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.
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