LS 4 2 Saturday

With all that rain yesterday, today is a perfect day for gardening! It's not exactly clear skies and sunny, but very little chance of rain. The ground is soft, my tenant is already digging a bed for his vegetables ... 

That was just past seven this morning. I went into the garden and pretty much worked for ten hours! I finished cleaning the succulent bed.

Looks good, doesn't it? I trimmed a LOT off the flowering bunch that's most prominent in that whole bed. I tried to clean some of the creeper off the fence ... until I got stung! Turns out there's a wasp nest hiding in there ... sigh ...

And guess what! Those little jelly beans are flowering! I didn't even know they could! Arent' they cute?

Oh, and I was able to take a better photo of the kittens this morning:

They're cute, too, aren't they?

Then Smeagol attacked Ziva! Quite savagely ... I chased him all around the house, I was very angry! His indoor privileges have been revoked. Poor Ziva spent the rest of the day hiding in the wardrobe! I haven't even been able to examine her, yet.

Well, I finished the bed out back as well, and then cleaned the Vinca bed again. So, yeah ... I worked hard. Took full advantage of the rain soaked ground! Now I'm going to take a bath ... and that's it for the day ...

Oh, and that 'no load shedding' tomorrow? Cancelled! Staying on Stage 2 ... indefinitely ...

LS 4 3 dark 4 Friday

Power off 06:00 - 08:00 and again 14:00 - 16:30. This really cramps my style ... 

I can't get myself to start ... I can't decide what to start. I would like to get the tiered planter done - but that's not the same as 'I'd like to work on the tiered planter', is it?

On a different note. Notice how there seem to be more and more 'life hacks', 'dyi hacks', 'gardening hacks' flooding all social media? And - as I have discovered - more than half of them are lies? I've been wondering what's the point ... well, turns out it's all about numbers. The more people 'view' such rubbish, the more they get paid by the advertisers ... simple, really. I should have thought of that myself ... just ... seriously, what kind of person is so greedy that they go to such lengths to post lies? I mean, it's not like they simply photoshop shit - in some of the 'gardening hack' videos, they go to the length of gluing false roots to their supposed 'shoots'! Really!

Yes, at first I fell for it. Well, who wouldn't? It brings to mind the old time peddlers, selling their magic potions ... funny how technology has come such a long way since the industrial revolution ... but human nature just hasn't evolved at all! Good, bad, ugly ... same as it's always been ... 

At 9:26 the power went off. Sigh ... in a huge area! Half an hour later, over 500 outages reported! My reference number was 449, at 9:53 they'd reached 983! Quarter to twelve, power came back on!

While the power was off, it rained! Big time! Whole veranda under water, and - silly me for leaving the bedroom windows open - it rained into my bedroom! The wind came from all sides, by the look of it.

It stopped raining ... for now ... I'm again charging my smartphone, I'd only got to 70% when the power went off this morning!

Of course, once the power went off, I was suddenly hungry! Hauled out the gas cooker, heated some cottage pie in the frying pan. Yum!

I just checked, we had 26mm rainfall!

Oh! Apparently we're dropping to Stage 2 tomorrow. From 05:00. Somehow, I'm skeptical of that ... would be nice, though!

We've had another 10mm rainfall, that makes 36mm so far - and it's still raining! I re-filled feral's food bowls and brought a full bowl of wet food to them in the dog hut. Mommy looked at me like she couldn't believe it, ha ha!

Mippies came in right away as well, it's all wet outside, no fun! Now they're bugging me for attention ... 

After a slow start, I have now finished the top tier of my tiered planter. Well, the design, and the prototype ... but I still need to come up with an idea how I'll waterproof the cardboard. If I want to place it outside, it will have to be waterproofed - with rain like today, the entire veranda got rain ... pretty much everywhere. But that's tomorrow's worry ...

I've had another bowl of cottage pie - it's really yummy!

Spending a day inside with four bored mippies? They're driving me to the point of insanity! Full of demands for attention, I can't turn around without finding a mip under my feet, mewling or mipping at me!

I made myself a cup of custard, mixed in some hot chocolate.

Oh ... really? I see Eishkom is 'gifting' us with another 'no load shedding' day! This stinks to high heaven of pure political manipulation! Load shedding to be suspended at 16:00 tomorrow until 05:00 Monday morning. Isn't that nice? You can hear the sarcasm, can't you?

Well, time to settle down for the night ... load shedding again from ten till midnight. Sigh ...

LS 4 3 4 dark Thursday

Yup, UPS is definitely done for ... I was still trying to shut down the PC, when the power went off - two minutes early - and the PC crashed.

I spent time on YouTube, listening to several interviews with Energy Experts ... and frankly: it is FRIGHTENING! It's becoming more and more certain that the grid WILL collapse ... it's just a matter of time ... and frankly, I don't know how to prepare for that. I mean, no fresh food, no cooking, no water ... no water! That will be not just a problem, but insurmountable!

As one of those experts said: it is absolutely incomprehensible, that everyone in charge is still looting, sabotaging and destroying the very system they themselves depend on! No sane person sabotages their own life support! And yet, that is exactly what is happening. Do they think they can simply leave the country, wait out the re-storing of the grid in comfort?  I mean, this one week is the very week of the year with the least industrial activity ... and we're on Stage 3 & 4 load shedding! That means we'll go to Stage 6, at least, next week!

That's enough to freak out the most level headed person, isn't it? The only way to avoid freaking out for the likes of me is: denial! Simply hope that somewhere 'up there' someone knows what they're doing ... since there's really nothing else to do. Apart from doing what I can to prepare for the worst ... like, get at least another gas bottle ... actually, that's just about all I CAN do.

Anyway ... next load shedding today only from ten to midnight tonight. But tomorrow? Six to eight, two to four, ten to midnight. That is ... at the current Stage ... 

Well, I've washed the dishes, cleaned the potatoes - lots of them have started sprouting ... I'm steaming them, now. I want to make Cottage Pie. Never made that before. I'm trying new dishes, simple ones. Or rather: cheap ones. At present prices, mince is costing what I paid for Sirloin two years ago ... 

You know the saying: "to take the true measure of a person, don't look at how he treats his equals, but how he treats those who depend on him"?

Again, let me not dwell on that.

Slight change of recipe: instead of mashing the potatoes, I squished them through the Rösti maker. Mixed in milk and butter. Then I washed the dishes again.

Now I need to chop tomatoes, and a bell pepper. Again, collecting the seeds from the pepper.

Done. Just waiting for the oven to heat up - I was amazed that everything fitted into the casserole dish! I had a full bowl of potatoes and the frying pan was filled to the brim with the mince. Yet it all squished into the casserole dish. I forgot to add the peas, and I also didn't add any stock. That's why I prefer cooking to baking: you can change the recipe and still end up with a success! I also cut up and added all the ripe tomatoes I had ...

Four o'clock and BAM! Internet down from four to two bars ... a few minutes later, back up to four bars, down to three which feel like four bars. This is just sooo frustrating!

Cottage Pie is delicious! I'm quite surprised, since the ingredients are pretty much the same as for the Bolognese, but it tastes very, very different!

Mini makes me laugh, though! I'm busy in the kitchen, she goes and lies flat on her back, at my feet, paws in the air and starts mipping!

I managed to take a few photos of the other kitten, a little earlier, when there was still daylight. But I can't get very close, they're in the 'jungle' section, behind the grapevine. On the right, you can see the dark brown tabby - it has white paws, though. Then the face of the mommy cat and the other kitten peeking out from behind mommy.

Two minutes to eight the power went off. Not load shedding! Damn! No rain, no storm, no reason. Possibly cable theft. Let's hope they find the cause soon, because according to the weather report its going to rain soon. Any time from about three tomorrow morning, apparently most of the day tomorrow. 

Ah! Five past nine the power came back on, in sync with the notification that load shedding starts in 55 minutes. 

LS 3 2 4 Wednesday

Stage 2 from 05:00 - 16:00 - nothing scheduled for us, but Stage 3 we're off 16:00 - 18:30 again and tomorrow morning 06:00 - 08:30.

Been watching 'Sabotage' - I'm afraid another one I don't quite enjoy. In a change of pace, I'm now watching 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, respectively.

The Onderstepoort Cat Interest group has been in contact, about TNR-ing the colony in my garden. I'm hoping they will provide some financial relief, as I really can't afford to pay for five, six cats!

Next I decided to watch 'Citizen Kane'. I'm sorry, but I didn't enjoy that very much. So I changed pace and watched 'Total Recall'. Again. It's been a couple of years, still okay. Not spectacular, just okay.

Load shedding from four to six ... with a notification that we're at Stage 4, with immediate effect. At four! Awesome, eh?

Well, after load shedding, I watered the garden, cleaned the tomato plants - again - harvested ... gave the entire harvest to my tenant. It's just too much!

Just after seven, the kittens came outside to play. They now only come out late evening. I managed to take a photo of the two, but it was already getting dark, and I couldn't get very close.

You can see the one in front, which I'd caught on camera before. It's got like a half moustache. In the background is the tabby. It's colouring is quite dark. Both are extremely shy of me - mommy is teaching them to run and hide from people. Well, I'd rather they safely keep away from all people ... even if it means they fear me.

I've showered, now I'm eating the very last of the Bolognese ... settling down ... load shedding again at six tomorrow morning, so I can listen to a PC audiobook tonight. Six to eight in the morning ... should I brew another pot of coffee? Or do I have enough to get me through? Sigh ...

LS 1 3 Tuesday

I came up with an idea for my tiered planter last night, which - very strangely - put my mind completely at rest about my future. Like I've just invented sliced bread ... very strange. Firstly, because I don't actually see how it's going to work, and secondly ... well, secondly: so what? I don't know what to do with them, how to distribute and all that.

But I'm going to hold on to that feeling. Because worry about my future has been disturbing my peace of mind ... 

Drain is unblocked! Tenant is very useful ... now I just have to clean up. Turns out the drain runs under the bath, so both are now unblocked. Bargain!

I've brought out all my arty stuff, cleaned it up and put it in the trays. Now I want to try my idea. DVD player doesn't want to work now ... Sigh ... so I'm now watching Hitchcock movies, starting with 'The Birds'.

Followed by 'Dial 'M' for Murder'. Quite enjoyable, all of them. Now I'm watching 'Family Plot'.

I'm quite chuffed with myself for drawing perfect pentagrams. My technical drawing is really not very good ... not very accurate. That's why I'm so chuffed with such a simple shape. Not so chuffed with the reality, when I tried putting several pentagrams together ... it's not coming together the way I imagined. I tried triangle, still not what I want.

Aaaand we're going back to Stage 3 load shedding this afternoon! Until 05:00 tomorrow morning, when we'll drop to Stage 2 ... until 16:00 up to Stage 3, back and forth again and again, for the rest of the week. Sigh ...

I had another bowl of Bolognese, then I was tired so I took a nap. And woke up just in time for load shedding! Bleh! Seems my UPS is done for ... PC crashed when the power went off. Sigh ...

Tenant came for a chat midway through load shedding, left around seven. I got mippies in, showered ... now I'm watching the end of the movie I had slept through. This one is not particularly interesting, I find. 'Family Plot'.

Funny thing, even though I didn't achieve anything today, nor did I get much done ... I feel good! No guilt. Like I've had a good day.

Anyway, load shedding again from midnight till two tonight ... sigh ... 

LS 0 1 Monday

Funny incident last night: Mewthos was behind the flowers in the center bed, mewling for attention - the mommy cat came happily running towards him ... then, when she saw WHO it was, she was kind of taken aback! She'd expected it to be Smeagol!

I can't decide what I want to do today. With the upset yesterday, my head is getting stuck into weekend mode ... thinking along the 'must do' lines. If I want to have something to show for this holiday - unlike last year, when I mostly just worked in the garden - I should get some special projects done.

I've now started with fixing the mippie food shelf. The top shelf fell down - one of the shelf holders had come out. Time to sort that out, and while I'm at it, clean that shelf inside out, as well.

Done. Washed the kitchen floor as well. Now I'm outside, cleaning the bed around my Thyme bush.

Done a lot. Not complete, of course.

Smeagol is really, REALLY protective of his girlfriend! Today, when she wanted food and it wasn't time, yet ... he just marched into my house, attacked Ziva until I came in ... then gave me a look that clearly said 'this is YOUR fault, not mine!'. Not just the look, when I went outside after him, he mewled at me quite aggressively, until I took the bowls and he knew I'd got the message.

I had two bowls of Bolognese before load shedding - one too many, I'm afraid. One would have been enough.

Cleared a bit along the fence from the grapevine ... saw the other kitten up close for the first time. It's a grey tabby. Looks a bit like my neighbour's cat. Hint, hint.

Tried to take a shower ... water standing ankle deep ... messaged my tenant, I'll need his help tomorrow. I quickly 'showered' in the bath.

Still Stage 1 load shedding - we're not scheduled tomorrow! Yay! Which means I get another night of uninterrupted ceiling fan and to choose any audiobook on my PC!

Well, just past eight ... settling down ...

LS 3 0 Sunday

Work related dreams making me unhappy. Something has to change ...

Anyway, back to today. Just sent the below to friends on WhatsApp ... I don't really do Christmas, so it's more a bit of a duty.

Well, supposedly no load shedding today ... let's see how long that lasts.

Internet is lovely so far! Four to five bars signal!

I've started by unclogging the bathroom drains - the shower was becoming a bit of a bath, and the bath was taking ages to empty. I've pulled out all the hair I could, now I've poured some bleach down the drains, hoping that'll help more.

Just had a lovely, long chat with Rose. I'm afraid she's been going through a very distressing time, which is why I hadn't heard from her for so long ... the thing that bought the flat I used to live in made life impossible for her there. Really! It's unbelievable that one person can do so much harm ... Rose actually had to move out! Leave her garden, her home, so many of her memories and belongings ... to be driven out of your home by one person! Rose is now living in a one bedroom flat on the 4th floor! Shadow is living with her daughter ... no cats, no garden, I think it's only her strength of character that keeps her going ...

Well ... I'm still cleaning the veranda. I suppose I should hose it down ... maybe later. I'll have to pick up all the bags first, because the water 'drains' at the front! Really badly built. I'd like to clear, clean and re set up the table for seedlings. In one corner, I'm afraid that I have a fairly big hornet nest going ... 

I've just made myself pancake batter ... I'm hungry. Well, it's past one ... now, if only I could flip pancakes, that would be just awesome!

I just paid my rent and topped up my credit card ... 

It's now too hot for comfort - 34 degrees Celsius, in the shade! So I'm trying to keep cool on the bed, watching 'Prime Suspect'. Mippies are plonked everywhere, napping ... 

Some good news, of sorts. Instead of Stage 3 load shedding, we're only scheduled to have Stage 1 from 05:00 tomorrow morning. We're only due to go off 16:00 - 18:30, which is better than the six to eight slot. And, for once, I can listen to an audiobook on PC tonight! 

Can't skip watering again tonight, so ... I'm watering the garden ... 

And there's yet another kitten in my garden! A tabby. A little older than the kitten - I quite enjoyed watching the two of them play this evening. Apparently they've moved into the dog hut! Good! They're safe there!

Shame, my tenant had a couple of beers last night, and is STILL suffering hangover! He hardly ever touches alcohol. He slept all day, and this evening he surfaced with a mother of all headaches, feeling weak and miserable. I gave him Paracetamol and made him a pancake, so he'd have something to eat.

Well, mippies are inside, treated, I've showered, and now I'm about to settle down ...

LS 4 3 Saturday

Yeah, apparently since five this morning, we're down to Stage 3. Who knows for how long. Internet was a nightmare this morning, still ... I put the laundry in the machine, washed the dishes and now I see four bars. So I quickly posted what little I had to say about yesterday.

Busy morning. Mippies caught a bird sometime yesterday afternoon, I thought it had got away, but I found it this morning cowering in a corner, with Mini watching. I took it away, put it in a box, gave it some water, then took the cage down from the garage, cleaned it and put the birdie in there with some water.

My tenant identified it - doesn't know the english name, though, but he knows it eats fruits, grass, worms ... not so much seeds. I cut open a tomato and put it in the cage with it. Hopefully that'll work. 

Mommy cat sent Smeagol to come into the house to let me know the outside bowl is empty. I filled it twice - but didn't see her kitten. Worried, I went outside to look for it. I think I caught a glimpse of it ... well, I hope so. I walked all around and couldn't find it, so ... just hope the little one is fine.

The bird doesn't seem to be eating tomato. And I'm no longer sure it was the kitten I saw - it could have been mommy ... mommy and Smeagol are enjoying the shade under the carport ... but no kitten. Which worries me ... I won't be at peace until I see the kitten ...

It's half noon and over thirty degrees in the shade ... I'm even too hot to make myself something to eat ... I was thinking pancakes?

Yeah, that didn't happen. I think I saw the kitten, after Mini chased the mother ... again. It's too hot for anything, so I took a nap. Quite a long one, apparently.

Internet was down to two bars again, then a message in the load shedding group ... it took me half an hour to open the tiny pic, so I could read it!

Apparently load shedding will be suspended for Christmas. Suspending at 05:00 tomorrow morning for 24 hours, then Stage 2 until 16:00 on 27th, then back to Stage 3. With a long warning about 'don't use electricity, or we'll go up a Stage or more with short or no notice'.

I guess this is the opposite of White Christmas ... 

I'm afraid the birdie died. I kind of expected that, as it looked really badly injured.

Twenty to six. Load shedding from six to eight ... again ... and midnight till two ... again. I'm not holding my breath for the suspension - with everyone cooking Christmas dinner tomorrow ... we'll be back to Stage 6 pretty soon!

I've been binge watching Eureka these past couple of days ... it's really addictive. It's funny and sciency and well ... fun!

I've tried making progress with my tiered planter ... still at square one. Nothing seems to work! I think I should take a complete break from that ... maybe come up with a completely new idea.

Anyway, seven minutes to six ... time to shut down ... 

LS 4 Friday

Practically no internet all day Friday - apparently a huge amount of cable theft resulted in all of Bon Accord being without power practically all day. For us, it just meant the booster was off and we had no signal.

My tiered planter fell apart when I tested it with water ... back to the drawing board on that.

In the afternoon I made myself Spaghetti Bolognese. Although it tastes great, it's not the taste I keep trying to re-create ... for which I'm afraid, I don't have the recipe.  So, back to the drawing board on that, as well. I'll keep trying.

LS 4 Thursday

Bad night. I had nightmares, which woke me up several times. The cause?

See that kitten? THAT's giving me nightmares! Why? Well, first question: Why is there only one? And then I think of the earth moving equipment my landlord is always using right outside ... and I see the mother only able to carry away one kitten, before the equipment buries the rest ... nightmare enough?

Well, I'm googling TNR, and Onderstepoort came up. Funny, though, as they never offered that option when I mentioned Smeagol in the past - only offered to give me something to add to his food that would make him drowsy, so I could pick him up.

Wollies open at nine, so I'll call them. Yes, I'm really upset about the discovery of the kitten. Looks like they slept right outside the fence all night. I've been doing nothing but worry about them all morning ... 

Quarter to ten, I called Wollies - they don't TNR, but will send me a contact who does.

Okay, contact has been made. She's too busy now, she's managing a cat hotel, and asked me to contact her early next year. I feel very relieved, having got the ball rolling ...

Again, we didn't get turned off for the 10-12 slot. I wonder what's going on? Seriously, given the state of the grid ... it's not exactly putting me at ease.

I spent pretty much the whole day working on my tier design. I have to confess, though, that I'm not enjoying myself. I don't know why - maybe I'm just not in the mood? I also feel pretty down, because it's not really coming together. For some reason, I just don't enjoy the challenge.

This is just placed. I don't know, yet, how.

I think I'll call it a day. Maybe I'll think of something during load shedding ... or subconsciously in my dreams tonight.

I feel kind of like my whole day was wasted. Yet, on the other hand, I know I'd regret if I hadn't made the effort! And no, I'm not giving up. It's just not as simple as I thought, that's all.

Different day tomorrow ...

LS 6 4 Wednesday

I was glad when the power came back on at five - I was quite hot! Got up around six, coffee ... mippies ...

I can't quite get started, I've washed the dishes, but I'm not sure what I want to do today. Load shedding at ten.

Internet is surprisingly strong, so I've played a bit online.

I've just had some of my stuffed peppers - very delicious!

Load shedding in less than half an hour. I think I'll go out and pamper my tomato plants again - it's overcast, so not too hot, and I'm still hoping for rain.

Don't my tomato plants look awesome, now? All tied up and cleaned! Most of these are cherry tomatoes, the short plant on the far right is small jam tomatoes, the big leaves are the gem squash and if you look carefully, you can see a cucumber (I think) between the gem squash and the Nasturtium!

Here the Heinz Tomato plant. It's producing like crazy! Ten, fifteen tomatoes ripening now! And I've harvested about half a dozen already! And you can see my parsley on the left - it's taking over incredibly! In the background, poppies and marigold.

And here my green pepper plant! Three ready to harvest - after I just harvested four, yesterday!

They skipped us for the 10-12 load shedding slot today. Power stayed on throughout.

I decided to get started on my tier idea ... and I'm strangely procrastinating. I don't have a really working plan, yet. What I've tried so far, isn't quite what I had in mind. I have gone out and collected a lot of the little bottles and brought them in here - it's drizzling with a chance of rain.

Neighbour's female cat showed up! Fight ensued ... when I sprayed her with the water pistol, that somehow gave the signal for all to attack her - even Smeagol! He chased her all the way up the tree! I thanked him for protecting me - and in his enthusiasm he went and attacked Mewthos! Sigh ...

Smeagol is the one who got hurt, though. He still has those wounds on his leg, and they opened up again. Poor sod!

I decided to take a quick shower - I didn't even bother to turn on the geyser. Well, power off again from six to eight ... so ... better publish now. It's ten to six ...

LS 5 4 6 Tuesday

I struggled to get to sleep ... subsequently struggled to get up this morning. Why bother, when I'm on leave? Because I like the early morning! It's pleasantly cool, even almost cold in the mornings!

I started the day in the back garden, carried on clearing along the bed. I got up the to corner, even a bit around the poppy plant when the sun caught up with me.

Checking my messages - which, during load shedding, I'm doing ALL THE TIME! - I was delighted to see the butchery re-opening! AND: They've got mince! I've been racking my brain for something to do with the bumper crop of green peppers I need to harvest, and kept running into mince stuffing them. And here we are: mince served!

Against my standard preference of not setting foot outside my garden during my leave ... I rounded up mippies (which was somewhat tricky - first I couldn't find Janey, then Ziva insisted on staying outside, Mewthos at least let me drag him inside, and Mini just stayed under my feet) and went to the butchery to get mince!

Very happy! The mince is first class! I took 4 kg, I just packed four bags in the freezer - and I'm keeping the rest to make stuffing for my peppers!

I don't know what's wrong with me ... it just took me all afternoon just to prepare a simple dinner! Okay, so I'm saving the seeds from the peppers, but just cutting tomatoes and a bit of celery? And picking leaves off three strands of thyme? Well ... yeah ... I've fried the everything, now heating up the oven.

I blame the heat! I have more energy in the mornings. Weeeelll, I also had a bit of dire rear today, that drains energy, too. Which, by the way, seems not to be over, yet.

Anyway, I took an early shower, feeling a bit better ... checked my messages: Load Shedding Stage 6 from eight tonight! Until 05:00 tomorrow ... then back to Stage 4 until further notice ... 

I was just about to shut down the PC, when I realised it's only half seven, not half eight, yet.

I sat on the veranda for a good while. Now that I no longer need to worry about the whole garden, I'm able to relax.

When it was time to bring mippies in, I couldn't find Janey! She's still spooked about being medicated in the evening. While I went looking for her, the rest of them happily dashed back outside, and it became a mission getting the lot of them back inside - and where was Janey? Hiding under my clothes rack in my bedroom! Well, cowering, more like. Poor girl - but this is causing a bit of an issue.

Half past seven now ... time to shut down ... tomorrow morning we're off 02:00 - 05:00. At Stage 6, we'd be off 4 hours, but with switching to Stage 4 at five, we get power an hour early. Fun, eh? Off again 10:00 - 12:30 and again 18:00 - 20:30 ... I'm so sick and tired of this. Seriously! Yeah, not just me ... everybody!

Well ... time to shut down. Cuddle mippies ... maybe ... go to sleep ... 

LS 6 5 Monday

Fairly early morning, major internet issues.

Just can't get internet ... shows 2 bars, took half an hour just to open a new post. Can't find out what's happening with regards to load shedding ... that's really what I need internet for, these days.

News is flooded with the ANC's current game of musical chairs ... I can't figure out why that's so important to the rest of us ... I mean, which crook gets his hands on which budget ... they're all the same, aren't they?

Well, apparently we're now Stage 5, going to Stage 4 tomorrow. So, today we're off again 12:00 - 14:30 and 20:00 - 22:30.  Same again tomorrow, including the 04:00 - 06:30. Well, two hours is not too bad ... though it's not very nice having to plan every day around load shedding!

I've decided that its time I start some holiday projects. If I keep just weeding the garden, I'll never get anything done, and the holiday will not feel positive. I've put some small bottles into the freezer, to get the labels off. I will try the tier planter. In the meantime, I'm deep cleaning mippies room - I'm sorry to say that I haven't even cleaned their litter boxes since Thursday!

I think cleaning the whole room is a bit more than I really want to do today. I've started along the wardrobe, scrubbed the floor ... I think I should focus on the litter boxes, and see how I feel once they're done.

Right. I've left the litter boxes as is. Mippies have three to use ... I'll carry on tomorrow. During load shedding I worked under the Jacaranda tree - in the shade it provides. I cleared the larger part of the bed along the fence out back. I also mowed the back lawn - that took less than fifteen minutes.

I noticed the cuttings - or rather offcuts - I had placed under the Jacaranda tree seem to have taken. I saw two flowers! So I cleared a lot of weeds between them, give them a better chance. Then I finished clearing around the Nasturtiums at the back, which are coming along nicely.

Power was back on, so I watched an episode, while deciding what I'd like to do next. I took the labels off the bottles - I find that holding them under extremely hot running water right out of the freezer works nicely. A lot of the glue comes off that way, too.

I watered in front of the carport ... I'm cheating: I've plonked more seeds in the place where the sweet melons seem to be dying. I also placed some peas and two bean seeds. I planted the lavender seedlings in the pot on the veranda with a lot of seedling soil ... and finally, I started clearing under the grapevine.

Funny thing ... yes, I've been busy, and mostly in the garden, yet I feel quite relaxed! I haven't done any heavy work, and rather than focus on what NEEDS to be done, I'm focusing on what I WANT to do!

Well, I've showered ... load shedding in a few minutes ... again ...

LS 6 Sunday

I didn't mention the baby weaver bird I rescued from mippies yesterday. Heard it chirping in the bathroom, found Lady Jane watching it intently. I picked it up, it didn't seem injured. So I walked around the house, looking for weaver birds ... found them by the trees above the bird bath. I placed the baby next to the bird bath ... then carried Ziva away, and sat down to keep guard.

I eventually sat near the driveway, clinging on to a strongly protesting Mini ... and watched the birds coming closer, closer, and the baby hopping first towards the water tower, then towards me, and then towards the house. It settled at the fence ... and I realised this wouldn't work. Not in my garden. Not with four cats ... so I picked up the birdie, placed it in an open box with some paper and carried it outside. I placed the box under the tree across the driveway behind my wall - near where the weaver birds were.

When I went to check on it later, birdie was gone. I looked around but couldn't find it, so I'm hoping its parents rescued it!

This morning, I only got up at six - when the power came on. Smeagol's girlfriend called for breakfast ... while she was eating, I saw an even younger version of Smeagol dashing inside the compost section! There are more? Kittens? Really? Sheez ... I've got a serious problem here ...

Well, I only have power for six hours ... I've processed the bananas, next I should clean the kitchen again. I should also sweep and wash the floors ... should, should, should ... when does my vacation start?

Yeah, I know, it's all in my mind. My own attitude, keeping up the 'musts', is keeping me from living ...

I've washed the dishes, taken out the trash - I've asked my tenant to take it to the dump, when he goes to take his. I've cleaned the waste bin drawer, just sprayed it again. I've taken the water fountain and placed all parts into the sink with dishwashing liquid and hot water. Cleaned the floor, where they fountain stands, sprayed the skirting there, as well - as the ants are quite aggressively moving in!

Mini seems to seriously object to Smeagol's girlfriend! She just attacked her again! 

Look at them! Don't they make a cute pair? Smeagol is the one in front. But yeah, I seriously need to do get them all fixed ...

Right, almost eleven. I've swept and washed the lounge floor. Mewthos helped. He curled up in one of the boxes, supervising, ha ha!

Internet was being difficult this morning ... I struggled even to open this blog ... now, when the power is about to go off, I've got four bars!

Well, I spent most of the four hours in the garden. Clearing a patch here, then getting the heck out of the sun, clearing another patch there ... it's all patch work, ha ha!

Oh, apparently we're downgrading to Stage 5 tomorrow morning. I wonder how long that will last? Apparently the army has now been deployed to fight corruption at Eskom. Yeah ... don't ask ... ANC is currently brawling for top spot, so they're all 'taking serious action' against load shedding all of a sudden ... I'm just shaking my head ... 

I've cleared along the bed outside my lounge. The area I always see when I sit in my armchair. Not finished, but cleared about 3/4 of the area. Been at it since about half four! Big job!

I'm going to have a nice hot bath ... half an hour till load shedding. Four hours! Try sleeping at thirty Celsius, with mosquitoes buzzing everywhere ... and no ceiling fan! For four hours!

LS 6 Saturday

I got up quarter to six, let mippies out and sat down for coffee and my morning smoke.

Power off till eight ... so ... it's drizzling with a promise of rain outside ... so ... what shall I do? Well, I started by processing my pears. As in: cut and peeled to eat - and picked out seeds to grow. In the whole pack, I had only 5 viable seeds! Well, better than none ... 

Once the power came on, first load the washing machine - though the weather isn't promising. Next, load the bread machine. With only 4 hours of power - and I 'wasted' the first half hour brushing mippies (Mini insisted!) - well, no time for shaping and baking. So, I just set it to bake a loaf ... should be done in time.

Well, quarter to twelve ... I'm busy dissecting bananas for their seeds.

Having seen the quick hack video how they just put seeds on soil, keep moist and trees grow, I figured "easy! No problem!" Turns out, that video was a lie. Every attempt I've made at growing bananas has resulting in mold. They simply rot. Clearly, that's the banana left around the seeds ... so now I'm trying to get just the seed, separated from the banana. Seeing as those seeds are less than 1mm ... I'm guessing about 0.1mm 'big', and each seed is in a little pocket - like tomato seeds ... this is quite a tricky operation!

I'm using a toothpick to carefully separate as much flesh as possible from each individual seed, which I then place on a paper towel, which I'm keeping moist (just in case they don't survive being dried) ... the plan is to place that towel atop a layer of germination soil in the greenhouse.

In between all that, I hear a cat fight outside! Mini attacking Smeagol's girlfriend, who's cowering in my tomato bed! Poor sod seems to be hungry ... when I filled her a bowl, she started eating ... as soon as I was at a safe distance!

Well, bread got done, I hung up the laundry ... I tried to take a nap, but the phone woke me up. Friend's coming to visit. We couldn't talk on the phone, as the signal is so bad, couldn't hear a word.

He came to visit, we chatted. He calls me a hermit, ha ha!

Four hours load shedding is really a long, long time! I'm now making myself dinner - brussels sprouts, green beans, pasta, tuna and sour cream. Geyser is on, so I can take a quick shower ... 

Ten hours load shedding a day is really, really shite! Tomorrow we're off 04:00 - 06:30 - at least I'll have power not very long after I get up. But then noon to four again! That really sucks! The eight to midnight ... not pleasant. Trying to get to sleep without the fan? Sucks!

LS 4 6 Friday

I bullied myself out of bed, so I could have a fresh pot of coffee before load shedding at six.

During load shedding, I went outside and cleared the grass taking over in the center bed, around the ponytail. I also, finally! Covered my second duvet - the one I usually sleep on, like an extra layer matress.

At 8:34 Eishkom implemented Stage 6 load shedding! We got lucky, though, as they had already switched us on at eight ... we're supposed to be off till ten, under the new schedule. The rest of today stays the same, though. Two to four, ten to midnight. But tomorrow? We'll have 2x 4 hour outages!

04:00 - 08:30 & 12:00 - 16:30 & 20:00 - 22:30

I just threw away 2 liter milk, which I bought on Tuesday and which had already gone sour!

As soon as the power came on, I started cleaning the kitchen. Tenant is mowing the lawn. Next, I'll have to get busy processing the food I bought this week ... 

Almost noon, meat is vacuum packed and in the freezer, apples are peeled, cored and cut. First half dozen is in the freezer, second half dozen are still soaking in lemon juice & water - to prevent discolouring. So, next time I want to make apple pie, I've got the apple part all done.

Right, I just finished mowing. The bits my tenant thinks don't need to be mowed ... well, some of them, for now. Like ... he seems to be moving further and further away from the walls / fences ... and around the compost heap, he seems to be growing a wall of weeds ... 

Anyway, almost two ... better turn off the PC ... load shedding. At least only two hours!

Ooookay? That didn't happen ... power stayed on right through! Weird ...

Well, I worked in the garden. Carried on cleaning the center bed, cleaned around the compost heap, and around my teeny tiny lemon tree.

Did some weeding in my tomato bed ... and guess what? I've got some Gem Squash coming along very nicely!

On the whole, I'm really happy with my garden!

Not so happy with load shedding ... I've just brewed a fresh pot of coffee, since power off till eight tomorrow morning! From four to eight! I'm now just trying to charge my phone, just in case I need it tomorrow morning ... Sigh ...

LS 5 4 Thursday

Every evening this week, I get home, drained beyond belief. I'm doing silly things, because my brain is mush ... like, I turned off the tap, then stood at the flower bed wondering why there's no water coming out of the hose!

I had a chat with my tenant last night, where I asked him straight out "Who's job is mowing the areas you're not mowing? Mine?" It's been pissing me off all week ... my neighbour put in a huge amount of effort to get all that crap down, and now it's just growing again. I can't mow there ... and really, tenant is 15 years younger and male, and does physical work for a living. Him just mowing the easy bits, the one's I've cleared of all the rubbish ... not cool. Well, it's sorted now. Plus, I asked about Smeagol's house! He'll work on that on Friday or Saturday, when I'm at home, so I'm there to ensure it meets requirements.

Smeagol's girlfriend is now coming for dinner every night, as well! He lets her eat the wet food, while he digs into the kibbles. It's so sweet to see him wash her head while she's eating! But really, I need to trap her ... there are going to be kittens soon!

I just watered, then cleared a bit in the succulent bed next to the grill.

Inside, treated mippies, showered, watched an episode ... sleep ...

This morning I got up somewhat later than usual. Still, coffee, cuddles ... and then I spot-on'd mippies! Ha Ha! They didn't see that coming, and were not impressed, but I had a really easy time of it.

Following the news of the resignation of the CEO of Eskom, they announced that load shedding would reduce to Stage 4 at 05:00 this morning until Sunday, when we'll drop to Stage 3. Normally I would consider that good news ... but in light of the resignation, it merely scares me! It's clearly window dressing - a PR stunt.

The ANC's reaction to the resignation is scary! Latest news is how they need to appoint a competent CEO ... uh, hello? You just got rid of the most competent CEO you ever had! Their next words, however, make it all clear: 'someone who will co-operate with the board' ... ah! Someone who will ensure the parasites keep riding the gravy train, sucking all funds into their own pockets!

We're in for very dark times ...

On a brighter note, I just did my grocery shopping. I didn't get anything at the butchery - I'm afraid it was too peoply for my taste ... peoply expresses more exactly what I mean, crowded just doesn't have the same ring to it. Ha Ha.

Well, I got eggs, potatoes ... here's a joke: 2kg potatoes R14.99 right next to 'Special: 2kg potatoes R45.99! I got bananas, and I decided to take a punnet of Kiwi's - I really want to try to grow some! I also got extra sugar, milk, etc ... they didn't have my cigarettes, though. Again. So I took the stronger version of my brand. Sigh ...

On the whole, though, I have three weeks of happy to look forward to! I'm a bit miffed that I couldn't get mince, but ... well ... I'll figure something out! I do have a mincer, after all!

Funny thing ... more and more ANC officials are blabbering about how NOW Eskom can finally be fixed ... while Energy Experts warn of impending grid collapse ... with capacity declining, load shedding reducing ... it's a recipe for disaster!

Oh gosh, this is funny! Eishkom announced big media statement at one ... now it reads "will only start half two. Sorry for the inconvenience" ... so it begins ...

Well, my work is pretty much done. Everything is set to go ... and I can now relax and put my head into my garden!

Something keeps nagging at me that I forgot something ... only ... I can't think what.

It's not even four and I'm so tired ... I could fall asleep in 5 seconds flat! 

Finally! Ten to five! Load shedding tonight from ten to midnight only ... and again six to eight tomorrow morning. Happy holidays, eh?

Well, I'm going to publish ... never know whether I'll have internet at home ...

LS 5 Wednesday

Yeah, no change to load shedding. Stuck in Stage 5 ... it'll probably drop a stage or two next week, when all business' close for the year. Though, not all of them do ... and with the loss of income due to load shedding, more are probably staying open longer to recover some of that loss ...

I've made a printout of the satellite view of my garden - I'm thinking of doing some kind of planning, or at least show my achievements ... like, all the plants I've managed to establish in the garden.

Last night I finally planted the melons - 4x Spanspek (Cantaloupe) and 1x Sweet Melon. I'm now trying to come up with a place to plant the lavender seedlings. I'm wondering whether the center bed would be a good idea? At the far end from the ponytail? It's sunny, well drained ... I just have to clear the weeds out ... 

The satellite image is quite old - about 10, 12 months old. It still shows the second 'dam' that overflowed into my house in February. That's long gone ... but the first, big dam is still there.

Well, my credit card just got delivered. Finally! Addressed to my East London address, ha ha! It's been a mission getting that arranged ... courier called three times. First time on a Friday, so I told her to deliver on Monday ... tried to give her the address, she shut me down telling me not now. Second time she called, I couldn't hear a word she was whispering - the more I tried to tell her to speak up, the more she just carried on whispering as if my hearing what she's saying is of no relevance. I'm afraid I lost my temper and shouted that I can't hear her and threw the phone down ... Last time she called, I struggled to hear her, but could make out the key bits ...

I really, REALLY need a break! I really wish for three weeks of doing what I want. What I enjoy. What gives me pleasure. Oh, I alright, I suppose I'll cuddle mippies as well ... ha ha ha!

Oh, crap! Andre de Ruyter resigned from Eskom! Worst news this year! Can't blame him, though - he's getting death threats from the corrupt employees he's rooting out; and then our idiotic minister just tells him 'end load shedding now' ... like ... yeah ... would, if I could ... which reality do you live in?

Sigh ... well, ten to five. I guess I had better publish, as I never know whether I'll have internet at home or not. Last night, I had none ...

LS 5 Tuesday

Since I HAD to get up to make coffee ... I struggled to get out of bed. Childish rebellion, eh? What can I say - I'm so old, I'm entering my second childhood, ha ha ha!

It's raining today ... just a slight drizzle at home, when I left, but raining now, here at work.

Got myself a stash of chocolate! Definitely needed! While I was out, I also got chocolate for my leave, milk, and some meat - as I have nothing prepared for dinner tonight. So I got some T-bone steaks. I also got some beef mince ... I'm thinking Bolognese or lasagna during my holiday.

Load shedding today since 14:00 until 18:30 tonight. Tomorrow morning six to eight again, then two to four and ten to midnight.

I suppose I had better publish now, since I can't be sure that I'll be able to get online at home ...

LS 5 Monday

Mewthos went nuts very early this morning. I pushed him off the bed several times ... I finally gave in and got up at half six!

Tenant asked for a lift to Rosslyn Road - his wife is going back today. Shame, he's been talking about her almost non-stop since he arrived!

At work ... yeah, never mind ...

I saw two missed calls from the friend that visited me a while back - but I only saw them, just before I went to sleep. Yeah, I don't check my phone at home ... he called this morning, as he was worried, if I'm okay. I had meant to call him this morning - but ... work got hectic.

I was a bit disgruntled with myself yesterday, when I had free time and couldn't think of anything to do ... when it had started raining and I couldn't continue clearing ground. I mean, I have all these bottles and carboards collected for projects ... and when I have an opportunity to start a project ... blank!

I just stumbled across this in my facebook feed ... and I'm thinking that I can do something similar, small scale at first, with my empty bottles. In a ring. And with herbs. Maybe with a single bottle at the top, from which water then flows down through the pyramid all the way to the bottom?

I'd have to start with the top bottle, then see if I can get a single ring for it to stand on. And take it from there.

I won't be decorating ... or should I maybe go to Builders this week and get some paint? And cement? And ... oh ... I don't know ... fun stuff for the holidays?

I think that on Friday, just for a change, I should spend the whole day in bed watching silly shows ... oh, wait! Load shedding! Not possible ... sheez ...

I can't remember what time load shedding is tonight ... I think it's 16:00 - 18:30? So, I should have power when I get home? I'll take a chance and leave the blog ... hopefully I can finish and publish tonight.

Oh, nice! Yes, last schedule today until 18:30 and then the next one only tomorrow morning 06:00 - 08:30 ... so I can listen to my audiobook on PC tonight, for a change! But sheez ... 14:00 - 18:30 tomorrow? That's the whole afternoon messed up! Well, today the whole morning was messed up - load shedding from 08:00 - 12:30. Yeah ... we'll have fun times this festive season ... the electricity goes out more than I do!

Yeah, internet wouldn't work ... so I'm finishing this Tuesday morning.

I cleared a new bed along the fence towards the Wendy / grapevine. I want to plant the melons which are trying to escape the greenhouse, there. Poor things have grown as much as they could inside there, and have been wanting out into soil to spread and grow for weeks!

Well, that was my evening ... oh, I managed to get a photo of Smeagol's girlfriend! She's very, very wary of me still ... but her hunger overcame her wariness.

See what I mean about them being twins? Up close, they are quite different - but from a distance? See those dots along her leg? Cute, aren't they? Still ... I must come up with a plan to trap & sterilise her. Sigh ...

LS 5 Sunday

I only got up around six ... still, with load shedding at eight, what's the point?

I did wash the dishes, though. Then I went into the garden. Out back, by the peach tree ... cleaning around the Nasturtiums, so they don't get mowed down again. Quite a few plants growing, so I don't think it'll take too long for them to cover the ground.

Bread dough is on the go, and I made myself something to eat. I chopped the tomatoes from my garden and the celery yesterday, today, I mixed two eggs with milk, a bit of baking powder and some instant mushroom soup, fried the lot - quite delicious! Oh, and I chopped a sprig of parsley into the whole mix.

Half one, tenant is mowing the bits of the lawn that are easy ... I'm going to leave it to my neighbour to explain the facts of life to him. I still have another bone to pick with him - about borrowing and returning. I'm just waiting for the bread dough to finish, then I can shape the rolls and go clean some more beds. Out back.

Right, rolls are baked - and I'm too lazy now to clean the kitchen again. I'll be on leave from Friday, so ... this once, it can wait!

Tenant finally fixed my shower! As I suspected, it was just build-up of calcium inside. When he wriggled it around with a shifting spanner, that loosened enough to make it work ... for a while. The proper solution would be, to take off the tap, clean it thoroughly before putting it back. But yeah, I'll take what I can get.

Power outages reported during load shedding - courtesy of a thunderstorm. So, I'm just sitting here waiting for six to find out whether we're affected as well ...

Luckily we're not! Power came on at six!

Smeagol showed up today with a tail dipped in mud - literally heavy with mud. I just cleaned that off for him.

Tenant's got himself locked out! Closed the sliding door and the lock clicked into place ... he's now trying to open a window ... I'm afraid I don't have a spare key, either.

Oh, what an idiot I am! He asked if I have a spare key ... silly of me to look among my spare keys! He's GOT the spare - I still have the one I always used! Sheez, I must be getting old ... all's well that ends well, though!

I'm feeling drained again ... yeah, not sure why. I just showered - cold water isn't 100%, but it's better than it was. Now I'm going to watch an episode or two ... then bed ...

LS 5 4 5 Saturday

Crappy Friday afternoon ... I got home, was still busy preparing Janey's meds (I decided to dose her before letting them out) ... power off! Just past three! This is not funny anymore!

I finished medicating Janey, let all mippies out, then got on my phone.

Sent a message addressed to one of the stand-in councilors to please give us feedback. Nothing. Flurry of messages, in one group, someone gave the reason: people had been cutting branches off trees and some of those branches fell onto power cables ... sigh ... checked the group info - nope, stand-in Councilors are not in the group. Messaged her the details, with exact location (provided by another resident) and got her added to the group. Informed the neighbours ...

Then I went into the garden. I worked on clearing the corner section next to the gate. Some vines were growing there, which were completely covering and taking over everything!

My tenant's wife is visiting this weekend. He's been so excited about that all week!

When it was getting dark, I went back to my phone to check on progress ... nothing. Messaged the stand-in Councilor ... tells me they haven't even started the job! Sheez! Well, they've been busy ... still ... I informed my tenant and the neighbours, then tried getting mippies inside.

Janey had to be carried in - she's still wary of more medication and stays out every evening, now! Got her in the front ... only to have her dash out the back! I spent ten minutes walking around the house and the garden, looking for her - and it's now dark, so I can barely see ... only to find the little minx in my bedroom, hiding under my desk! Never a dull moment, eh?

Well, seeing as the power wasn't going to come on anytime soon, I decided to run a bath - I had forgotten to turn off the geyser this morning, so it was on all day. I only turned it off, when I got home!

As my bath was running, I was already undressed ... power came on! Right on time after load shedding!

Sheez, stand-in Councilor is NOT very informed, eh? Well, after my bath I let her know the power is on. Makes one appreciate our Ward Councilor a LOT more!

Well, I went to bed early ... woke up to a major cat fight on my veranda just before midnight! I don't know who was fighting with poor Smeagol, but I had to go out with my water pistol and break up the fight! When I got back to bed ... load shedding started. That's how I know it was just before midnight.

This morning, I'm struggling to get out of bed ... yet I still got up before six. Coffee ... Laundry! Next, I'll have to brew a fresh pot of coffee ... load shedding at eight again. Till ten.

My tenant's wife came to see me, before they went off to do some shopping - she's asking to help me cleaning the house, while she's here! I did explain that I don't want her to feel she must work on her weekend - but she insisted. I'll be very glad if she can sweep and wash the floors - which, thanks to Mewthos, needs to be done again! And maybe wash the dishes.

Hoping she'll help, I've put my energy into changing the sheets, and chopping fruit & veggies.

And now I'm sad. One of my pet toads drowned in my water bucket ... 

Tenant just called, asking the details of the gate motor - as he's organising himself a remote, so I no longer have to stay up / get up to let him in and out.

Aaaand load shedding back to Stage 5! We were supposed to drop to Stage 2 tomorrow ... Whatever happened to that new board of experts they appointed a month or so ago? They're not much use, are they?

Power off still only four to six tonight, and tomorrow midnight to four, eight to ten, four to six ... So ... yeah ... totally messes up my weekend. As usual.

Well, I tried a bit of gardening, but I can't find a place to work. Either it's in the blazing sun, or the ground is rock hard. So I'm now waiting for the sun to move to shade more options ...

I cleaned my bed out back, in the end. Only, as I stepped through the door - a wasp settled on my stomach and stung me! Very painful! I took an anti histamine, just in case ... so now I'm so tired, I can barely keep my eyes open. Just going to take a bath ... then bed ... 

LS 6 5 Friday

I finished extending the bed next to the driveway, in front of the veranda. Lots and lots of teeny tiny baby Vinca growing in the bed! Then I cleared around the pavement in front of the driveway, until it was too dark to see. Tenant came home, sat down and helped.

Janey locked herself out again. I thought she was inside, so I gave mippies their treat - I did wonder why she didn't come, but well ... she's finicky with wet food, so I didn't worry. When I sat down for a smoke, I noticed Mewthos scratching at the front gate ... load shedding, so it was dark, but I thought I saw a black shadow at the front door ... got up, as I got closer, I realised it was Janey! Locked out!

Power came on just after eight, first, I decided to shower. Pretty cold shower, as the geyser hadn't been on for two days ... and now, I'm afraid, I forgot to turn it off. I left it on overnight ... forgot to turn it off this morning ... sooo ... goodbye kW!

I was worried about the rump I had taken out of the freezer last weekend - though it was vacuum packed - so I decided to have it for dinner last night. Funny thing: mippies weren't too eager! Oh, yeah ... sirloin is their preferred meat, ha ha! I remember now!

Sigh, just went to get groceries ... that didn't work out too well. Area is currently load shedding, and the Spar's generator isn't working ... total darkness inside. I left my trolley and asked them to call when power is back. I just checked their schedule, they should be back at ten ... it's quarter past nine, now.

They're Group 3. And the road I drive home on is Group 10 - they're always off just before our schedule. Like, this whole week, all the traffic lights have been off causing major traffic jams - ever single day this week. So, their schedule is 16:00 - 18:00 when ours is 18:00 - 20:00 - that makes them Group 10. We're Group 11.

Right, back to Spar just before ten. Bit of a wait, then another wait while they herded their staff back inside ... but I got most of what I need. No cigarettes, though. Which really sucks! I did get more apples, though, and pears and bananas and long life milk - price had dropped a little, so I got 2 x 6L ... and then they had a special on Magnum's Death by Chocolate. It's an ice cream ... my mum and I used to treat ourselves to one after a big grocery shopping ... sit in the car, eat our ice creams as a reward. Yeah, couldn't pass that one ...

I've also stocked up on chocolates.

Finally two! Half an hour, then I can goooooo gooooo goooo!

I've charged my smartphone, now charging the power bank ... 

Well, better publish now, because ... well ... I'll only be turning on my PC after eight ... IF I even bother to turn it on, then! See ya tomorrow!

LS 6 Thursday

Power was still off, when I got home. I went through my chores, then spent some time pampering my tomatoes ... as I was sitting on the stool, Mewthos decided to mark it. Only ... he is too tall, so he overshot his mark and ended up marking my butt! Seriously? Mewthos? REALLY?

So I had to go inside and change pants. Those were my work pants, so tomorrow I go to work in my gardening pants ... Sheez, Mew!

Smeagol seems to have got himself a girlfriend! Remember that fluffy, young look-alike I spotted once, a while back? Yeah, turns out it's a she. Caught Smeagol decking her ... which is a problem. It means there will be kittens one of these days ... so I need to come up with a plan to catch and sterilise her. Soon!

Afterwards, she went to Smeagols wet food bowl and ate heartily ... Smeagol sat and watched, and he gave me a look that seemed to say 'huh? Do I have to put up with this?' Well, that's just a human interpretation, but yeah ... trouble brewing ...

I was so utterly drained from the day's chaos, I went to bed just after seven!

I half-woke a while later hearing the fan come on ... and mippies' flower fountain grumbling - they'd opened the lid, when the power came on, the water fountained out ... now it didn't have enough water inside to run. I just turned it off.

Load shedding till six this morning, so ... yesterday's coffee. No problem. When the power came on, I brewed myself a fresh pot. Filled the flower fountain, closed the lid, turned it on.

Oh, nice! Our president has now declared 27th December a public holiday this year. Well, means I'll only be using 12 of my 15 days annual leave!

It's not yet half three and I am beyond exhausted!

Oh, and load shedding tomorrow? We're supposed to drop to Stage 5 at 05:00 ... yet that still leaves us without power from 16:00 - 20:30! You seeing the joke here? When I get home at 17:30, load shedding starts at 18:00 - Friday I get home 15:00 and they start at 16:00 ... four hours right through to 20:30! So ... unless I'm willing to wait till ... what ... eight? Half nine? And then HOPE the power comes on, so I can shower ... I had better not work up a sweat in the garden tomorrow afternoon!

Well tonight 18:00 - 20:30 again, then midnight till 02:30 ... eight to ten thirty and then the awful four to eight! That is, if they really drop to Stage 5 tomorrow morning. If not ... could be worse! There is talk of Stage 8 again!

I'm going to have to put my normal phone on charge as soon as I get home ... well, let's see how much energy I have left when I get home ... right now, I'm ready to just fall into bed and never get up again ...

LS 3 4 6 Wednesday

Last night was crap! With lightning striking nearby and the power going off in time ... I couldn't count on the power coming back after eight. It also poured down, all my windows misted up, water streaming down everywhere ... 

I hauled out the gas cooker and fried potatoes. Shared with my tenant, again. Then I made my lunch - in the dark ... sat down and pretty much just waited for eight.

I cuddled mippies, watched a bit of news on my phone ... signal wasn't very good, though. It was really a miserable evening.

Surprisingly, power came on three minutes BEFORE eight! Phew! That was a big relief, as it meant that I could at least shower ... and all my fresh juice & frozen foods wouldn't spoil!

I didn't bother to turn on the PC ... just showered and went to bed ...

This morning, power is on. Made a fresh pot of coffee, sat down ... Smeagol calling for his breakfast! I put some kibbles in a bowl and wriggled it through the bars onto the back porch. He won't come near - my mippies are sitting with their noses stuck to the door ... watching! So, I get a broom and push Smeagol's bowl away from the house. Works! He's coming to eat!

Then the tenant comes out - Smeagol dashes away! Once the tenant had left, though, Smeagol came back and chomped his full breakfast. On my way out, I moved his bowl into his hut - seeing him sit inside it during the rain last night, I'd put one of his blankies in the hut ... it's soaking wet! I'll have a couple of words with my tenant about what needs to be fixed with regards to Smeagol's hut! Fast!

At work ... check the news ... Load shedding escalated to Stage 4! From 09:00! Well, at least some warning ... so I get the info and pass it on to the neighbours and my tenant. Smartphone needs to charge, though, so after I'd sent, I put it on the charger.

FTN Delivery arrived ... that's everything. Now I just need a chance to get time off to go to and get more flour in store ... since they didn't have for delivery.

Aaaand load shedding escalates to Stage 6 from 12:00 noon today. I just don't know anymore ... tomorrow we're off 2 x 4 hours + 1 x 2 hours! 02:00 - 06:30 & 10:00 - 14:30 & 18:00 - 20:30. That's 10 hours off, 14 hours on.

Aaaand now the power is off at home ... sheez, it doesn't rain, but it pours! And: all systems are down, so nobody can report power failures. And: our Ward Councilor is on the road - off on vacation! Well deserved, mind you, but sucks for us.

Quarter to five ... power still off at home ... if we're lucky, maybe we'll have power at eight, though I doubt it ...

Yeah ... better publish now ... I've already charged my Power Bank, Smartphone is almost done ... And I'm totally exhausted! With the load shedding and power outages ... just madness!

LS 3 2 3 Tuesday

Poor Janey, she fears medication at every turn! Won't come to eat, fears coming in at night - last night she got herself shut out in the pouring rain! Not for long, of course, but she wouldn't come when I called ... I had to wait for her to come to the door. And with load shedding in progress, I couldn't even be sure whether she was inside or outside ... until I saw her sitting in front of the door, wet and bedraggled, poor mite!

There was a mighty thunderstorm and lightning struck quite nearby ... I did not expect the power to come on at eight! I was very relieved when it did.

I harvested the mushrooms and added them to the fried potatoes - they were a bit chewy, as I should have picked them yesterday. Live and learn. As I had made far too many potatoes, I offered my tenant a plate. He gratefully accepted.

We sat and talked on the veranda until the rain drove us inside, ha ha!

Next Load Shedding tonight 18:00 - 20:30 ... Again! Sigh ... And tomorrow morning 02:00 - 04:30. So, no PC audiobook either! Man am I getting sick and tired of this load shedding ... how many months has it been, now?

I've just gone through my blog ... finding Load Shedding as far back as July ... Sheez! Power outages in June ... yeah ... talk about dark Africa, eh?

When I tried to add milk to my coffee this morning, it was a thick sludge ... urgh! Fortunately I had bought another liter of long life milk.

Quarter to nine, Whiskas arrived. Juice is also scheduled for today - most likely late afternoon.

Half past one, Juice arrived. Minus one item - I sent mail suggesting they include it in my next delivery, in January, as it isn't really cost effective to delivery a single, small item.

I just saw I got a reply from Faithful to Nature - telling me that I must sort out the problem with my bank! Wrote back to tell them the problem is not with my bank, but with the Instant EFT service provider they use! FFS!

Aaaand load shedding back to Stage 3 from 16:00 this afternoon ... sheez, man! Really? Power off 18:00 - 20:00 tonight AND tomorrow night, plus 02:00 - 04:30 tomorrow morning.

Well ... twenty to five. Petrol goes up tomorrow, so I must remember to fill the tank tonight ... I really, really, REALLY wish I was on leave already!