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 ...