Wednesday

Woke up to a major cat fight at my window! A new cat apparently showed up and threw itself at my bedroom window - I'm just glad the window didn't break! Sheez!

Of course, at the time, with the curtains closed, I couldn't tell which cat it was - but as I was having my morning smoke, I watched this cat stroll across my patio! Looks small, possibly still young? Mostly white with grey striping on its back.

I'm not amused! Mine, of course, all dashed to the window to howl at the attempted intruder! Talk about a rude awakening, eh?

Today it's quite cold. It's overcast and windy. No rain expected, though ...

Two hours later, the clouds disperse and the sun comes out. Another hour later, clouds are returning ... weird weather!

Back at home, the usual. And, as usual, Ziva is right behind me, right now, insisting I come cuddle her now.

Tuesday

When all mippies had settled on the bed, I saw Janey's paw looked worse again. I think that spot-on is a problem. It doesn't matter which brand. I grabbed her, cleaned the wound and put ointment on ... which also cleared the bed of all mips, as they ran away in fear they might be next, ha ha!

I got up relatively early this morning ... traffic, however, was a nightmare! Major accident on Soutpan road, blocking both lanes - just past Onderstepoort. Police was diverting traffic off-road - which could have been flowing relatively well, if it wasn't for the blerry rubber necking! Everyone slowing down, afraid they could miss anything gory to gawk at!

Back at home, chores, dinner, mippies ...

Sigh ... Monday ...

Not very keen to get up ... coffee ... cuddles ... work.

Back at home - Smeagol polished almost three pouches of wet food! I don't quite know what to do - I get the feeling that is the only food he's eating ... but I can't afford to feed him wet food at that rate! He's eating the same amount my four mippies eat in a day! I give them three, maybe four pouches a day - and they are four!

For dinner, I'm trying something new: I got some powder soup. I just mix that with a bit of water for taste, and use it to re-heat meat and veggies. I didn't make any stew this weekend - the chicken and meat balls seem to be plenty.

Ziva is crying for attention ...

Sunday

Very late morning. Not a good night - everything hurts. Muscles, mostly.  It takes me longer to recover from a day of gardening ... and I did have a hot bath plus I took two muscle relaxants last night! Hips and neck ... still quite sore this morning.

Eventually Mewthos mewled in my ear letting me know it's really late now and he'd like to go out for his morning stroll!

I've just checked the internet ... it's a bit ... unreliable. Once it's reliable, I'll have to do a bit of shopping. Whiskas and produce.

I had a look at my place on Google maps last night - it looks so very different from how it looked when I moved in two years ago!

Well, Whiskas is ordered. I also need to pay rent and buy electricity. Done, done and done. I must say, since they've installed the new meter, my daily electricity usage has gone down - quite noticeably! Whereas before, anything below 10 units a day was extremely rare - now it's the norm! I've been abusing that, and being a bit wasteful ...

I've had a look at the produce, and put together a list ... I'll place the order tomorrow. Give me time to think about it.

This is what it looks like now - after yesterdays work.

This was a week ago.

Here you can see what I mean about the ground ... after I had pulled out everything unmowable, there was nothing left ...

I'm thinking of moving the weed guard ... I can't decide whether to move it to the right, where I still have grass I can't mow - or whether I should move it to cover the pavement by the dog hut.

Today, though, I don't seem to have any energy ... 

I've moved two of the weed guard sheets - this is what good they've done: Diddly squat! And after a year, the sheets are brittle, thin, tear easily and ... well ... I've plonked them down by the dog hut, though it probably won't do much good - it won't do any harm.

Well, I've bullied myself into doing all the must do's: bread rolls are done, kitchen is clean, litter boxes are clean, lunch is packed ...

I've tried a nap - didn't work today.

I did a bit of weeding, around the driveway. Then collected more poppy seeds - the bushes are covered in pods.

Tonight, I have to spot on mippies ... I really shouldn't keep putting it off, just because they're being so difficult about it ...

Saturday

Not the earliest of mornings, I enjoyed snuggling under the duvet for a while ... Mewthos, however, had other ideas! Well, I'm up ...

Just noticed Janey has a wound on her paw. Clean, healing, but a little swollen - so it's not recent. How did I miss that?

Just past ten and chores are done. Washing is on the line, kitchen is clean ... so, now what shall I do for fun today?

First, I made myself a chicken ... dish. Just chopped up some carrots, some potatoes, put them in one of my new casseroles, placed chicken on top and put it in the oven.

Then I cut the chuck and the pork into cubes and tried out my new mincer. Magic! I made meat balls with it - and squished them into my new muffin tray ... which turned out too small for my purposes, so I'm working on coming up with another plan.

Oh, and I messed up. When I bought the Gardener - it was last month's issue! I guess that's proof I can stop buying it - if I don't even remember the last issue, eh?

Now it's noon and I'm tired ... I've locked up, so I'll take a nap ...

An hour later, up again, feeling refreshed. Off outside ...

I cleared quite a large area. Now I'm facing a bit of a puzzle: I've not just cleared the ground, but pulled quite a lot of roots out so the ground is really nice and loose. Yet, not loose enough - and there are still many, many roots underground ... which I'm not likely to be able to get out. So ... what am I going to do with that cleared area, now? It would be a pity to just leave it ... 

Back inside, there's a strong smell of Eau de Mew in my bedroom ... only I can't find the source! Not happy!

I also got a spider bite ... silly thing got into my shirt while I was working in the garden.

Well, I've bathed, eaten, and now I'm ready to snuggle in my bed ... Janey is already on my lap ...

Friday!

Late morning - no reason, I just didn't feel motivated to get out of bed. Mippies wished I would get moving ... eventually I did. Ah, well ...

Traffic was back to normal today! Traffic police kept drivers in line - very little risky overtaking this morning! You know, it's not really overtaking - that implies you safely overtake a single car. That doesn't happen in South Africa. The 'safely' part.

Anyway, even the robot at Rosslyn road was under police protection! Yesterday, whenever it was green for me to go, the road was blocked by traffic from the right - and, even with the robot red for them, they kept coming! I literally stood at the green robot, unable to drive - three turns! Second turn I started hooting, third turn the traffic on the right stopped when it was red for them. This morning, traffic police stood at the corner - and for a change, ONLY turning traffic was in the turning lane! One guy did dash out of the queue - the police stopped him as he tried to turn!

Well, I took my book along, so I got through quite a lot of pages. I'm currently reading a book of Science Fiction novelets, as it's called. With short novels by James Blish, Lester del Rey, Arthur C Clarke, Poul Anderson, etc. 

Back at home, first thing I tried was my new steamer! Wow! Powerful! Now I understand why there's a five minute waiting time to re-fill and re-heat! I managed to steam the whole pavement outside my bedroom, though. And along the wall. Now, lets see what happens ... 

It didn't just produce steam, but it came out at quite a speed - blowing everything out between the cracks ... so I'm hoping the roots got a good burst of steam!

Then I went and carried on clearing the area by the wall ... Mewthos came and sat with me, to protect me from Smeagol, ha ha! That poor bastard seems to be starving! He's just fur and bones! I gave him another two pouches of wet food!

Back inside, I thoroughly enjoyed the braai-pack I bought at the butchery today! A pork chop, a lamb chop and a sausage - and that sausage? Awesome!

Bathed, now winding down ... mippies are in my arm chair, so I ... oops, spoke too soon! Ziva is calling ...

Thursday

Struggled to get motivated to get out of bed, but still left for work relatively early. Early enough to get to work well on time.

Only ... it took me an hour and a half! Most of that time spent on Soutpan road! Police were along the side of the road, but they clearly didn't mind all the drivers passing us in the on-coming traffic lane! Solid white line - so they couldn't see oncoming traffic, but just took a chance and hoped ... and when they see traffic, they force themselves into the queue - with no regard who they push off!

90 Minutes! For a 20 minute trip! I read there were taxi's barricading the road, blocking all traffic ... obviously, by the time I reached the location, it had been cleared. Or I wouldn't have been able to reach it ... 

Yeah ... better shut up, now.

I got so busy, I almost forgot to get groceries! Didn't get much, though - meat, carrots, milk and the new Gardener. Cigarettes are still a problem - fourth week in a row!

Well, at least it's obvious why I'm happiest at home, eh? Even with Mister Piddles in active mode! Yesterday he left a piddle in the kitchen ... the day before, he marked my garage door again. In the lounge. I've been washing the floor piece by piece this week! With only a moment's irritation - all Mewly has to do is come running at top speed and jump up against my leg - his way of hugging me - and nothing matters! Each mip has its own way of erasing all negativity with their cuddle attacks. Although it sometimes gets too much ...

Back at home, chores, dinner, cuddles ... I'm just so tired ... it's been a whole week at work. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!

Wednesday

Not so early morning, but at least I slept quite well. Mippies coming for cuddles while I'm waiting for my coffee and having my morning smoke.

Traffic was quite a bit less than the past two days - but no indication of any riots or problems. A fire in Pretoria West - quickly put out. The killer robot in Rosslyn was out of order - which causes quite a traffic jam, but otherwise ... all quiet.

It was past one, and my juice delivery hadn't arrived, so I called and asked 'which Tuesday' ha ha! Their mail just said delivery scheduled for Tuesday - no date. They said it'd come today. I'd barely put down the phone, when I heard hooting at the gate: my juice delivery!

Back at home ... Smeagol wheedled two pouches wet food out of me. Mewthos wheedled three more out of me ... I'm such an easy touch! Weeeellll, they purr! A lot! Ha Ha!

Dinner, bath ... now I had better settle for cuddles ...

Tuesday

Very, very early morning - courtesy of Mewthos, who started mewling around five this morning! Strolls across me, sits on my pillow, mewls, mewls, mewls - but if I try to grab him, he runs off to the kitchen!

I enjoyed two cups of coffee and cuddled every single mip in my arm chair this morning!

Traffic was, again, awful! It too me over an hour yesterday, and about three quarter hour this morning! Bumper-to-bumper standing still all along Soutpan road.

Takealot delivery arrived! Cool! Six parcels, ha ha ha! Man, that water pistol is huge! I did not expect it to be that big! I'm going to have a lot of fun unpacking everything tonight!

Uh uh! Fruit juice is scheduled for delivery today as well ... the boot is getting a bit crowded ... 

Fruit juice didn't make it on time ... and we were allowed to leave early.

Back at home, I unpacked! NOW I'm ready for strange cats picking fights with my mippies! Ha Ha Ha!

Oh dear! I just lost the last bit of that tooth. Now it's just a gummy hole. Ah, well. My only real worry is, that I must have swallowed it. Never a dull moment in my life, eh?

Mippies are in cuddle attack mode ... I have Janey throwing herself from left to right arm, right now.

I better publish and go cuddle ....

Monday. Again!

Not the earliest of mornings ... but I slept relatively well. Get up, treat mippies, set up the coffee machine ... smoke break! That is ACTUALLY how my morning goes. Whenever I write 'coffee', that's me setting up the percolator, and sitting down having a cigarette while it's making my coffee. And THAT is when mippies come for their cuddles. This morning, Mewthos usurped Ziva. Just sprawled on the ottoman, waiting for me to scratch his back while I have my morning smoke.

I just saw an ad for a mattress topper. My bed (and mattress) is 20 years old. I bought it in 2002, when I moved into the cottage on the R511. I just googled the life-span - average between 8-10 years! I guess that explains why I don't sleep too well, eh? Well, I've know that, of course. I need a new bed - it's time.

A new bed will set me back two- three-times as much as the mattress topper. It would indeed be nice to have a base free of Mewthos' territorial markings ... but, well ... how long would that last? Not really worth the investment, I'd say. A new mattress will also set me back twice as much as just the mattress topper.

From the product description, I understand that it will compensate my old mattress - so it'll feel like new (with regards to shape). And the mattress is actually not sagging very much - it doesn't have the 20-year-old dent in the middle, you'd expect. Since the topper is 4 cm thick, that seems possible. It comes with a 10-year warranty, same as mattresses.

But what really tempts me most strongly is the 'heat control' they promise. Apparently the foam is infused with some kind of blue gel, which regulates temperatures. One of my biggest issues at night is: when I go to bed, I'm cold. So, I snuggle under the duvet to get warm. Then, quite suddenly, I wake up overheated - and I can't get out from under the duvet and out of my clothes fast enough! Scattering mippies in my rush! Then, once I've cooled down, I change my position so that my upper body is under the duvet, but my legs and feet are open. 

So ... worth thinking about ... I've seen this ad before, and I have done some thinking ... 

Right! Cat food safely delivered! I've been keeping an eye out for that delivery, so he won't be turned away again! That was the Iams. Next is the Acana - being shipped right now. I'll have to keep an eye on the mail to see when it's out for delivery.

I nearly forgot to order my fruit juice! I'm down to the last bottle now ... which, during winter, lasts about a week. Less in summer. They have two new flavours smoothie: green and peanut. I've ordered one of each, to try.

Sigh, we got away with no load shedding this weekend ... and here's the 'alert' again: High probability of Stage 2 at short notice. Tonight, that would mean no power between 18:00 - 20:30. Not fun!

And if that wasn't enough: there's a rumour going around that there will be a national strike on Wednesday. The problem with that is, strikes here are never just that. There is ALWAYS an element of violence involved - against non-strikers, and, of course rioting & looting. Or, to put it simply 'affirmative shopping'. Especially when the EFF is involved - and they are ALWAYS involved with any disruptive and aggressive activity!

Well, I asked our ward councilor if he knows anything about the planned strike - no reply. I asked over an hour ago.

Back at home ... chores ... dinner ... bath ... now time for mippie attention!

Sunday

Very, very early morning! I actually got up before six! Why? Sigh ... very bad night, I'm afraid. I did not get much sleep. In part, my greedy gobbling down the roast was to blame - it was very rich, and I felt a bit queasy all night.

I'm still a bit queasy, which means that I can't eat any more of the roast. Sigh ... I've taken out the beef I put in the freezer yesterday, I'll stew that probably late this evening. I don't need to add veggies, since I have plenty roasted.

Couldn't move the past half hour, Mini had settled on my lap!

She has a way of holding my hand - curls her paws around my wrist and holds on!

I'm spending the morning watching a Science Fiction series I found on my hard drive. The Visitor. It received mixed reviews - some rave about it, others trash it. It only has 13 episodes - too many good shows were cancelled at 13 episodes! In a sense it's another spin on the alien abductions - a very different 'explanation'. Obviously fictitious, but I like the idea.

Also, it's too cold to do much of anything, yet.

Well, the series - predictably - ended without any kind of closure ... it was interesting, but I'm convinced future episodes would have really improved. The 13 episodes were a little ... not exactly dull, but not overly interesting, either. I'm glad I watched it - there were quite a few thought-provoking ideas ... but I don't think I'll watch it again. Strangely enough, I'm pretty sure I watched it before? Only, I don't remember it ... clearly not a memorable series.

I've swept the house, packed away the towels & bedding I washed yesterday, bread dough is ready, rolls shaped and rising again, then went out into the garden for a bit. Mini came to join me for a bit. It wasn't enough to just hang around - she pawed my back, so I picked her up and placed her in my lap. Happy!

Twenty past two, just the stew still to do. Kitchen is clean, rolls are cooling ...

My Mew-Mew! Such a love bug! Just wants to love and be loved!

Well, I enjoyed a nap, now to make the stew ... 

Done. I even managed to spend some more time outside, clearing more of that patch. The change I see from my veranda keeps me motivated - it's going fairly fast now.

Now time to settle down with my mippies ...

Saturday

Relatively early morning, let mippies out ... coffee. Now I'm sitting here with Mini on my lap and Ziva demanding attention at the same time! Which is not normal - usually, when I have one on my lap, the others wait until I'm free. Which makes it an endless procession of cuddle demands ... 

It's been a really strange winter, so far. All my life I've struggled with cold feet, yet, this year? I'm overheating! I now put on my light summer shorts instead of warm long johns. The only trouble is, that it's freezing in the mornings - when I fish for my long johns and wriggle into them before I get out from under the warm duvet!

Mail that my pet food delivery missed me ... sigh.

Well, I've put the geyser on, time to get started ...

Just done my roly poly with Mewthos - only, he and Janey decided to fight a bit, instead.

Quarter to eleven and kitchen duty done. Nice and early today, for a change! Laundry is out, kitchen is clean, roast is in the oven! Now I still want to vacuum pack and freeze the stewing meat I bought Thursday ...

I seem to have made a mistake with the roast. It tastes so delicious, I've just polished half of it! It was supposed to keep for a few days ... 

I have the whole afternoon free to do anything I like ... and what I like, right now, is take a nap, ha ha!

It's really windy here today, as windy as PE! Only, a PE friend just posted, that there it's windy enough to blow the stripes off a Zebra! If PE folks complain about 'wind', trust me: they mean gale force!

It makes weeding somewhat unpleasant ... but I feel like weeding. Making progress!

Above is what it looks like now. Below was 2 weeks ago - 8th August.

Evident progress! Below the view from my veranda, which is improving ... less to do, more done!

I put that sprinkler on as often as I can, to keep softening the ground - and, to get the bush beans growing! They're not making much of an effort, I'm afraid.

Looking at that photo is like sitting on my veranda - just without any unpleasant wind. I'm quite enjoying the view ...

Mippies are in, treated, and I'm winding down for the night ...

Hey, Hey, it's Friday!

On the way home, yesterday, I drove past a car stuck in Soutpan road - dangerous place to have a car standing in the road! I saw two girls in the car and the driver was trying to start - but it wouldn't start. So, I pulled over and helped push them off the road. Only ONE other car stopped and helped push! Traffic flowing bumper-to-bumper past ... I don't know how long they'd been there, before I arrived!

Well, the driver had called her dad and he was on his way, so, once we had the car safely off the road, we left.

When I got home, I found a message from a neighbour - apparently we've had a power outage at home, as well. Fortunately, others were affected as well and they reported it.

The subject of cats came up in the neighbourhood group, and my neighbour stated that he is planning to have his males neutered - just struggling to find the time. He leaves at dawn and comes home at dusk - he's never available during business hours. I'm happy - as long as he IS planning to have them neutered, that will be good! I'll cope in the meantime. He called me later and I told him I'd ordered a water pistol, ha ha!

Quite late this morning - didn't sleep very well. Coffee. Cuddles. Work.

Chocolate has arrive! Goody!

Uh uh! Veld Fire in Rabie Street! That's my road! I sent message to neighbourhood group - no response ... two weeks ago, the plot across the road from me was burning ... hopefully this time it's not THAT close to home!

More uh uh's! Load shedding is very likely to be back ... at short notice. Sigh ...

Well, it's quarter past two, almost time to go home. I've cleared a shit-load of back-log this week and last ... store is looking quite a bit better.

Anyway ... I want to stop at the butchery ... I wonder what I should get? It's just a 'support' stop - I don't really need anything ... but, of course, I will use / eat whatever I do get!

On the way home, traffic lights were out - which usually means that our power is out, too. Stopped at the butchery, their power was out, too. They had a lovely pork belly - I took that. I'll make myself a lovely roast with that! Before I left, the power came back on.

This time, the fire was far from home - so far, I have no real idea where exactly it was.

Smeagol was waiting for me, again, so I gave him another two pouches of wet food. He loves it! And: last night, after he'd eaten, he let Mini stroll right past him! No attack, not even a growl! Even though I didn't get time to give him attention! Could he be mellowing?

Well, I've enjoyed a hot bath, shared my rump steak with mippies ... now I'm settling down with Ziva, who is already insisting I give her my full attention!

Thursday

Very early morning again. Mewthos insisted. Neighbour's cat has been howling outside my bedroom window throughout the night - mine returned the call from inside. So. Yeah, I didn't get all that much sleep ...

Off to get groceries. They STILL don't have my brand of cigarette! That's three weeks in a row - and now I'm running out. When I ask for another brand in the same price range ... they just offer me another type from the same brand! Clueless! So, I go call a manager and we settle on the nearest brand in price, with the same strength.

I splashed out on meat a bit, again. I do want to support the new butchery down the road - but if I can't be 100% sure that a) they're open and b) I get what I need ... well ... I have to take care of me, right?

Just after lunch - power off! No, not load shedding ... no clue what caused it. About an hour later, power back on. 

Well, almost time to go home ... not sure about internet at home, so I better publish now. 

Wednesday

Early morning. Coffee. Cuddles. Mewthos now sits at my feet - having observed Ziva's ploy for attention, when she sits on the ottoman next to me ... I picked him up and he stayed on my lap almost two full minutes! Funny how they want MY attention - but insist on it in THEIR preference, ha ha!

At work ... it's me and the store again ... 

Load shedding confirmed tonight and tomorrow night. Sigh ... power out from 20:00 - 22:30 tomorrow night.

Back at home ... nothing to tell. Standard routine ... cuddles ... bed ...

Tuesday

I got up rather late ... coffee ... cuddles ... work.

At work, I'm sorting out my store. Combination stock take and quality control. Bleh!

Cat food arrived! Nice!

Aaand load shedding is back! Definitely tonight from 16:00 - 00:00, Stage 2. We're not affected tonight. High probability it'll continue tomorrow and Thursday evening. If so, we're out only Thursday 20:00 - 22:30. Bearable.

I just went to check on Takealot - as I expected, chocolate is back in stock. So, I placed my order. Added a 3-pack of spot-on for my mippies, as well. Delivery due Saturday - or, if I prefer, Monday. I do prefer Monday, of course.

Chocolate on Monday, toys on Thursday - next week is going to be fun!

In other good news: the 'new' butchery is back! Apparently they were closed a few days last week for personal reasons, but re-opened on Monday. Sadly, today a warning went out that no cattle is allowed to be moved, due to foot-and-mouth disease! That'll affect ALL meat suppliers ... I think I may have to take a chance on pork this weekend? Although ... it didn't really agree with me last time ... even though I had only very little. Better go for chicken instead. I wouldn't mind lamb or mutton - but prices are way off the charts!

Back at home ... no internet. Sigh ... 

I unpacked mippies food and their new toy! I bought a laser wobble kibble puzzle. Took a bit of fiddling to open it up, so I could insert the batteries ... mippies are not very interested. Ha Ha! So it goes ...

Standard evening routine - Smeagol was waiting for me on the veranda, so he scored a pouch of Whiskas for his dinner. Strolled off happily after he'd eaten! For me, the usual: bath, cuddles, bed.

Working Monday

Quite a good night, somewhat late morning. Coffee. Cuddles. Mewthos has a new 'thing', where he lies in the middle of the kitchen, wanting me to pick him up for cuddle time!

At work ... busy ...

Called the landlord, he'll check out the light. If it is just the light bulb, he says it's my responsibility - I agree; but I really wouldn't know how to change it? I think they're 'fixed' units - where you'd have to change the whole box? I told him, I'm happy to do my part - but please help & let me know WHAT I need to get and how to change it. Let's see what comes of it.

I've changed my kibble delivery dates - Iams was only due in October, but I don't have a spare bag. Mippies are currently favouring Iams. Changed the FIT 32 to September, and left the Acana for August, as well. I don't like running out, or even running low. I like to have one spare bag in stock, so I want a delivery as soon as I open the last bag. Okay, it's 15 kg bags, so there's no rush ... still, I don't like running low.

Then I placed an order with Takealot. I ordered a water pistol. I've been thinking it would be a good idea for a very long time - but that last time, when Smeagol attacked poor Janey just outside the fence, and I stood there helplessly screeching as I watched my poor girl crapping herself in fear ... that was the last straw. I found one, that should reach about 10m - according to descriptions & confirmed by reviews. All I need is a means to distract the attacker - giving my mippie the gap to escape!

Then, I ordered a few toys for me. A silicone muffin pan - let's see how that works. Mine is getting quite grubby - I'm struggling to scrub the sticky off. Another meat mincer - very different type, electric, but affordable. I kind of got quite keen on the idea of making my own mince - knowing WHAT is in it is quite appealing! I gave in and ordered another steamer - I had a look, and the one I have has nearly doubled in price! Well, it's been six years ... I also 'fell for' a sprayer. Battery operated. Sounds like fun!

They didn't have chocolate, though. And I'm now running low. I think I'll try again in a few days. Since I bought such a lot of 'once-off' extra's, I took the spot-on off - I'll get next month. I did, however, get another re-fill of cat litter.

Back at home ... busy, busy, busy. Sjoe, but that new light out back is bright! It's like daylight on the back porch!

Aaand load shedding is rearing it's ugly head again! Possibility of Stage 2 tonight - at short notice ... if so, we're scheduled 22:00 - 00:30.

Well, I've enjoyed dinner, bathed ... now Janey is on my lap in the throes of a cuddle attack! She's hugging me, holding me, licking me, just ... cuddle attack. My mippies are weird ...

Sunday

I saw a very strange creature in my garden late last night. At first I thought it was a cat, but it was much longer, lower, and had a very long tail. I have no idea what it was - not a Meerkat, it was quite a bit bigger than a Meerkat. Also not a Likkewaan, it had fur - I think. Likkewaan is something like an Iguana, I think. My neighbour reported some running just outside our garden last week ...

I played all sorts of worst case scenario in my head last night - which kept me awake! Silly me! I don't know why I keep doing that to myself!

Well, I got up quite late this morning, as a result. Mippies allowed me to sleep in - no mewling, no pawing, just cuddling! Nice of them, eh?

I did let them out and made myself coffee. It's still quite cold in the mornings ... I got going, and set the bread dough going. Then I started planting seeds. Melons, herbs. In the seedling trays I bought a long time ago ... Now I want to start the stew and clean the kitchen ...

Oh, and I found one of the toads! It was snug in the seedling soil! Fortunately I found it early on - even though it had dug itself in quite deeply. Otherwise I could have injured the poor thing with the hand shovel I was using!

Twenty past two and everything is done. I just need to pack my lunch. Kitchen is clean again.

I managed to get mippies' Whiskas ordered - they don't have filters, though. Sigh ... I'll need more filters one of these days.

Well, I spent the afternoon in the garden. Nothing major, just cleaned the tomato bed, getting it ready for plants. And planted broad beans in that bed. Then I cleared another patch in the bed behind the car port. I cleaned some of the car port as well ... watered ... like I said, nothing major. But it's progress.

Neighbour's ginger cat showed up. Later he and his tabby co-habitant had a major fight out back! Clearly those two don't get along - apparently, it's been a problem since the ginger cat showed up again!

And now my back light is off ... sigh ... I'll have to report that, because it's not just a matter of changing a light bulb. Ah well ...

Dinner was delicious! I enjoyed a lovely hot bath! Now I'm going to join my mippies on the bed ... all four of them are there!

Morning musings

I've just spent the past two hours musing over what my life would have been like if ... 

If we had stayed in Wilhelmshaven? I had friends, a best friend. I remember, I used to yodel like Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan - to call everyone out to play. The house had an attic, where I remember once finding a Snow White clock - it had a pink housing, a picture of Snow White on the face ... it was my mum's childhood alarm clock. The house also had a cellar, where my dad had a work bench ... And, of course, it had a garden. I remember growing asparagus - I remember my grandma showing me to heap soil against them, so they'd grow taller. I remember growing potatoes, and strawberries ...

Imagine growing up in one place? I don't remember what any home actually looked like. Just flash-backs ... isolated images, matched with photo's I've seen ... and I really can't be sure which image goes with which home. I do remember, though, feeling out of place most of my life ...

Ah well ... I suppose that explains my isolated life-style now. Maybe I'm over-compensating now, staying home all the time ... not visiting anyone ... 

Sounds depressing, doesn't it? Yet, the only thing that depresses me is seeing how much work I want done to make this place truly MY home. Maybe, what set me off on the train of thought was mostly ... if I had been staying in one place, I could have spent all those years getting that work done ... and not have it ahead of me, at my age!

The trouble with that attitude is, of course, the bane of my life: focusing exclusively on the destination ... instead of enjoying the journey! How about another approach: Imagine living in a home, with a garden, that's completely established and set up ... with nothing for me to do but dust and weed? I'd probably be bored out of my skull ... and spend all my time driving around, going out, visiting ... and THAT life style wouldn't have brought about the lovely relationship I have with my mippies!

And they are the center of my life - and my happiness! Working in the garden, having mips come up and water the patch I'm working in, or jumping on my back, or mipping for cuddles. Under my feet when I'm busy in the kitchen or cleaning ... 

So, who knows whether what might have been would have been any better than what is.

Well, back to reality - and not the Red Dwarf version of it! Ha Ha!

Laundry in the machine, Janey across my arms, on my lap - which makes typing a leetle difficult ... bladder full of coffee ... 

I just attempted another Omelet, fully expecting it to turn into scrambled eggs, as usual ... only, Mewthos distracted me and I managed to burn it! Well, no scrambled eggs this time - who knew that burning an Omelet makes it easy to keep its shape!

As I was cleaning the kitchen, a thought struck me: If I HAD stayed in Wilhelmshaven, I might have ended up like my last landlord! Settled in every way, and so bored that they spend every afternoon and evening drinking wine and trash talking everyone they know ... while wondering why their kids so rarely visit! Yeah, I'm really better off here and who I am! Not someone taking pride in never having left my home-town, never even having seen the ocean! Imagine being someone who takes pride in narrow-mindedness? Yeah ... I'm really better off here!

Half two and I finished cleaning the kitchen.

And it's official: Eggs don't agree with my colon! It went through me almost faster than turpentine through a sick donkey! And with it, my energy left me ...

I tried taking a nap ... didn't work out too well ... I got up again, all my ladies were in the lounge ... no Mewthos! I got a bit worried, as I then realised he hadn't called me out for roly poly today and I couldn't actually remember when last I'd seen him ... but then he showed up!

I'm really wiped out ....I'm ready to just call it a day ...

Friday! Yipee Kayee!

Bad night, again. Neighbour's cat held a concert outside my bedroom - several times during the night! So, I woke up late, got up late, and got to work late ...

I did, however, get groceries! And I also got sufficient meat - just in case. When I drove past the new butchery last night, they were closed! Their hours are until half six - it was twenty-five past.

Good thing, too! When I got here this afternoon, the new butchery was closed! He did tell me he was struggling badly, and not sure whether he could last the month ... seems he didn't last the week. Pity ...

At home, I carried on weeding the 'lawn'. I'm making good progress. I've decided to move the weed guard to the row at the front - which I can't mow at all.

When I got inside, and sat down at the PC: Panic! I've run out of data! After messaging me every time I used another 5 % in the beginning ... now, at the end, I got a message a month ago, but none to say I'm almost out! 

I could get as far as ordering the re-charge ... but not to the site to actually pay! Service provider lets you use their site without data, which doesn't help, does it? Well, I put my normal phone SIM into the router and was able to make the payment!

Aren't you glad? Imagine three days without my blog to read every day? Ha Ha!

For dinner tonight, I treated myself to a rump steak - shared with mippies, of course! Now I'm just about to run myself a bath ... then take it easy ...

Okay, so ... I finally cut my hair! Oh, not much, just the tips. Only, I can't see the back. Not at all. I wonder what it looks like, ha ha! Since I tie it up anyway - always - well, it doesn't matter, does it? The shorter drying time is what I'm really after, though! I think that last migraine might have been from sleeping with wet hair ...

Frustrating Thursday

I woke up very early - shortly before my alarm was due, so I got up. Made coffee, enjoyed cuddles and got to work early.

I didn't get around to getting groceries. I'll have to do that tomorrow.

Right now, mippies are driving me crazy ... I had better give them some attention!

Snail-slow Day

Neighbour's cat howling on my bedroom window sill catapulted me out of bed! Yikes - I think I need to have a talk with my neighbour. The problem is, that he's not neutering his males - he thinks, as long as female cats are 'fixed', there's no need to neuter. Only ... the sod is now spraying my doors and windows!

At work ... snail-slow PC. I'm trying to stay calm, but it's really, really difficult!

The balance of my delivery arrived today - glad it didn't come on Monday! I really need to order Whiskas again, fruit juice is also running low ... but I didn't get around to it yesterday, and at work? PC is now really slow beyond endurance ... I've already read another 4-5 Chapters in my book!

Back at home, not much to say ... chores, dinner ... cuddling ...

Women's day

I slept better last night. I think I need to move the flower fountain - it's too noisy. Last night, I topped it up, just before I went to bed. I also turned of most of the LED lights on the PC.

I'm making bread rolls today. One cheese roll and four basic rolls.

I'm still lazy ... and I'm not the only one ...

At least I've baked rolls and put stew on the go ... 

Funny thing: mippies seem to think I should be at work today! When I opened up this morning, nobody went dashing outside - and nobody's been wanting cuddles at all today!

I spent the entire afternoon cleaning the floors ... yeah, it took that long ... it's a big house, and I've had to scrub a lot of Mewthos' ... well, his little escapades, and several accidents. I'm not feeling very energetic, and the friggin' floor whizz is, well, not broken - the screws came off on the one side.

I did my evening chores - just after I cleaned the litter box, Mini came and used it. Then I went to sit outside for our quality time ... but I was a bit uneasy: Mini wasn't there. She's just led me a merry chase looking for her! I walked and called and walked and called outside, everywhere ... looking for her! I'm not as worried about her, as any of the others - after all, she survived, as a kitten, on the streets in Rosslyn!

Well, food was delicious - as always. I really don't know why I get so obsessively paralysed planning meals ... it's not like I can't cook. Well ... I'm weird. Let's leave it at that!

Now I'll just enjoy a hot bath ... and tomorrow it's back to work. Sigh ...

Day off!

Like a child, I stayed up late - and slept late, ha ha!

I hope I've finally broken my paralysis over this meal planning. It's really weird, the way some really simple planning can totally paralyse me. I just get stuck, like a program hitting a loop - and go round and round and round ... when all I need to do it simply take action. Any action. Just to break the loop ...

What I've done is, fish out most of the meat - which is now almost done - place it in vacuum bags, in the freezer ... then take vegetables out and toss them inside, heat it all up, when it's done, give it the final touch.

Blerry heck! I just noticed mail that my parcel is en route - and I can't re-schedule! Sigh ...

Just had a roly poly with Mewthos out front - which was fine, until Ziva came running past with a mouse! They've been very busy catching and bringing in mice all weekend.

This is what it looks like now. I'm slowly clearing the patch - it looks done, because the grass is low, but take a closer look:

You see those strands of long grass in there? Each one is a plant - a horror plant. And when I try to mow, every single strand becomes a shoulder jerk ... I've cleared at the back, I took this photo away from the wall.

My flower bed in front of the veranda. Looking nice again. 

And that's the first rose bed. I've cleared half ... this was the easiest of the rose beds to be cleared ... lots of work ahead.

I'm thinking of planting melon and sunflowers there.

At one point, Mewthos came sirening towards me ... I was ready for a cuddle ... but he just sat in front of me, watered the bed ... and left! I feel so loved!

At least we didn't have the catastrophe's today! There was some mewling and howling - but some way away. Not in my garden.

Mippies came in after our quality time on the veranda. After I treated them, I enjoyed a lovely hot bath. I've had dinner, and took a muscle relaxant ... Now it's time to cuddle before bed ...

Sunday

My life is so dull, I can't even come up with interesting titles to my posts! It would probably make sense to write only when I have something interesting to say - but I've got used to writing every day during the lock-down, and it's kind of my way of keeping in touch with family and friends. I'm not much one for phoning, skyping, whatsapping ... I've never been good at staying in touch. It's always been agonising ...

The only writing I'm proud of, are the articles I wrote for my newsletter - which were fueled by a need to overcome ignorance and desperation for contracts. And the short stories I wrote so many years ago ... which are now lost, I'm afraid.

In my day, there were only two means of staying in touch: telephone and letters. Long distance calls were prohibitively expensive, so one wrote letters. I never did very well with those ... each letter was an agonising effort. But since it was the socially accepted duty - I did my best.

These days, there are so many media ... it's really rather ironic that the one I find myself most comfortable with is this. And with everyone making up their own rules, which is the 'correct' media to stay in touch ... well, this is the one I'm comfortable with. And at my age, I'm done conforming to meet everyone's expectations.

And yet, this is not WHY I first started this blog! Five years ago! At the time, I thought it would be a good way to start writing again, and could lead to means of an income ... after all, I do have wisdom to share. I also had some grandiose idea of capturing and sharing some of my deep thoughts.

In the end, though, I ended up simply writing my daily routine, my mippies, my garden ... nothing grandiose, just dull, probably boring, every day activities. No grand wisdom. Occasional rants. And I'm actually quite content with that. I tend to flit from interest to interest, never developing any lasting obsession, nor expertise in any.

Getting on to my current mono-mania: meal planning. I think I've come up with a solution. In winter Eintopf and in summer Stir-fry. My 'stews' have been Eintopf, anyway - Eintopf is simply a German word for cooking everything in one pot. Ein Topf = One Pot. I just need to work on my vegetables - when and how to add them. I watched a video during the load shedding last night and learned just how much I can improve my meals.

Only problem is, that I want to cook for a whole week ... and even Eintopf should not be kept more than 3 days. I've been cooking on Sundays, and re-heating three times ... then Thursday's and Fridays, taking some quick-fry out of the freezer.

I keep running into the same problem: lack of freezer space! I really, really want a separate freezer! I'm still torn between an upright and chest freezer. I really prefer an upright - so much more convenient! But a chest freezer is simply better. Especially with all this load shedding, because it keeps frozen food frozen for longer when the power is off.

Well, I'm sitting here, over thinking the hell out of everything ... doing nothing. Typical, eh?

I got off my rear and into action. I've fried the pork - it's so tender, it doesn't need stewing. So, I've pre-fried it, and now I'll separate which to use to stew, and the tender parts, I'll bag and freeze - for a quick stir fry.

Mippies water fountain was down to a trickle ... poor mips have been unhappy, and it's been irritating me, as well. This time, I took it apart completely - pulled out the pump and took that apart as well. THAT is where the worst of the gunk had accumulated. Now it's sparkling clean.

I've now cooked the beef, and cleaned the kitchen again ... and look what I found in my bedroom:

We've had a busy day - the neighbour's cat already chased Janey all the way to the top of the fridge, I've had to cuddle, pick up, roly poly on the lawn, keep Ziva off the kitchen counter ... it's been busy. Same as yesterday, actually. Mippies spend a lot of quality time with me - every weekend.

When I stepped into the lounge, I found the neighbour's cat on top of my bookshelf! WTF? And Smeagol? Is sunning himself on the front lawn ... 

Okay, it's getting weirder: I just stepped into the kitchen and found Smeagol AND the neighbour's cat on the counter eating mippies kibbles!

This is my kitchen. These are not my cats! Smeagol is the black and white cat in front, and in the back, that's the neighbour's cat. The two of them are howling and growling at each other! I've chased the neighbour's cat out, at least a dozen times now - and no, I'm not exaggerating! I chase him out, he runs around the house and comes right back in ... through the bedroom window, through the front door, back door ...

Funniest thing, Smeagol wouldn't leave! He even let me almost pick him up! I was able to lift his front legs off the floor - but then lost my nerve.

I tried luring him out with food, but ended up feeding him in the kitchen. When I went to clean the litter boxes, he finally chose to go outside. Right now, he's having another howl-fest with the neighbour's cat ... I don't know how much longer this is going to continue!

They got into a fight, I walked up to them and finally the neighbour's cat left! Smeagol walked at my heel, just like Mewthos normally does! 

I got mippies inside and now I'm running my bath. Janey is on my lap. Again.

Saturday

Another bad night, I'm afraid. I got up a little late, and felt as if I hadn't slept at all! Coffee soon perks me up ... wakes me up completely.

I'm taking it really easy today ... maybe a little too easy, but I have four days! Well, I've done a few things. Laundry, electricity ...

Now it's me and the meal planning again. Not having any luck with that ... I want easy, I want quick, I want versatile, I want quick to re-heat - and I neither have nor want a microwave.

Basically, I want the few-minute-fry effort I'm used to - but a more balanced, or varied meal. Oh, and cheaper, of course.

I thought I'd give the mincer a try ... total fiasco! Well, I didn't expect much - though, I must confess, I did expect it to work. And it doesn't. It's bad workmanship - it wobbles. Which it shouldn't.

Well, it's almost time for load shedding again ... sigh ... hopefully tomorrow will be a bit better. Although, today wasn't a bad day, exactly - just slow ... I cleaned the kitchen, did the laundry, watered the garden, experimented with my new toy ... and I just boiled some pasta for dinner.

Friday! Yay!

I did not sleep well. Not at all. No, I don't know why. Yes, I went to sleep around nine, without power - spent the previous hour reading my magazine. But that doesn't explain the bad night ... ah, well ... 

Made myself coffee and off to work. Somewhat late.

My grocery delivery arrived! Heavy box - 5kg laundry detergent, 5L fabric softener ... it adds up to quite a weight, ha ha! I wonder whether they sent everything - or whether the 2 out-of-stock items are still coming? I'll see when I unpack this afternoon ...

Boss came to ask whether it's worth while opening on Monday ... I like the idea of a 4-day weekend. Very much!

I could make real progress in the garden - it's time to plant! If not directly into the garden, I can definitely prepare seed trays. It would be good to start growing early, much better chance for a real harvest this year! I'm specifically thinking of tomatoes and bell peppers.

I'm going a bit off The Gardener. I'm getting confused with the contradictions - don't use poison, flip the page: poison advert! Don't grow 'pretty' lawn - advert for 'perfectly pretty lawn seeds'.

On the whole, I'm just about to write off all internet suggestions ... I've looked through so many 'life hacks' and shit - half of them are rubbish, and the other half is either flippin' expensive or unrealistic. I'm beginning to realise that it's nothing but a new marketing gimmick - they give it a 'bait' heading, and then the actual 'article' is nothing but a collage of posts stolen from people's social media threads ... then they do a clearly clueless write-up ... and the pages are always filled with ads and pop-ups to ignore.

Yeah, I know ... seems I've been a bit slow to 'catch on' ... in my defense, though, there WERE some useful ideas ... though only in the older posts. Not in the later ones.

Sigh ... power off at home. And I had to ask the neighbours - none of them said a peep! I found out, because people who are connected to the same line were reporting outages. Had to ask the neighbours to hear 'Oh yeah, power is off'. The apathy! Well, I reported it - but since others had reported it before, and our councilor had already escalated ... power is back on - after only one hour!

I've been wondering, if I CAN stay home on Monday, whether I might need more meat? On the whole, though ... I'd rather not get more.

Yay! Monday off! Four day weekend!

On the way home, I got my meat. Only - the pork shanks have accidentally been sold. I took beef shin, instead. I also got some pork and beef to try and make some sausages myself this weekend. Looking forward to a new experience!

I saw some black smoke in the distance but didn't think it was near my home ... only, the closer I came home, the closer the smoke!

The field across the driveway had burned! Someone burned tires at the back - fire brigade had already put out the worst of it.

I took them a bottle of orange juice.

Taken by a neighbour, before I got home 

It's still smoking with patches still burning - three hours later! Just glad no home burned and nobody hurt!

I started watering, when the power went off! I had just finished reporting it, when our Councillor sent a message explaining. Power came back on fifteen minutes later. 

In the meantime, the neighbours cat and Smeagol seem to have some sort of bromance going - caterwauling at each other at the top of their voice! I ended up going next door and chasing him all the way home!

Not twenty minutes later, he's back. On my back porch. Full volume! Mewthos joined in as well, so I have a full concert at full volume!

I've chased him off again - he's back. Again!

Bromance in my garden 

I also decided to try the vinegar weed kill again. On the broad leaf weeds. I have nothing to loose, and who knows, it might actually work.

I'm not happy with the steak, I'm afraid. It's tough as nails, needs stewing, I fear. They also cut off all fat. Ah, well ...  better luck next time. 

I already ran my bath, so ... power just went off, I'll go and bath. Mippies are already inside. 

I've bathed, now I'm just writing here ... it's not quite seven, yet,  so I have a full hour to wait, still ...

Dark Thursday

F&^% power went off at five this morning! Turns out, Eishkom has escalated load shedding while I was sleeping ... Instead of just from 16:00 - 00:00, load shedding is now 24 hours:

05:00 - 16:00 Stage 2 - we're off 05:00 - 06:30 & 12:00 - 14:30
16:00 - 00:00 Stage 4 - we're off 20:00 - 22:30
Tomorrow
05:00 - 00:00 Stage 2 - we're off 10:00 - 12:30 & 18:00 - 20:30

And they're warning that load shedding will probably continue throughout the weekend ... again!

Not the best way to wake up! At least power came back just after six, so I could make coffee with electricity!

I checked the news ... I'm confused ... the ANC is calling everyone to march against illegal immigrants. Just WHO are they planning to march against? They control the borders, they control the police, they are in full control over every point of entry! So ... are they going to march against themselves? And their supporters are marching against crime ... I must be missing something here ... 

Shopping at least was a breeze. I got milk, my gardening magazine ... nothing else. They didn't have cigarettes.

I've ordered my meat, to collect after work tomorrow. Two steaks and 2kg pork shanks, sliced. They made a mistake last time, and gave me 2-3 slices, instead of the 2-3 shanks - I added them to the goulash and they were absolutely delicious! It never occurred to me to slice pork shanks ... seeing as I'm German, and only know Eisbein, ha ha! Learning something new almost every day! This weekend, I want to do the pork with Sauerkraut and potatoes. The Sauerkraut counters the richness of the pork fat nicely ...

Their meat is really lovely! The goulash just melts in my mouth! As did the pork, which I added to the goulash last weekend!

I see everyone gathered around the entrance. HR is still here, too, she's usually gone well before four! I fear this may be it! Business closing, we're all unemployed!

Instead, it's news: today is HR's last day! Phew! What a relief!

Anyway. Back at home, Smeagol is already waiting for me. I gave him three pouches of wet food again. He's just skin and bones! I also gave him plenty of attention!

Aaaand, the neighbour's cat is back! Again! Now, he can't be looking for his owner - because he's at home! So, I suppose that this is a new game for him ... here's to hoping he'll get bored with it. Soon! Ha Ha!

Well, it's going on eight ... power going off at eight ... 

Wednesday

Not a good night. Caterwauling kept waking me up throughout the night. Turns out the neighbours cat came back. I found him outside my bedroom window when I opened the curtains. 

Beautiful  cat, isn't he? Also a very noisy one ...

Aaaand load shedding Stage 2 implemented tonight and tomorrow night. We get lucky this time: no effect!

When I placed the order yesterday, two items were out-of-stock, so I was asked to either pay a few bob extra to still receive them or delete them off my order. No other option available. I was not impressed. Now, I just found mail in my inbox, asking me to repeat what I had already stated: NO, I do not want a refund, I want my items! This time, the option, if I still want them, the whole order will be delayed. Sheez! What did I pay the extra bob for? The additional admin required to harass me in the hope that I'll cancel those items?

I'm now eyeing a butter dish - first one I've found that fits a standard block of butter! For some strange reason, all butter dishes fit only 250gr butter, but nobody sells 250gr butter, every store sells butter only in 500gr blocks. One of those weird things in today's market ...

At the same time, I really shouldn't be spending more money ... 

Mippies food arrived! Their wet pouches. Happy mippies, ha ha ha!

I can't stop thinking about poor Smeagol, though. I had such a strong feeling that he wanted me to take him to a vet last night ... but he won't even let me touch him much, let alone pick him up?

Well, his eye looks much better today! But I think he has injured his jaw. He seems to struggle to chew, and he turned to pick up the food with his left side. I gave him a pouch of Royal Canin. He usually barely eats half a pouch, today he finished the first pouch. Then went and sat in his box, so I brought him another pouch - which he also ate. He didn't quite finish the second pouch, but I brought him a third one. Just so he has something to eat later.

I brought in my mippies, fed them ... then the neighbours cat sat on the veranda and all my mippies glared at him through the front door - Smeagol had come outside and sat near the veranda, so I went out and gave him some attention. He clearly craved it. Poor bastard is as thin as a rack - I can feel his back bones worse than ever! Glad that I gave him plenty of pouches. I'll keep feeding him wet food as long as he still eats it. Normally, he seems to prefer the kibbles ...

Anyway ... oh, great! Ziva just threw up on my bed! Sigh ... while I'm trying to enjoy my dinner ...

Then, while I'm trying to re-fill my food bowl, Mewthos has a fit of 'I'm a weirdo!' Goes and gets on top of the cupboard over their food counter! Yes, right under the ceiling! And he can't get down there - he needs my back to jump down.

Janey seems to have something wrong with her eye - not serious, just seems to be gunking up a little every day.

Well, I've had a lovely hot bath ... attended by Ziva, Janey and Mini. Mewthos needed plenty of pick-up cuddles earlier, then he went and snuggled in one of his tiny boxes ... with his arse hanging out for me to scratch! Ha Ha!

That's it for the day ...

Tuesday

I did not sleep well at all. Whenever I seemed to fall asleep, my hips were so painful, they woke me up and I had to turn on my back for a while. With Mini in my arms, of course. And she didn't enjoy the flip-flopping throughout the night!

Growing old is not for sissies, that's for sure!

I admire my aunt, though. She's a few years older than me - really, just a few - and is travelling from Alaska along the coast in a sailboat! And I'm having difficulty sleeping on a solid bed, on solid ground. Funny, eh?

This week has started off a lot warmer, I no longer need my jersey in the mornings.

Of course, having written this, the weather turns cold. Today is overcast and windy. Sigh ...

Oh! My delivery has already arrived! Goody! My lounge is nothing but a corridor of boxes at the moment ... One, in particular, has mippies delighted! It's a big box, I've placed it on it's side and placed paper inside - the brown stuff they use to 'fill' the boxes. ALL mippies love it! I often hear one of them industriously scratching the paper inside!

Well, on the grocery side, I'm now really well stocked on a LOT! Yet, there are still items I'll need ... I've gone through another bag of litter, and I don't have a 'spare' bag of Iams. I'm also low on fabric softener, and could do with a few more bath items - soap, foam baths, etc. It never ends, does it? Silly comment, when you think about it, though!

Anyway, this month, I'm back to building up my savings. Back to tight budget living.

Aaand here we go again: Power alert - load shedding Stage 2 may be implemented from 16:00 - 00:00 at short notice. Which usually results in an implementation of the threat ... and we'll be in the dark from 20:00 - 22:30 tonight ... Grrr

I'm escaping into my private little world of online shopping. They had bulk quantities of washing powder and fabric softener. Not the one I'm used to and like - that one is now getting a bit too expensive for my taste. I tried the other one before - no complaints. They had a special on balsamic vinegar ... I couldn't resist. And then I had a bit of a look-around, and added some items ... 

Now I'm having a look at a replacement for my steamer. I'm afraid, the one I have seems to be the best product on the market. Only, I'm not willing to replace it. I want to see if I can maybe get it working again - I have a feeling it's just some mud that's clogging the nozzle. But that's what makes it so tricky: can't just press the steam button and hope - that could back fire in a very ugly way! I'll have to see if I can clean the nozzle with a brush and hope that that does the trick.

If not, I think I've selected the best of the lot available. Well, not the best, but the best for the price I'm willing to pay.

I've taken another look at the pavements, and I really see no other solution. I've tried pulling out weeds ... they just come back. I've tried weed killer ... I've tried vinegar, I've tried salt ... the only thing that seems to work for at least a couple of weeks is steam.

Poor, poor Smeagol! He showed up today, pitifully, with an eye injury! I can't tell what or how bad - I can't get close enough. He would let me stroke his head - and I gave him a pouch of wet food. I wonder whether I can catch him and take him to the vet soon?

Bit of a conundrum, when the neighbour's cat showed up again as well - Smeagol out back, neighbour's cat out front, Mewthos didn't know which way to growl!

Well, I had a bath, now I've got Janey on my lap ... again! So ... time to call it a day ...