SoD Day 19 LS 5 3 4 Tuesday

I really miss my Mew-Mew! He really needs to come home. Soon! I went to visit my poor baby last night, he had a temperature, again. That's why they're keeping him longer. Hopefully I'll be able to bring him home Wednesday night!

Mew-Mew's nappy. They bandage his butt, to keep the wounds clean

They're in an awkward position, though - so, as soon as he starts moving around,
the 'nappy' falls off. The wounds are exposed. And could get re-infected.

I spent about an hour with him. Half of the time, he was washing himself, but just having me there, calmed him down. I'm assuming that he'd just come out of 'surgery', when I arrived, because he couldn't walk, his rear legs weren't supporting him, he kept falling down. As time passed, though, he stood up and walked normally.

So far, the bill is still less than my credit limit on my credit card. So far ... I'm going to be paying that off for a while ... 

On the way out, I confirmed that I'll be bringing in ferals tomorrow ... yeah ... no. Not booked, and they're now full. So I'll be trapping Tuesday night and taking them on Wednesday morning. Shees!

Back at home, not having fed the ferals this morning, they're running as soon as I come home! Smeagol at the front, mewling loudly, followed by his girlfriend - who comes running, then ducks if I try to pet her! Feed them ... then I spend a bit of time with Lady Sybill.

I need some time in the garden, though, so I start with the tomato plants in the pots ... as I'm working, I see Smeagol is rounding up his whole family and marching them towards my front door! Like ... hello? You think, because Mewthos isn't here now, that YOU can take over? Uh oh! No, my boy! It doesn't work that way!

The cheek of him!

Well, my girls came in, with little trouble. Except for Mini, of course. I had to fetch her. Again. And when I got close to the door, she started struggling. Again.

On a positive note, though: dinner was absolutely fantastic! The brisket I had made? Added potatoes, fresh beans from the garden, fresh bell pepper ... it was really awesome! Best thing I've cooked in a while! The Bolognese I made last weekend was not so good.

Well, I showered, and went to bed early. Janey and Mini had a fight at the bed - Mini was lying next to me, Janey was fighting from the ground ... I was chatting with Rose and another friend about Mew-Mew ... went to sleep a tad late ...

Well, that's me busy ... better publish. Load shedding 16:00 - 18:30 ... again, no guarantee of internet, so I better publish now.

SoD Day 18 LS 4 5 Monday

I've given up on the State of Emergency ... I have no clue where to find out whether it's been withdrawn, closed or is still active.

I miss my Mew-Mew! The house is so quiet without him ... though I confess, at times that's actually nice! Especially, as I woke up with a headache. Again. But not having my Mew-Mew to cuddle? Not so nice.

The headache was easing up a bit, as I sat up, had my coffee, a smoke ... and it's month end, so I got my ass to work - albeit a bit late.

At twenty to nine, I finally called the vet! I'd been expecting them to call anytime after eight ... Mew-Mew is doing well, but the vet wants to keep him until at least Wednesday! Sniff ... my poor boy! I'm leaving work early today, to visit him! I leave half past three, should be there by four, so I have at least an hour with him!

Then home, set the traps - hold thumbs that I catch Smeagol! I didn't put out any food this morning, so they should be hungry tonight!

I told the boss that I'm leaving early today, and will come in late tomorrow. 

I want time to spend with Mewthos tomorrow morning! And tomorrow evening, when I take the ferals home again!

Well, I've ordered fruit juice - I'm afraid the online shop has raised their prices. By a hefty 20%! I'll have a look at the shelf prices one of these days ... I bet those have gone up, as well! Most likely by even more - as the stores now have to run their generators 4-6 hours a day, just to keep the doors open! They have to add that additional cost to their prices ... 

I just don't know where this is leading ... 

Load shedding this afternoon 16:00 - 18:30 and again 00:00 - 04:30. So, no use bothering to turn on the PC tonight ... especially with no guarantee that internet will actually work ... 

SoD Day 17 SoE ? LS 6 5 4 Sunday

I miss Mew-Mew! We all do! The house feels empty without his nuisance mewling and his indomitable, exuberant spirit! I just wish I could at least visit him today! We've never been separated for this long, except when we moved from PE to Pretoria - and then he had his mom and sister with him. Plus Rose visited every day! But now? Poor baby must feel abandoned! And the earliest I can see him is tomorrow evening - I can't go to work late, nor leave in the morning, when I want to leave early as well!

I will leave work at half four tomorrow. Hopefully I can take him home! Either way, I want to avoid rush hour traffic on the Warmbad pad (Lavender Road / R101).

I woke up rather late this morning, not feeling very well. Having the ceiling fan on my back all night is putting a bad strain on my already badly damaged lungs. Leaving it off, though, takes away my ability to sleep altogether!

I also have a bad headache - there are a few clouds in the sky, I fear it's the air pressure again. Nothing I can do about that ... nothing works. I've already taken two Disprin, they are very strong. Headache is stronger ... I've just taken a third one ...

Clouds are moving in, it's getting overcast. Good! Hopefully the pressure will change, and my headache will dissipate ...

My girls are also missing Mewthos, of course. They're all subdued. Janey spent a lot of time on my lap during load shedding, Ziva is hiding in some wardrobe somewhere ... she's just come out, because I called her.

I've spent about half an hour with the baby, Lady Sybill. I showed her how the ball-on-track toy works, yesterday, and I could hear her playing with it for hours! Click, click, click, as the balls hit each other on the circular track! I took the laser-kibble-puzzle to her, as well. Since it makes very little noise, I can't tell whether she's playing with it ...

This morning, I spent another half hour with her. She prefers to be on the floor, rather than on my lap - understandable, cats prefer full control. On my lap, she doesn't have as much control over her movements - I'm wobbly! Ha Ha! In the end, though, she nuzzled under my arm, kneading, looking for mommy's milk! Which, of course, I don't have. Wednesday night can't come soon enough, when I can release her! She'll be happy to be reunited with her family - well, once they re-accept her, of course. And I'll be happy when Mini settles down again, and stops hissing and growling!

There's a lot I COULD have done during load shedding ... only, I did nothing. Headache. Low energy. Not feeling up to anything ...

Load shedding was reduced to Stage 5 at 05:00 this morning - announced at half past five last night, and then, this morning, we dropped to Stage 4. Implemented at 09:00, announced 09:10 ...

At Stage 5, this morning's load shedding was scheduled to last only 2 hours, not four - which gives me six hours to get the baking, etc. done. At Stage 4, tonight's load shedding will also be only 2 hours, from 16:00 - 18:30, rather than 16:00 - 20:30.

It's all political, though. Eskom has an 'interim CEO', and the public must see his effectiveness ... which means they're using up some reserves, which are likely to shoot us up to ... yeah, not just Stage 6. I fear Stage 8. Only, right now ... I'm more concerned with my own little world. Which has a huge hole in it ... Mewthos!

I've now dawdled an hour .. it's quarter past eleven ... better start the bread dough.

Quarter past three ... I'm done! Knackered. Just done. I'm almost finished, too. Bread rolls are done, I cut tomatoes, baked them, too - just need to blend them. I re-packed the meat, vacuum packed and put it in the freezer. I've even taken the rubbish out. I've cut a couple of potatoes, they're in the pressure cooker, now ... forty minutes to load shedding. Again. 

I don't think I'll bother to try to get back online afterwards ... 

I really miss Mew-Mew! The house is unnaturally quiet without him! I hope I can bring him home tomorrow!

SoD Day 16 SoE ? LS 6 Saturday

I miss Mew-Mew!

I got up relatively early, put the laundry in the machine, cleaned Lady Sybill's room - she's been spreading litter and kibble everywhere. She's bored! Can't blame her! Fed the ferals and went to visit my Mew-Mew!

Poor baby! His whole rump is shaved and bandaged, it looks like he's wearing half a nappy! He looked just miserable. But he brightened up when I opened the cage. As he started moving around, his bandage came off, exposing two deep holes! I brought his favourite food for him, he had three food bowls with him, as soon as I added the Iams Multicat, he started eating. When I emptied a pouch of Royal Canin to the wet food, he started eating that, too!

I spent about an hour with him. Sitting on the stone floor, with my hands in the cage - he didn't want to sit on my lap. He kept changing positions, poor baby isn't able to get comfortable, I suppose he's in a bit of pain, as well. I sang to him, scratched his ears, his chin, just spent time with him ... he eventually settled down, and I left him ... with a very heavy heart!

No visiting hours tomorrow. They'll call me on Monday to let me know when I can bring him home - but the vet is very happy with him, says it's not as bad as it might have been. 

When they called me last night, and told me that he could get very sick from it ... the penny dropped: Ziva doesn't have early onset kidney disease! I remember showing them that hole in her back, when I brought her in - but they just dismissed it as 'nothing'. But I'm putting two and two together now! Remember how many months it took for her wound to heal? How it kept re-opening?

Maybe Janey also doesn't have a parasite. I want to take her to this vet as soon as I can afford it! Mew-Mew is going to cost me a packet now ... but yeah, I'd rather go hungry than risk loosing him!

The house is quiet and empty without him ... 

Mini is still hissing and growling. When I let her smell my hand, after I got back from Mew, she hissed at it. I gave mippies a bit of the wet food, that I also gave to Lady Sybill ... they licked up the gravy, but left the food ... 

Internet is dodgy ... again. I made the brisket, now the pot won't open, and I'm running out of time! I still need to add the butternut, carrot & potatoes, then cook it again for a bit ... and I'm just running out of patience. Oh, there's nothing wrong with the pot - I just left it on 'warm' again, when I should have turned it off. That's why it STILL won't open ... it's quarter past three, power off at four ... and I need another 15 minutes cook time ... plus the time it takes to build up the steam ... this load shedding is seriously not funny.

I had better publish, as soon as the internet plays along ... 

Okay, finally got the pot to open, added the veggies ... no room left for potatoes. I also harvested another four green bell peppers and added them ... if the power goes off AFTER it finished cooking, that's not a problem. There's a manual float valve that only releases, when the pressure has dropped to safe levels.

Right now, I don't know what I'll do the rest of the afternoon / evening. Power will come on at six - we hope ... you never know. I just feel miserable ... frustrated, heart sore, exhausted, drained ... and in no mood for anything.

SoD Day 15 SoE ? LS 6 Friday

I'm exhausted ... it's been a rough week! Mentally and physically.

The highlight of my week was last night, when I went to care for the baby, she came to me, a little hesitantly, but she came of her own all the way to me! She not only allowed me to pet her, but leaned into my hand! I picked her up, put her on my lap and she proceeded to throw herself into a frenzy of cuddles! Head-butting my nose, my hands, enjoying the scratchies, back rubs, flopping onto her back, enjoying tummy tickles! I sat with her until she had her fill - by which time it was past six, and I had to warm my food on the gas cooker! Ha Ha! No regrets!

Oh, and she now has a name: Lady Sybill! And her brother is Spitfire Vimes! She has the confidence and pluck to stand up to and face the dragon (me), and try to tame it! Just like Lady Sybill in Guards! Guards!

After that, I sat and my tenant joined me for a long chat. We chatted till past six, when I had to get mippies in ... Mini and Mewthos had been out for a stroll, both came back, came inside, only ... Mini dashed right back outside through the back door! I eventually had to go out and carry her in! She's stiill hissing and growling at my mippies - especially at Ziva!

Mewthos seems a bit warmer than usual? This morning, he seemed to have a bit of a temperature ... I'm wondering whether I should have taken him to the vet? I will see when I get home, if he still feels hot, I will take him. I really must call the vet today, to arrange trapping & neutering of the ferals ... and ask about Mewthos.

I packed away all my groceries - there was no goulash in the pack, so: no worries! I was going to take a photo of the label, and go back today to pay for it ... the staff are so very helpful at the butchery, I don't want them to end up suffering! But since it wasn't packed, it's still at the shop - nobody suffers. I'll just get a packet next week!

This week has really been exhausting. The car trouble, the cat troubles, the power troubles - on top of which: load shedding Stage 6!

My normal evening routine is: clean the litter boxes, pack my lunch, time permitting: a bit of gardening, sit with mippies on the veranda, dinner, bath / shower, bed.

This year, add: feed ferals before all else to my routine.

This week, add: spend time with Lady Sybill to my routine. And that's about half an hour, every evening. Which is just a bit too much, so I haven't cleaned the litter boxes every night ...

Plus, with load shedding from six to eight, I've had to heat dinner before six, and eat it warm, not hot. Plus, of course, no shower, and no relaxing bath. Just enough water to flip-flop around in, so I can wash. On top of that, with load shedding till ten, I haven't been able to go to sleep before ten ... the mosquitoes were driving me nuts!

Last night, I sprayed poison along the ceiling in my bedroom, and I took the buzz-bat to bed with me. I spent over an hour swatting and electrocuting mosquitoes buzzing in my ear ... I had doused myself in Eau De Buzz-Off, kept my legs under the duvet and my top on (which is unpleasantly hot - can't bear wearing anything lately) ... and I was able to doze off before ten ... only to wake up when the power came on! Sigh ...

So, I haven't had much sleep this week. Well, not enough for my body's needs, that is. Add to that the mental strain of the whole life insurance re-investment situation, plus - don't forget - my tight budget ... as a result of which, my mippies don't have their preferred treat: Whiskas - and they're not happy with the Royal Canin ... plus the change-over in the Iams kibbles ... and now Mewthos?

And the weekend doesn't look promising ... at Stage 6, our power will be off 08:00 - 12:30 both days, and go off again 16:00 both days! How the feck am I supposed to get housework done in four hours? It means that I have a tight schedule - and I MUST do all preparations during load shedding, so I can start cooking / baking the minute power comes on! For my bread rolls, in particular, that's very tight! And, of course, I must get my laundry finished by eight Saturday morning!

Right! Phoned the vet. They're open 15:00 - 17:00 today, I don't need to make an appointment, if Mewthos is still warm when I get home, I'm taking him! I'll take Lady Sybill, as well, just to have her assessed, to be on the safe side ... IF I must take Mewthos. Though I'll take her in one of the traps.

Of course, I'm now hyper worried about my Mew-Mew!

Last night, I found the full interview uploaded to YouTube and tried to watch it ... load shedding made that impossible, though. But what little I did manage to watch ... is frightening as hell! Today, the full interview is no longer available on YouTube. So much for 'free press'. I just found this link on the PC, but can't get it on the phone ... and PC has no sound. My guest tonight - Andre de Ruyter

Ah! Figured out how to watch it on my phone! Watching now, to take my mind of worrying about Mew-Mew. Nothing I can do until three, now, anyway. 

Well, just after two, my head is spinning. That interview was ... I just don't have the words. Frightening, that's one word. One Billion Rand stolen every month! Plant managers needing bulltet proof vests and guards! Hits (assassinations) every week! Every attempt to avoid load shedding blocked by government! Well, I already knew that one ... it's been going on for years ... but still. That interview drains a lot of hope ...

In my personal opinion, I believe it was a deliberate move by de Ruyter, serving two purposes: !) enlightening the public on the true state of our electricity crisis and 2) getting him and his family to safety, out of this country, asap! More attempts on his life are very likely, and it was time, now, to get his family to safety. Before it's too late.

Anyway, my mind is with Mewthos ... I'm all worked up, fearing the worst ... I won't relax until I see him!

He's fine! Or, he will be! When I got home, he didn't come to the door, he was curled up on my nightstand. He no longer feels warm, but I decided to take no chances!

Good thing I did! I noticed the bump on his rump, where Smeagol got to him. Big one! Turns out, it's an abscess, which needs to be lanced. They're keeping him ...

The baby, Lady Sybill, although she looks good, the vet (a different one, this time, as the one we saw on Sunday was in hospital) suggested to keep her isolated at least another five days, just to be on the safe side. I can't say I'm happy about that - Mini is making my life quite difficult, as a result.

When I got home, the vet's called and said Mewthos is worse than they thought, and they'll have to keep him a couple of days, not just one night. His two wounds need to be lanced and drained twice a day until it's completely clean. I can visit him tomorrow morning ...

I quickly showered and fried two of the chicken pieces for my dinner - before load shedding at six. I have to admit, I am knackered. Physically and emotionally ... I went to bed around seven, after I brought mippies in - they didn't even want a treat! Mini still hisses and growls ... I fell asleep quite early ...

Just didn't have any internet, so I couldn't finish & publish last night.

SoD Day 14 SoE ? LS 6 Thursday

I didn't find a pothole, but I had enough warm water in the geyser to take a bath - not hot, and not with a lot of water, but I could wash!

The baby is crying a lot, poor thing. Her eyes are practically back to normal, but she's now - understandably - very eager to go out! She now jumps onto the window sill in the spare room and sits there, looking out ... pining. While I was cleaning her eyes - just a few bits of crust still on the outside - Smeagol came into the lounge and called. She went ballistic! She wants to go to him, go to her family! The cat lady said I could release her Thursday, if her eyes are still fine - but I'm worried that I might not be able to 'catch' her again, at least for a while, once I release her. And she still needs 2 days meds.

At work early, first thing I do: smartphone on charge! I use it during the night to listen to The Fellowship of the Ring.

I have a couple of things I should get done, asap. Get the info I need from my nephew, get groceries, call the vet to plan trapping,

Well, my nephew promised to send what I need this weekend, I've been to get groceries. Bought quite a bit of meat this time. I wanted to try a beef pot roast this weekend, but all they had was brisket. I've never made brisket before, so I'm going to give that a try. I've been wanting to try it for the longest time, just never dared! Also, it takes a really long time in the oven ... and electricity ... yeah ... bit of an issue, isn't it? But now I have a pressure cooker, and I can just brown it, plop everything into the pot, and it'll be done in just over an hour. Hour and a half, I read was best. Okay, so add the cooker before and after time, to build up, then release pressure ... still cheaper than 6 hours in the oven!

On a per kg base, the cheese was the most expensive item I bought! Ridiculous, isn't it? But I was in the 'cheap' section of the meat. Brisket, shin, chicken, pork ... hmm ... I know I also took a packet of goulash ... it's not on the receipt? I'll see when I unpack tonight ...

Well, I heard that 'technically' we're at Stage 7 - though frankly, I don't know what that's supposed to mean. As I understand it, the amount of capacity unavailable is 7000 MW, and if we're still only Stage 6, that means Eskom is compensating 1000MW somehow ... possibly power outages? Or maybe demand is lower? Yeah ... 

Speaking of which, Andre de Ruyter, in an interview yesterday, finally called a spade a spade: Eskom is a feeding trough for certain ANC Ministers, taking millions of Rand on a weekly basis! In response he was told he no longer needs to work his notice period and was let go with immediate effect. Today's news is full of reactions ...

I'm stuck with 4 hours load shedding again tonight ... six to ten ... last night, I couldn't sleep because the mosquitoes were in a feeding frenzy ... eau de buzz-off didn't deter them ... I hope to get some sleep tonight, though!

I'll have to bath in whatever water I have left - fortunately it's still warm enough, so lukewarm water is not unpleasant ...

SoD Day 13 SoE ? LS 6 No Network Wednesday

This will be a very short post.

I started going through my hard drive and got stuck at some of my dad's writing. He wrote some thoughts, some memories, kind of like a journal - but I only have a couple of pages.

Anyway. The retirement investment is all sorted. I had a lot of questions and he explained everything. I signed heaps of documents - all digitally - and he promised he'd e-mail them all, once he's signed them, as well. Now, I just need my nephew's ID or Passport Number. Then I can get away from the railroad track and move over to a much better, more rewarding, and more flexible investment.

Ten to five ... as I said, this has to be short. I'm emotionally drained ... I just want to go home, bath ... oh, wait! I can't! No power from six till ten tonight! At present, same scheduled for tomorrow night ...

Well, maybe there's a warm pothole I can use ... 

SoD Day 12 SoE ? Dark 26 hrs! LS 6 Tuesday

Power off at home. Apparently since two yesterday afternoon ... tenant and I each cooked on the gas cooker - I'm going to need a spare bottle, full, soon!

Yesterday afternoon Pretoria was hit by a massive storm. Trees fell over onto power lines in several places; residents were cutting and clearing, because the municipality just doesn't have the workforce.

That, in my opinion, is a direct result of the cadre deployment the ANC has been practicing for the past 30 years ... leaving every single enterprise bloated with incompetent 'supervisors', and no funds to pay actual workers.

Power came on briefly - indicating that there are more problems than the ones they just repaired. Our Councilor was on the road till midnight, driving along power lines to look for problems - but the mist made it impossible to see even as far as the power lines! It was still heavy this morning - I could just about see the fence out back, but not much beyond.

I had a lot of trouble with the cats last night, continuing today. Firstly, Mini is suddenly growling and hissing at everyone! She didn't want to come in, and growled and hissed at Mewthos and Janey who were sitting in the passage. I'm hoping it's just a reaction to the baby crying in the spare bedroom ... which had me going in there, sitting down, sing to her, and when I could get close, hold and cuddle her. She purred up a storm in my arms! Her eyes are looking almost normal! No puss, no oozing, just a bit of crust that I'm cleaning up - all on the outside, though. Her eyes aren't even red anymore - but she's terribly lonely, poor darling! I've put some toys in the room with her, spend time with her. Doing my best.

But Mini? That's a puzzle. If it weren't for the baby in the spare room, I would have taken her to the vet today. Oh, and if I had a car, of course. Simply because her behaviour is so vastly unusual! She did come to bed, curled up next to my head, cuddled and washed me ... yet, this morning she growls again. She was growling at the food bowl!

Mommy has been released - and I haven't seen her since! This morning there was still food in the bowls ... baby's brother is still in the Wendy, and the other two kittens are still nearby - but this morning, I saw nobody else. No Smeagol, no mommy, no other mommy. And while I sat on the veranda, waiting for my lift, Ziva was mewling pitifully for me!

I just had a chat with the cat lady, told her how well the baby's eyes look and she says, if they eyes stay fine, I can let her out Thursday. Just finish the medication, though. That'll be completed by Friday. 

Apparently, power has been restored - but we'll only know after load shedding. We're scheduled from 10:00 - 14:30! And again tonight 18:00 - 20:30 ... the worst time! It took half the morning to charge my phone, now I'm charging my power bank ... then, just before I leave, my phone again.

Almost two. Car is apparently fixed. I just took it for a test drive, all seems to be fine ... seems that the alternator was the problem, after all! I really, really hope so! I'll only feel 'safe', though, once I make it back to work tomorrow morning, ha ha!

Should I maybe go and get groceries now? Just in case? Sigh ... I think not.

Sigh ... power was on ... for a few minutes ... then a lot of people reported it went off again. Can't get an answer from my neighbours ... 

Ah! Half an hour later: power is off again. Sigh! Someone suggested to fill bottles / containers with water, freeze that and keep that in the freezer as a layer to keep food frozen for longer, in case of extended power outages. I've seen that somewhere before, but chose not to act on it ... after all, what are the chances of another extended outage? Silly of me, eh? Well, the long life milk boxes I have would work well. Well, one batch. The Spar brand, because they have a screw top. The other brand has to be cut open ... that can only work, if they stay upright.

I really think I need to make a plan with that, though ... plus, of course, the fuller a freezer, the less electricity it uses.

Well, tomorrow is the meeting with the insurance advisor ... I've asked a lot of questions, and I have another list of questions at my desk.

Okay, almost four and power seems to FINALLY be on at home! Well, for another two hours - load shedding at six ... 

So, with half an hour of power this evening, I suppose I should plan my 'mad dash to get chores done'? Nah! I'll just do what comes up, when it comes up ... only thing I really need power for is shower and cooking. Hmm ... shower at eight? And what if the power doesn't come on, again? And the geyser is cold now ... Ai, ai, ai! Not easy, is it? I better turn on the geyser first thing - then try shower at eight, or a little after ... 

Shite! Tomorrow evening power off 18:00 - 22:30! Four fecken hours! So I had better shower tonight, because I won't be able to tomorrow!

Oh gosh! I think I just figured out why Mini is so upset! It's HER litterbox, that I gave to the baby! It's the first one I bought - at Spar! The smallest one. Yet, for some reason, Mini sort of claimed it as exclusively hers. How thoughtless of me! Ha ha! Well, I've been thinking of getting another, bigger one, anyway. It's a bugger to clean, because it's not very deep.

Anyway, twenty to five ... better publish ...

This is exactly true for us today ... after 26 hours power outage, we have power for 2 hours, before load shedding starts ... thought I'd share this.

SoD Day 11 SoE ? LS 6 Dark ? Monday

I could not get to sleep ... the mosquitoes were buzzing and biting in hyper mode - no matter what I tried, I could just not sleep. I sprayed myself with Eau de BuzzOff, tried to sleep, only to have itchy hands - which I hadn't sprayed. I tried covering myself with the duvet - predictably, that's too hot to sleep ... by eleven I just gave up, got up and waited for power in the lounge.

I woke up again around half past four - load shedding again. I wasn't ready to get up, yet, and made the mistake of turning over - and woke up again just before seven! Yikes!

No power! Must be a power failure - no time to investigate or worry about that, now. Check on the baby - it's hiding under the bed, I don't have time to crawl, catch and medicate, so I just give her a bowl of wet food. I see she's been very active, must have got onto the table, even, as her box was covered with cardboard, which she'd tumbled off everywhere. I didn't catch a glimpse of her eyes, though. But she did use the litter box! Nice!

Rushed to get dressed, sipped a bit of coffee, filled a bowl for the outside ferals - no time to do it properly, and no time for wet food for the other baby (he does eat kibbles, though, so it's not a problem).

Major traffic on Soutpan road.

Get to work just after eight ... check my smartphone and find out that at half past ten last night, Eishkom announced 'Stage 6 will continue indefinitely ...' Shite! That's why the power didn't come on at six, power stays off till eight at Stage 6. That makes it 8 hours scheduled outage in a 12 hour cycle! Eight to twelve last night and four to eight this morning! I'm not even looking at the rest of today ... yet.

I noticed some activity at the door to my spare room. Evidently baby and mippies are curious about each other. It's been suggested that, after two weeks in my home, baby will decide to stay in my home ... we'll see! It makes no real difference, financially, as I'm feeding them all pretty much the same food, anyway ...

Oh, and I mixed the 'new' Iams with the 'old' Iams in my storage bin. As I was filling that bin, Mewthos stuck his head in the bin to nibble some 'old' Iams - when I added 'new' Iams, he put his paw into the bin to push them away, ha ha! Later, however, he ate the 'new' Iams. I'm curious to see the reaction when they're mixed in their dispenser sometime this week ... 

At present, the Iams Multi-cat (now discontinued) is their favourite. In the past, the Royal Canin FIT 32 was their favourite. Let's see what happens next ...

Four more cats to trap, take to vet, bring back home. Plus the retirement policy thing on the go ... that's a bit too much for me. Especially, as I don't want to forge ahead on a retirement plan without really exploring all options - just because I'm in financial shite.

And don't forget the baby in the spare room! Though a darling, it IS extra work and stress.

Shame! The mommy WAS pregnant! They aborted ... I'm sorry for the vet to have to go through that. Even though it's the best choice for the mommy - it isn't easy. Wears one down, I'd imagine.

I told the cat lady that I'm not likely to have my car today - she'll collect and drop mommy & will let me know what she decided regarding the trap. Whether she'll take it back, or leave it somewhere for me - I still have the other trap, so whichever she's most comfortable doing.

I've contacted my nephew, as I need his ID / Passport number for the policy ... yeah, I'm a bad aunt! I don't make contact ... same as I don't contact ANYBODY ... I'm that bad at staying in touch.

I write this blog ... 

I really need to order Fruit Juice, I'm down to my last two bottles ... but with no car, I really don't want to have to carry that on the mud-slippery driveway in the rain. Yeah, it's been raining cats and dogs here at work, and apparently trees fell over onto power lines and we have no power. I don't know, though, since nobody from the neighbourhood said anything.

Anyway ... load shedding eight to ten tonight ... two to six (4 hours) again tomorrow morning ... don't even let me go any further ... I'll publish now, just in case ...

SoD Day 10 SoE LS 6 4 6 Sunday

One major problem with this load shedding is that I have to keep every communication device charged at all times. I can't watch any videos, when there's load shedding in the evening - I have got to preserve battery! Because there's never any guarantee that the power WILL come on, after load shedding.

The infrastructure is being damaged as a result of the continuous load shedding, and worst of all: criminals are making use of the power outages, not only to steal cables - resulting in power outages, but also to break into homes, mutilate livestock (a resident posted some very disturbing photos this week, where her cattle were mutilated - it's barbaric!); and furthermore, we are getting more aggressive towards each other, as the frustration builds up - getting worse and worse, the longer load shedding continues!

I just stumbled across a video where they compared four different cooking appliances for electricity usage. Standard oven, toaster oven, pressure cooker, crock pot. As I expected, the pressure cooker (Instant Pot) won - by far! They baked a whole butternut with each method. Confirmation, again, that I made the right choice! Okay, so I didn't buy an Instant Pot  It's just a brand - the most popular one, apparently, by far. So you pay at least twice what I paid.

Okay, so it turns out, my pot doesn't have a 'manual' button. I made sure beforehand, though, that I could manually choose settings. I just need to start with a pre-programmed setting and manually adjust.

The pasta Bolognese I made yesterday came out really great! Okay, so I overcooked the pasta - starting with a full meal at my first attempt, something was bound to go wrong. Learning curve. I left it on 'warm', I should have manually released the steam right away. No biggie!

I've taken half the Bolognese, put it in a tub, put that into the freezer. Other half is in the fridge. It's eleven, bread rolls are done, kitchen is clean ... I'm ready for load shedding. Not that I really know what I want to do with the rest of my afternoon ... maybe do my seed thing?

Cat lady is coming between one and quarter past one! Good! Well, twenty past eleven, no use starting to watch any episode, won't be able to finish it. Might as well turn off the PC.

Cat lady arrived at noon with a friend. I confess, I'm a little overwhelmed! She looked at the kitten with the eye infection and was able to arrange to take her (yes, it's a her!) to the vet, who treated her and gave me treatment which I really, really hope will work! Because ... if not ... the kitten will have to be euthanised. As the infection is contagious, the kitten is now in my spare room - isolated from its family and mine. I need to treat the eye at least once a day, and I have meds for five days.

Please, please let the baby recover! The eyes looked worse today than ever before ... 

With my spare room in such a mess, I'm going to have some trouble catching the kitten for its daily treatment! I'm relying on food to lure it out. But maybe I should tidy up a bit, so I can get hold of it, regardless.

It's now half past four - good thing I baked and cleaned this morning.

Oh, and yeah - load shedding Stage 6 again tonight! Four hours off from eight to midnight, and again from four to six. Sigh ...

The baby - below is not HER mother, though. Look at those eyes!
Apparently it's something called snuffles - highly contagious,
and potentially deadly!

The mommy. She was very upset at being trapped! And she is probably pregnant again ...
so, we trapped her just in time!

Mommy will come back tomorrow - cat lady offered to fetch her tomorrow, if my car isn't ready.

I've cleared the spare room enough so I can get to the baby. I took out the carrier and put in a box - and put the blankie in the box for the baby.

Smeagol is a bit subdued, missing his love! She'll be back tomorrow! Other mommy is also looking for her other baby ... she'll have to stay in the room for the next two weeks. Hopefully, really, really hopefully, she'll be fine then!

SoD Day 9 SoE LS 4 6 Saturday

Eishkom update 'Stage 4 until further notice' ... courtesy of which, internet is miffy. One, two bars signal ...

I woke up relatively early, but decided to only get up after six, when I had power to brew myself a fresh pot of coffee. Twenty past nine, washing is on the line and the dishes are washed. I also unpacked my new pot - it's almost identical to the one I have, which broke; except for the pressure cooking feature. So the lid is quite different.

I have no plan this weekend. Which sucks! My plans were changed as a result of the car break down - I couldn't get meat to make the planned goulash. And I soooo want to start using my new pot!

Well, I've washed the floors in the kitchen, my bedroom, bathroom and passage. It's past eleven, so ... load shedding at noon. I'm hungry. I wish I had a quick recipe to make something in my new pot! I think I'll watch some cooking videos during load shedding, to get some ideas ...

Right! I've learned some valuable lessons. How best to store the pot - not close the lid, as I would have. I also learned, that I can actually cook meat from frozen! Therefore, I've decided to try making pasta with mince and sauce! I'm now cooking the mince - from frozen! When that's done, I'll add vegetables and pasta and cook for another four minutes!

I also learned that 'cooking time', with pressure cookers does not include the before and after delays. Before it starts cooking, it builds up steam - that takes about five to ten minutes. After cooking, I need to release the steam - either vent, or naturally. Naturally takes about ten minutes to release.

FFS! Load shedding pushed to Stage 6 from eight tonight! Giving us four full hours of load shedding from eight to midnight, then, four hours later, from four to six! From five, we're back to Stage 4 ... power off again from noon to two ... and again at eight. For how long, depends on the Stage - as Stage 6 might again be implemented tomorrow evening. Freaking heck!

This afternoon, I again tried to be nice to Smeagol ... and he, again, viciously attacked Mewthos! Clearly he considers my attempts at taming him permission to establish his dominance over Mewthos! So ... no more Missus Nice to Smeagol!

It's just past six. Note to self: one down side to cooking mince from frozen is that the mince is still pretty dense. Lumps. Not a problem, but it's easier to break up when frying. Good to know next time. I've added the veggies - I chopped four green peppers, which I picked today, two carrots, and six frozen tomatoes. I also picked two fresh bans, thyme and rosemary. I added tomato paste, a beef stock cube, sugar, lemon juice ... 

Internet is playing up again ... so I'm going to publish first chance I get!

SoD Day 8 SoE LS 4 Dark 16 1/2 hrs 3 4 Friday

Car trouble on the way home. First only the power steering came and went. Came and went. Turning into a corner with power steering, then suddenly finding yourself without power steering in the middle of the corner ... fun!

I thought it would be only power steering, but when I turned on the lights, all my dials dropped to zero, and a new light came on on my dash. Dials shakily recovered, then dropped, then shook again, recovering ... yeah ... fun!

At home, my mippies are not happy with their wet food. They won't even eat the Royal Canin, they want Whiskas! A**holes! Ha Ha! I took the baby inside again, and thoroughly cleaned it's eyes. It looked like a milky filter on its pupils ... I hope the poor thing won't go blind! I'll keep cleaning and re-cleaning, until I can take it to the vet.

Ziva came to the bathroom, while I was busy with the baby - which was curled up on my lap, enduring all cleaning without any wriggle or complaint! I held the baby for Ziva to sniff ... she gently sniffed, then turned tail and ran away. No hissing involved, though.

My mippies are acting up now. I found a puddle in my bedroom ... sigh ... more puddle in the kitchen ... and they are quite restless, fighting each other ... not at ease.

For a change, though, I managed to sleep right through the night, and only woke up around six! Load shedding ... I thought. Wrong! Apparently the power never came on after the ten to midnight load shedding.

As I didn't know that, I sat drinking coffee, waiting for the power to come on, to let me know it's half seven ... yeah ... about quarter to seven, I left for work.

At seven, the car died ... I managed to roll off the road onto the shoulder. No, I didn't roll the car, just using the forward momentum to get off the road. Called the boss. Got towed. Again, he brought a colleague, so I didn't have to sit in the towed car! Very, very glad about that!

So, without a car, i can't get groceries. I was sooo looking forward to using my new pot to make goulash! 

Phew! Sudden rush - both my life insurance advisor and the client arrived, almost simultaneously! Matched the client with the boss ... sat and discussed my policy options.

I am finally 'free' of the railroad that jerk stuck me on, over thirty years ago! After discussion of options - which are better than I had anticipated - I may finally be on a road that will lead to at least the possibility of retirement ... in another decade or so!

At home, still no power. I think I'll take a chance and try to publish via smartphone tonight ... if power doesn't come back! 16 hours, so far!

Well, apparently power came on again around half past two. That makes 16 and a half hours! Four of which were load shedding. It's getting out of control! And people are getting very, very aggressive - and take it out on whoever is within reach. It's not nice ...

Well, car is not ready. Boss' mum took me home, again.

Smeagol was already demanding his food, so I also fed the babies - poor mite, it's eyes are almost completely closed, with puss oozing ... I cleaned, again. Then washed. I really need to take it to a vet! The sooner, the better ... but to do that, I need a car. Sigh ...

Today, however, I'm just tired. Totally exhausted ... I haven't done anything this afternoon, mostly just sat around, played games on my phone, giving mippies time outside ... until I could go to sleep. I held out till seven ... now I'm just settling down for the night ... load shedding at eight ...

SoD day 7 SoE LS 4 3 4 Thursday

Eventful evening, and morning. Turns out my boss thought I could drive home, all should be well.

It wasn't. I DID get home, at least, but when I arrived, there was smoke coming from under the bonnet! I took photos ... then went to feed the ferals, as I was already quite late.

I loaded electricity, did my chores, showered ... but as I'd been late, didn't get around to cleaning the litter boxes.

Middle of the night, Mewthos woke me up, led me to the room where the litter boxes are ... complaining. Sorry, but in the middle of the night? I'm sorry ... He decided to use my kitchen instead. Sigh ... mopped up a flood this morning!

He still pees everywhere, but not in the bedroom anymore. As long as he doesn't pee in the bedroom ... I'll live with it. But I am beginning to wonder whether I should have him checked by a vet? I've been finding huge pee-balls in the litter box, lately, and the flood in the kitchen is also an unusually large amount of pee ... 

I hope you weren't eating, while reading this? Sorry!

Eventually he got a reply from my boss, asking me to try drive the car to work.

By now it was past seven, so there was little traffic ... the car didn't even heat up, much, and I made it all the way to work. Without Power Steering, of course. That's a bugger, but not as bad as it sounds, as steering while driving is not a major work-out, only when you try to park into a slot. For the younger generation readers: before power steering, the faster you're driving, the smoother the steering. Power steering only REALLY helps, when you're trying to turn when you're not moving, or moving very little.

At work, smoke coming from under the bonnet again. Boss informed. Car gone ... presumably for repairs.

I took both chargers to work, plus the WiFi router and power bank - with my cell phone battery low, I feared I might not be able to call, if I get stuck en route. At work, I immediately put my phone on charge. Phone is charged, now the smartphone is charging, power bank next.

Right. Car is back, hold thumbs!

Anyway, twenty to five ... cat food has arrived ... I'm thinking of changing them over to more Whiskas and less Royal Canin. After all, the wet food IS just a treat, not their main source of food.

Load shedding tonight 22:00 - 00:30 and again 04:00 - 06:30. Tomorrow 12:00 - 14:30, which I'll miss, as I'll be at work. But then again 20:00 - 22:30.

SoD Day 6 SoE LS 4 3 4 Wednesday

We haven't had any new regulations, yet, coming as a result of the State of Disaster ... but I see COGTA is already taking charge. News regarding the flooding are coming from them ... which bodes very, very ill!

COGTA is Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Please don't ask me what that means. Even Wikipedia doesn't know what it means. It's very hush-hush. All I know is, that in a State of Disaster, they have absolute power - and are not accountable to anyone. As we've seen, they overrule the president - he's put in the back seat during a State of Disaster. Just a front-puppet. Though anything he says, has no value, unless it is confirmed by NDZ (Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma), one of Jacob Zuma's ex wives.

There's a lot of activity to put a stop to this, as soon as possible. Several organisations have already applied for a court date, MPs are arguing in parliament ... it MUST be stopped! Because, unlike the COVID-19 SoD ... there IS no end in sight! Meaning that they can keep it going for as long as they like - after all, they CAUSED the crisis!

ANC, and Cyril specifically, are joking about how the DA must make up their minds, as they called for the State of Disaster months ago - but what the DA called for, was a SoD limited to Eskom, not the same absurd circus the National State of Disaster inevitably becomes!

Anyway. I woke up during the night, again, and overslept as a result. Again. My tenant asked me to give his wife a lift this morning, as she's leaving to go to her job in Limpopo. She knocked on my bedroom window around seven! I had said, I'd be leaving around twenty past six! 

Well, I got up, made coffee, got ready, went out. Fed the ferals, and we left. We were hardly out the gate, when my battery light started flickering! Uh oh!

Light went on permanently, stayed on throughout. I lost my dials - all dropped to zero - then they came back. No power steering. Sigh ...

On a positive note, though: I'm FINALLY getting help with the ferals! I posted on one of the Facebook Groups, and someone contacted me! She's coming either Sunday afternoon or Monday morning, she'll assess, bring traps, and teach me how it works. She's also arranged with a vet - the one in Pyramid, where I bought the cat food during the hard lock down - getting a 'discount' for the steri's.

Sjoe! I nearly forgot to buy electricity! I'm down to about a day or two's worth of units left on my meter ...

I'm really in deep shite, financially!

Stats SA just published a list of price increases ... ranging from 25% to 50% within the past 12 months! On basic items, not luxury items! The biggest part of that increase happened in January - when business' gave up on Eskom, and included the cost of running generators.

Strangely enough, in the news it says that Stats SA announced inflation dips below 7% in January. So ... what to believe? Well, when I look at prices in stores and online ... clearly nothing dipped, everything went up! Also in the news: petrol will go up shortly ... which, in turn, leads to EVERYTHING going up. Again!

Well, yesterday all excited about seeds ... today, I'm tense about transport.

I suppose i won't be able to get groceries tomorrow. No biggie, since I no longer buy fresh milk. I could do with some more cheese, but I have enough to take me to next week.

Urgh! Load shedding tomorrow morning 06:00 - 08:30. Again! Well, at least not this morning, when I needed to brew a fresh pot of coffee.

Sigh ... ten to four ... I suppose I had better publish, just in case.

SoD Day 5 SoE LS 4 3 4 Tuesday

Yup! On top of the State of Disaster, our president has now declared a State of Emergency due to the flooding in several provinces, including Gauteng, where I live.

I had a bizarre dream last night. For some reason, I was looking for my belongings spread all over other peoples homes. For an even weirder reason, I took three of the kittens along on my search ... and then left them in someone's cellar! Which I immediately regretted, and went on a mission to get them back - only, I didn't have transport, so I had to rely on help ...

For some reason I had no home. I had a room at my mum's huge apartment - in some sort of after-life. It was a mansion-like apartment, with huge rooms, high ceilings, multiple bathrooms ... my sister was living there, as well. She kept jeering at me, that I must stop trying to live, accept that I'm a useless failure at everything, and just give up and spare everyone the misery of my existence.

I found help from a friend's mum, who would drive me to where I'd left the kittens ... with my teddy bears ... but the mum had errands, too, and we sort of circled closer and closer, but never quite got there. She dropped us at the friends place, to wait, while she ran another errand, and the friend confessed her love for me and I mine for her. We were strolling, arm in arm, through the neighbourhood walking towards the place where I'd left my kittens ...

When I finally left Bizarro World and woke up! Maybe, watching an episode of X-Files right before I go to sleep is not such a good idea? Ha Ha!

I didn't sleep well, at all. I woke up around half past ten - load shedding. I was wide awake, and couldn't get back to sleep ... until way past midnight, and my ceiling fan worked again. No, I don't know why, as it isn't quite THAT hot at the moment ... 

I overslept quite badly, it was past seven when I finally woke up! I had coffee, a smoke, then went to work. Traffic was unpleasant, delayed me even more. But at least there were traffic police at the main robot at Soutpan and Rosslyn road.

I had a message that my delivery is out today - that's the one which was only due next week. Suddenly it's here.

I'm looking forward to some time with my new kitchen toy! I have plans, ha ha!

For dinner last night, I fried some of the roasted veggies, together with some of the chicken - giving mippies a piece of chicken, each, of course! Ha Ha! I mixed some of the lemon juice with plain yoghurt and some of the instant mushroom soup as a kind of 'sauce'. Turned out quite delicious!

I think I should maybe start putting together my own recipe book. Oh, not for sale or anything like that - just a book where I keep my own recipe's. I have notes on bits of paper, like how I've amended the bread roll recipe, and such. My own chocolate chip cookie recipe - again, amended from one I found online. Chocolate Chip muffins. Apple pie. Rye bread. Lots of bits and bobs ... Sauerbraten, Pizza Dough, Stroganoff ... all made a little cheaper, a little different, and meeting my personal preferences.

On the other hand, I so rarely cook the same dish twice - every time I cook a dish, I make changes ... never dull!

My head is in my seed collection today. I need some form of catalogue. I do have a spreadsheet - duh! Of course I have a spreadsheet, ha ha! I have a spreadsheet for almost everything! I have one Calendar, giving each seed's month of either planting in soil or seedling trays, then transplanting; so I can basically filter by month which seeds I should best focus on each month. I have another one, which I started back at the previous place in Pretoria, where I laboriously searched for a huge number of details. I started that one, because I didn't have the soft soil to actually plant much in the ground - which is how I came up with the bottomless pot idea.

With the current load shedding situation, I'm thinking that I should maybe transfer the data to either my smartphone, or - even better - to some sort of index card or booklet.

My biggest issue, at the moment, though is; finding the actual seeds! Because they are in boxes and packets, lumped together, as delivered. I think the first thing I should figure out is an index. My problem is, that my head keeps running ahead ... to keeping record of plants, care, how they're doing ... but I really should stick to just the seeds, for now.

I think the best would be to sort them alphabetically. Keep record only of the name, quantity, age (i.e. when did I get the seeds), where I got them from, (i.e. bought, harvested) and just list the sowing date(s) on the index card.

After all, my biggest issue at the moment is finding the actual seeds! So, I think I'll use Whiskas boxes. Make one box per letter of the alphabet. I can actually use the boxes as they are - add the lid, and I can stack them. I can then mark each index card against my calendar spreadsheet - and each calendar line against my index.

I received a message that my driving licence is ready for collection. From the NMBM (Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality = Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape)! I remember going there to renew it, years ago, with Rose! That card has already expired by now!

I remember now, we never did get the notification, so we took a chance and it was indeed ready for collection. So now, four or five years later, I finally get the notification!

Back to my seed index: to keep it simple, I can make the decorating of the storage boxes a separate project, for now, just mark them A, B, C, etc. and start the index. I must remember to make index cards for seeds in my fridge, as well, ha ha!

I'll see what I feel like doing tonight - when I've finished my chores, that is ...

SoD Day 4 LS 2 3 4 Monday

I took some paracetamol for the headache last night, still struggled to go to sleep ... woke up around quarter to six ... decided to take it easy, then remembered: load shedding at six! Flew out of bed, started the percolator! Can't go without coffee!

With the rain plus the load shedding, traffic was a bit of an issue, but nowhere near as bad as I've seen.

Not yet eight and my Cooker has already been delivered! My green peppers are changing colour, time to harvest - I've decided that I'm going to try to make goulash in that pot this weekend. Should be relatively easy. There's a recipe for beef stew, I'll just use the same method ... 

I finally got off my rear and called about my life insurance. Both policies mature this year - one on 1st March! I'm afraid I have no choice but to take at least a portion in cash - with the last price hikes, I'm now living above my means. Especially with those extra cats. The one that's due in March is quite small. I plan on buying glasses, as I'm struggling quite badly with the multifocals I'm using. Hopefully there'll be a little left, to stretch over a few more months. Insurance adviser will come see me Friday.

I'm now trying to work without my glasses. I can see everything on the monitor, just a teeny bit blurred. Yet the funny thing is, if I look straight (in a natural position) at the monitor, it's that teeny bit blurred, yet, if I tilt my head down, looking at it as if over the top of glasses - it's almost clear. Weird. Like my eyes have gone multi-focal as well, eh?

Sjoe! Cat food arrived! 2 x 15kg bags! Not sure what's going on with the wet food delivery ... states the order is paid, but unfulfilled. This is so frustrating! They use language that just doesn't explain anything ... if it's paid it should either be in progress or cancelled. Unfulfilled is not clear.

Ah! Clarity! Payment went through, it's unfulfilled because they're awaiting stock. Unless I mind replacement - I don't mind! Suggested replacement, will be dispatched!

Well, twenty to five. Load shedding tonight from ten to midnight, and again tomorrow morning from six to eight. I doubt I'll bother to turn on the PC tonight ...

SoD Day 3 LS 3 2 Sunday

I took a long time to get to sleep last night. So it was past six before I woke up this morning. Not an issue, as it's Sunday.

And anyway - can't start anything until load shedding is over! While I was waiting, I watched some more political videos. One detailed the agenda this country is currently on, turning South Africa into another communist state. Sounds like a conspiracy theory? Agreed. I'm just going to leave it there ... 

I've had a busy morning. My tenant mowed the lawn and his wife came to do me a favour: she cleaned the floors, the bathroom and the kitchen! That's one huge-assed favour! And she finished in record time! I'm really happy!

I got the bread dough going, then prepared the tomatoes - a huge load, this week, then chopped potatoes and carrots for the roasted veggie meal, I fried the chicken, cut into cubes. I sowed oregano and garlic chives, and moved all the full tree bags to the front of the veranda. Just outside. Quite a few of them are empty - trees didn't survive the re-potting. I'll keep re-potting more. In time.

Right now, I'm about to blend the tomatoes, and the roast is still in the oven.

I took a break - tried to nap, but that didn't quite happen. I am tired, though. Well, I dragged myself through everything that needed to be done. The roasted veggies are delicious! And the blade steak I had put on top? Perfect!

I packed everything away, washed the dishes, packed my lunch - kitchen is clean! I cleaned the litter boxes, fed the ferals, cleaned the baby's eyes again ... poor thing! I spent a bit of time washing out both eyes thoroughly ... I just hope that's going to be the end of it!

Small problem on my side: it's overcast again, after a day of mostly sunshine - and it's the kind of overcast that gives me a headache. Feels like there's a weight on top of my head, pushing down. Not bad ... let's hope it stays that way.

Mippies don't really appreciate the cheap wet food I got them ... no surprise, ha ha! Well, they'll have to live with it for a while.

I've spent a lot of time with my mippies today. Mewthos spread out on my bed and I'd cuddle him every once in a while. Ziva would come knead my jersey till I cuddle her, Janey would come sit on my lap for cuddles. Mini is more reticent, she also wants attention, but isn't quite as assertive about getting it, yet. Well, sometimes, but not all the time. She likes to be carried to bed for lovies, ha ha!

Anyway, I've showered, and now I'm just settling down for the night. No load shedding tonight, next turn only at 06:00 tomorrow morning ...

SoD Day 2 LS 3 Saturday

It rained most of yesterday afternoon - no gardening. I decided to tackle the dishes, instead. Then I picked the meat off the chicken, minced it. Fried the chicken hearts, minced them, mixed them with the chicken - which I've just packed into two 1kg tubs and put in the freezer.

I gave my electric frying pan to my tenant's wife. She seemed ecstatic! Well, it IS really useful! Especially if you only have a kitchenette - a corner of your room set aside for cooking.

So, I basically finished most of my Saturday 'musts' already!

My right knee kept buckling all day yesterday. First the painful left ankle, which, I think, in trying to favour the right leg, caused the buckling knee. It's the knee I injured over thirty years ago. I decided not to risk standing in the shower, nor trying to get in and out of the bath with that knee last night.

This morning, my tenant tells me a water pipe burst in the pump house ... landlord is dragging his feet, so my tenant decided to fix it. There is already a replacement, and he has the qualifications. Let's hope he is successful! Sooner, rather than later, too.

Seems he's succeeded! Yay! I'm kinda lucky to have him staying here.

Well, internet is dodgy ... again! This is frustrating. Again. No wonder people's tempers are running out ...

I've hung up the washing - taking a chance, hanging it outside. We've had 5mm rainfall overnight, and another 5mm this morning.

I took a break earlier, when it started to drizzle ... break ended, rescue washing from the line! Then I started gardening. Well, first the fridging part - after two months, I finally processed the Kiwi I had bought before our shutdown! Surprisingly, they were still good! I put some seeds in germination soil, and ate the Kiwi. I didn't harvest ALL the seeds - there are just too many!

Then I did the same with the lemons, they were going off already. Turning brown. Still got quite a good harvest of seeds. I re-potted the Delicious Monsters - into the big, white cement pot. Re-potted one of the Frangipani into the pot where the Delicious Monsters used to live. Re-assuring the toads every time I disturb them to get at the potting soil, ha ha!

Cleaned the lavender pot. Again. There's a persistent weed I just can't get rid of, it keeps coming up.

I spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning the tomato bed. Main focus on weeding, making space for Brussels Sprouts and other winter veggies I want to plant. I've trimmed and pulled ut quite a lot of the tomato plants ...

All in all, I've had a good Saturday!

SoD Day 1 Dark 2 hrs LS 4 3 4 Friday

Power came on after load shedding, then, about 15 minutes later went off again. Vandalism! Someone tried to vandalise a sub station, though he couldn't finish the job, as he was seriously injured in the process. He was caught within the hour.

I hauled out the gas cooker, and then remembered about SONA 2023. Found a live stream ... I just missed the clowns. Every year, the EFF arrive, cause a disruption and get thrown out. Every. Single. Year!

Two hours SONA - completely meaningless, insubstantial hot air. Except when he declared a State of Disaster (SoD) with immediate effect. Putting the same incompetent into the dictator seat, we had during the Covid Lock Down.

I wonder what absurd regulations we can expect this time? Are we going to be allowed to smoke during load shedding? What are we allowed to wear while the power is off? Are only people with solar geysers going to be allowed to wash, from now on? Is hot water use going to become illegal?

You think I'm joking? I wish I was!

Nailed it!

He frequently referred to promises HE made in past SONA's, followed by "This time, we'll actually do it."

Anyway. After I had cooked my dinner, I gave the gas cooker to my tenant. His wife is here, now, as well - finally! Yesterday, she cleaned my whole veranda! Poor dear, got quite a fright when she met my resident toads!

I had another lukewarm shower ... Yeah, my geyser hasn't had time to heat water properly all week. And with outside temperatures currently dropping ... lukewarm is the best I get. I can't afford to leave it on overnight or through a whole day. I should have hot water again by Saturday sometime ...

So. Let me retreat back into my own little corner. Multi cooker. Budget. 

Okay, another pro is, with the current craze of the 'Instant Pot', there are myriad recipes floating around the internet. Plus, if I take the time to learn to fully utilise it, I can 'scrap' my tiered steamer, as well. I already plan on giving away my electric frying pan - haven't used it in years! Oh, hang on, I tried using it a while back to make Stroganoff ... and wasn't happy with the result. Because the frying pan has on ring element, and anything over that ring tends to burn.

And I can always use it the way I've been using my mum's multi cooker, by simply keeping the lid off - then it's not a pressure cooker. So, it has all the functions my old pot had, plus it's a pressure cooker.

Here's a summary of the pros and cons.

The biggest con for me, is, of course, that I can't check on the food while cooking. Plus, that I can't add food that needs less time, later. Unless I use it as an open-lid pot - which I can, if I want; but then I loose all the pros, like the cool kitchen, saving energy, etc.

Okay. I've looked at my budget, and it'll set me back a little, but I'll manage. If I can make good meals with cheaper cuts, that will help, as well. I'll have to do a little juggling, but I'll make it.

Right. Order placed. Funny thing: I could have had it delivered today, had I placed the order yesterday! BUT: I wasn't 100% sure, yesterday. Now, the last nagging doubts have been put to rest, before placing the order.

Still funny, delivery tomorrow or Sunday would have been free, but delivery Monday = 'next business day' would have cost a little; delivery Tuesday was free again. Weird, eh? Anyway, I've selected Tuesday. Giggle, my valentines present!

Ah! Some load shedding relief over the weekend ... apparently we won't go to Stage 4 this weekend. Stage 3 from 05:00 Saturday till 05:00 Sunday, then Stage 2 till 16:00, when we go back to Stage 3 until Monday 16:00. Then, of course, back to Stages 4 3 4 ..

For tomorrow that means NO morning load shedding. Power off 00:00 - 02:30 and then on for 14 hours, off 16:00 - 18:30 again. Sunday, unfortunately off 00:00 - 02:30 and again 08:00 - 10:30 ... next turn Monday 06:00 - 08:30.

Well, I don't know whether I should publish now? If there is yet another power outage - courtesy of vandalism - tonight ... well ... 

Yeah, I think I'll publish. Better safe than have you worry!

LS 4 3 4 Thursday

Fed the ferals, cleaned the baby's eyes again, then cooked myself dinner. I ate it before it got cold, too!

Then I went outside to pamper the cherry tomatoes - I'm telling you, next year? NO! One, maybe two plants ... but never again the whole bed full! I'm thinking of giving 'upside down' planters a try, next year. You're supposed to use 1 x 20L buckets (approx. 5 gallons) per plant, but I'm going to give them a 1.5L bottle. See how that works. They probably won't grow as much - or maybe the roots start climbing out the top? Ha Ha!

I don't particularly LIKE cherry tomatoes - well, they're okay, I enjoy them sometimes, but not as the ONLY tomatoes! The plum tomatoes that grew in one of the pots were much lovelier! I tried growing them, this year, but they didn't survive the cat cuddling.

I also want more variety vegetables, not just green bell pepper and tomatoes. The gem squash are a nice addition - but I want even more. I have the seeds, I just need to get them into the garden - after I've cleared a bed ... and that's the problem. All beds are covered with cherry tomatoes!

I think, this weekend, I must spend some time in the garden, clearing beds and then plant! Though, they're forecasting a lot of rain ... I'll have to see what I can do.

Went to get groceries. Overspent. Again! By 14%. Got more chicken hearts. Mango, carrot and yellow plums were on special (though they made a mistake and charged me regular for the plums), I 'treated' myself to butternut and celery. And I bought 1kg rice - I really like the brown and wild rice.

I looked at broccoli and cauliflower ... yeah ... I really must grow some! Winter is their time, at least winter here.

I didn't buy any chicken for my paella, though ... I'll have a rummage through my chest freezer for inspiration.

Okay, I think I know what I'll do: Saturday, I fry the chicken hearts and the chicken I bought for the ferals - mine get their share, too, of course! And Sunday I'll bake the butternut with carrots and potatoes topped with the slices of prime rib I still have in the freezer. Which I bought because it's so cheap, but when I looked up how to cook it - can't just fry it.

As long as we don't go to any higher stages, load shedding Saturday & Sunday should be 08:00 - 10:30 and again 16:00 - 18:30. Oh, and during the night, of course ... pffft!

The machine takes an hour for my laundry, I'll have that finished before load shedding on Saturday. As long as I turn on the geyser early, I can wash dishes during load shedding, and then just need to fry, mince, and wash again. I should be done by noon - giving me the rest of the day to play in the garden! Weather permitting, of course. If it rains, I can sow herbs in pots and tidy up the veranda.

Sunday, I can only start the bread machine after load shedding, if I don't want my dough to rise up and revolt again. While the machine is going, I can prepare the meat & veg, and also another batch of tomato puree. I should probably spend the morning in the garden, then come in to work after load shedding ...

This power outage last Sunday afternoon, together with the next one Monday and the 18:00 - 20:30 load shedding every evening has really messed up my entire week! Plus, of course, I have all the dishes I would have washed Sunday afternoon ... taking over the kitchen ... to be washed Saturday.

It's me and the multi cooker again ... reading reviews, pros and cons, I keep coming down to the same two choices. And the price has already gone up, since I last checked ... when was that? Monday? Temperatures have gone down, so stew makers are in higher demand!

So, the two I'm trying to decide between are now practically the same price. One, though is still 30% off, and the other one 10%. The more expensive one (at full price) (A) has 8 functions, the cheaper one (B) 10. (A) has temperature control, whereas (B) has 3 settings. (B) has 83% 5-star reviews, whereas (A) has 72%. (A) has a maximum 2-hour timer, whereas (B) has up to 24 hours. (B) is a pressure cooker - roast a whole chicken in 25 minutes; in the oven it takes 90 minutes! (A) has a deep-fry function, I don't think (B) has that. But I've discovered that the deep steel frying pan works perfectly, and that works on the induction plate.

And, after all, in all the years I've had it, last month was the first time ever that I tried deep frying! Pity that it broke the pot ... even though it's one of its functions! But hey, I inherited it from my mum! So it's at least 15 years old!

From what I've read, I understand that (B) at least works with induction heating. I'm not sure about (A), but I suppose it works on the same. Now that's better than the multi cooker I had.

Yeah ... I think I've made my choice. Now for the tricky part: Budget! I'll leave that one for tomorrow ...  It's quarter to five. All this reading through cooking has made me hungry!

One of the main reasons I'm leaning to heavily towards a pressure cooker, though, is that the cheaper cuts of meat can be cooked in a pressure cooker. Basically anything that would need an oven - and oven uses far more electricity than high pressure cooking does!

I considered a slow cooker - but (B) can also do slow cooking, if I want. Oh, and it's a yoghurt maker - ha ha ha! Maybe it's time I actually do make some yoghurt!

I downloaded both user manual and recipe booklet specifically for (B) and recipes include lime juice AND cheese! Both of which I'm wary of using in ANY pot! So ... yeah ... I think I'm sold. It's just a matter of finding money, now ... ha ha!

Well, two minutes to five. At least load shedding tonight will be over 18:30 at the latest!