Short Monday

I'll say this for load shedding - when I wake in the middle of the night, I don't need to look at the time - I can pretty much tell, based on whether the power is on or off.

I only got out of bed, once the power came on this morning. At six. Or thereabouts. Coffee, cuddles, smoke, cuddles, work.

I called my landlord about the leaking pipe. We arranged I'd be home from one onwards - he's extremely considerate, in that he tries to avoid me loosing any work time. He always tries to work outside my work hours - very unlike any other landlord I've ever had! Nobody EVER gave me a choice - they just made their arrangements and told me what they'd arranged. I must just take time off work ... nothing to do with them.

Despite the tremendous loss in the flooding - which, in all fairness, was caused by my landlord - and the damaged books are especially painful to me, as well as so many letters and notes from family and friends long gone ... I'm STILL happier with my current landlord and my current home than I've ever been anywhere else!

Well, okay, maybe the place in Ballito ... that really was awesome! The most awesome part of it, though, was the location ... I mean: Ballito! It's where the rich go to retire! So it's not really comparing apples with apples.

Anyway, I get to leave half one today - yay!

Back at home, landlord had a look and ... instead of a leaking pipe, it's merely a missing seal in the shower head! It sprayed up onto the ceiling! Did I feel an idiot - I apologised profusely for wasting his time over such a trivial matter! I think he was put out at first - but accepted my apology and realised I just didn't know better.

However, as he was here, he noticed that the sprinkler he had intended to water my garden was actually outside. Watering the road. Well - not really, it's also watering half my garden! Anyway, he's arranged to have pipes laid and sprinklers set up to water my entire front garden! He also said he'd take down the fence, and open the two sections in the east - so he can clean them up. I, again, apologised and tried to explain just how it's just been neglected for too long, etc. At first, I was a bit put out by the idea of having my garden taken away from me ... but for pete's sake! He's talking about reducing my workload! Taking away my guilt over not being able to cope. Taking away a huge workload! So, really ... I STILL have more than I can cope with, and it would really be ONLY a good thing!

Well, they've brought in pipes, measured, laid them out ... they'll carry on tomorrow. One of the workers was the same guy who helped me so much, after the house was flooded. I arranged with him, that I'd leave the gate on manual. I also asked him, if he ever wants to earn extra, he can show up any Saturday or Sunday.

I gave him and his colleague an apple tree, a plum tree and a lemon tree. Each. Anyone who wants to grow food, can count on me! I will gladly share, generously! Whether they want to grow to eat, grow to sell, or grow to give away. I'll gladly share what I have!

Poor mippies, though! Doors and windows open - and people everywhere! Ha ha! I found Mewthos cowering in the corner, behind the curtains in my bedroom! They came out after five ... but the landlord's little Jack Russel had decided she likes it here. Wouldn't leave! Had a run-in with Ziva, went chunking off at top speed ... came back ... had a run-in with Mewthos ... chunking off at the top of her voice, and top speed again ...

I eventually locked her out - for her own protection! Poor thing sat outside my gate for half an hour!

Well, I spent the afternoon weeding. Cleaned around the Thyme, cleaned around the Iris, cleaned around the grapevine and, when it was finally in the shade, the tomato bed.

Now, it's half eight, almost time for lights-out ... again ... sigh ...