Lock-down Day 614

Tuesday, 30 November

I woke to the alarm, followed by my Mew-larm, followed by my Mini-larm. Having learned about 'fully activating' solar batteries, I'm applying the same principle to the little camping torch / power bank, and I've put that on charge.

Coffee! I've decided to return the Hummingbirds. Firstly, the Hummingbirds are cheaper than the Butterflies - so, if I had chosen them, I'd have paid less. Secondly, that assembly fault, where 2 of the birds hang at the same height ... it bugs me. It's like looking at a crooked frame. And lastly, At's wife absolutely loves butterflies - so, I'm asking for a replacement, which I'll give to At to give to his wife.

I still have to decide, whether I want to order the Hummingbirds ... I see now, that the lower price applies to 'app only'.

I'm looking at some grow-bags for my trees. They have some on special - they're bigger than the 1.5L bottles I'm using now (they're 11L), but not really big enough for trees ... and I'm not willing to spend much money. Naturally, I'm only looking at specials.

Gosh, they want a photo of the Hummingbirds & of the Barcode! I have a photo of the birds, but not of the barcode ... sigh ... I just hope that packaging did not go in the drawer bin. Which I emptied, already. Well, I'll see what they say about just the photo of the birds ...

Hmmm ... I think I need to expand my online suppliers. I just found a couple of products a lot cheaper elsewhere ...

At least I have my delivery from Faithful to Nature to amuse me today! It includes something called 'sprouting almonds'. From the description, I'm gathering that 'sprouting' is a new trend. Some new vegetarian or vegan thing, about eating stuff, when it just started sprouting. Obviously, that's not what I plan on doing! Yup! You guessed right: I'm going to try to GROW almonds! I've just had to look up whether they grow on trees or bushes! Trees. Like Walnuts. Not bushes, like Hazelnuts.

I've put together a wish list on one of the 'new' suppliers ... I really shouldn't be spending more money, but ... well ... this would be for projects over the shut-down. When I want to spend 3 weeks disconnected from work. Perfect time to experiment with cement-based art. And to transplant my trees.

I would like some decorations in my garden, as well. I've looked around, but it's always so expensive - and nothing that I really liked. But I've seen some videos how to create molds at home. I considered various materials, I'm no good at woodwork, definitely useless with steel, and cardboard is no good for outdoors. But cardboard is ideal for molds! Especially the shiny cover side of mippies' treat boxes - I just need to coat it with oil.

I plan on starting with something simple. Just basic shapes. I saw a few really easy ideas, which even I can't muck up!

Back at home, I get out the mower and finish mowing the last two sections. You can already see the difference between what I mowed Saturday and today! Glad that I did, though - as crappy a job as it was. If I hadn't done that today, it would have been a major task on Friday!

Then I removed the weed guard from the pavement outside my bedroom and started pulling the grass underneath. It's dried out, but the roots are still strong. They're not coming out! So I'm putting the cardboard on the pavement, to continue depriving everything of sun. The cardboard should work better on the flat pavement than it does elsewhere - where it's been buckling in the wind and with the new growth pushing up. Lets see how that works.

Inside, I found the wrapper with the barcode, took a photo and sent that off. Let's hope they now have everything they need to replace.

For myself, I'm planning on shopping tomorrow. I have decided to treat myself to a wheelbarrow. Something I've also wanted for a long time, but never ordered, as I was worried it might not fit in my car. Then I saw a fold-up one - but the price was horrendous! Today I saw a fold-up one at a reasonable price! That's going to make such a big difference!

We've had more rain last night, and a good chance of more rain tomorrow.

I've treated mippies, and treated myself to a new experience in the shower: a shower bomb! Ha Ha! Yeah, that's one of the fun things I ordered, which arrived today. It's basically compressed stuff, like a bath bomb (I suppose - never used one of those, yet), and you just place it in the shower, and as it steams up, it releases its fragrance. I nearly wrote fumes, ha ha! Well, Eucalyptus can be thought of as either.

When I was eating, I chewed one piece wrong and I've got a tooth ache from another place ... took a pain killer, now my vision is blurry ... better get to sleep ...

Lock-down Day 613

Monday, 29 November

Relatively early morning, and I have some energy. I see that I missed the 'Family Meeting'. We're still on Level 1 - but: now our government is looking into mandatory vaccination! And that seriously troubles me! When it comes to dividing people, and having to carry a document to be allowed to enter public places ... that didn't end well for Jews in Germany, nor non-Whites in America nor South Africa. Yes, it's different - but it is also the same.

My early morning was also spoiled by work intruding into my mind. I'm firmly pushing it out - it stays to nag at the back of my mind, though.

Anyway, I've made myself coffee, and now I'm getting into gear for the day. I've looked out the bedroom window - and I absolutely have to mow that partition, today! Same will probably go for the section I didn't get to on Saturday. Having done nothing at all yesterday, I'll have to start with the 'absolutely musts' today.

Well, I've thoroughly cleaned the refuse drawer - again. It was much less work than the first time. Then I swept and washed the floors. Next, I should wash down all Mewthos' territorial markings ... sigh.

Well, it's noon. I've cleaned the fridge and re-packed everything. Well, still need to do the bottom drawer and the door, but for the most part, I'm happy!

My groceries have arrived - at work. I'll get them tomorrow.

I just set the bread dough to start ... and realised that I had forgotten to place the key piece! The little thing in the center, that does the actual mixing & kneading! Duh!

Going on four, and the only 'must' left to do is to wash the dishes. I've cooked myself rice, chopped in tomatoes and herbs from the garden, as well as the first broad beans I've harvested!

It's over 30 again, today, so I've put on my new air cooler. I'm running it off solar power, with one of those new gadgets. Which didn't last very long ... I think that gadget hasn't fully charged, despite being in the window sill all day today. Yesterday doesn't count - too overcast.

Ah! There was no manual in the box, nor much outside the box - but on the sales page they recommend to fully activate the battery, to charge via wall outlet at least the first 2-3 uses. And solar charging is apparently very slow ... no problem.

Smeagol came for another visit, then trotted happily off - after another treat, some attention and a good long sit behind the Marigold! Ha Ha! Mippies are treated and inside ... and quiet, for a change! It's just after seven ... 

Well, almost five and all I still need to do is pack my lunch! I got quite a bit done today, though I didn't get into the garden. Well, blazing hot sun today, so it wouldn't have been much fun, anyway. 

Lock-down Day 612

Sunday, 28 November

Late morning again. Probably due to the cold. Yes, it's quite cold, not even 20 Celsius. And no, that's not a complaint! I'll be suffering in the heat soon enough!

First thing this morning, pay my bills. Well, I don't have any bills, as such. I don't buy anything on account.

Mippies are driving me nuts again, Mini is under my feet non-stop, Mewthos is cuddling his scratcher arch - he loves that! Ziva sits and mips, Janey hops on my lap ...

Worst though, is, when Mini wants milk! I'm standing at the fridge in my shorts and she claws at me ... even gently, claws in the back of your thighs? Ouch! She STILL hasn't completely mastered the claws vs paws thing.

Well, I meant to clean the house today. The weather is in my favour on that - overcast, cool ... but also with the air pressure, that gives me such a headache! I've just made myself pancakes - I can't remember my granny's recipe, so I made South African ones. My granny's had to stand for a while, but these ones you can fry right away. I'm okay with the frying - but I'm lousy at flipping them! So ... what do you call scrambled pancakes? Ha Ha!

Headache is still strong ... feels as if it is getting worse, actually. I'm going to try an Allergex and take a nap - yes, at eleven in the morning!

I woke up an hour later sans headache - and sunshine! And ... I'm afraid ... no energy. So, I just turned over and took another nap. Woke up, had a pancake, took another nap. Repeat all day.

Eventually, of course, I can't sleep anymore ... but I still have no energy to do anything. So, I'm just slouching around, shuffling from lounge, through the kitchen, to the bedroom ...

Smeagol's been around first thing this morning and again just now. Again, more interested in attention than food - though he's eating quite a lot today!

Mippies came in somewhat early - Mewthos is always happy to get food! Now I'm just going to try and go to sleep again ... even though it isn't even seven ... better day tomorrow!

Lock-down Day 611

Saturday, 27 November

Very, very late morning! I think it must have been near seven, when I finally got out of bed - not sure why!

It's cold and overcast and looks like there's more rain on the way. I've had to put on something long-sleeve, as I'm cold! No, not complaining - quite the contrary! Good weather for hard work!

I'm planning to spend time in the kitchen today. Mippies are queuing for attention, won't leave me alone ... You'd think they were neglected!

Speaking of which, my neighbour also called Ziva fat! That's the second time visitors have called my mippies fat ... do they have a point? They ARE well, fed, but fat? They're at the age where they still look lovely and cuddly. When cats get older, they tend to thin down a lot ... 

Oh, look! Another 'family meeting' on the cards ... new variant, new wave, new rules.

Well, I'm slowly getting started. It's almost 10, ha ha! Laundry is in the machine ... well, the first load, anyway. I don't know how I'm going to dry it, because outside still looks like rain ...

I've put up my owls!

If you look closely, you can see broad beans ready to be harvested, and maize cobs, as well as the next rose about to flower! This one, I'm told, is called 'Turkish Delight'.

Oh, and more good news: there's a chance of load shedding ... soon ...

I've put up the butterflies - though I'm not yet happy with the location. On the one hand, they need direct sunlight on top, where the solar panel is located, and on the other hand, in fresh air there's nowhere to hang them.

And here's another puzzle! Look at the 'butterflies'! Ha Ha Ha

Look more like Hummingbirds, don't they? Well, to be honest, if I had had a choice between butterflies and hummingbirds, I would probably have chosen the hummingbirds. I like hummingbirds!

Well, as I sit outside for my breaks, I can give some thought to location ...

Well, I've hung the laundry - it's a bit too close to each other, it'll take more than a day to dry, I'm afraid. And I've started washing all the new dishes I bought on Monday.

The weather today, I'm afraid, brings with it the kind of air pressure that makes my head ache - and nothing helps.

Half-way through washing dishes, I decided to mow the lawn. I figured, if it starts raining, I can always come inside and carry on washing the dishes - but I can't mow the lawn, if it's raining when I'm done with the dishes.

Good thing, too! It started raining when I was on the last stretch ... I finished both partitions (and the one behind the grapevine is nasty! I really battled mowing that patch!), I finished all around the driveway, I finished in front of the house, up to the small ponytail ... now there's only that nasty section in front of the rose beds to be done!

Oh dear ... here we go again! Power just went off for a few seconds ... I fear there's another power outage coming!

Only now, I'm much better prepared! My ONLY worry now, is the fridge & freezer! I've got power units, that can charge practically everything via USB (cell phone, router) and power quite a few things via USB (like the air cooler, and my salt lamp). I have a gas cooker. I'm not worried about the PC - internet is so bad, can't do much online anyway. Write my blog, check the news ... though I do still need to pay rent, electricity, data, additional airtime and order Whiskas this weekend ... And if I can't watch a DVD, so what? I've got plenty of books!

Like I said, my ONLY worry now is the fridge & freezer.

I'm chatting with At, sadly, he can't get anyone to look after his brother tomorrow, so he can't get away ... 

I'm also carrying on with the dishes, while it's raining. It stopped raining. For about 5 minutes. Now it's raining again. A nice, steady rain - not a downpour, just constant, gentle rain ... looks like we've had another 10 mm already!

Twenty to five and it's still drizzling. Not raining anymore - Smeagol's come out of the dog hut! That's where he's been hiding throughout the rain, today! I'm glad! I gave him another treat - mippies did not like that, not at all, ha ha!

Kitchen is finally clean, too! That's the biggest problem, when you shop for so many kitchen items - you have to wash them all. All in one go, on top of the standard dishes, ha ha! The frying pans needed some special treatment, too. Apparently you're supposed to rub cooking oil all over them, heat them up, let them cool down, then wash them again.

It stopped raining! I grabbed my gardening stuff and headed for the rose bushes! With the ground as thoroughly soaked as it is now, I'm getting out roots that would have stuck or broken any other time! Mini, as always, came to join me. She finds the owls interesting - keeps putting her paws on one, to see what it'll do! Later, she strolled onto my back and settled down! And wouldn't budge! When I slowly straightened up - which both Mewthos and Janey understand to mean that they need to get off ... well, Mini just strolled onto my shoulder! I ended up with her butt hanging in my face!

I managed to clear quite a bit. Almost finishing the third bed, but I opted to clear half the last bed, instead. Starting along the wall, working my way forward. And I cleared a good ring around the poor rose! As I had promised! Still, I'd like to finish that this weekend.

When I had my quality time on the veranda - though Mewthos kind of spoiled it, with his continuous mewling - I decided the owls will have to move. They are too far away for me to enjoy. I moved two to the center ponytail bed - that's better, but I think, out back would be even better. After all, I spend more time in my armchair, looking out back, than I do on the veranda. Well, in the dark. In daylight, I sit on the veranda - but the owls don't glow in daylight!

Well, I'm happy with my achievements today! Looking forward to tomorrow ...

Lock-down Day 610

Friday, 26 November

Power went out last night ... sigh ... sometime around nine. For some reason, I couldn't get to sleep, as a result. It was going on midnight, before I finally found rest ...

When I got up around eleven, for a smoke, I'm sure poor Smeagol was huddled atop the outside freezer! So many of his 'safe' and 'dry' hideaways have been demolished with all this building going on around ... but the dog hut is still there? I've been thinking of making him a nest, with cardboard and blankie.

This morning, I was not ready to get up. When the alarm went off - followed by a very insistent Mew-larm - I listened, but couldn't hear the water fountain. Dang! I got up a bit late - around six. Treated mippies to their breakfast, and got the gas bottle out. Assembled the cooker top, put the kettle on and sat down in my armchair.

A couple of minutes later, as I look down, I see the flower fountain is running ... Duh! Power had come back while I was snoozing (or maybe even before, and in my groggy state, just listening for the water fountain ... well, I could have got that wrong. After all, I listened, I didn't look. And that fountain is actually rather quiet).

Unfortunately, the last milk from last week had gone sour. Sigh ... At least everything else will be fine, now.

In the bedroom, Mini had thrown up almost her entire breakfast! It was Tuna - so, I think my theory is correct. I should eliminate fish from their diet. Or rather, from their treats.

We had a lot of rain during the night! It looks like some 10 mm! In the mornings, I just get a look, from a distance. Maybe I should mark the gauge, so that I can see how much rainfall we had, even from a distance?

News. Apparently there is one thing South Africa can produce better than any other country: new and more dangerous variants of the Coronavirus! I'm beginning to wonder why they are always discovered in South Africa? Do we have better virologists?

Back at home, the weather is threatening rain, so I grab the mower and start mowing, as fast as I can! I finished the back lawn, around the spinach & carrots and half the section by the dog hut ... then the rain was just too much!

I just sat down for a smoke and a think of what I should do now. I was thinking it would be a good time to carry on re-sharpening the lawnmower blades, when my neighbour showed up! My landlord wants to put up some plastic, where the tiles broke, to prevent any rain damage.

As they were working, the rain lessened, and I became restless. I started cleaning up around the dog hut, which had been bothering me for quite a while. Looks much better now! But, although the rain had lessened, it hadn't stopped ... and my back is soaked through and through!

Inside, change of clothes and change to another coat.

And, crazy me, I go back outside! This time, I'm tackling the pavement behind the grapevine! The weeds have grown tall and strong there, again. I didn't finish, but I did manage to clear the worst of it ...

Mippies were eager to have me within reach - they had come out into the rain, to see what their crazy mommy is doing ... In case you're wondering, I had put the geyser on, when I got home, so I knew I'd be able to have a bath. I kept an eye on the light, no power outage! So I could enjoy a hot bath, when I finally gave up ...

Smeagol showed up again, as well. He first went to eat, and then came to sit behind the Marigold, calling me. So I got up and spent some time with him. He's quite happy to have JUST my company - just me sitting or standing nearby, talking to him. But when I put him hand out to pat his head, he usually head-butts my hand - jumping up a little, to touch my hand! And after a while, he'd prefer not to be touched - which is difficult to tell, when, because I don't see the signs ... and that's when I get clawed! Today, however, Smeagol swatted without claws! He just swatted my hand away - no claws!

I went to sit on the veranda with my mippies, wondering whether I could do some more - but decided to stay in the dry. I had changed clothes again - and didn't want to get wet anymore.

We had 26 mm rain by that time - and it was still raining!

When I finally gave up, and went inside ... it stopped raining! Ah, well! I treated mippies, ate, bathed ... and then for a relatively early night ...

Lock-down Day 609

Thursday, 25 November

I woke up even before the alarm went off. Mewthos was very excited - Munchies! Ha ha ha! I teased them, by first going to the bathroom - he he he.

Coffee and a think.

Quarter to five, I've had just about enough for today. 

Well, at least I managed to go grocery shopping - and they had some 'Black Friday specials' on fruit & veg! Cool! The trick, for me, is, just to make sure I don't buy more than I can eat over a weekend! Ha ha!

Hey! And my delivery just arrived, too! The one that was scheduled for Tuesday next week! I've got my solar owl lights! And my solar butterfly mobile!

Back at home, I finished clearing the succulent bed. All nice and clean now - and the succulents are thriving! They are completely filling the bed!

I took another look at the bed in front of that, and I think I need to give up on the spinach & carrots - for a while. I think I should make a plan to dig up that entire bed a couple of times, cleaning all roots and seeds out of that ground, before I plant anything there ...

As I was sitting on the veranda, I tried to decide where I should place the solar owl lights ... there are four lights, and I have four rose beds! Initially, I wanted to place them around the driveway - but in the rose beds, I would see them from the veranda!

When I was sitting in my armchair, just now, I got to thinking ... as usual. Only, I'm thinking about my home ... and how it isn't really my home, yet. I'm putting so much effort into the garden, the inside is nothing like my home at all! It's still more like I'm squatting, rather than living here ... 

It's a life-time failing of mine, to always be working towards something ... never arriving. Never just being, just living. Not that it's bad to have dreams and goals - but I always seem to be focused on the goal, never stopping the smell the roses along the path, so to speak.

And I'm not getting any younger. My path is a lot shorter.

Instead of working towards the day when the garden IS, I should rather look at it as a puzzle. The fun isn't in looking at the finished picture, the fun is the activity that results in the finished picture.

If only the weeds weren't so aggressively claiming ground, ha ha! Well, I'll find my balance.

Right now, it's raining again. I'm tired ... 

Lock-down Day 608

Wednesday, 24 November

It's now quarter to three and I just want to run away ... 

Back at home ... I just go right into the garden. Bugger chores! Smeagol was waiting for me in the Marigold patch - it's a new favourite hiding place of his! I gave him plenty of attention, then treated him to a pouch of wet food - mippies did not approve! And he STILL went inside ... I didn't see him, but I heard him. Calling. From the kitchen.

I cleared the succulent bed - it was in a state! I picked bits of roof tiles and plenty of wood. And a lot of grass was trying to grow in there ... well, it's not finished, but almost.

Back inside ... mippies are on my back, wanting attention ... so, I'm off ...

Lock-down Day 607

Tuesday, 23 November

Power went off around one this morning. No coffee! Well, no hot coffee at home, at least. On the way to work, major traffic - there was an accident, which had long since been cleared off the road, but a fire truck and an ambulance were still on the side of the road ... and everyone must slow down, just in case there's something to see! Dare not miss any chance to see a bit of gore! Grrr ...

Lots of cars passing the traffic in the oncoming lane - nearly leading to several more head-on collisions!

With yet another power outage this morning, I just sent our driver to fill up my gas bottle! For now, I have only the basic - a cooktop and a gas bottle; but that's really all I need ... if I can find a way to place that safely in my kitchen, then I can probably change back to cooking with gas. At the moment I'm using an induction plate - which uses far less electricity than a stove plate, but still uses electricity.

It's a viscous circle: Eishkom isn't making enough income from electricity sales - but they don't supply electricity 24/7, so we can't use electricity 24/7, thus buy less electricity - leading right back to Eishkom not making enough income from sales ... so they increase the prices, again and again.

I'm doing my best to get away from electricity ... change to gas and try solar, where feasible. The problem with Solar is, that it isn't feasible, yet. Solar panels don't yet last long enough to make them worth while ...

I've just placed an order with Takealot. They have the cat littler on special ... And I've splashed out on a few garden features ... yeah, I know ... after yesterday, I shouldn't be spending more money ... 

And I've spent some more, ha ha ha! Groceries and a few more treats - taking advantage of 'Black Friday Specials'. No, I won't be going into any store on Friday! I still need Whiskas, but I can order that this weekend ... if I have power, of course! sigh ..

I've been gearing up At, so I can fetch him for a visit on Sunday. He needs to make arrangements, so he can be away from home ... don't ask.

When I got home, I had to have a long session with Smeagol. He was waiting for me, when I arrived, and wanted lots of interaction. I got nicked for my troubles. Later, I found him in the kitchen again! Atop the counter! I don't know why - his food comes from those same bowls! Every day! Ah, well .. he's not attacking anyone, mippies are very wary, but no harm done.

Much later, he tries to go after Mini, who was too afraid to come from the gate to the house - but I managed to get between them, and Mini could safely dash home, while Smeagol just looked at me mournfully! But he didn't go after Mini!

I get the feeling that he's trying to learn how to fit into our society. I really hope he does!

I just sat weeding from the driveway along the veranda. I'm clearing quite a wide bed from the veranda - I have flowers that want to get into the garden!

Now, I've got mippies pawing and clawing at me for attention again ... I've already cuddled, held, played with, cuddled ... sigh ... they always want more ...

Lock-down Day 606

Monday, 22 November

Woke up to the sounds of retching ... mippie, considerately moved off the bed, and threw up on the floor. My guess would be Lady Jane. I'm planning to remove fish from their diet completely. I have a feeling that it's the fish that has Janey and / or Ziva throwing up, still. Silly of me to anthropomorphise my mippies too much! Whereas humans like variety in their food, cats don't.

Anyway, off to work. Uh uh! Problem with the gate! Sigh ... I manage to get out, and lock it behind me ... I just hope I will be able to get in!

On the way, I realise that I forgot my mask! At least, the scarf I've been using as a mask all along. Dang! At work, I realise that I also forgot my phone at home! Double dang!

I looked up the road to Makro and it should really be easy. Let's hope I don't end up circling the block for half an hour again!

I was able to leave work just after nine. Found Makro right away! Strike is in full swing - a lot of toyi-toying in the parking lot.

Of course, as soon as I start shopping, I need the toilet! What is it about shopping and toilets? My mum was the same! Shopping was her fail-safe cure for constipation!

Anyway, inside ... lots of 'Black Friday' specials. And I overspent by a really big margin! By the time I got to the items on my list, my trolley was already overflowing! I don't think I've ever spent this much money in one place! And I regret nothing.

I took advantage of a couple of deals, best of them was getting a ladder! The exact one I've wanted - and at about a third of the usual price! I also bought 2-months worth of items I've been buying every week - at much lower prices. Then I saw they had instant coffee on special, so I got 6 months worth of coffee.

They didn't have Whiskas, though! None! Not one single box! Unbelievable!

I did, however, get more mippies' food bowls! Last time I came back, they didn't have any more - today, suddenly, they're back on the shelf! Now Mini can finally have a bowl as well! No more plastic bowl for her! Although, to be honest, I think she believes she's the special one for getting a special bowl and getting fed in a special place! Ha Ha!

I also got a couple of gadgets that will come in very, very useful! An LED light, that charges on solar power, and can re-charge most phones (it'll be able to re-charge my router, too!). A dimable camping lamp. A desk top air cooler. Oh, and most importantly: a gas cooker! The bottle cost almost three times what the cooker cost - and I still have to have it filled, but at least I will now be able to cook dinner and boil the kettle, when the power is out! I bought myself 2 copper-stone frying pans. Two 1 liter glass jars. Two coffee containers - which seal tight, so I can use them to store ground coffee on the counter. Two travel mugs - bigger than the one I have now. A duvet cover. Two hand towels. A pair of shorts - would you believe, I tried a top sized XXXL, and it was too tight? Oh, and I also bought a Mist system. Like a sprinkler, only it sprays a fine mist, to cool down an area. Like the veranda! Pre-assembled, I just need to put it up - somehow - then connect it to a standard hosepipe, connected to a standard tap! I've been dreaming of getting that, just this weekend - only, I didn't know it was so cheap and so easy!

Well, as you can see, I bought lots! And all of it useful.

I got home not much after one. And I'm exhausted! Still, I've carried everything inside, unpacked ... but so much needs to be washed, before I can use it ... this Saturday, I'm going to have to stick to the kitchen! The garden will have to wait ...

Smeagol just came inside again! That's three days in a row! I did give him attention a while back, when he caterwauled outside ... why does he come into the house, though? Can't be for food, because he's got the exact same food outside in his bowl, that's on the counter! I give him handfuls of each of the kibbles, every day! And he didn't attack. I'm not sure whether he was looking for me, or food? He was licking his lips when I saw him ... and coaxed him outside ...

Well, apart from the shopping and unpacking, I didn't get much done. I didn't even have the energy left for breadrolls - but the thought of those awful sandwiches at the Orchards Spar again? Drove me to at least bake a loaf of bread. I tried a fast-bake setting, which I had never tried before! I'll see how that tastes, tomorrow.

I've showered, now I'll go sit outside until it's time to bring in mippies ... then just go to bed. I've eaten left-overs - yummy!

Lock-down Day 605

Sunday, 21 November

I'm taking it easy today. I got myself a bad sunburn yesterday - I could literally feel my back burn when the sun came out. Silly of me to have stayed, then. I started today by making my Makro list. First, I measured all the windows - in case I see curtains that I like, then I noted down the different light bulbs used throughout the house, so I can stock up - and hopefully get the right size for the mippies bedroom, so I can fit the cover again.

Then I noted down the things I'd like to have a look at, to see what's available. 

Enough admin. Time to go outside! It's been overcast all day today, with rain a possibility any time. I had promised the yellow roses that I'd make them some room today - but if it suddenly starts pouring down? Not a chance I should take. So, I'm working the tomato bed. I see some cucumbers are coming up! Finally! I've also got some tomatoes growing! I mean the fruit, not the plant!

First, though, I harvested more Marigold and Poppy seeds, aka cleaned them up a little. Then, while I was working in the tomato bed, mippies came. Mini pawed at my back (she wants to climb on my back, but is still a bit insecure, as I let her know that claws hurt), so I picked her up for a bit. Then Janey jumped on my back a few times. Then, when it started to drizzle, I moved under the car port ... and look what I could pull out, where the tree root had turned the soil:

You know what this is? It's part of the root of one of those creepers! I clearly didn't get the complete taproot out ... but just look at the size of that thing!

Then the rain got a bit more than a drizzle, and even under the car port, I got wet. I went inside and look what I found in my armchair:

Ziva and Janey, cuddling on my armchair! Mewthos was on the chair by the door, Mini across from the armchair.

My facebook memories popped up the photo of Mewthos in the grey bowl today. He was such a tiny kitty, four years ago!

I'm not sure whether that's Janey or Earl in the background - I think it's probably Earl! Him and Mewthos were quite close - always investigating things together!

And look how much Mewthos has grown:

Same cat, same bowl!

It's actually cold today! Still raining - a soft, gentle, yet steady rain. Lovely! Ideal weather to cook a lovely hot meal ... only ... I don't feel like cooking! Even though I have fresh Chervil, Basil and Lemon Balm growing strong in the garden!

Anyway, while it's raining, I'm planting trees! Starting with Banana! They say you can't grow banana from store bought fruit, because they don't have seeds. Bollocks! They do have seeds! They are just tiny, and unless the banana is overripe, they're the same colour, so you can't see them.

Hmmm ... I just watched a video about growing different fruit from store-bought ... and came across a Dragon fruit. Now, that funny vine growing on the Jacaranda tree looks a lot like the dragon fruit vine! I wonder ... surely I would have seen some fruit growing at some time?

Well, I decided to cook something, after all!  No recipe, just added what I felt like ... Delicious!

I've been sitting outside and wondering what on earth I'm going to do with all the trees growing in bottles on the table outside! I mean, there's a whole apple orchard, for one thing! And then I got to thinking, that they won't be trees for quite a while. So, what do nurseries do? They grow them in bags! Now, I still haven't decided whether I want to get some bags or use my pots ... but I think I can put then in front of the dog hut, until they're big enough to go into the ground. And then I can maybe give some away, as well ... the one's that survive, that is.

Anyway, mippies are restless again ... I've already brought some of their toys into the bedroom ... but they want attention. So ... good night!

Lock-down Day 604

Saturday, 20 November

Power didn't go off ... I just checked, they suspended load shedding at 21:00 last night.

Well, it is overcast - ideal weather for gardening. And there's a high chance of rain this afternoon - ideal weather for housework. The twist, of course, is: what about electricity! Rain comes with a storm, and storms often cause power outages ... 

Internet is being iffy again. I think I'll go out into the garden now ...

It's on the dot nine, and I finished mowing! I think I'll start the washing machine now - I can hang it up, or not.

Okay, so what should I do in the garden now? The spinach and carrot section is covered in branches, bits of tiles off the roof, weeds ... cleaning that would certainly be 'quick visual show'. As in, not a hard job, fairly quick, and it will look like a big job done. On the other hand, with all this rain we've had this week, it would be a good time to weed! And there is a LOT of weeding that needs doing - if I had to list it, I'd fill a couple of pages!

On the other hand, if I try and pull those bushels of veld in front of the rose beds - that will reduce the amount of time it will take me to mow every week! That patch there is really awful. There's reed like stuff growing there, which resists cutting. No matter how sharp the blades! So, yes. I think that would be making the best use of the recent rains!

Right. I've removed several of those bushes. It's amazing what a difference such impossible-to-mow patches make! When I sit on the veranda, I can clearly see just what a - relatively - small patch this is. See, the 'grass' doesn't cut, it shreds in the mower. Those shreds wilt, and from my seat of the veranda, you can clearly see where exactly that is the case. And that 'small' patch takes almost as long to mow, as the whole rest of the front garden!

Well, after I started clearing such bushes on the edge of the rose bed, I carried on clearing the rose bed. Well, that was badly covered with different kinds of grass ... quite a big job, but I cleared the second half of the second bed and half of the third bed. That poor yellow rose in the fourth bed is really not getting much joy. Poor thing tried so hard and put forth two flowers ... both no more than an inch above the ground!

The sun is getting too much, though. I'm taking a break. I've hung up the laundry, put on the geyser ... I mean to do the dishes now. Me and dishes ... lol ...

Well, I played a game for a bit, watched a bit of an episode, but eventually did wash the dishes. All of them.

Then I went back into the garden. The weather had turned and thunder is rumbling, rain not far off ... I carry on in the rose bed, and I manage to finish (well, as good as) the third bed, now it's only the poor yellow rose bed to do. I put down food for all three roses, so when the rain comes, they'll have a good munch!

Bit of a situation inside. I came inside, as it started to drizzle ... and found Smeagol coming from the bedroom side! He must have come in either through the front door, or the open bedroom window, as I had closed the back door - because the wind had picked up. Poor bastard! I guess he's just as afraid of the thunder, as Ziva! He didn't attack, and Mewthos just has to growl and Smeagol stops. Afraid. No wonder Mewthos marks his territory indoors! Well, at least he's left out the bedroom ... lately. 

Well, I opened the outside room for Smeagol. Then coaxed him outside ... but he's hiding between the pots under the car port. Poor bastard!

And here we go again! Power out! Grrr ...

I tried publishing, but the internet went off with the power (shouldn't - but for some reason it did, this time).

The storm didn't last long. We got 9 mm rain in about half an hour! I opened up again, letting mippies out - it's still light (power went off around five, sun goes down half seven, now). And I went on weeding the driveway. Looks nice and clean, now!

I saw Smeagol coming out of the dog hut - that's where he hid from the storm. I think I'll put a blanket and some boxes in there for him to stay comfy, in future.

When it got dark, I went inside - Mewthos was already restless, ha ha! Treated mippies and then had a bath. I hadn't turned off the geyser, so I had hot water, at least!

As I was in the bath, power came back. Two and a half hours ... not too bad. At least I can now have a hot dinner!

Lock-down Day 603

Friday, 19 November

Still no power! Luke-warm coffee, made with the water I boiled yesterday morning ... off to work.

First thing, I call about our electricity! Funny thing - something went wonky with their system, and I suddenly found myself talking to the Police! Re-dial ... number does not exist. Wait. Breathe. Re-dial ... talking to a consultant, without much wait. Great! So first, why did I get a 'meter serial number could not be found' error message, in response to my SMS? Simple: You can't register with a meter number - you must have an account number. I don't have an account! Tough - nothing they can do. Grrr ... next: about the call I logged last night. Oh, yeah, that's on our system - but there is no update. Why not? Well, you see, the people who process calls only start work at eight. Call again after eight ...

And you call that a system? All you have is 100 different ways to tell us to fuck off!

Quarter to nine, I called again ... they have just allocated a Technician! At 8:41! 14 hours after the problem was reported! FFS! Oh, and that Technician has 14 jobs to do before us ... so, I can call again in about 4 hours for another update ... Grrr ...

Having 'no load shedding scheduled' is friggin' meaningless when the power is off all day ... 

On the way home, I noticed the traffic lights are still off at the main road - this power failure is affecting quite a large area ... and it's still not resolved! Sigh ...

However, a little later, quite close to home, I see a gaggle of technicians waddling around an electrical pole! Something is happening! There is hope!

Back at home, I start mowing the lawn almost right away. I finished the back, all partitions, and the part from the west up to the driveway. When I started the driveway, the rain got too strong and I fled under the veranda! At least I got the worst parts finished.

While I was mowing one of the partitions, the power came back! Oh, I can tell from anywhere - there's a light at the top of the water tank. That is always on - if we have power.

The rain didn't last long, and the sun came out soon enough. Of course, now the grass was too wet to mow ... so I decided to clean the patch outside the kitchen.

I saw a missed call from my boss ... a tool broke, and they need a replacement on Monday. We don't have any left in stock ... so I'll need to go in to order. But that's all I need to come in for ... so, I've been thinking that that might actually work out in my favour! I've been planning to go to Makro on a Monday, ever since I decided to take Monday's off - but, well ... I don't want to go out, unless I have to. Now I have to. So, when I've done the little job, I can go to Makro - and will be there as they open, before they're too busy! As I said, it'll be worth my while.

Well, I've bathed, shared dinner with mippies - though I will have to throw away the meat, that I had in the fridge for tonight Grrr ... and, although the power will go off at four tomorrow morning, I'll keep the PC on. It'll wake me up, before the power comes back on ... I'll cope.

Now, Ziva is pawing at me for attention ...

Lock-down Day 602

Thursday, 18 November

Mewthos decided I should get up early. He also woke me several times during the night, mewling for ... who knows what reason? Well, I got up, had my coffee, sat for a think ... off to work.

At work, I quickly ran off to get groceries ... my milk is already sour! I've opened yet another long-life milk. I had to call someone to tell me the friggin' prices of milk - there is buggerall up! Same goes for all the produce - so, I bought nothing. Oh, except for a packet of Kiwi! I want to try and grow those, too! Ha Ha

I got home and could see a storm brewing ... I put on the geyser as soon as I arrived! Smeagol was around again, so I gave him a treat, not just dry food. I cleaned the litter boxes, watered the spinach & carrot patch - the potatoes are looking rather droopy ... then Smeagol went after Ziva, and I ended up closing up the back!

I settled on the drive way and carried on weeding ... storm was brewing, then a few drops came down ... and then the power went off!

I went inside, reported the power failure, tried sitting outside through the storm - but mippies were scared, so I followed them inside. Poor Ziva was hiding under the bed and wouldn't even come out for a treat!

Well, it came down in buckets! It even hailed - fortunately only small hail stones, so there shouldn't be any damage.

I tried reporting the failure via sms again - no reply. I called - and after only 10 minutes got a consultant! The sms line is down ... okay, so report it.

Since I had put the geyser on, I did at least have hot water - I must say, having a bath makes a big difference! I do sleep a lot better. Mippies have been mipping for attention the whole evening - and each got their turn ... so ... sleep ...

Lock-down Day 601

Wednesday, 17 November

Oh, I can be a twit, can't I? Yesterday I headed the post with 'Monday'! Well, I have an excuse - it was my first day of the week, at work. Well, I fixed it now!

No load shedding during the night - yay! I took a chance and left the PC on.

Aaand, we're load shedding Stage 2! From 14:00 ... which means that our lights will stay on tonight, but will go out tomorrow from 12:00 - 14:30 and again from 20:00 - 22:30 tomorrow night, again 20:00 - 22:30 Friday night and 04:00 - 06:30 Saturday morning. Well, they say it'll stop at 05:00 Saturday morning ... Eish!

For my non South African readers, Eish! (pronounced Aysh!) is a South African colloquialism used to express quite a wide range of emotions. It could mean 'Oh, crap!' or 'Oops' or 'WTF?' but mostly it means 'Oh, crap!' (though, use a stronger expression in place of 'crap'). Now you'll also get my constant reference of Eskom as Eishkom :) Eskom is South Africa's ONLY electricity supplier ... well, our government has recently given permission to independent companies, but it's going to take a while before they will be able to actually do so.

Phew, it's hot again today!

Crazy drive home, the weather had turned and it was stormy! When I got into the car, the temperature was 30 Celsius. Half an hour later, when I got out, at home, it was 17 Celsius! That's quite a sudden drop!

Worse though, as I feared, the power was off at home.  Grrrr... neighbours assumed load shedding.  I told them it's  not, and that I reported it via sms ... that was 10 minutes ago,  though,  and I still haven't received confirmation!

It can't have been off for long,  though, because my UPS hadn't even started  beeping ...

I'm afraid I don't have the airtime to hold for half an hour. Grrrr 

It would seem that no airtime is charged while waiting for a consultant to answer. After 10 minutes, I hung up and checked my airtime - no change. Now I've been waiting another 25 minutes. I'm almost certain they turn off the phones! Grrr 

At least I have a signal, and - for now - internet on my mobile.  Still no reference number, either.

I fear that, since we don't actually have a mayor or municipality right now, it's a matter of 'when the cat is away, the mice come out to play'. Parties are still negotiating coalitions  ... Tshwane is still hung, unresolved. 

After over 40 minutes, a human answered! I could hardly believe it! But guess what? Their system is down! That's why I didn't get a reference number! Oh, and they can't do anything either! WTF?!? No manual backup? FFS!

Well, they did take my details and promised to log my call when their system comes back on .... sigh ... 

Yay! Around eight, the power came back on! I had already wipe-washed myself, changed, eaten bread rolls for dinner ... Internet went off, so I lost some of what I had typed on my mobile ... whatever.

Now I'm just going to watch an episode of Columbo, poor mippies got neglected while I was trying to report the power outage ... 

Lock-down Day 600

Tuesday, 16 November.

Six hundred days in lock-down! Going up and down the levels at whatever whim - like a game of snakes and ladders, with greased rungs! I'm staring to loose track of dates ... so I've decided to open each post with the actual date. Yes, I know that the 'published' date shows at the top of each post ... but it doesn't show the day of the week; and sometimes, as you know, I can't publish on the exact date. Yes, I also know that I can 'set' the publication date, so that, if I publish on a Monday, it shows 'published the day before' ... but that's putting on slippers. I wish to carpet the world! Ha Ha

Right now, I don't even know what Level we're in. I'm guessing 'adjusted Level 1', since booze is not restricted ... but who can tell, anymore? And nobody questions the continued extension of the 'State of Disaster' anymore ...

Enough politics. It's all depressing. I don't even want to talk about the treatment of former State President FW de Klerk, who passed away last week. Yes, he was the last apartheid president - but he GAVE US democracy! Against his party's orders! And if they give a terrorist, as in Nelson Mandela (Yes, I get it, Mandela changed during the 27 years in prison. He turned from advocating violence to advocating peace. But he did not just advocate violence, he actively encouraged and participated!), a state funeral - FW de Klerk, who practically handed this country to the people - has earned it ten times over!

Well, my fruit juice has arrived! That, at least, is good news!

Another strike coming our way ... and load shedding is rearing its dark head once again - though only 'possible' at this stage ...

Back at home, I carried in the juice - I've barely managed to fit it all into the fridge - then did the other chores, and - while watering - I started weeding around the driveway. From the Marigold bed towards the veranda ...

I'm going to have to turn off the PC, just in case they start load shedding during the night - and we're due at 04:00 tomorrow morning. Oh, and boil the kettle tonight, just in case. Warm coffee is better than cold coffee ...

Lock-down Day 599

Relatively good night, not so early morning. Mippies had dropped my phone, so there was no alarm. Well, Mini only pushes it off the bed when it makes a noise, so ... it probably got a chance to go off once.

I think, today, I should spend more time inside than in the garden. All I really 'must' do today, is bake my lunch for the rest of the week ... I may do some light gardening today, but I don't think I should put in another day of hard labour! I think, three days in a row, may be pushing it a bit too much.

I decided that I should do, whatever gardening I really want done, first thing in the morning, before the sun starts to blaze full blast!

Janey came for brushies, before I could go out ... and where there's brushies, Mini is never far away! I brushed her, too ... but unlike my other mips, Mini doesn't know the meaning of 'enough'! Ha Ha!

Then I went out and finished giving the Ponytail its annual haircut. I could swear the plant loves getting it's hair cut - it kept handing me fronds to cut! It's a very tricky business, because I can't see what I'm doing most of the time, so I start by putting my hand at a stem, feeling upwards until I reach the lower fronds and start pulling those off. Putting your hand into a dense tree is not for the faint-hearted, here in Africa! You never know WHAT might be in that tree!

Well, I managed to finish without slicing myself and without being bitten or stung by anything! Mini stayed under my feet the entire time - she did her best to stay in what little shade she could find, but she still got quite hot! Especially when she rolls on her back, showing me her tummy to let me know 'brushies, mommy!' Ha Ha!

Right! Quarter to eleven, and all Ponytails have received their summer haircut! And this year, I also know about trimming the babies. Last year, when I didn't even know what these frondy things were called, I left all shoots intact. Only cleaned out wilted leaves / fronds - and there were such a lot of those! This year, having learned a little more, I'm now removing shoots, leaving only one - not three or four trying their luck in the same place.

Speaking of which, I just removed two sprouts which - in retrospect - I should have removed last year. My view from the veranda is now taking shape - looking really lovely!

Well, it is very hot ... again! So, I decided to take a nap. Mewthos decided, that's his opportunity to get brushed! I go lie on my left side, he comes and snuggles on my right. So, just for him, I turn over ... and he steps over me and snuggles up to the brush!

I got about half an hour's shut eye ... Now I'm trying to find the 'get up and go' to start the dough for this week's lunch ... I've ordered fruit juice, as I'm down to the last bottle.

Well, I've manged to get some chores done. And the bread dough is on the go ...

I meandered into the garden ... and started cleaning up the Marigold bed. Harvesting plenty of seeds, at the same time. Poor Marigold! Being hit by a tree did not do them very good! A lot of the plants had fallen over, and I picked up quite a bit of wood, too. Well, I've re-seeded and pulled a lot of fallen plants out of the bed. I tied some of them up - they are very tall, for Marigold! As high as my hip!

Then I was missing Mini - hadn't seen her for an unusually long time! I called and searched and searched - even looked out the gate ... poor thing got herself shut in the garage! Very happy to come out - and I was very happy to see her!

Mippies came in a bit earlier than usual - I'm going to skip washing the dishes, but I want to bath as soon as possible. Now, would be a good time!

That's much better! I've packed my lunch, packed the other rolls away, got dinner on the stove ... my fruit juice is arriving tomorrow, so I made space in the fridge. I've ordered a lot - in this heat, I'm incredibly thirsty! And it isn't even summer! Sigh ...

Anyway, time to share my dinner, lock up, brush more mippies and go to sleep ...

Lock-down Day 598

Mewthos wouldn't let me sleep. As soon as the alarm went off, so did he! I opened up and he dashed outside! Good ...

Half eight and I've swept the whole house, folded & packed away the laundry, and watered the veranda - which is quite a job, now, with all the apple, plum and lemon trees growing there!

When I sat down for a smoke and think, I heard Mini chirping somewhere ... she was on the roof and was asking for help to get down! You're going to laugh when I tell you what she's learned from Mewthos: She wouldn't jump onto the dryer, instead, she jumped onto one of those posts by the carport, then waited for me to bend forward, so she could step onto my back!

I started washing the dishes, and noticed Lady Jane sitting on the counter ... seemingly waiting. Eventually I came to sit down here, to write and she joyfully followed and spent time strolling across my lap! Two Mips happy for a while!

Phew! Dishes washed and kitchen clean ... I should probably still wash the kitchen floor ... I don't really want to, though!

Nine o'clock and I'm in the garden, he he he. Those 'dead' rose beds, which I've left to prioritise the 'live' rose beds, are now getting out of hand. So, I'm clearing those now - it spoils my evening view from the veranda!

Ziva is curled up in the shade under the water tank, I've been working in the patch shaded by the water tank as well, but I had better put up the Gazebo. The shade is moving fast, and the sun is ...intolerable!

First, though, I'm enjoying my breakfast! Funny thing, I didn't eat anything last night - wasn't hungry ... now, after one bread roll, I'm fine. 

This isn't exactly a 'before' photo, because I've already removed the worst of the grass in that bed ... but close enough.

I've done as much as I'm willing to do in those 'dead' beds. I've pulled out all the tall crap - the rest will have to wait for another time. My real goal today is to clean 'live' rose beds. I noticed that the gooseberries in the pot are getting quite big - I would like to plant them next to the maize, along the wall there.

Sjoe, it is so hot today, stepping outside feels like stepping into an oven! So I decided to take a nap. It's near one now, and no longer feels like an oven outside - though, of course, it's still hot.

Half three and the first bed is almost done. I mean 'live' bed. The one with the maize growing behind. I see the gooseberry there is also growing strong - I even spotted a basil plant!

Of course, since I've never grown a gooseberry, I'm not sure what they should look like ... so, I could be nurturing some weeds! Ha Ha!

Gosh! Does the local wind suddenly think it can imitate PE wind? I just nearly did a Mary Poppins with the Gazebo! Sudden gust of wind - and I'm holding on for dear life! Well, okay, I'm exaggerating - but it did lift off, and I had to grab hold of it. I've packed it away now ... better safe than sorry! Still, good thing I'm a pretty hefty anchor, eh?

Right! First bed done! Three to go ... it started drizzling a little, so I'm taking a break.

My plants are very affectionate! Yesterday the grapevine kept tousling my hair and today the maize leaves are doing the same ...

I've also spent the entire weekend picking up 'clonks'. They are absolutely everywhere! Bits of wood or branches, throughout the entire garden!

There, that's the progress I made today! You can see the brown patch between the maize and the ponytail - that took the most time! I finished half the second bed, maybe I'll carry on tomorrow ... yeah, I didn't forget the plan with the gooseberry - just don't see that happening!

Oh, and for my non South African readers: I'm not talking about the gooseberry, as you probably know it (Stachelbeere in German), I'm talking about Cape Gooseberry. Don't ask me why it's called a gooseberry, it's quite a different fruit, in my opinion. Still delicious, though, or I wouldn't have planted them!

Well, I tried sitting still on the veranda - but it was still quite early, so I took up the scissors and started giving the center ponytail its annual hair cut. Half-done ... like everything in the garden! Ha Ha!

I am exhausted now ... I've enjoyed my bath, but I'm trying to locate the energy to cook dinner!

Lock-down Day 597

Relatively good night, late morning, though. Yesterdays strenuous work-out is taking its toll - I'm still sore!

Getting started slowly. I've set dough on the go to make myself bread rolls for the weekend.

Busy morning already, ha ha! Two neighbours just showed up, one after the other. The first one came for Marigold seed and he brought me tomato plants! Awesome! I showed him around, we talked - bit by bit I'm learning the history of my home. Who lived here, who did what when, in this garden.

He also mentioned that he could arrange for some of his workers to help me in the garden on some Saturdays. If he vouches for them, I'm willing to give that a try. I really could use help, there is such a lot of heavy labour that needs doing. And if I don't overspend, I can afford the help.

The concern, living here on my own, is of course safety. That's why I've not looked for anyone - I really can't afford someone who could come back later to do some affirmative shopping in my home!

Then my new neighbour showed up, just to show me how I can help myself, if the gate starts acting up again! He's on his way to his daughter, and will pop in tomorrow afternoon to get some seeds.

I've decided to try something different. That section outside my bedroom is mostly covered with thorns - nothing else. I thought of buying plenty more weed guard, to cover ALL paving, maybe even the rose beds, because I really can't keep up with the weeding ... but that is going to quite expensive ... so, I thought: why not use cardboard? I've got an abundance of cardboard, with all the deliveries, and the main purpose is to deny the plants light.

So, I've pulled off all tape, cut them open and started placing them in the section. I've also got plenty of bricks to weigh them down with ... and without the plastic, if it rains and dissolves; no harm!

See what I mean? If you zoom in, you can see that all that green is thorns! Thorns, thorns, thorns everywhere! Well, now we'll have to see how that cardboard holds up to some wind!

Now I've planted the tomato plants from my neighbour - mostly into the pots, and a few in the tomato bed - he said they were cherry tomatoes, so pots should be fine. Then I watered. And started working the grapevine bed ... only ... the sun is burning ten types of crap out of me! So I went and put up the gazebo!

That's today's achievement. I know, it doesn't look like much - especially for a full day's work ... but yeah! That's how long it takes to clear just one bed. Properly, of course! Having the grapevine tousle my hair while I was working, didn't exactly help, ha ha!

Well, that wasn't on any of my plans of what I would like to do this weekend - but that's how it goes. I see something, feel like doing something and that's what I do. All day long. And there is such a lot to be done, that nothing is a waste of time!

Well, Ziva is demanding cuddle time, quite loudly ... time to settle on the bed ...

Lock-down Day 596

Good night, early morning. My morning thinking has brought me to the conclusion that, this weekend, I'll be lucky if I manage to get the whole 'lawn' mowed. There are branches and bits of branches scattered throughout the ENTIRE garden - I'm going to have my hands full, raking and clearing the wood, before I can mow. Starting with the areas I didn't mow last weekend.

Trying to do a few little calculations ... which are taking forever, as the computer takes a full 5 minutes to re-calculate every time! Sigh ...

Well, I've done all I could at work. Now, these last 10 minutes, I'll try to re-set my mind to 'weekend' mode!

I'm seriously impressed with myself! Seriously! I actually managed to mow the entire garden! Every partition, front, back, everything! Despite the extra work around the rose beds, where I hadn't mowed last weekend. And despite the seriously extra work it was to pick up clonks every few steps. Clonks - bits of branches, which go 'clonk' if they hit the mower blades. I picked up bits of wood and branches absolutely everywhere! With so many people trampling all over everywhere Monday and Wednesday, all the branches were just bits - yet I managed to pick up lots and lots! I suppose there are still some lying around - which I didn't see, and they didn't clonk the mower ... but on the whole: I'm seriously impressed with myself!

I even cleaned the patch next to the dog hut, which I had never mowed before!

And that, of course, allows me to do anything I feel like in the garden, this weekend! <happy dance> I don't like a heavy load of 'must' hanging over me!

I'm also utterly exhausted! Ha Ha! It was really hard work! So ... I'm going to bed ...

Lock-down Day 595

A fairly good night. I did half-wake a couple of times throughout the night, but still got a good night's sleep. So much so, that I was happy to get up at five!

I enjoyed my coffee and sat in my armchair, looking out the back and just thinking ... I do that a lot. I think about what gardening tasks are most urgent, which I should try to get to that evening. And I think about work. How to tackle this, that and the other. Prioritising. I just like to sit and think ... a lot.

When I tried to get dressed, Mewthos flopped on the bed and pawed at the brush, so I spent some time brushing him! Oh, what a happy chappy he was! Ha ha! When I went to get my socks, Ziva called - she had sprawled on a blanket in the bottom shelf - I didn't even know she was there! So I gave her a few pets, as well. When I went around the bed, to open the curtains, I found Mini on the top bunk of the cat tree, next to the chest of drawers! She no longer cries when I touch under her chin! That's a big relief! Janey curled up on the chair by the front door. She always gets a bit of cuddles as I'm leaving.

The gate behaved better this morning. Still not satisfactorily, as it wouldn't close automatically - not at all! No worries, though! I never drive away until I see it is closed, anyway.

First I got myself some food. This Monday's outage is costing me a good chunk of money, having to buy my lunch every day!

Well, they had some intriguing plants at the Spar today, so I bought two of them. One is a cactus, which is flowering. I just had to rescue that! And the other is a succulent in full flower - a Calandiva. With red flowers!

They also had miniature roses - but since I'm not even able to keep the bushes in my garden alive, I figured it best to leave them.

Oh! Surprise, surprise! LESS load shedding than expected! We're now down to Stage 2, and load shedding will be lifted a day earlier! So, no outage when I get home today - but one more from midnight till 02:30. And that's the end of it ... for now!

Back at home, first I chopped off the 'water-draining' sprouts on the peach tree - my neighbour pointed out that they should be cut, as they just drain the tree. Added them to the pile behind the fence.

And then I sat down to clean up the poppies and some of the marigold - they suffered quite a bit from the fallen tree. I collected a lot of seeds and also cut a lot of flowers down ... scattered some of the seeds along the fence, where I had cleaned on Monday, and some in the Marigold bed.

I offered seeds to my neighbours - I've got such a lot already, with more still to come ... Two neighbours are taking up my offer!

Well, mippies are really restless tonight. I've brushed, I've cuddled ... Mewthos sat right next to my dinner plate - I barely managed to cut pieces fast enough for him! Ziva and Janey also got their share - Mini had turned her back on me, so she missed out.

Now, I'm just going to watch an episode of 'Columbo' and then I'll have to turn off the PC - for the last time, I hope - before I go to bed ...

Lock-down Day 594

Not a good night. I'm also a little worried about Mini. She cries if I touch her under her chin? And I mean touch, soft, gentle, not rough. I pulled a tick off her, near her jaw, yesterday afternoon. She's the only one who gets ticks actually on her, as she's all black. With the others, I usually spot ticks before they get a chance to bite them.

This morning I woke up around four. I decided to turn the geyser on, so I could take a shower before work!

Shower and hot coffee! Bliss!

Mini has decided that my back is HERS! Ha Ha! As I bent down, to give them their morning milk, she stepped onto my back and started kneading - ouch! I stepped to the counter, straightened slowly until she got off, then, when I bent to pick up the milk carton, she strolled right back onto my back! Repeat about four times!

Oh! Cat food delivery arrived! I only ordered yesterday! Fantastic!

I was looking on their website, yesterday, thinking of maybe buying mippies a new flower fountain ... yikes! They now cost more than double what I paid less than 4 years ago! Daylight robbery! Sigh ...

Today, I was thinking of buying a little something for myself - you know, so I also get a delivery, not just mippies! Ha Ha! I had a look, but ... nah ... nothing I really want right now. I still have the credit from that return. Maybe I should get the soldering iron, to burn holes into the plastic bottles, rather than cutting slits in the bottom?

I did see a solar powered water pump! Now, if only I had a water feature to use it! But you know what? I'm beginning to really warm up to this idea of making garden decorations / features out of cement.

Yes, I would dearly love to make something pretty for my garden ... no, I don't have any time for that, because there's so much weeding and cleaning to be done! Conundrum, right? The more I focus on how much needs to be done, the more I drive myself insane ... 

Just looking at the rose beds ... covered in green! They need weeding! The spinach and carrot bed is looking a mess, as well. I never finished the tomato bed, either. 

Well, I've had two long weekends, and both spoiled. The first one by the 2-day power outage and this past one was actually spoiled by Mewthos! I spent the entire Saturday washing the bedroom, remember? THAT spoiled more than Monday's power outage!

And those fallen trees have resulted in such a large scale clean-up of dead wood all over the garden - I'm almost glad they fell! So much junk taken out of the garden, now!

The lack of sleep is catching up with me now ... I mean, I was up until around eleven last night and up again at four, with a 'hmmm?' wake up when load shedding started at midnight, and I vaguely remember the fountain tinkling again, after load shedding, waking me, as well.

And we'll have load shedding again, when I get home today and again from midnight till 02:30. Same times tomorrow ... and that is supposed to be the end of it, for me. (We're off again from 08:00 - 10:30 Friday morning, but I'll 'miss' that).

Back at home, the first thing I noticed was that the gate is working again! Yay!

The second thing I noticed, was that it isn't working satisfactorily. It closes too fast! And since it doesn't have a motion detector - if your car is in the way, the gate hits it. I reversed fast enough and it only turned my mirror.

Another little issue about coming home: my neighbour's dog has got out again! And, apparently she enjoyed Saturdays visit at my place so much, she'd like to visit some more! I had quite a time getting the gate to stay open so she could get out, and then keeping her out while the gate closed!

Back inside, I cleaned the litter boxes and then tossed every piece of meat from the fridge into the bin! I'm not taking chances! I tossed out the carrots, too, and the yogurt. Both survived last weekend, but not two 48-hour outages!

In the garden, I noticed a rake lying next to the driveway - spikes in the air! Sheez! Close call, there! I found a broom in my veggie garden - they'd cleared the walkway. But I can't find MY broom now ... I'll look again tomorrow.

I worked in my tomato bed. Cleaning up the debris, tying the Nasturtiums up again, clearing them from the tomato plants, etc. Then I watered.

Smeagol was around, but no trouble. He's quite happy curled up atop the dryer in the car port, near where I'm working. He didn't attack my mippies.

I also took down the milk bottles. That experiment failed - everything in those just wilted and died. Nasturtium clearly need much more root space to grow. Lesson learned!

Back inside, mippies gobbled their treat - and Janey promptly threw everything up! Shame, poor girl! There was some grass in there, so I gather she'd been feeling a bit unwell even before treat time. As a result, though, she tucked into my dinner! She usually barely nibbles one piece - but tonight, she had even more than Mewthos!

Anyway, they're all sitting and mewling for attention now ... I better give them some ...