Lock-down Day 635

I stayed up later than I meant - but it was the last two episodes of the season, and I hadn't seen them before. So, it was a little late again, this morning. Around seven, again.

Good news though: the toothache seems to be gone! Well, not gone completely, of course - but down to 'tiny nag' levels. I can drink coffee, I can move ... bliss!

Looking at the weather report, today is supposedly partly overcast, but getting hot. I've been thinking of trying to see how much of that horror section I can keep mowed - there are parts, where I can mow. To avoid it getting completely overgrown again ... and I'd say that early morning would be the best time, before the sun gets out full blaze. But, at the same time, I also want my bedroom clean. And worst of all, I need to deep clean the bed - again! And with the sun out, at least part of the time, I should have a dry duvet tonight ... And I'm sick of sleeping in a smelly bed ...

I tried calling my boss again. No answer. But: he called me back! He apologised profusely, saying I shouldn't have to ask for my salary - but I do know just how dire our financial situation is! He promised payment would be in my account sometime today! Phew! I'll be able to pay my rent!

Well, the duvet is in the machine. Now for the bed base & mattress cleaning mission ... sigh. I took a walk around the garden, and the grass is still wet. I also need to harvest: broad beans and maize!

Poor tortoise keeps going round and round the fence, looking for a way out! I just messaged my neighbour, asking when he can be released ... ah, he'll be leaving tomorrow. I'll miss him! But he's not a pet ... 

He's inspecting the fence, looking for a gap ...

In the meantime, I'm steam-cleaning the base. I've sprayed it with vinegar, then sprinkled bicarbonate of soda ... I'm running out of soda. Not! I just found my stash, ha ha!

Mippies have a visitor! That's my neighbour's ginger cat. I see he's still not been neutered.

I suppose it's the typical male aversion to neutering ... it's really stupid! My neighbour told me the other day, how he's had all his female cats sterilised ... yet, here is his tom, still intact! I'll try to talk to him about it ... because if he starts going after my females, like Smeagol does, that's a problem! Plus, of course, there are feral female cats around, who have NOT been sterilised ... 

Funny thing: that neighbour just came for a visit! And I took the opportunity to make my point ... well, let's see ... he's not completely closed to neutering his tomcat. That's something!

I also showed him that horror section - and he reckons THAT is first rate grass! It's very fine, and needs regular cutting .... I told him that I HAD it under control, and once it started growing, I DID maintain - but once it really started raining, it got out of control and I can no longer keep up. It is simply too dense ... He said he'd try to arrange to have it cut for me. And offered to see if he could sharpen my mower.

Which, by the way, he said he really liked! And wants to get one for himself, too! He reckons - after watching me - that it's much better than any petrol or electric mower!

On with the cleaning. The duvet and pillows are outside to dry - the sun keeps coming out now and again. The protective sheet is now in the machine ...

Okay, here's something new I've learned. And not just learned - but seen to be true! Vinegar is an AWESOME cleaner! I would never have believed it, if I hadn't seen it now for myself. I used to buy expensive, specialty cleaning materials ... in an obsession to have a sparkling clean home, at all times! And none of them worked on the mattress! I've tried every stain remover ... nothing! Now, I used just vinegar mixed with a bit of water, sprayed on the mattress ... then steamed it, then washed it ... and stains are coming out! No scrubbing, no expense - just cheap white spirit vinegar and water! Amazing!

The steam-cleaning is mostly about killing all bugs and their eggs. Especially fleas. Mippies don't show much sign of fleas, but still. I'm just about knackered, so I'm not going to clean the other side of the mattress ... just steamed it and sprayed it with the special flea spray I got in PE. When the mip mips were so badly covered in fleas and nothing seemed to work. It does promise to kill all adult fleas, as well as eggs. For two months. I particularly want to try that on the skirting around the bedroom, because I'm getting ant nests all over! And I've tried everything else - I've got a permanent ring of flea power around my room - which has always kept ants away, before ... 

But for today? I'm just going to put my bed back together, take a luxurious shower and that's it. For today. The protective sheet is soaking wet - that won't be dry anytime soon ... hopefully by tomorrow evening, though.

Funniest thing just happened: not-yet-Great A'Tuin was taking another road trip along the wall, chomping on a leaf here, a leaf there, so I went to fetch some grape leaves. I placed it in front of him, and Mini, who had been settled nearby, absolutely had to investigate! So, she stepped on top of the tortoise shell, leaned over to sniff the leaves! It just looked too cute! Clearly mips and tortoise don't worry each other! I just wish I had a camera ready - that would have been such a funny photo!

Dang! My boss didn't pay my full salary, just the amount I asked for. Ah well, I can pay the rent and none of my insurance debit orders will bounce. That's the important thing! I don't need food, or even cat food this month.

Phew! I've had a shower and I feel so much better! Yeah, I'm afraid, it's been a while - partly because of the toothache, and partly because it's no fun getting into a smelly bed, clean! I really should have cleaned the bed last weekend already ... but with all the rain, and it being overcast all the time ... well ... it's done now!

I had a laugh at Mewthos outside! I took a walk across the lawn and pulled out the odd patches of un-mowable grass ... the ground is still very soft from all that rain. It leaves a bit of a hole, though. Yeah, you guessed it! Mewthos came along, and figured he knew just the thing to fill that hole! Pooped. Covered. Strutted off proudly!

Later, I had to chase a Hadeda off, because Mewthos and Janey were seriously considering taking it on! They were both stalking it ... I don't want to risk mippie kebab!

Anyway, I'm now looking forward to snuggling in my fresh bed! I even sprayed some linen mist!