sunset at 17:25, just over 10 and a half hours ...

Hectic day at work, I'm now capturing all the quotes we've been requesting ... 

Back at home, mippies run out, then back inside to fetch me - as always. Today it was Mewthos' turn to supervise my litter box cleaning.

I gave them a bit of time outside, and they came in without any trouble. Well, the usual written invitation to Miss Mini, but that's not really trouble.

And that's my day ... yeah, not much to show for the past 24 hours, eh?

Lock-down Day 451

Late morning again. It's cold. I don't like winter. Spring and Autumn are the best - just much too short!

Full plate today ... better get busy.

Half past two, everything pretty much done. I didn't quite make goulash, just something like it - I got sidetracked and didn't add all the spices. I'm not sure whether I should still add the cream ... but then again, why not?

Oky doky! Added the missing spices and the cream.

I baked cheesy meatball rolls again. Only, this time, instead of plain bread dough rolled around the meatball, I rolled grated cheese into the bread dough. And I had a bit more dough than I could use, so ... 

So, the dough around the roll ALSO has cheese in it. I sprinkled some Oregano on top of the meatball and then put a slice of mozzarella on top.

Oh, and I baked chocolate chip muffins! They're a little burnt, but it's okay - it's only on the outside.

Smeagol showed up hoping for lovies! I went out and spent some time with him. I'd say he's looking better? Or is that just wishful thinking?

Anyway, mippies are in, lunch is packed, I'm bathed ... it's just after six, so still early. But I've had a headache all day. I've tried Allergex, even strong Aspirin - no change. Well, it's been overcast today ...

Well, I've taken my migraine cocktail. Let's hold thumbs that I'll be okay tomorrow ...

Lock-down Day 450

Late morning, I let mippies out, they dashed happily outside ... then came running back inside a few minutes later! They're working with heavy equipment outside ... pulling out more trees, I'm afraid.

Well, what they're pulling out now - and have been the past couple of days - is actually a dead tree in my neighbour's front yard.

Sooo ... no 'quiet time' for me, today! Mippies are right here, demanding my attention!

Poor mippies! Something came over me and I cleaned the bedroom. Swept and washed the floors, moving all the furniture, and I even cleaned the fan! Not properly, but instead of black, there's only brown left to clean off.

Outside is scary! Mippies are hiding under furniture. They're busy with a fairly large caterpillar, clearing right outside my back yard - they've taken down the next door fence, and are moving lumps of rocks around. Janey is now on my lap, I've taken the small drying stand inside - maybe I should take it all inside, there's a lot of dust in the air.

I decided to shut mippies in for the day - Mini, in particular, is very brave when I'm there. She'll walk right under my feet, following me into any danger ... no need to risk that.

See what I mean? It's really right outside!

So, poor mippies are inside, whenever I go to check on my laundry! Janey is staying in the bedroom - the loud noises are just too scary for her!

If you look carefully, you can see that there's only one fence up, the one from the wall around MY garden. No fencing up between that and the neighbour's house ...

Fortunately they only work until about two. So, now I can let mippies out! And they are only too happy to go for a run!

I've made pasta dough - I have an idea I want to try. And I've cleaned the kitchen.

Dang. Everything went awry! The pasta dough is too wet ... it didn't go through the machine smoothly, it stuck and tore. I have no idea what I'm going to do with what I've concocted there ...

Internet has been iffy all day, as well, so ... nothing's gone right today. Such is life!

Solved! I'm going to make Goulash tomorrow, I can cook today's concoction in that, plus use the fresh cream about to turn.

Mippies came in, again, without any trouble, and I'm now running myself a bath.

And that's about it for today ... Internet is still iffy, just tried to publish - no luck. Half an hour later, let me try again ...

Lock-down Day 449

Hyper mippies went into action at the first alarm ... sigh ... 

Back at home, I tackled the last jungle in my garden. That last partition, the one at the front, where I still haven't cut the grass down to a manageable length. It's about knee-high ... I hacked and slashed at it with my sickle, which is working really well. I did make good progress ... but it's not a small patch, so ... I think I should not indulge in any other gardening, until that is completed.

Back inside, look what I find, when I want to sit in the lounge:

You've heard of Schödinger's cat? Meet MC Escher's cats!

Internet didn't want to work again last night ... so, here I am, finishing it on Saturday morning!

Lock-down Day 448

Back at work - hectic. Making progress, though.

Back at home, not much to tell ... tomorrow is Friday. Yay!

That's all ...

Lock-down Day 447

Okay, I think I figured out the Mewthos issue. We all know he's a special needs mip - very needy, all the time. Mewling all over the house, at all hours of the day and night, wanting ... something ... you'd think cuddles would put him at rest, but no ... 

I grabbed him and vigorously brushed him for a while - and he was purring up a storm! You know, the kind of purr where he seems to be saying 'purr purr' on top of the purring? He was irritably restless the rest of the night, banging the wardrobe in mippies room, mewling around, stepping on my face ... the whole night. He's lucky he's so adorable! Even his mother and sister at times loose patience with him ... he irritated them a lot, last night, as well!

Let's hope this curtain piddle was an isolated incident ... I better go take them down and wash them, now. I opened that curtain last night, which kept the smell at bay ...

Right, curtains are in the machine ... sigh ...

Okay, so we're back on Level 3 Lock-down. Alcohol restrictions, curfew, gatherings restricted ... nothing that affects my 'stay-at-home-all-the-time' lifestyle. Lucky me. A neighbour got infected, and the whole family tested positive. They are on the mend, now ... she spent a night or two in hospital, though. I just hope they all recover completely ... and soon!

Mewthos is - temporarily - happy. I let them all out just after six, when it was already light - and I just saw a ... confusion? THAT is the collective noun for them? A confusion of guinea fowl! Yeah, I looked it up. Well, a large confusion was just outside my back garden - mippies were in paradise! Oh, they won't catch any - but just the thought, the planning, the strategising ... they're happy! I just hope the guinea fowl don't lead them far, as they keep flying off ...

As soon as rays of sun reach the back lawn, Mewthos will demand that I come for roly poly again ... Ziva and Janey already mip at me insistently, getting some cuddles, Janey jumping on my lap ...

I'm really not feeling very energetic today ... yet, there is so much to do! Sigh. Well the curtains are back up, bread dough is on the go, kitchen is clean, pie dough is refrigerating ... it's not quite one o'clock.

And now the internet is being difficult, again! Sigh ... at least I can write my blog ...

I posted the pic of the sprayed curtain in one of the cat groups on Facebook. I got a lot of suggestions - mostly the obvious: change, threat, ... but one person suggested to give him catnip, to relax him! Now THAT could work! So, I'm drugging my little pisser now ... see how that works.

This is what I'm trying with the bread rolls now. Last time, I used only cheese - the rolling up was a bit of a bugger - the video I had seen made it look so easy ... yeah, I'm old enough to know better, right? Anyway, they turned out really nice - even though half of them fell over and the cheese spread all over the tray.

This time, I want to add some diversity. I've spread some Nutella (well, an equivalent, Nutella is way too expensive now). Should be interesting. I fear, though, that the cheese and chocolate are going to mix in the oven ... some of these will fall over ...

And these are my pies. I cut the tenderised steak into strips and marinated them. I packed one strip per pie. Time to bake and hope, ha ha!

I got distracted ... buns burned a bit ... blame mippies!

Well, they taste awesome! Everything, all tasting awesome! That's always a nice surprise!

I'm bathed, lunch is packed, mippies are in and treated ... ready to shut off for the day ...

Lock-down Day 446

Little late this morning, pretty hectic at work - our costing has been approved by the client, so now we go into action ...

Tomorrow is a public holiday - yay! Funny, but after just two days, I'm happy to get a break! I'm a little stuck on 'what next' - kind of like a kid in a candy store type of stuck. So much that needs to be put in place, where to start?

Oh, nice! Yet ANOTHER Family meeting! Tonight at eight ... well, we're in the third wave, and the numbers are rising quite alarmingly.

Back at home, normal evening, lots of food sharing and cuddles, then ... suddenly:

Guess who?

I just wish I had a clue, why? Honestly, why? And he did that while I was sitting right here, on the bed, right behind me! Why? It stinks!

I cleaned all litter boxes, added more litter, shared my dinner  ... wtf? Why?

Sigh, I guess I will be washing curtains tomorrow  ... grrrr

I'll have to check the news tomorrow to figure out what our president said - I couldn't stream the speech, internet kept going away. I heard something about Level 3?

Lock-down Day 444 & 445

What I didn't mention last night is, that the internet was fuzzy - again. Although we only had Stage 1 load shedding ... I had quite a struggle to get my post published.

Today, it's kitchen duty day. Starting with cleaning, then get the bread dough going, marinate the steak, pack the pie, roll the cheese rolls ...

Then, when I had a little gap, I started carting boxes out of the garage ... get my DVDs back inside, where they belong.

I've been thinking of moving at least one of the bookshelves into mippies room, to make a little space, so that I can put my display case up again. That's going to be quite a big job, though ... maybe I should get started? It doesn't have to be finished the same day ...

Well, I've moved the bookshelf. That's it. I've swept the house, and that's all the energy I had ... poof! Gone! I just need to wash the dishes again ... hmm ... or I could leave them till Wednesday? I've done the biggest part of what I had planned for Wednesday ... and it's already four o'clock!

I left the dishes for Wednesday, thoroughly watered the garden, though, then enjoyed a hot bath, my steak pie and went to bed ... falling asleep very, very early.

Then Monday.

Mini woke me up by pushing my hair brush off the bed ... it was already light, so ... late ...

Work was hectic.

On the way home, a bit of traffic - the radio decided to come on (first time in seven days!) and I heard there was a fatal collision just up the road. Well, I turned off that road ... and was surprised to see the traffic jam continue? Turns out there was another accident, oh, not on Soutpan road, nooooo! On the highway just below the bridge over it ... everybody had to slow down to gawk! Seriously, what is wrong with people? There were even cars parked all over the bridge (in the yellow lane) and people were standing around gawking!

And because of that, I ended up getting home twenty minutes later than usual! Since it was already dark, I seriously considered keeping mippies inside ... but couldn't do it. I let them out! I needn't have worried, though - they didn't go far, and came in a few minutes later!

Again, I'm exhausted ... ate ... ready to go to sleep ... it's just past seven!

Lock-down Day 443

Internet, yay! Well, not strong, but at least I could write and publish yesterday's post. Hopefully, I'll be able to log into my game later, when I have some time. For now, I had better start my chores ... mippies have been out since just after six, and have been back, demanding lots and lots of attention a few minutes later! Janey and Ziva, in particular, have been interrupting my typing with their need for love, over and over again. As a matter of fact, Janey is sitting here now - AGAIN! - wanting more cuddles ...

Okay, change of plan. I've just riffled through my bottom freezer drawer and there was a roll of puff pastry dough. Time to use that. Now, that I know how easy it is to make pie dough (though not yet puff pastry), that space is better used for something else.

I've decided that I'm going to spend today outside, in the garden! I haven't done that in a long time - and Wednesday is a public holiday, so any chores I don't get to this weekend, I can catch up on Wednesday. Anyway, the laundry is hanging outside, it'll be dry pretty soon, and all cooking and baking ... well, I usually do that on Sunday's anyway.

Lovely weather for gardening! It's lovely and warm in the sun - not too hot, like in summer - and indoors is lovely and cool!

I started by cleaning the car port. When I had pulled what weeds I could pull, I swept the car port and then brought the hosepipe to wash as much ground out of the cracks as I could.

I've been thinking for a while now, that I'd really like to move the plants off the veranda. They're getting almost no sun there, though they're protected from the cold, in their little greenhouses ... but I've got this cloche and the tunnel ... just no place to put either of them!

I've started re-cleaning the bed in front of the succulent bed. I'd watered it, so the soil is nice and soft ... 

On the left, the Frangipani, then the Pelargonium, and then all the herbs that sprouted ...

Today's achievement! I'm quite happy! It was a lot of work, and I managed to finish just in time. I placed ALL the growing seedlings - still in their bottles - inside the tunnel. Then I scattered carrot and spinach seeds on either side - spinach near the succulent bed, carrots on the far side.

As you can see, the rest of the bed is still covered in weeds ... it's going to be a lot of work, cleaning all of it. And yes, of course the weeds will just LOVE the protection of the tunnel ... that'll keep me busy, as well.

Anyway, I finished just in time - the sun was setting, mippies were waiting ... 

Mini makes me laugh! She's on the veranda wall, and coming inside. But not the shortest route (which would be to jump off the wall, on the veranda and stroll to the door), oh no! Not Mini! She jumps off the wall into the garden! Then strolls all the way around the veranda, to my driveway and stands by the gate - which I must please open again, for her to stroll through!

And now, the first problem of 'forgetting everything, when I'm in the garden': dinner! I had meant to make the Calamari ... but by now, of course, I'm just not up to it. So: omelet. With cheese. And apple pie for desert.

But first: bath! My head aches, my whole body is sore ... 

After the bath, I'll have my apple pie, then drugs and bed ... I'll need to take something for the back and muscle aches, I'm afraid. They will just get worse overnight, if I don't ...

Lock-down Day 442

Since our power went out again from midnight till after two, I used my flat phone to listen to an audiobook. I have only 1 loaded on it, so ... power outage during the night = THAT audiobook, ha ha! Of course it's a Terry Pratchett book, what else? Oh, on the PC, when we have power through the night, I'm currently listening to Sherlock Holmes.

Mewthos is restless again, he keeps meandering around like a lost boy, wanting something, but whatever I offer "No, that's not it!". Cuddles, cuddle-cave, hugs, brushies .. nope ... twirly? Nope ... Can mommy sleep, please? Nope! Ha Ha ...

Well, it's Friday. He'll have a couple of hours outside this afternoon ...

I quickly went to Spar this morning, just got some milk and cream. I have an idea of making a meat-pasta dish, and a cream sauce would just be awesome! Hold thumbs that it doesn't flop completely! I also got some sugar ... I've been using brown sugar in my baking, but since I'm baking such a lot now, it's worth buying the cheaper, white sugar for that.

At work, I'm now trying to put together a production plan ... sigh ...

Well, that's going to have to be manual, not automated, yet. There are just too many factors involved and, until I have done at least one full Method Study, I won't know how many factors will still come to light.

Back at home ... no internet! Ah, well ... don't need it outside.

I decided to go outside my garden and clean out as much of those creepers as I can - they keep growing and creeping across my car port AND the bed next to that. As I go outside the gate, first thing I see is the large bush of flowers ... totally dried up! It's as tall as the wall, and looks really ... urgh. So, first I take that down.

Done. Next, as I walk outside my garden to reach the outside of the car port ... I get side tracked with all the creeper and weeds rooted outside, but creeping into my garden ... I cleared out a big section, but I really need to get to the car port ... I could be busy here all weekend!

Done. Well, not completely cleared, but it looks much, much better! And, because they used such heavy equipment there, the soil is quite loose and I was able to pull quite a few bulbs out, as well. Creeper bulbs, that is. By now, though, I'm absolutely covered in black jacks! Prickling and poking through my clothes, really irritating me.

Back inside, no internet. It's showing two bars (which is very low), but nothing works. It's been like that all week! Even when WE have power, if one of the signal-booster towers between here and the city is without power ... well, no internet. Or such a weak signal, that I can't even open this blog! I haven't been able to log into my game all week - at work, I've been too busy, and at home ... well ...

Oh, wait, WhatsApp seems to work? I see a message in our neighbourhood group, that load shedding is suspended, though we'll still have Stage 1 from 17:00 - 20:00 ... that's good news! It means we shouldn't have ANY outage all weekend! And I should have some internet ... maybe tomorrow (well, this is what I was thinking last night. Obviously, I now have internet).

So, since I can't google for a recipe, I better use my trusted, old-fashioned way: cook books! I'm looking for the best way to prepare tenderised steak ... it was part of one of the hampers I chose. I usually bake it in foil, wrapped in pie dough, topped with all sorts ... but I'd like to see some different ideas ...

Uuuuh ... cook books! Filled with mouth-watering recipe's! Hmmm ... which shall I try first?

Anyway ... lovely hot bath, followed by apple pie and ... mippie cuddles!

Lock-down Day 441

Fortunately we went back to Stage 2 load shedding last night ...

Still, I don't understand WHY this just goes on and on and on?

Usual morning - Mewthos strolled across my face a couple of times during the night ... he stands on my head to look out the window. Sigh ..

Gosh, and now we're in Stage 3 load shedding ... apparently again until ten tonight, but who knows anymore?

I'm pretty sure, Eishkom determine which Stage load shedding by playing Snakes & Ladders ... grrr

Okay, now I think I've heard it all: Comment in one of the cat FB Groups I joined about cats needing to join us in the bathroom "I need my poopervisor"! Isn't that just exactly right?

Back at home, I've decided to start giving Smeagol diatomaceous earth. Sprinkle some on his food. He is so skinny, and a while back, I saw he had worms ... can't give him any pills, can't even dose him with spot-on stuff. Adding something to his food is just about all I CAN do, so I'm going to see how that works. Plus, of course, it'll keep mippies away from his food - they turn their nose up at that, ha ha!

Ah, he came to complain about the powder on his food. In person! Sat there looking at me as if to say "As a regular customer to this restaurant, I feel obligated to lodge a formal complaint!" Ha ha!. Sorry, boy ... but then he went for Mewthos! Sigh ...

Anyway, time for mippies to come in ... no Mini! Where's my Mini? She is NEVER really late, oh, she needs a written invitation for the last meter, but is ALWAYS around! I looked and called and looked and called and looked and called ... eventually I went outside to look for her ... nothing! Just as I was getting frantic, she showed up! Phew!

Back inside, power back ... no internet. Again! Nothing. Nada. It show's two bars, but nothing loads ... Sigh ...

Lock-down Day 440

Typical morning, coffee, cuddles ... off to work.

Late afternoon, I find out we're in STAGE 4 load shedding! FFS! Seriously? Stage 4? Which basically means at least 3, possibly 4 x 2 - 2 1/2 hours without power throughout the day! That's a third of the day without power!

At least Stage 4 lasted only until ten at night, then we went back to Stage 2.

Power was out, when I got home, came on just after six ... internet would NOT come on. So ... 

Lock-down Day 439

Restless night, courtesy of both types of many paws. Hot flashes, restless mips, welcome to my life!

Still, at least I got to my phone before Mini could bury it again, and I got up on time. Flurry of messages: our driver won't be back today, after all; and At won't be coming in today. Sigh.

At work, I'm frantically busy ...

Urgh! Load shedding ... AGAIN! Well, at least we'll have no outage tonight. And tomorrow night just till 18:30.

It's a bad photo,  but that's my four mippies watching their TV! Sitting at the front door looking at the veranda and a bit of garden.

Now, how do you like this: since I'm not having meat for dinner, mippies decide to share my apple pie! Ai, ai, ai! Oh, just the pastry, nothing else ... still ...

Anyway, time for bed ...

Lock-down Day 438

I don't know what happened, but I didn't hear my alarm this morning. Nor the call from my boss ... I suspect, Mini 'buried' the phone when it made noises!

Well, I was asked to pick up At, as his usual transport was not available this morning - which is not just a much longer drive, but also extreme traffic on the way TO his place ... since I was already late - thank you, Mini! - the traffic wasn't quite as bad and we were only an hour late.

I did call one of the production guys to let them know At and I would be late.

At work, I'm frantically trying to get the costing done for the order we received on Friday. Procurement, planning, production supervision, receiving, inventory control, quality documentation, deliveries ... I'm wearing too many hats!

Most of the production guys, as I said before, are really stepping up and keeping things going ...

You're going to laugh, but it only occurred to me at lunch time, that I'm also going to have to drop At off at home tonight! Yeah, really self-evident ... but with so much spinning around in my mind, that just slipped through the cracks ... Well, we agreed to leave early, so that I, too, avoid the peak traffic on the way back.

At least his transport is back tomorrow.

Although I left an hour earlier than usual, I was home only ten minutes earlier than usual. Time to do a bit more watering, that's all. Mippies had a few more minutes outside.

Mippies were not impressed with MY dinner tonight - I had the rest of the goulash. From tomorrow night on, it'll be goulash pie ... I think they may revolt!?! Well, the pie I baked yesterday tastes as good as the last one, so ... no worries.

Anyway, it's evening, my head has been buzzing all day ... time to turn it down ... 

Lock-down Day 437

I spent the two and a half hours in the dark looking for some ideas, something different to do with my boerewors rolls. Well, they're not exactly boerewors rolls, because that's what it's called when you add the wors to an already baked bread roll. But all I could find was 'Chinese Hot Dog' ... yeah, I think NOT!

Oh, I had a look - never dismiss anything off-hand. But they use a different dough and much thinner sausages.

Okay, for my international readers: Boerewors is a traditional South African sausage. It's made from coarsely ground beef mixed with lamb, pork, spices, etc. The variations are endless. If you have a mincer, you can make it yourself (or ask your butcher to mince the meat for you).

Boerewors

So, when it comes to baking this inside bread dough, it's going to be a very large roll (the sausage is about two fingers wide), and you can't really cut it into little pieces - or slice it, like you could with Vienna's - because it would just fall apart. You'd end up with mince, not a sausage. So, all those decorative 'Chinese Hot Dog' just aren't going to work. I separate the sausage for individual rolls by squishing down, then twisting the casing - making two ends.

Okay, just after nine and the bread dough is on the go. I've added Thyme and Cumin.

Oh, and my new pants? Awesome! So comfy and warm! Now I just need to find some equally comfy and warm tops for this winter! I have lovely knitted ones - but they spark my cats, ha ha!

Janey's cut looks fine. It seems to be healing well. I found a piece of cactus outside the front door last night - with long, hard thorns! I guess she tried to jump over one, broke off a piece and sliced her tummy in the process? She hasn't gone out, yet - she's just hovering under my feet, jumping onto my lap, then my shoulder, then mipping ... her and Ziva are just under my feet all the time. Ziva is now playing with my shoe laces.

At least there's no load shedding during the day, today. Only from 18:00 - 20:30 again. Normally they turn us off only 2 hours, but last night they kept us in the dark the entire 2 1/2 hours! When you're sitting in the dark, waiting for the lights to come back on, half an hour is a long time!

Just checked the news and guess what? Load shedding was suspended from 22:00 last night. It will, however, resume at 17:00 tonight. So, not helping us here ... 

Quarter past ten and the goulash pie is ready. Next, I'll make my sausage rolls - with cheese!

With the apple pie, I want to try and make separate pies, this time. Not one big pie. Always trying something different ...

I got side-tracked ... I peeled the apples, then, while they were absorbing the sugar, cinnamon, etc. I started unpacking boxes. I'm specifically looking for stationery ... which I didn't find. I did, however, find my cheese grater, my big Twista, the blade for the small Twista, some more spices - including the Cinnamon, I knew I had! Ha Ha! Now I have enough Cinnamon to last! A long time!

Mippies enthusiastically helped looking through all the boxes! Mewthos is curled up on my bed, but Janey and Ziva explored extensively! Mini came later, and also had to climb around, over every box and poke her nose everywhere it would fit. You should see what she looks like, now! Black cat covered in cobwebs! Nice, eh?

Sigh, the apple pie is going to be a mess. It's the dough. It's not elastic enough, it's crumbly and when I tried rolling it, it kept tearing. No chance to make individual pies, so I kneaded it back into one ball and tried my best. Couldn't get all the apples inside ... and it's already leaking. Ah well, it'll still taste good, I'm sure!

Quarter past four, kitchen is done. Pies are baked, bread rolls baked, dishes done - now I'm re-heating the left-over goulash, that didn't fit into the pie.

That was delicious! For desert, I still have apple pie from last weekend - the last piece. First, though, I better water the garden ...

Janey tried to impress me by taking a stroll atop the wall! I was NOT impressed! Especially, when she showed insecurity and then contemplated jumping next door! That had me shrieking in fear - they have dogs, big dogs, which don't tolerate cats! She wasn't sure how best to relieve my anxiety - in the end, I managed to pick her off the wall! We're all good, now - and I hope she understood that there was danger. Life-threatening danger!

Half six, I'm running my bath now ... half an hour till lights out! I sound like a child on school night, eh? Well, that's life in South Africa! Anyway, I'll take my LED torch with me to the bathroom ... wouldn't want to start stumbling around when I've got no clothes on, right?

Lock-down Day 436

Very late morning, past seven before I can get myself out of the snug, warm bed to face the cold. Winter is definitely here - and it's going to get a lot worse! Urgh!

With load shedding from 10:00 - 12:30 today, I had better get the washing done. I thought I could wash everything in one load, but then decided to keep the new, navy clothes separate. First time you wash new clothes, they always loose some colour - no need to have pastel coloured everything ...

Only, there won't be time to finish a second load, now. I dawdled a bit ... Well, with the line I've strung outside, everything should still be dry by today.

Mippies are in major cuddle mode. Mini wouldn't leave my side for the first hour, she's still around ... Janey now needs her lap & shoulder time ... Ziva is sitting, like an ornament, on the bookshelf, waiting her chance ... Mewthos is running wild outside. For now.

I've taken goulash & boerewors out of the freezer - yikes, taking anything out of the freezer in this cold is painful! I, eventually, put on my oven mitts, to riffle through the freezer drawer for the packets I want.

Urgh! The lounge is really cold - only the bedroom gets sun, so it's bearable. I've just meandered through the wardrobe, putting on anything that will keep me warm. Four layers, each loose. From sleeveless - for those lovely hot flashes - to long sleeve. Just for today, I'm keeping on my night pants - I'll be really happy when my new ones are dry! They are a lot warmer! And, if they still fit comfortably after being washed, I'll try to buy some more!

Last time I got loose pants was in East London - that's six years ago. And, having worn and washed that pair, every winter since ... well ... there's not much left of them. They're held together by fear ... fear of exposure! Ha Ha!

Mewthos just came in, with a tiny injury above his eye! What DOES he get up to? How does he do that?

Well, it's quarter to ten. I'd better turn off the PC now ... back in about two hours ...

I made two pie doughs, which took nearly two hours, courtesy of Mewthos! He insisted on lawn roly ply again and again and again! 

Since it's cold, I thought I would try to use hot water for the dough  ... I'm not sure how that will turn out  ... the dough is almost liquid. Logically, since the margarine melts in the hot water. Well, we will see!

Oh, gosh! Janey somehow cut herself! She's got a cut on her tummy, less than a centimeter long, not bleeding  ... not too deep, but it cut through her skin. I've cleaned it - she did NOT appreciate that - then put the ointment on, that worked so well on Ziva's tail wound. Which has healed completely, by the way. And that looked really bad, and was much bigger, too. 

I have no clue where or how Janey cut her tummy. Not inside, I hope? She's quite subdued now ... curled up on my armchair ... 

I'm trying to start eh Goulash ... first, I need to re-assemble the friggin' pot ... done ... now, I'm trying to fast-defrost the meat, which is STILL one solid block! I took it out into the sun and start peeling off pieces, as they come loose. Mewthos wants MORE roly poly time ... seriously? Too much! Just, too much!

Next load of washing is on the go, first load is already dry - the pieces I had hung outside, at least. I've only got six hours to get everything ready ... and then I can either have a hot meal or a hot bath. Sigh ... I'm going to try for both.

Just past two, goulash is simmering, washing is hanging to dry ... mippies are snoozing ... I think I'll put the geyser on, so I can get the dishes washed sooner, rather than later.

Done. Then Smeagol showed up! He's been coming around after dark lately - well, it's his usual time, only, we're no longer outside by then. I gave him a pouch of tuna - boy, did he love that! And then I spent a solid fifteen minutes with him. I'm still only allowed to touch the top of his head. Sometimes I also stroke his back, but it worries him. He now, occasionally, rubs against my legs! But do you know how hard it is, to NOT tickle his tummy, when he rolls around at my feet? Yeah, very ... but I bet only until I forget myself just once! He is still so skittish - I have to stay alert the whole time, for any signs that he might claw. Oh, he doesn't mean to hurt me - he doesn't understand how painful claws are, on skin that doesn't have a thick layer of protective fur. That's something cats learn in homes ...

Well, Smeagol has wandered off again, mippies are outside somewhere, my goulash turned out quite nice! Even though I accidentally added mint. Quite a bit, too. And even though the potatoes were not very nice.

All washing is inside, my new pants are dry and I'm going to put them on tonight! They took quite a long time to dry - which is promising! It means they should be really warm! It's just after five, so I should probably get busy watering, then get mippies in and run my bath. Better get busy ...

Lock-down Day 435

Another morning with warm, instead of hot coffee. Not my favourite. 

Work was still hectic, but Fridays are short days.

Information is the oil that keeps the whole machinery running - why withhold it?

Anyway ...

Back at home, no load shedding tonight, so I was free to do as I pleased. And I did. I spent the afternoon in the garden. I cleared some more weeds out of the bed where the aloes used to be, and keep finding cacti. So many of them rotten! It's really sad ... 

I cleared the gap between the bed and the outside room - plants were growing there, as well. Then cleared the succulent bed again - not many weeds in that, now! I'm definitely winning!

And I'm treating myself to a lovely hot bath tonight ...

Lock-down day 434

Power out around twenty past eight again, I was asleep when it came back on ... off again sometime after four this morning.

Get up in the dark, make my coffee in the dark - with water I boiled last night ... mippies under my feet ... had some fun tying my shoelaces. I tied them, then wondered why they were untying themselves ... Mini! Ha Ha! Had to pick her up and take her attention away from the strings moving on the floor, before I could tie them for good.

We should have no load shedding tonight, but we'll be off again from four till after six tomorrow morning ...

I waited for the power to come back on, before I left for work - no need to take the extra chances of driving in the twilight without working traffic lights!

I'm quite exhausted already - mind blank - from trying to figure out some spreadsheet ... so: chocolate!

I got some butter, baking margarine and apples again, as well ... this weekend I want to make Goulash, then put the left-overs into a pie. But I also want another apple strudel! It's just so delicious! I wonder if I'll have the energy to make 2 pie doughs this weekend?

Well, back at home, there are some fires burning somewhere in the distance ... but I can hear them crackling, as if they are right behind the wall! I tried to look over the wall, but can only see the glow far in the west ...

Well, dinner chores, etc all done ... now I better finish watching my episode, then turn of the PC ...

Lock-down Day 433

Eight o'clock came and went, yet the power stayed on ... about ten past, I went with a torch to the lounge, only to see the outside lights are still on! Felt really silly at that point! Twenty past eight, lights still on - I had turned off my PC, and was wondering whether maybe load shedding had been suspended? I decided to leave the PC off, just in case.

Twenty-two past eight the lights went out!

Mewthos is still restless, and Mini is now fighting with Janey ... I just turn over, snuggled under the covers and ignore the lot of them ...

Well, standard morning, off to work ... still busy as can be, I barely get a chance to catch my breath. I need to incorporate everything into my system, to avoid anything falling through the cracks ...

After work, as I'm about to lock the garage, I get a call from MTN. Contract Upgrade. For once, I'm offered something decent: plain airtime, paying no more than I pay now. Actually, a few bob less. That'll buy me another 2 years peace ... 

Only, the call, of course, delays me ... and I'm racing against the clock, again, as we'll be in the dark from eight again ...

Well, I got everything done, so ... good night ...

Lock-down Day 432

Mewthos was very difficult again, last night. He went for poor Janey - who retreated to the lounge, and just mewled and strolled around restlessly. He kept waking me up, as I was trying to go to sleep and eventually settled under the duvet, curled up against me. For a while ...

I slept well, once he was settled, though. Got up relatively early, and noticed that it didn't seem to want to get light today? Once outside, I realised: it's overcast! Okay, off to work. A few minutes on the road and it started raining! Nice!

Closer to work, the rain stopped ... as did the flow of traffic! There was an accident not far from work, which blocked the entire road - we had to get past on the shoulder of the road. And that with twits forming a second lane on the shoulder, already!

Settled everything at work, then took At to buy spectacles. As we walked past one store, I thought I'd try them for some warm track-suit pants, loose. I got very lucky and they had really nice ones, which fit comfortably and are not too expensive - so I took 2 pairs! The fashion in general still seems to be that clothes must hug you tightly - which is stupid for winter, because it's just too cold! You want something with a bit of air between yourself and the material, to keep warm ... but then, when was fashion ever clever? Ha ha!

Anyway, I'm very happy! Then, at DisChem, I re-stocked on my migraine cocktail - and also bought a pair of reading glasses. I don't know what my prescription is, but it's definitely not on the shelf ... not even close. Well, no harm done.

Back at home, it's a race against the clock ... getting done what needs doing before the lights go out ... sigh ...

Quarter to eight, and all is done. Another few minutes of watching an episode, then it's lights out and sleep ...