Dark again Monday

I woke up somewhat late. Mini insisted I get up - she licked my face until I got out of bed, ha ha! I made myself filter coffee to take to work, as well.

I took the smartphone, etc. to work, hoping to resolve the network connection issue. It took some fiddling, but I seem to have managed. Somehow the network got deleted from the device ... I was able to restore the connection.

I suspect it has something to do with the lack of storage space left on the device ... I really need to find time to delete stuff. Photos. But only if I have backup.

Immediately messages accumulated in both groups ... and: our power is off again! Sheez! I asked the neighbour to report and explained WHY I can't, as I'm not at home ... if the electrician calls, someone needs to be at home. Nope. Can't I do it and give their number? Sheez!

Well, I tried, but I'm getting yesterday's reference number again! So I wrote the whole story out in the Electricity Group - how, for 5 hours, nothing happened because we couldn't get a new reference number! And how the same thing is happening again.

No response. I'll have to deal with that when I get home ... if nobody who IS home will report or make any effort, I really can't help. Oh, there are messages telling me about reference numbers I gave - uhm ... hello? Yeah ... I don't know ...

Last night, I also decided that I would get groceries today. I need cheese and milk. I will also see what meat is within my budget, and get whatever I can afford.

Sigh ... I spent more than I meant. Again. But I have meat for at least 7 days. Chuck and sausages ... that's about all I can afford. Pears were on special. So were Kiwi's. Banana's on the other hand were rather expensive. I still got some. Ditto Potatoes. I just hope the potatoes aren't rotting, again. Milk was expensive. All paid with my Credit Card ... sigh ... 

Well, I had to get some big items this month: laundry detergent, fabric softener, litter, coffee ... none of which I can buy in 'monthly requirement' quantities. Well, coffee I could - but I'd be paying a lot more per month.

Prices keep rising and rising and rising ... yet my income stays the same. Which, effectively means that I have to lower my standards every time prices rise. Lower my quality of living. There is only so much that I can do, though ... and without any savings, I can do even less. I can't take advantage of specials, without savings. 

Well, let's see how far I can stretch the groceries I bought today ... I'm hoping to stretch them till the end of the month ...

Which brings me back to my garden. And the overwhelming amount of work that needs to be done. Far too much for me to get done. As a result, I'm letting whole areas 'go wild' ... which basically just means that when I do get time to tackle them, it's a huge project. While I'm now weeding the tomato bed - which isn't too hard work, but a lot of work ... I still haven't finished the bed next to the garage. The 'kitchen garden'. I also need to steam around the house, as I've got grass and weeds growing everywhere ... ai, ai, ai!

Then there are all those trees in bottles that need to go into bags. Plus all the Litchi trees huddled together in two pots ... and I need to start the brussels sprouts ... yeah ... I'm getting tired just thinking about all I want done!

On the power issue: we STILL don't have power. Several people have now tried reporting, but we're all just getting yesterday's reference number. On the Electricity group every time I state my case, it's followed by another update on load shedding. Which has now been escalated to Stage 4 from five to ten tonight. We're not scheduled. Which makes no difference when we don't have power to be turned off in the first place! Exactly the same problem we had yesterday and why we can't get anyone to come out and fix the problem! I had better prepare myself for an evening, night and morning without power ...

So ... what shall I do tonight? Well, everything I could charge is charged. I'll have light, my gas cooker, and even internet. I'm not sure about water, though - but I've filled up my filter, so coffee tomorrow morning is sorted. 

Just read a strange exchange on the electricity group. Someone was asking why their power was off now (16:20) if they're only scheduled from 17:00-18:00. Someone else suggested that it may be adjusted, since it's now Stage 4, to which the original poster replied 'Oh yeah, thanks!' Load shedding only starts at 17:00; for the whole country. So, no matter which Stage, there is NO load shedding before 17:00.

That just brings to mind the quote from Winston Churchill "The best argument against Democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." 

Well, I guess I had better publish before I go home ...