LS 2 0 2 Wednesday

I slept really well! Mewthos woke me very, very early! Trots on my soft bits, mewling at the top of his voice, as if he's been abandoned!

Got up. Made a fresh pot of coffee. Sat down to think, smoke, cuddle mippies.

First cat food delivery arrived! That's my December stock of Royal Canin wet food! I'll order the Whiskas after pay day. Which should be today ... hold thumbs!

Oh dear! Notification that the butchery has closed its doors! Shame! They were trying so hard!

Almost time to go home ... yay!

At home, another prolonged game of hide and seek with Janey! She's really, really clever! This time, instead of hiding, she moved around! So, after I had checked under the bed, while I was checking mippies room, she went and hid behind the bed! It took me a long time to find her! She really IS incredibly clever!

Well, after medicating Janey, I did my chores, then carried on cleaning the succulent bed. I'm pruning the succulents as well. My way - slow, meticulous ... fun!

My poor tenant was left behind at the shop! A couple of kilometer from home! I was about to take a shower, but checked my messages first - he had let me know what had happened, and apologised for the inconvenience. Poor sod was marching home at top speed ... he only got here about quarter to eight!

Then I showered, had my dinner ... now it's just past nine ... I'm watching one episode of Eureka, then bed ...

LS 2 0 2 Tuesday

I struggled to go to sleep last night. Something happened at work yesterday that really ... just bizarre!

Well, I was awake till well past midnight last night ... 

Anyway ... almost time to go home. And today, without any reservations. Just poor Janey's medication drill ... I should spot on them as well, but with this medication stress for poor Janey, I really don't have the heart to add more trauma to her day! She is soooo affectionate in the evenings, when I sit at the PC, she strolls up and down my lap, throwing herself at the keyboard ... just wanting cuddles.

Oh golly, Janey hid herself really well tonight! I searched every room, lifted the bed, went from room to room, twice! I eventually found her hiding in mippies room, in the wardrobe, bottom shelf, behind the bag of litter! Once I found her, though, she didn't struggle. Poor darling!

Then I did my chores and went out into the garden. I carried on clearing my succulent bed. My tenant came home and started raking the cut grass, then helped clean the succulent bed.

I showed him the problem with the cold water in the shower - I'm barely getting cold water to flow. He'll fix it on Saturday.

I'm in for an early night tonight ... catch up on the sleep I missed out last night.

Oh, and we're missing out on load shedding again tomorrow! Nice!

LS 0 1 2 Monday

Very early morning. Mippies had a fight on my bed ... never a dull moment, eh?

I had coffee, enjoyed my morning smoke and cuddled my mippies. I was wondering whether I should give the tenant a lift to work (as I drive right past), but he left early. Good! I wasn't keen on the idea ...

Back at home ... after I finish my chores ... I see the entire garden has been mowed! Beautifully! Okay, so the two far east sections weren't done - but man, it must have been a hard, shit job mowing everything I see was mowed! No word though ... I messaged my neighbour to ask what's up ...

No response.

On closer inspection, I see that my gooseberry bushes are history. Again. Mowed down to within a thumb off the ground. That told me that it wasn't my tenant, who did the mowing. When I checked by the peach tree, I saw that my Nasturtiums were fine - which told me that my neighbour was clearly involved.

With no communication, I was wondering what had been decided ... is he moving out? Is he going to change his behaviour? What?

Well, I brought mippies in, treated them - I had medicated Janey before I let them out - then I saw my tenant coming down the road. When he got to the gate, he called, I opened up, and went outside. I told him we had to talk.

First, I asked him, if my neighbour had talked to him. Yes. So, did he have something to say to me? Yes. He apologised profusely and asked that I give him a second chance. Please. I told him he was on his third chance already! Then I told him how, when he went back on his word the first time - about making a plan with the boxes - I was ready to tell him right then and there that I changed my mind. And that the only reason I didn't - but gave him a second chance - was, because my neighbour and my landlord had spoken so highly of him.

Then I told him exactly how furious I was, when he kicked out Smeagol! Cruelty to animals is one thing I will not tolerate!

He asked if there's any way he can fix that. So I told him: Yes! You will build a house for Smeagol! When he immediately asked me what the specifications were, I knew he really means to build it.

He apologised again, said he got carried away - and didn't think.

I also told him that I have no energy for conflict at home. None. And I will not tolerate issues at home.

I think the message got through.

When I got inside, I see my neighbour called. I called him back - he's the one who mowed my entire lawn. And he admitted that it was a really, really shit job! My tenant had better make sure the grass won't grow that long again! I told him that we'd talked things through - and thanked my neighbour for all his hard work & the talking to he gave my tenant.

I didn't mention my gooseberries. Shame, he really worked hard. And, if you don't know about them ... well ... they were surrounded by weeds.

The cold water tap in the shower is becoming a real problem - I can hardly get any water to come out! So I'm showering with extremely low water pressure. But it gets the soap off and I feel much, much better afterwards!

No load shedding - if Eishkom don't change their schedule - for us tomorrow. Hold thumbs!

Now, I'll just settle back, cuddle more mippies (Janey's spent the whole time I've been writing this, on my lap!)

I feel much, much more at peace than this weekend. Let's hope it's a matter of all's well that ends well.

Dark night, Sunday, LS 2

While I was asleep, the power went off. More thunderstorm during the night. I woke up a few times - noticed the fan was off. First time was around midnight, sometime after eleven. Sorry, I just turned over and carried on sleeping.

Got up around half six, power still off. Get online and it's quite a large area affected. And we cannot report, because the system is down for maintenance. Our councilor, however, is already on it.

Ten to eight, power came back on! First thing, I made myself a fresh pot of coffee!

Load shedding today only from 16:00 - 18:30, so that's not much of a problem.

Tenant is hyper concerned about getting his DSTV working, ha ha! I'm waiting to see whether he'll do anything in the garden today ... another promise he made.

Over my anger re the Smeagol situation, I forgot to mention that I also started clearing my succulent bed last night. It's covered in a carpet of weeds - high time I clean that, before those weeds grow out of control, again.

More rain forecast for this afternoon. I better get my baking done before the next power outage!

Quarter to twelve, bread rolls are done, pie is still in the oven, kitchen is clean - just need to wash the pie tray when the pie is done. Tomatoes and chicken are vacuum packed and in the freezer, but I need to clean mippies fountain again - the reservoir is growing algae again ... 

Done. Just need to wash the pie tray. Final mission today is to cook. I've taken out Frankfurter, I want to slice them and mix them with pasta ... maybe add mayo? Dunno. 

Twenty past three, load shedding in forty minutes. Again. And again at midnight. Sigh ...

Ah! Load shedding will be suspended at midnight - so, no midnight outage! But it will resume at 05:00 - Stage 1. We get lucky this time, no load shedding for us tomorrow!

I sent a message to my neighbour, asking if he could pop in. He did, just after I got out of the shower. I had to open the gate with the key, as my 'tenant' still has my remote. He went off after lunch ... 

I told my neighbour that this isn't working out for me. He's not keeping his word - he tossed out Smeagol, hasn't mowed the lawn - which he'd promised he would on Sunday. My neighbour said, he'll sort him out tomorrow. Either he comes right or he's out faster than he moved in!

Well, that's only right. I only gave this guy another chance after this box fiasco because my neighbour had so warmly recommended him! But I will NOT be manipulated nor bullied in my own home.

I feel much better now!

Oh, and I cleaned the Marigold / Poppy bed up nicely this afternoon.

I had one last smoke before going to bed ... and noticed he's back. I contemplated whether to call out to get my remote back - though I really don't feel like any contact ... but I feel much better with my remote safely back with me. Strangely enough, it took him a few minutes to get it? Honestly?

Anyway, he then started telling me how he's planning to mow the lawn tomorrow ... or Tuesday after work ... I cut him off and said that I'm really tired. This is really NOT the time. I wonder whether he overheard me talking to my neighbour? Ha Ha!

Well, we'll see tomorrow. I feel much better now. Relieved!

It's close to eight, I'm quite tired. I've worked quite hard today ... 

LS 2 with a new tenant

Since I went to bed so very early, I woke up equally early. Power is due to go off at eight, it's not even quarter past six, and my laundry is already in the machine.

I sat and couldn't help think about work.

Quarter to seven. I think I should change gear now and bring my head home. Smeagol has already called for his breakfast, which I gave him. Let's see how much rain we had last night!

Boah! 16 mm! And more rain forecast this afternoon! Right through the night! Getting my laundry to dry is going to be a bit of a mission ....

Sun is out, so I've hung everything outside. Should be dry before the weather turns. It's now twenty past seven ... I've got tomatoes to freeze, a kitchen to clean ... I think I'll start with the kitchen cleaning.

Right ... three minutes to lights out ... kitchen is almost done ... 

Right. I spent the rest of the day in the garden. Mowed the back lawn, then moved to my tomato bed. I staked four of the plants nearest the driveway. On the other side of the gutter, there are too many plants, I can't figure out where or how to stake ... but I cleared out all yellow leaves, and it looks like I can expect another bumper crop!

Tenant showed up and moved in. When I mowed the back lawn, I found a cigarette bud, so I told him very clearly that I won't tolerate using my garden as an ashtray!

Next, he summarily evicted Smeagol! Now that is a no-no! Especially as I had said Smeagol hides there from the rain and eats in there - and it was 'no problem' and now? No! I got so angry - and when I get angry, I go quiet. I never react in anger. So, I thought about it. I will tell him that he will now build Smeagol a home! A place big enough for him to sleep, where I can put the kibbles for him and dry in all conditions!

Smeagol has EARNED his place here. First, he was here first - even before me. But since I've moved in, he has done his very best to learn how to fit in here to get his needs met! He no longer attacks my mippies - well, very rarely, and he does everything he can to fit in! So, just having him summarily thrown out - without notification, contrary to what he promised! Yeah, I'm fucking angry!

Thunderstorm in the afternoon, power went off. The water came in under my front door - I had to wipe it up with a cloth, because the tenant had borrowed my mop and not returned it, yet.

Well, turns out the rain also came into his room - under the wall. I gave him some of my flash cement and he closed the gap.

Power came back just before load shedding ... after load shedding I just showered and went to bed quite early.

LS 3-2-3, no make that 3-2 with a dash of dark Friday

Another early morning. Janey is mostly back in the fold - this morning I found her curled up with Ziva. Last night, Mini was still hissing at her ... I'll have to keep an eye out and see how they treat each other today.

Giving Janey her medication yesterday was practically a breeze! I picked her off the top of the bookshelf, she didn't struggle, she swallowed - just when it came to the follow-up water did I struggle a bit.

I managed to forget my Smartphone at home today ... ah, well ... not much of an issue, as I don't really use it at work, anyway. I did, however, bring the USB Power bank and the WiFi router, ha ha! Well, it's fully charged now.

Ah! Load shedding won't escalate to Stage 3 this afternoon, we'll stay at Stage 2. For now. Indefinitely ... 

Back at home, first I went into the outside room and removed all my stuff left in there. Then I took the wooden bedding borders out of the grill - where he'd 'temporarily' put them, and carried them into the garage - rain forecast this weekend, no need to water damage them any more, unnecessarily! I also found my seed pods in the grill. Grrr I had a look in the dog hut - and junk is mixed with my stuff ... I'm going to have to sort that out.

What bugs me is that I put a lot of effort to get all that junk out of sight ... now it's right back around the grill, where it started. I hope the plan is to clear that this weekend! If not, I'll insist it'll go in the dump. Soon!

I spent the rest of the afternoon with my tomato plants. First the one in the pot, which I now tied up, with a stake, then cleaning the yellow leaves and generally clearing the big bed. They're doing really well - just trying too hard, same as last year! Too many sprouts and branches, etc. So I had to thin that out a bit.

It had been thundering all afternoon, around six, it started pouring ... and the power went off! Brought mippies inside, gave Jane her meds, treated mippies, report the outage. Power came back about half an hour later. I'm glad, because my smartphone battery is really low! Charging that, now!

I had to close the kitchen window - it rained in, there! It actually came pouring down, heavy!

I considered mowing the lawn, knowing it would rain - more rain forecast throughout the weekend ... but, well, it's not my problem anymore! That's the one thing I made very clear would be my tenant's responsibility. 

Okay, I just went for a quick smoke ... and there were 2 black and white cats by the outside room! Smeagol has a look alike! Who sat quite contentedly in the door - denying Smeagol access to his food and his bed! Sheez!

It looks like its fur is longer than Smeagol's and it's smaller - possibly still quite young. Ai, Ai, Ai!

Load shedding tomorrow morning from 08:00 - 10:30 and again 16:00 - 18:30. At least I can listen to a different audiobook tonight.

Funny thing, but it's not yet half eight and I'm ready to go to sleep ... soooo tired ... ah, well. Might as well.

LS 4-2-3 Thursday

Not the best of nights, but also not the worst. I did wake up before the alarm went off, which is always a good sign.

Tenant arrived last night, and I first made him wait to let Smeagol finish eating, as I had just given him his dinner. Neither tenant nor Smeagol understand any of the 'why's'. Sigh ...

Not impressed when the first thing the tenant asked was "So, have you decided what to do with your stuff from the room?" But I had no energy, after yesterday's work conundrum, to argue or discuss anything. Just told him to put it in the Wendy / dog hut. He trampled half my Nasturtium, which is growing in the way, in front of the gate.

Janey hid under the bed to avoid taking her medicine. Eventually I lifted the bed, she ran off, into the lounge, and I closed the kitchen door so she couldn't go back there. I cornered her - and once I had her, she gave up. Just meekly allowed me to carry her to the arm chair, squirt the meds into her throat - though she still tries to push it out with her tongue. When I released her, she dashed off at speed!

The others were still hissing, spitting and growling at her.

This morning, though, I found Mewthos curled up with Janey on top of my new chest freezer! Progress, at last!

For cats, rejecting sick fellow cats, is pure survival! It's natural. They have no defense against disease, so their only defense is to stay away from any cat that clearly smells 'wrong'. So then why do they 'comfort' humans, when we are sick? Well, they're not necessarily comforting us - that's just our preferred interpretation. A sick human often has a fever - and cats are simply drawn to the warmth. I think. Well, that's also just an interpretation.

I couldn't get away at my usual time, so I got my groceries a bit later than usual. I got more apples, as I'm quite enjoying my apple pie lately. Funny thing, they're offering 6 apples on special - buy 4 get 2 free. A 1.5kg bag holds a dozen apples. They're selling the bag for the same price as their buy 4, get 2 free 'special'! Half the quantity / twice the price!

I hadn't planned on buying more tomatoes - but they were even cheaper this week, so I got another 2 kg. For 3/4 what I paid last week! Butter was also on special again, so I took another kg. And I'm running low on my daily chocolate - and I can't order now, because ... well ... salary. So I had to stock up from Spar.

The new 'Gardener' is out, so I got that, too. But they had not even a single packet of cigarettes. Ah, well ... I do have stock, they have ordered ... shouldn't be a problem. As long as I can get stock to keep me over shut-down, before shut-down, no problem.

Aaaand load shedding dropped from Stage 4 to Stage 3. Unfortunately, we're still off from six to eight tonight ... Sheez, what a circus!

Ah well ... better publish now - it's ten to five ...

LS 2 & 4 Wednesday

Tenant came last night and cleaned the outside room. Took everything outside, cleaned the floor, then brought most things back inside.

First issue: When he looked at the room, it was all 'no worries, I'll make a plan were to store your things', and now it's 'I just want it out, so where do you want me to put it?' Actually, not quite as extreme, as he's also looking for a solution ... but I don't like the before and after. I'll mention that this evening, when he comes back to carry on.

On the whole though, I'm still positive. He told me some of his life story - well, pretty much his whole family history.

I slept quite well, and woke very early. Made fresh coffee and spent time trying to re-integrate poor Lady Jane! She is still getting hissed, spat, and growled at by everyone! I gave her her medication last night - although she tried to push it out of her mouth with her tongue, she didn't struggle at all in my arms!

Load shedding again from six to eight tonight ... same again tomorrow night ... I really am sick and tired of this shit. DA was saying today how our president is riding in a golden coach (he's currently visiting the UK), while we're - quite literally - in the dark. 

Anyway, better publish now ... it's ten to five.

LS 4 Tuesday

Still not the best of nights, but better than last night. Woke up even before the alarm went off!

I had to spend a lot of time re-integrating poor Janey. Mewthos keeps growling at her, Mini hisses at her and Ziva won't let her near. So, I'm transferring scents from one to the other to the other to the one to the other, etc.

At work, I just called my landlord and the prospective tenant had already spoken to him, and my landlord is happy with the arrangement - provided his children don't stay there, because that would be a safety concern. Well, the tenant hadn't mentioned anything about his children visiting him here - they're staying with granny. He did mention his wife visiting some weekends, as she works in another province. I also don't like too many people around.

Called Jan and told him. He said he'd like to come around tonight to start clearing the room - I'll be home half six, as always, so that's fine with me.

He hasn't asked again, and I didn't bring it up over the phone, regarding rent. I discussed it with my neighbour, and he reckons there's no reason I HAVE to charge any rent. Knowing how little hard labour pays, I'm more than just fine with that. And the extra security plus the help in the garden will more than make it worth my while!

And no, unlike the plans my neighbour seems to have, I don't expect the poor guy to work full time, every weekend! For starters, what would really help me big time already, is, if he just takes over mowing the lawn! And we can discuss what else he wants to do - he's actually studied agriculture, so he has more knowledge than I do! He switched studies from agriculture to construction, because he found agriculture wasn't challenging enough. Which is a very good sign.

Since load shedding is once again from six to eight tonight ... I guess I better publish now.

LS 4-5 Monday

I woke up several times during the night. Again. Not good ... nature calls, but still. It's not like I drink a couple of liters before bedtime ...

I'm still worried about Janey. Last night, she didn't want to come in, and when I brought her in, she sat by the door - didn't come to the counter for treats! I took her bowl to her and she ate quite happily ... maybe she just can't handle Mewthos' exuberance at the food bowls anymore? He is quite overwhelming, gobbling down his food then bobbing into neighbouring bowls as soon as his is emptier than theirs! Not empty, just emptier than the next bowl.

Biggest regret I have with Mynx is that I didn't take him to the vet right away, when I found out what had happened. I couldn't - I had to wait for pay day. He died.

My finances are not looking good this month, either. I'm quite low and not sure if there's any room for a vet bill - so, first thing this morning, I updated my budget. It's tight, but I can make it. So, I've made an appointment for her. This afternoon. I leave at half past one.

I just want to be told that Janey is fine and I'm overreacting. Then I can sleep better.

I've updated my Zuki order - brought next wet food delivery forward, as well as the next Iams delivery. They're currently chomping themselves silly on the Iams - I'm filling that dispenser about two to three times a week! I still have a full, spare bag ... but at this rate, I don't think it'll carry me through to January.

Sigh, snakes and ladders again with the load shedding. Sort of good news: no Stage 5 - but the only difference that makes, is that tomorrow evening we're only off until 20:30, not the previously scheduled 4 hours.

Ten past one ... my mind is with Janey. Firstly, how will I catch her? Ha ha!

We left home around two and got back half past five! Sheez, poor girl, nearly widdled herself! I did put her in a cage with a sand box at one point, but she was too terrified to go. What an ordeal for my poor little girl - and it isn't over, yet.

They checked her blood and suspect that it's the same parasite rearing its destructive head again. Yes, they could make sure - but: that would mean sending the blood for analysis. And they also never did the extra analysis last time, to identify exactly WHAT parasite it is. And ten to one, the treatment will be the same: another course of antibiotics. Poor girl!

They didn't have the medication, so they tried to source a different, better one - with no luck. Then settled on giving her the syrup option. Still, the medication attacks her throat, so I have to wash her throat after medication, again, by squirting water down her throat. And ... she needs 6ml, but the syringe they gave me is only 5ml. Then they gave me a 10ml syringe, but that doesn't fit into the bottle ... so, last night I filled 1x 5ml + 1x 1ml and 1x 10 ml water. She objected quite forcefully to having crap squirted in her mouth! Quite a bit of it ended up around her face - but as she washes it off by licking herself, it's not a major issue. I'll have to come up with a better plan, though.

Aaaand, of course Janey now smells different - three hours at Onderstepoort will do that to any pet. So I now have a house full of hissing, spitting and growling cats.

Load shedding started quite late - but since I couldn't know it would, I went outside and cleaned the grapevine. First pulled all the weeds that were growing at the bottom, then cleaned out some vines which were just too much, too many ... then cleared out some old leaves, especially the ones that were damaged in the hail ... until it was too dark to see.

I never did bother to turn on the PC last night ... I didn't expect to only get back from the vet this late ...

LS 4 Sunday

Not a good night. I kept waking up - nature called. Again. Again. And again. No, I don't know why.

As a result, I got up quite late, past seven! With a headache, I might add.

Internet wasn't co-operative, so I couldn't start writing ... it's now almost nine! First time I could create a new post! In the meantime, I've vacuum packed the sweet melon, started the bread dough and made pie dough. By the time the bread dough is done, the pie dough has been chilling for an hour. Then, while the bread rises again, I can chop the apples and hopefully have everything baked before the power goes off at twelve.

Having to work on such a tight schedule on weekends ... it's like bringing my work home: production scheduling every activity around load shedding!

I hear a neighbour is mowing his lawn ... ideally, I should be mowing mine ... I have an hour. I also have a headache ... sigh ...

Well, I tried mowing out back, but the grass has grown too much, I'm not really managing with the blunt blades. So, I've taken out my new mower and assembled it. I'd just finished, when the bread machine cried for attention. Shaped the loaf and rolls, then peeled, cored and cut the apples - saving the seeds. Half past ten now, and I'm heating the oven to start baking.

Twenty past eleven. Bread is baked. Bread rolls are baked. Apple pie is in the oven. Back lawn is mowed.

It would be ideal - scheduling wise - if I could mow the front during load shedding. But noon is really the worst possible time for hard labour in the frying sun! That's asking for sun stroke!

Ten to twelve. Kitchen is almost clean - just waiting for the apple pie tray.

Something is in the roof above the third bedroom ... I'm now looking around for my cats! Janey is here, Mewthos on the veranda ... now I better turn off the PC, in time for load shitting.

Aaaand ... load shedding was apparently suspended at 08:00 this morning! In my rush to meet my schedule, I didn't take time to check my messages.  Load shedding will continue at five this evening - we'll hopefully find out which Stage before then!

Makes no difference for my night, though. Stage 2 we go off 02:00 - 04:30 tomorrow morning, Stage 3 we also go off 20:00 - 22:30 tonight. Only Stage 1 wouldn't affect my night.

Right, I've checked and found all my cats - none of them in the roof.

Well, I'm hungry now ... apple pie sounds good now, doesn't it? Maybe with some ice cream?

Yeah, that was nice. Then I took a nap. Hour and a half later, sort of awake ... it's really hot today. Again.

Oh FFS! Load shedding coming back with a vengeance!

Sunday:           Stage 4 - 17:00 - 00:00 = 20:00 - 22:30                         
Monday           Stage 4 - 00:00 - 16:00 = 02:00 - 04:30 & 10:00 - 12:30
                        Stage 5 - 16:00 - 00:00 = 18:00 - 20:30                         
Tuesday:         Stage 4 - 00:00 - 05:00 = 02:00 - 04:30
                        Stage 3 - 05:00 - 16:00 = 10:00 - 12:30
                        Stage 5 - 16:00 - 00:00 = 18:00 - 22:30 (4 hours)         
Wednesday:    Stage 4 - 00:00 - 05:00 = 02:00 - 04:30
                        Stage 2 - 05:00 - 16:00 = none
                        Stage 5 - 16:00 - 00:00 = 18:00 - 20:30

This really sucks! Especially the six to eight / ten every single evening! That means I can't mow the lawn bit by bit, because I can't shower late - I'm going to have to leave the geyser on throughout the day, so I can shower when I get home. Or take cold showers? Or what? I'm so sick and tired of this shite! I don't have the energy to keep dealing with this ...

Well, I've just washed my ice cube trays and filled them with coffee. That'll make nice ice coffee. I'm so tired ... drained ... It's already four ... I've cleaned the litter boxes, packed my lunch ... it's taken me two hours to find the energy to carry the lawn mower from the back to the veranda. Now I'm going to take another nap ... 

I was just about falling asleep, when someone called at the gate. The prospective tenant. Came to introduce himself and have a look at the room. He seems nice, I think this can work. I just want to discuss the rent with my neighbour. I can't charge nothing, and I definitely don't want to charge a lot - just having the added security and help in the garden will be 'payment' enough, for me! He's keen to move in next weekend.

Neighbour just came around, we discussed what rent to charge. None. He'll work for his rent - I'm fine with that.

Half seven now ... time to sit on the veranda for a bit, then quickly shower before the lights go out ....

LS 4 Saturday

I woke up a few times during the night. Last time around five, when I decided to get up. Somewhat of a headache this morning - turns out, it's courtesy of the weather! Overcast, rain ... the type that weighs on my brain, I'm afraid, giving me a mild migraine.

Fortunately just a mild one. But I wasn't expecting ANY rain - if I had, I would have bullied myself into mowing yesterday afternoon.

Not quite ten, and the kitchen is clean. I still need to hang up the laundry ... only ... it's still raining, on and off! Don't ask me how I'll get my jeans dry! I think I'll do that next. And then, I have to process the fruit & veggies in my fridge for the freezer. I also want to freeze parsley, as I have such a lot right now.

Sigh ... I've hung the washing on my stand and carried it out on the veranda. Started raining again, and the rain decided to caress my washing! So, I've had to move the stand. I've also put the other one up, where my jeans, etc. are trying to dry.

Next, I want to prepare everything for the freezer ... only ... power is going off in an hour and a half! I could carry on cutting and getting things ready without power ... but I won't be able to prepare bags, as I need to cut those big buggers down, and seal three sides before I put goods in them. Sigh ... load shedding sucks!

Going on quarter past eleven, and I haven't started. Instead, I'm now cleaning the waste drawer. Again. I was lazy last week - I should have taken the trash out during the week ... And I'm going to have to take the next bag out right away, too, since I've got meat to re-pack. Sigh ... 

Right. Cleaned the waste drawer again and re-packed all the meat. Then I took the drawers out of the freezer under the fridge and just popped them in the chest freezer - well, one drawer. I defrosted the freezer under the fridge during load shedding, cleaned everything and put the two - now clean - drawers back. Still got some meat and the veggie freezer drawer in the chest freezer.

Power apparently came back quite late - I wasn't paying attention. I'd taken a nap, and when I got up the sun was out, so I took the laundry into the sun.

Right, Sweet melon is in bags and freezing - once frozen, I can vacuum pack them. Seeds are on paper towels, drying. Laundry is dry, inside, folded and packed away.

I stumbled across a new term last week: Quiet quitting. It means "putting in no more effort than absolutely necessary."

Yeah, my mind is spending far too much time at work. I can't seem to help myself ...

Quarter past five. Tomatoes are vacuum packed and in the freezer. One packet of bell peppers is cut into strips, vacuum packed - seeds on a paper towel, drying - and in the freezer. One more packet of bell peppers to go.

Done. They're not very nice, though. Wouldn't want them in a salad. Good enough for a stir fry, though.

I've helped myself to some potatoes and chicken during the day, now I'm just treating myself to ice cream ... then ... load shedding ... grrrr ...

LS 4 Friday

You know how all stores are flapping around with this 'Black Friday' thing? Well, we're going to enjoy a real BLACK Friday! Load shedding ramped up to Stage 4 at 5:26 this morning!

Fortunately, our power came on at five - when we changed from Stage 3 to Stage 2, and didn't go off at 5:26, when we suddenly found ourselves in Stage 4. UPS, however, no longer has the staying power - it beeped and went off before power came back on.

Jokes are going around about Eskom's Black Friday Special - I commented that I'd laugh, if it hadn't turned to reality, with this unexpected ramping up of load shedding. Someone replied that one needs a dark sense of humour, or one would cry. How apt, eh? DARK sense of humour?

I should probably take time to see if any of my regular items are on special today - but frankly, I really don't feel like it.

I'm afraid the middle-of-the-night brain wave is getting to me now. I've put something on 'paper', it's a start. Enough to remember my brain wave on Monday.

I just put that there, just in case I do loose the train of thought by Monday - and I really, really don't want to reserve space in my head for work during my weekend.

I wonder whether I'll find myself re-energised when I get home? Right now, I'd love to take a nap ... but just being at home often makes a huge difference in my energy level!

It would be nice if I could find energy to finish mowing the lawn, plus re-mow what I last mowed now two - or was is it three? - weeks ago.

Today, load shedding from 20:00 - 22:30 and tomorrow 04:00 - 06:30 & 12:00 - 14:30 & 20:00 - 22:30; same again on Sunday. Sigh ...

Back at home ... yeah ... I don't see any lawn mowing happening today. My lunch had spoiled, so I'm hungry. I stopped at the butchery and got chicken pieces - so I decided to put them in the oven on top of the potatoes. Once I've eaten, I expect I'll want a nap ... 

It's also very, very hot today ... 

I bumped into my neighbour just outside and told him he must come fetch tomato plants this weekend, because I have got to thin them out! He said he's home all weekend again, so he'll be popping in.

No mention of the prospective tenant for the outside room, so far.

Yeah, that didn't work out as planned. I couldn't keep awake for the chicken to finish, so I turned off the oven, but left the chicken inside. Then I took a nap. Woke up a little refreshed, but still with very little energy.

Okay, so the chicken was a little dry, but yeah ... that can't be helped. I've had two pieces, then put it back into the oven.

I took a walk around the garden, the first Amaryllis are flowering!

And look what else is flowering! You can't really see the Alyssum in flower - look closely in front of that big rock in front of the ponytail. And in front of that the wild Zinnia! There was a single flower in that bed last year - and this is how much it's spread! Lovely, isn't it?

Anyway, load shedding at eight, so ... I've showered, now I'm going to treat myself to an ice cream, then ... bed ...

LS Thursday

Very early morning. Which, seeing as it's load shedding from 04:00 - 06:30 was not exactly ideal. Fortunately power came not too long after six, so I could make a fresh pot of coffee.

My car made a clonk clonk noise last night. Naturally, that freaks me! I feared I may not be able to get to work ... may have to be towed.

Went to get groceries, clonked when I got back. Couldn't find the boss, so I asked a colleague to listen - he checked it out & pinpointed the problem.

I shopped a bit big on groceries this week. They had a special on margarine, which I use for baking. Their tomatoes were cheap, as were their green bell peppers. I also stumbled across one packet of beef fillet - only a tad more expensive than their T-Bone! Took that! At the butchery, I got more club steak and cheese. Also a packet of Stroganoff. Well, beef strips for frying.

Aaand they crooked me on the margarine! Friggin' heck! No, I'm not going back ... it's painful enough going there once a week! But I got the Chrysanthemum's cheaper than the labelled price, so ... win some, loose some.

I was considering making a reckless drive to builders - buy supplies for the year-end holiday, like cement, paint, etc. Then I received a Purchase order ... I'm still busy processing that.

I had a bit of a mishap, when I took a GrandPa powder early, I had to sneeze before I could swallow ... damn that shite is painful at the back of the throat! Five hours later, and my throat is still sore!

Back at home, I still don't feel up to mowing. I'll do it tomorrow afternoon. Instead, I trimmed the tomato plants - gosh, they are growing wild and thick! I really MUST thin them out. This weekend! Seriously!

Back inside, I managed to squish everything into the fridge - I'll have quite a bit of work to freeze everything on Saturday.

Mippies are demanding my attention ... load shedding tomorrow morning only for an hour, so I've decided to take a chance and leave the PC on overnight. Should be from 04:00 to 05:00 only. Unfortunately again from 12:00 - 14:30 and again from 20:00 - 22:30 tomorrow evening ... Sigh ...

LS Wednesday

I woke up bright eyed with four bushy tails in my face! Ziva was full of beans and zoomed around the house like a pinball!

I had coffee, smoke and a think. Load shedding started about quarter past six. Off to work ...

No traffic! Cool!

Cat food arrived! Also cool!

It's just past four ... not a good time to start counting stock. I just finished capturing the last page of transactions ... 

Back at home, after my chores and unpacking mippies food ... yeah ... nor enough energy for lawn mowing. I carried on in the same bed. I found the lemon tree, by the way! It's smaller than the friggin' parsley! Which, by the way, I also trimmed quite substantially.

Well, internet is iffy again, so ... I showered, had dinner ... that's it.

Load shedding tomorrow 04:00 - 06:30 and again12:00 - 14:30. I just hope they turn it on early tomorrow morning, I need fresh coffee ...

LS Tuesday

I didn't sleep well. I woke up, after having been fast asleep ... work thoughts!

I've been stumbling around LinkedIn a bit - and discovered that I had started a blog about Efficiency some 12 years ago!

Last night's getting up to fret is now catching up with me. It's not yet four and I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. I don't believe I'll be doing any lawn mowing tonight ...

Oh, and I remember now, when I was finally falling asleep again ... blerry cat fight outside my bedroom! Sheez ... Any wonder I'm fighting sleep here, now?

Load shedding tonight 22:00 - 00:30 again, and tomorrow morning 06:00 - 08:30.

Yeah, no energy for mowing, but, of course, I also couldn't just sit still. I worked on the poppy / marigold bed. I'm trying to reach the lemon tree ... which is now so covered with parsley, marigold and poppy, I haven't seen it in a while!

I'm too pooped to even make a simple sauce tonight, so I'm just having apple pie for dinner. Mippies are not impressed with my choice of dinner, ha ha! Well, I'm just watching an episode or two of Eureka, and then I'll go to sleep ... shouldn't have any trouble tonight.

LS Monday

Power was restored around half eight! I was VERY impressed! With help from the community! We really have the best Ward Councillor ever!

Since I had gone to bed already, I just put on the PC for my audiobook. And woke up quite early this morning. Since I couldn't remember what time load shedding today, I got up and made coffee, just in case it's at six!

Actually it's 14:00 - 16:30 again, and 22:00 - 00:30. Which means no PC audiobook tonight ...

Ordered Whiskas - I'm on the last box. Added filters for their flower fountain and a 3-pack of Spot-on. Payment site won't work - it claims my password is incorrect. So, I ended up making an EFT payment and mailing them proof. Since I didn't make an instant payment, I presume it'll take a day for payment to show on their side ... no problem.

I was so worried about Janey last night, that I decided that I'd make an appointment with the vet for her today - to me, her ears looked yellow again! This morning, however, her ears are the same colour as Mewly's and Ziva's, so, I think I was overreacting. Probably the light last night. Or, more precisely, the fact that we had no lights last night, ha ha!

Okay, part of my problem is the fact that I don't like change. The other problem is quite simply: HOW to find another job? I mean, I've looked at jobs posted online, and I just don't understand what they're talking about in their requirements. Like, I'm out of touch with the current lingo. When they describe tasks, they use abbreviations and refer to techniques that sound totally foreign! When I look into WTF is this shit, turns out it's just a fancy term for an old technique, one I'm familiar with. Though probably complexified. Or App'd. If you know what I mean.

Aaaand load shedding escalates to Stage 3 from 16:00 - 05:00 ... until further notice. Sheez, man, get it together! This is becoming a joke - only, not the type that gets anyone laughing!

Anyway.

Back at home, I did my chores, and then started mowing the lawn! I started with the section that I didn't get to last time. Rough going, of course, as it's three weeks growth - and extreme growth, courtesy of all the rain! But I made a lot of progress! Hopefully I can do more tomorrow evening.

I got a message from my old friend from PE. The one that helped me moving, first moving in, then packing boxes when I moved out. Funny how people are coming back into my life, lately, eh?

Load shedding tonight at ten, so ... yeah ... Sigh ...

LS Sunday

I got up as the power went off ... at six. Sigh ... Well, at least I was in time to turn off the PC.

I pulled up my socks and made pie dough, at least.

When the power came back, first thing I did was package and freeze the meat I had bought this week. I also made a complete list of everything in the chest freezer. Added the meat I packed today to the list, too.

I'm getting boringly organised in my old age! I wonder if that's a good thing or a bad thing?

Now I have five hours to bake the bread, the apple pie, clean the kitchen, and cut and freeze the melon. Sigh ... Well, four and a half, now that I've taken a break ...

Okay, twenty to eleven. Dough will be ready in half an hour, everything is prepared - I'm going to split the dough in half. Make a bread with one half and rolls with the other half. I'm planning to freeze the bread. I've cut half the apples, placed the seeds in the fridge, added sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon to the apples. Now I have half an hour's break ...

Ten to one, pie is baked - a bit messy - bread rolls baked, bread is in the oven, kitchen is clean ... and it's raining, raining, raining ...

Mewthos just came in soaking wet, now he wants me to cuddle him! First, he gets to cuddle a towel! Ha Ha, doesn't like that much. 

Well, twenty five past one, and I've started cooking. I've fried the strips of beef - I had defrosted them, and fortunately, they haven't gone off. Then I meant to harvest and fry the mushrooms ... only ... it says to leave them about a week after the first pins appear? They look big and ready - they're already pushing against the front of the bag ... but well, with mushrooms, better safe than sorry! So, I'll leave them.

Right ... quarter to two. I've added pasta to the bowl ... it'll have to do. Time's up.

Oh, and the sun has now come out! Clouds parting, blazing sunshine ... weird weather!

I took a nap, hour and a half, woke up to a thunderstorm! It's coming down by the bucket load, puddles forming everywhere. Fortunately nothing coming in under the door - which I closed very quickly. Had to close the bedroom windows as well. 

Four o'clock comes, no power. Plug the WiFi into the portable power bank, messages pouring in on the local electricity group. 

Tree fell across power lines in Soutpan Road. Our ward Councillor and electrical team are already on site! That's really impressive!

Well, I'll just have to wait and see. I've packed away the laundry, had a slice of apple pie - delicious! Now I have Janey on my lap, Smeagol weathered the storm on my cushion on the veranda, ha ha! Smart boy!

Mippies wanted to come in early, I've treated them, and Janey just stays on my lap. 

I just hope to have power to make coffee tomorrow morning. 

LS Saturday

Very early morning, surprisingly! I got up, let mippies out, made myself coffee ... sat down to think and smoke for a while. Just aimlessly wandering around, cuddling mippies, thinking ...

At least I've put the laundry in the machine, it should be finished before load shedding starts.

It looks like it's been drizzling throughout the night ... no gardening today, I'm afraid. Which is really a blow for my mowing needs ... And they forecast rain throughout the weekend ....

I guess my veranda will get plenty attention!

Okay, ten to eight, laundry is ready to be hung - inside, I'm afraid - kitchen is clean, I've made another pot of coffee ... I'm ready for load shedding!

Well, I'm continuing cleaning the veranda. Drizzle on and off all day - not much use trying to garden. Neighbour came to get the tomato plants ... then it started raining, so that was that. The prospective tenant didn't show up.

Well, the veranda is not going to get finished. I just tried to hose it down ... the water flows everywhere except to the outlets. I don't know what put those tiles on there, but sober, normal human thinking was clearly not involved. Some of the water flows towards the house, to make its way past the front door to the driveway, some flows towards the vinca bed ... there's no logic. Well, logic for the water - but none applied by the builder.

I ended up pretty much mopping up everything. Except where it carried all the mud to the extension, which I had already cleaned yesterday. Yeah, not going to do that again.

On the whole, though, it does look a lot better! Twenty to four, I've cleared everything away and put everything in its new place.

Next, I want to tackle my flower stand. The one I got in PE, which I love so much! It's not looking nice at all, with all the mud and - worst of all - rust!

Smeagol helping to keep the flower pots warm! Ha Ha!

This is what the extension looked like before. 

And this is what it looks like now!

And this is the view from the cleaned sided.

And this is the section I'll still have to do ... one day ... See all that mud? How the tiles look a different shade of brown, rather than terracotta? Yeah ... Filthy! Sigh ...

And this is where I sit. I cleaned the floor, the wall, and the one window - frame and all. I cleaned the greenhouse, inside and out, the flower pots, and, of course, the flower stand.

Well, mippies are in, treated and Ziva is demanding her cuddles. I'm just so chuffed with my lovely veranda! Tomorrow I can sow some seeds into the pots on the stand - maybe plant some of what's growing in the greenhouse. I'll see ...

Load shedding tomorrow from 06:00 - 08:30 and again from 14:00 - 16:30 ... Sigh ...

LS Friday

I seriously struggled to get out of bed this morning. With the power outage, I got to sleep later than usual ...

Weird dream this morning, again. Janey covered in ticks - like poor Smeagol currently is in reality.

Mini has lately taken to filling my bathroom basin, while I'm on the toilet. Don't ask ... 

She just curls up in the basin and starts washing herself, happy as a ... well ... cat in water doesn't make sense, does it?

Well, I've been thinking about this person wanting to rent the outside room. Again, I feel a bit run-over, like ... it's a done deal, just because I haven't said 'no'. The fact that I haven't said 'yes' either, is somehow lost ... 

On the other hand, though, I have been thinking of sub-letting. Not so much for the rent, this time, but more for the increased security and possible help, like in the garden. I'm putting all my energy into keeping up - I'm making less progress than I'd like.

I'm just going to wait and see what happens tomorrow morning - after all, I first must have my landlord's permission. I made that absolutely clear to my neighbour last night.

Back at home, my shroompies started showing up last night. The first photo was taken last night:

Only 21 hours later and they have grown A LOT!

That little flush on the left - that wasn't planned. I made three holes for flushes to grow through, top to bottom. So, this one ... surprise!

It had been raining today, so I couldn't mow the lawn. It was still drizzling on and off the whole afternoon, so I couldn't go anywhere in the garden for long. So, I decided to tackle the veranda. I cleaned the forward area.

I swept the floor, first with the outdoor broom, then the rough indoor broom, and then with the indoor broom. Then I got the hose pipe, wet the whole area and started mopping. Again. Again. Again. And again ... I didn't count how many times I had to go over the whole area just to get all the mud off. Well, mostly off. It looks much, much better!

It's just a small area of the whole veranda ... so ... there's a huge job still to be done. Sigh ...

Anyway, when I had decided I'd done enough, I sat on the veranda and all my mippies joined me. We had a lovely quarter hour quality time, just sitting, watching things move, cuddling a bit ... relaxing together.

Now, I'll just make myself something to eat ... and call it a day. Have to turn the PC off, as load shedding from midnight till two again. And from eight to ten tomorrow morning, as well.

Sigh ...

Dark LS Thursday

Relatively good night, not the earliest of mornings, but not late, either. Treat mippies their breakfast, coffee, sit down for a smoke and cuddles ... 

Twenty five past six: power off!

Checked the Electricity Group - reports coming in from far and wide! Clearly a bigger issue. Reported it. Off to work.

Got groceries. Kind of wish I had got milk yesterday - I see the price advertised for one brand 40% higher than yesterday's price! But I really didn't have any space left in my cooler bag. I can't see the price of the other brand, but take a bottle of that. Just checked my receipt, and it was even cheaper than the price at Ninapark yesterday! Cool!

They had only 2 cartons left of my brand of cigarette, so I took both. We're still getting on packet free per carton purchased.

By nine, power back on at home. Good!

Anyway, half five, almost time to feckoffsky!

Back at home, did my chores, then went out back to clean the corner along the fence, as that was bugging me from my armchair.

Power came on just after six. And went off again twenty, twenty five minutes later ...

Second power outage in one day!

I was still busy inside, when I heard my neighbour call from the gate. We had a lovely chat and we discussed this guy that called me to move into the outside room. Yes, he'd given him my number. 

Funny thing, the guy's name is also Jan. Same as the last guy who wanted to rent a room from me.

My neighbour reckons that he's quiet - doesn't want to stay with the other workers because they are too noisy for his liking, and too rowdy - well mannered and a hard worker. Rather than being a security risk, he would increase my security. And he's also a hard worker, he could help me big time in my garden!

He'll come around so I can meet him and we can discuss the details on Saturday ....

Power came back before eight.

LS Wednesday

I forgot to mention: we had 60 mm rainfall yesterday! Yeah, I did fear for my home during the day - but I'm happy to report, that all rain & mud stayed outside!

No rain expected today, but this morning a heavy fog covered the world. I could just about see the reeds with the weaver birds, out back - but no further. Just a white blanket everywhere ...

The drive to work was surprisingly uneventful and short. Not much traffic, this morning.

I did it! I did it! I got in the car and drove to Ninapark! Sadly, there was a dead black cat on the road, just before the turn off to the Shopping Centre. And there's nowhere to pull over, to move it out of the road.

Well, back to the happy: I got ice cream, meat, frozen meals, and quite a few other items not available at the Spar up the road. Like coffee filters. I stocked up on those rare items - spent more than I had intended. I see that sirloin prices have now completely lost the plot: Double what I was paying a year ago! Yeah - way out of my budget! Funny thing, though, rump steak is much cheaper! WTF?

I also got 'pensioners discount' again, ha ha! No, I don't ask for it - I guess I just look old. Worn, would be my guess. It's just 1% and not on all items. But it adds up. I also got seeds again ... sorry ... couldn't help myself.

At any rate, I'm slowly but surely filling up my chest freezer! I also got myself a notebook, to keep track of what's inside.

No Sushi, though. Wasn't available. Anyway, my cooler bag is full to the brim! I had to leave the butter outside - ditto the ice I got to keep things frozen in the bag; as it is so full, though, I don't need it. And full with so many frozen goods, should keep everything frozen. Especially that 5 litre ice cream tub, ha ha!

Load shedding again today from 16:00 - 18:30. I say again, as we had load shedding from 08:00 -10:30 this morning. And I forgot to turn the UPS off, so poor mippies had to listen to it crying in it's beepy annoying-like-Marvin voice.

Back at home, unpacked everything, packed the fridge and freezer, did my chores, then spent a little time with my tomato plants. Cleaning out as much of them as I could reach - still not finished.

Inside, shower, dinner - one of the steaks I bought today, shared with mippies, of course! Then I treated myself to an ice cream - which isn't totally frozen anymore. Hopefully tomorrow. Now, mippies are mipping for attention ... 

Rainy LS Tuesday

We had load shedding 02:00 -04:30 this morning, so I had turned off the PC and listened to 'Making Money' on my smartphone.

For some reason I didn't sleep well, some disturbing dreams. I'm a little worried about Janey, she's not as exuberant as usual - I keep checking her ear colour! I had spot on'd my mippies last Monday, but this weekend, Mewthos in particular, kept bringing in ticks. None bit, I picked them off while they were crawling atop his fur. And that's got me worried about Janey ... this morning I dreamed one of my babies was dying ... only, it looked like Ziva, but felt like Mini - if that makes sense to you?

Well, in dreams you don't so much identify people or pets or anything by sight, as one does awake - it's more of a feeling of the person, or pet or sometimes even environment. And the visual in my dream had slivery white fur - it felt a mix between Janey and Mini. Neither definitely.

Well, I got up a little later than yesterday. I stayed in bed a while, trying to shake the dream. It's been raining since the early hours - non stop. Still raining.

Traffic, of course, was not fun! When they continue their murderous overtaking manoeuvres on wet roads, in rain coming down so hard, you can barely see the car in front - and then drive without their lights on ... yeah, that's spine chilling! Then we hit traffic - caused by rubber necking! A car had come off the road and ended up in the ditch - and everyone had to slow down to make sure they didn't miss any possible gore! Not that there was anything to see - which is probably why traffic was so slow! Gore suckers weren't satisfied.

It really makes me angry, when traffic updates call this 'spectator value'! It's gore seeking, rubber necking, not some sort of entertainment! And calling it 'value' implies that there IS something worth seeing - slowing down those, who can't find any 'value', even more, as they seem convinced they must have missed something!

Anyway, rain is due to continue throughout most of today ...

Aaaand load shedding Stage 2 now implemented from 09:00 today - until further notice! We're off again 10:00 - 12:30 and tomorrow 08:00 - 10:30 & 16:00 - 18:30 ... Sigh ...

I just got a call from one of my landlord's employees - asking to rent my outside room ... I told him that I'm not comfortable with that, as i don't know him, but promised I'd talk to my neighbour about him. Messaged my neighbour - I wonder what he'll say ... as I don't know how this employee got my phone number in the first place? I suspect from my neighbour ... he replied he'll talk to me later. Should be interesting ...

Fruit juice arrived! Nice!

Tomorrow. I'm taking a break the rest of the afternoon ... like ... half an hour, ha ha!

No internet at home ... so ... well, I cleaned some of the tomato plants last night, and that's about it.

LS Monday

Very early morning - feeling much better today, thank you! Time well spent cuddling mippies, enjoying coffee, sitting in my armchair having a good think.

Anyway, off to work. Minimal traffic.

I've ordered Fruit Juice.

Back at home, I catch my neighbour on his way home - I asked him to come visit and collect his birthday present. Which he did - we had a lovely long chat, and ... surprisingly: Mewthos came out! He stayed out on the veranda with us the whole time! He almost let my neighbour pet him - but wasn't quite ready for that. I'm quite stunned! In a good way, though! Janey was the only one who didn't come out.

My neighbour really would love a lot of the plants I would like to get rid of - so he promised to come an collect on Saturday! He's rarely home on weekends - and I've left plants, knowing he'd like them. Win win.

Back inside, dinner ... mippie cuddles ...

LS Sunday

Very early morning, Nice!

I'm afraid my head is at work. Slowly forcing it to come home. 

I've frozen the tomatoes - turns out you can actually just put them in bags and freeze them, as is. No blanching, nothing. Of course, they loose their texture - but I don't plan on using them raw. Next, I'm working on the cucumbers. I've had to throw away the ones I had frozen before ... courtesy of the power outage. Sigh ...

Cucumbers done. I just have to wait 2 hours for them to freeze, and then I can vacuum pack them. There's still the melon to do, and I want to harvest seeds from that!

Well, I fried the strips of meat, added pasta, made bread dough and took a nap. Normally, when I take a nap, I can pretty much count on 1 hour. Today, 2 hours!

Bread dough is busy trying to walk to the oven!

Oh, nice: load shedding suspended for the rest of today! Eishkom will let us know the schedule for next week!

I'm still in slow mode ... I don't feel like doing much of anything. I just have no energy. Again. Well, the bread is in the oven, and I'm busy cleaning the kitchen.

Done. I think this low energy is due to the weather. It's drunk! One day heatwave, next day freezing storm. Up and down, up and down. 

Right, load shedding Stage 2 from 16:00 - 05:00 every day next week, starting 16:00 on Monday. Nothing for us on Monday, though.

Weather turned and I feel a little more energised. Not much, just a little. I did a little light weeding ... not much, though. And from that little, I was soaked ... probably humidity, as I really didn't work up a sweat!

I showered ... now I'm just watching an episode or two, I'm really, really tired. Already! And it is not even eight! After a two hour nap this afternoon ... not normal! Nothing I can do, though ...

LS Saturday

Load shedding continues ... no end in sight. But at least we're down to Stages 1 and 2, now. Stage 1 from 05:00 - 16:00, then Stage 2 till the next morning at five. Yesterday, apart from the morning session, we were off 12:00 - 14:30. Today and tomorrow only 18:00 - 20:30.

Well, my back is now peeling. It blistered yesterday, turning quite wet when I tried to scratch - now it's peeling.

Half past ten, and all chores done - and then some. Laundry is on the line, kitchen is clean, floors are swept and all but the lounge floor are washed.

Eleven and all is done! So ... 

First things first: I'm hungry. Made myself some scrambled eggs and shared some left over biltong with Mewthos. Who has claimed my freshly covered duvet!

Ziva has decided to join him.

Then I thought I should probably make the pie dough ... only ... the margarine is in the freezer! Ha Ha! Silly me, forgot that I had moved it!

Bit of a problem though, since I couldn't mow the lawn yesterday, I have got to do so over the weekend! No way around it - the grass is growing very fast, with all this rain! There's no way I can leave it for a whole week ... only, now it's noon, and that's a definite no-no time to go where the sun shines!

Okay, I've cut the chuck into strips. As I'm no expert, there was a lot of meat left on the bones - seemed a shame to throw that away! So I didn't. I vacuum packed it and put it in the freezer to add to stews.

Now I'm stuck. I've been stuck for hours, I'm afraid. 

Out of cheese +++ error +++ 

Well, out of energy, rather than cheese. It's the curse of the 'must' again - must mow the lawn, but I just really don't feel up to it! I thought of mowing just one section ... see how I feel tomorrow ... would you believe, I don't even feel up to that? Bit of a viscous circle: not enough energy to do the full job - guilt - even less energy - more guilt - etc

Though why 'guilt'? I can't answer you there. It makes no sense, but yeah ... here we are.

In my defense, though, I've had a bit of a health set back today. Something I ate ...

I had a shot of juice - and found a burst of energy! I mowed the back lawn - which took much longer than normal, being the first time of the year it was covered in sticks, which stopped me every time! Then I mowed the section around the dog hut, then the section in front of my bedroom and part of the the front lawn. Mid-way through, the lights went off - load shedding.

All in all, I finished about half, which took almost two hours - and I didn't take many breaks.

A good thing, too, that I did mow the worst areas - as it started raining after seven! I hope I can finish the job tomorrow - the grass has really grown a LOT this week!

Worst part of mowing into load shedding: I had to wait an hour before I could shower! When the lights came on, the storm was still close - lightning, et al ... I decided to take a chance though. Lots of power outages ... fortunately, our power stayed on!

Now I'm going to have to shuffle the cats, as they've claimed my bed! All four of them, which is rare! Good thing I have a double bed, eh?