Lock-down Day 624

Friday, 10th December

Not the best of nights. My spastic colon decided to get active, responding to the white meat. I was up half the night ... 

Bit of a late start, as a result. I'm still worried about Mini. Although she let me pick her up, without any complaints - she's not her usual self. Normally, she's zooming around, chasing Janey and Ziva relentlessly ... but at the moment, she doesn't zoom at all! Still, she eats well, and drinks well. I don't know ...

Not-yet-great A'Tuin is still in the same spot as last night. Safe and sound. I didn't go near her - seeing as she's so traumatised. I'll check on her when I get home, this afternoon.

On the way to work, just before the Onderstepoort Veterinary Hospital, I see a group of dogs trying to cross the road - in peak traffic! That's not going to end well! Looks like one just had puppies - and there are smaller dogs in the group, which could be the puppies. So, I turned into Onderstepoort and informed them of the situation. The guy at the reception didn't seem to think it anything urgent - even though I said that a puppy could be run over at any minute, now! I'm sure, once one of the vets or students are informed, they'll teach him differently - that matters of life and death are actually URGENT! But there's nothing I can do ... so I left.

Oh, and my neighbour ALSO called Ziva fat! I'm starting to get a complex ... 

Anyway, last day at work. I've done the essentials - and there isn't enough time to take stock of the tools in stock. Nor enough time to investigate discrepancies on the material stock. It'll have to wait for next year ...

I see in the news that Eishkom want to increase their tariff by another 20%! To cover the cost of maintenance ... an expert recently published an article, that the best thing they could do is stop throwing good money after bad on maintaining outdated power stations, to free that money to maintain the newer power stations. Which made sense to me ... but clearly, taking MORE money from consumers is always better, eh? Well, I'll start double-dosing again ... where I buy 2 months budget of electricity every month, until the price increase takes effect.

After more than one year in my home, I still have no intention of ever moving again ... so, stocking up on electricity units on my meter will not be a waste ...

I'm thinking of spreading my new tarpaulin in that horror section, behind the grapevine - as an alternative to wrenching my shoulders again, trying to mow the un-mowable.

I still haven't heard back from Takealot, when they will send my Butterflies ... I've come to the conclusion, that all their 'thank you for your patience' and 'apolgise for the inconvenience' is a blatant lie; they will do what they want and, as their customer, I have no voice.

Leave such thinking for now ... it's not positive. I'm going on leave, I want positive thoughts now!

On the way home, I got a call from my landlord asking how much electricity I have loaded. I told him. He asked me not to load anymore, as he wants to change my meter - I told him, it'll take about 3 months to use what I have loaded ...

There goes that plan of mine!

At home, first I look for not-yet-great A'Tuin. I'm about to start panicking, as I can't find him! He couldn't have got out? Could he? Ah! Found him! Huddled in the corner, behind the bucket! I think he might be looking for shade, so I pick him up and place him in some shade. He clearly doesn't like being exposed - and he's still scared as hell of me! Mippies came to investigate - Ziva and Mini - but didn't like the smell of him, so they left. As soon as he was sure I had gone, he ran off back to the wall, where there are some tall weeds! Whatever makes him happy!

And then ... time to mow the lawn! Sigh ... The back has a few patches that I need to go over more than once - it's growing quite dense in some places. The front as well, but other than that - just a walk in the park. A long, tedious walk, but not shoulder-socket-wrenching tedious. The dog hut partition is a bit tricky, with the obstacles in there, but that horror section? Well, I mowed what was easy to mow - on the longest setting - and then just left it! It was still past six when I was finished! And I didn't touch the partition, where the tortoise is currently living!

It was half past six, and there was still time, so I went to the horror section and started pulling grass and weeds out from between the pavement! At least now it no longer looks like a complete jungle from my chair on the veranda! But I need to think of something there ...

For dinner, I really felt like some potatoes! I just didn't have the energy to wait for them to be done ... so I fried myself some red meat, instead. Which I had to share - quite generously - with all mippies! Yes, all! Even Lady Jane and Mini!

Now I've bathed and it's nearly nine ... going to watch an episode - I'm currently re-watching Star Trek: The Next Generation ...