Still dark Tuesday

As I expected, our power did not come back! No support from our Councilor.

I spent the evening gluing the box I'm making for seedlings. I'm still trying to decide whether I want to paint the outside, but on the whole, I think I first want to get something that works. I can decorate it later.

Of course, having now learned, that plants prefer running water, throws my whole plan out the window! It gets too complicated. On the one hand, you have these 'self-watering' pots. Basically, the plants stand in water and suck up what they need. Well, a bit more complex, but that's the basic theory. And then there's the drip-watering, where water flows continuously, dripping just enough for each plant's needs. And some plants, apparently, get root rot in self-watering pots ... only, which are which?

I'm just going to carry on with my plan. At the end of they day, they're all destined for the garden. Just don't ask me where, ha ha!

Then I decided to paint the clay shapes I had made. The two leaf shapes and one log shape. They don't look like much - very simple, like a child's first attempt, ha ha!

I went to bed quite early, naturally. But I struggled to get to sleep. And struggled to stay asleep, as well.

As a result, I woke up rather late. Made coffee on the gas cooker. I see my power bank is now also empty ... so I'm taking everything to work to charge. I managed to send a message that we're STILL without power - and our councilor replied 'awaiting feedback'.

I messaged again - no response. I checked on the website 'call completed'. Posted that on the Electricity group with a comment 'this is what I was afraid of'. Response 'Teams is informed'. Grrrr

The problem is threefold: Infrastructure, resources and system. 

Since 1994 the infrastructure has basically just been left to fall apart. With patch-work done here and there, but no real work done to maintain, let alone accommodate the increase as more and more wards were 'dumped' on the already wobbly infrastructure. Power stations & substations were not maintained. Money-flow was also not managed at all! The municipality would receive payment from some people - and that money would mostly go into private pockets. Nobody paid the bills. Those who didn't pay ... no consequences. They would continue to receive power ... Our current mayor, understandably, has his hands full trying to fix nearly 30 years of neglect! He's turned off the power to many prestigious business, who didn't pay their bills! He's implementing means to prevent cable theft - which is another huge problem, by now!

The second problem: resources! There are not enough electricians to deal with the workload! Oh, there were plenty on the payroll - only, a lot of them never did any work. Well, couldn't since they weren't electricians. Just someone's relative who needed a salary ...

Lastly: system! Our current mayor has opened up new platforms to report power failures - however, they all require an account number! As a tenant, I do not have a municipal account! Which left me with only one option: phoning the call center! Call centers, although technically operating with humans, are as useless as mindless automatons! Not their fault - they have extremely limited, simple tasks; anything outside that task list - they have no procedure or anything they can do. All that talk of 'escalating' and 'marking urgent' is bull! There are only two things they CAN do: log a call, getting a reference number; then see if it's been allocated to an artisan, yet. That's it.

I'm now using my landlord's account number - which means that I'm reporting on his behalf AND all his tenants! Nobody else can log a call, to raise our priority! Except the tenants across the road - my neighbours - who rent from a different landlord. Still, that makes only 2 possible reports for 7-10 households PLUS 2 business' (my landlord's and my neighbour's business).

With an account number, I can log a call via sms, or the online platform.

BUT: If the power goes off AGAIN - I can't get a new reference number! Which means that the electrician assumes it's a system error, when a call he DID attend, still shows up on his log! Can't blame him. Can't expect him to go the extra mile to call to make sure, either - given his workload!

THAT is what happened on Sunday. THAT is why nobody even knew our power was off! Only when I got a new reference. And I'm pretty sure that's exactly what happened yesterday - and now, the call is marked 'completed'. There is nothing I can do - just hope our Councilor bridges the communication gap.

Well, one neighbour reports that his power is back ... the rest of us are at work, and we can only hope ...

Oh crap, crap, crap and more crap: Power is off again! At least I managed to get a new reference number! Now it's 'wait and hope'. Again! This is getting ridiculous!

Well, at least the water tank should have had time to re-fill - gotta cling to the small blessings, here! Oh, and my electricity usage this month should be really low ...

Oh niiiice! (heard in the tones of Onslow, from 'Keeping up Appearances') Load shedding Stage 3 tonight - we're not affected. Which really makes such a big difference, when you don't have power in the first place, eh?

Well, I've charged my USB Power bank, I'm charging my smartphone now, router has been charging on the PC all day ... now, if only I knew where to plug myself in, for some high spirits? Or just some motivation? Anything?

I guess I'll be spending another night without electricity. I guess I'll be able to finish the seedling tray, aka box. Since it's relatively small, and shouldn't get wet underneath, I'll just fit a plastic lining inside. I'll use part of a green refuse bag.

I still need to prepare the bottles, too! I'm planning to use the 100 ml bottles. I've removed the label and the seal, but I still need to get the glue off the outside. I've tried warm water and soap. I've tried white vinegar. Next, I plan to try either rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover. But I need to wash them in warm water afterwards - regardless which one turns out to work. And for that ... yup! I need electricity! Plus, I want to poke decent holes in the bottom - with the soldering iron.

And THEN I can cut the top off, place the peat pellet inside, water, and add the seed! I just need to stop myself from getting carried away, ha ha! If I grow too many seedlings ... I'll need lots of space in the garden!

I'm thinking of planting some of the Brussels Sprouts in the now-empty bottomless pots. I think I'm not feeding my plants enough - the ones in the garden are not doing as well as the one's in the pots. 

I've been thinking of turning the compost heap. I mean, there should be compost at the bottom by now, right? Maybe I'll make that my Friday project - since I don't think I need to mow this Friday? See how it goes?

Yeah, I can't get my mind to do any work today ... I'll have some catching up to do tomorrow.

I also want to raise some flower seedlings. For that other round pot on my veranda. The Vinca are doing well enough in the pot - and they're doing even better in the bed I made in front of the veranda! What started out with 5 or 6 meager flowers is now covering the whole area! Plus, the seeds I scattered are also growing ... something. I can't remember what seeds, ha ha! Wonder garden!

Ai, I miss Rose!

Ah! The electrician apparently called my neighbour (I gave his number, as I'm not home) and they are on their way. Well, not right now, but at least we're not forgotten, nor 'assumed closed'.

Well, five o'clock ... with no guarantee that I will have power tonight ... I better publish ...