Lady Sybil has moved out, again, I'm afraid. It didn't come as a surprise, and I don't blame her. My mippies just refuse to be nice, so she's gone back to a family who welcome her with open paws. Her mommy showed up and stayed around, too. She refused to let me pick her up to bring her inside ...
This morning she came inside to tell me that 'I must have forgotten the treat bowl outside', ha ha ha! Normally outside don't get 'treats' in the mornings. But how can I refuse Lady Sybil? She came inside to the food bowls, gave me a look until I followed her and she led me to the outside treat bowl! Yeah, I filled it!
Mini took Lady Sybil's place in my bed last night. Sybil would normally sleep next to my pillow, now Mini took her place back. She still attacks Ziva, though, and that worries me. I wonder whether I should take Ziva to the vet tomorrow morning?
I've washed the dishes, and then I got stuck in the electricity spreadsheets. I've had a feeling that, how I'm charging my tenant, isn't quite correct. Something didn't fit. So I've gone over it in detail, and my feeling was right. Though not by much. It's really difficult to calculate how much usage is his and how much mine. So, for now, I'm only going to charge him what I actually pay over budget - which, to date, happens to be the amount we agreed on. But this month it's going to turn out to be more! Much more!
On average, since he's moved in, I've paid 1 1/2 times my monthly budget, and I'm charging him that extra half. However, in preparation for the rate increase which came into effect on 1st April, I've been working on reducing my usage, to stay within budget. Yet - even with load shedding and power outages, we're using almost twice what I've been using, on average, over the past year; when I started monitoring closely.
I've been using just over 8 kW/day between March-November last year. When I switched on the chest freezer, that went to 11.6 kW/day. That's almost 4 kW/day more - so I'm measuring the chest freezer usage today. And, full, it works out to just under 3 kW/day. Empty, it will use more, of course. And my tenant moved in a week 'early'.
And now, I no longer use the oven to bake bread rolls - I bake a loaf in the machine; my PC is off most of the time, thanks to load shedding; I cook meals with the pressure cooker, not in the oven, or 'slow cooking'; and - based on the reading I took this morning - we're now using just over 16 kW/day! And that is WITH an average of 4 hours a day of load shedding!
And that is entirely the tenant! He's brought his ex wife to stay here, she brought their baby - and she's here all day, every day. Heating baby food, boiling water to do washing, cups of tea, etc. And I will not pay for that! He also still owes me for the last two months ... so ...
I reckon he's going through a bit of a mid life crisis. He wants a wife to live here with him, his real wife doesn't want to (and knowing what I know now, she's got a strong point!), so he's got his ex wife to come! I'm not sure whether she's his ex or his first wife, right now. He's been telling me all along that he divorced her, but now she's showing up with HIS BABY? That's not divorce!
I'm waiting for an opportunity to talk to him. About both - his mid life crisis, plus the cost of it.
Aaaand Lady Sybil seems to have decided to come back inside! I found her on my arm chair, when I came out for a smoke break! I've brought her to the bed - and she's happily curled up there, now! She feels a bit hot, though ... so, I'm definitely taking her tomorrow!
Right, so it's half past twelve - I've pretty much spent my morning on electricity calculations. Not really time wasted! It had to be done sooner or later. And it's been bugging me, so sooner is better.
Sigh ... internet is being a bugger again. Down to one bar, post isn't updating. Grrr ...
Ah! Back to four bars now! Wonder how long that'll last? Anyway, I'd better get busy in the kitchen ...
Chicken hearts are cooked. I'll let them cool down a while, before I mince them. I've packed the stewing steak into freezer bags, will close them in about an hour or so. Tomorrow I want to measure how much electricity a load of laundry uses. Today, I'm still measuring the chest freezer. I'm measuring over a long period of time.
Lady Sybil just hopped off the bed, went onto the kitchen counter, looked at her empty bowl, looked at me, repeat until I fill her bowl! Ha Ha Ha! She is incredibly intelligent! She matches Mini in her ability to communicate with me! Of course, when I filled her bowl, two mips came looking at empty bowls, and, of course, I shared! When she had her fill, she strolled onto the veranda for a spot in the sun!
I've packed away the last of the roast & veggies - labelled 'pie filling'. One day, I'm sure I'll bake pies. The stewing steak is also good as a pie filling. Slowly, but surely, I'm getting there. Next, I should wash the dishes again - especially the pressure cooker, as I want to use that to make potatoes for Rösti.
Right, washed most of the dishes - forgot the frying pan. Potatoes are in the pressure cooker, and I'm measuring the electricity usage; did 9 hours on the chest freezer. I took readings a couple of times during those 9 hours, and they're fairly consistent. And I was opening and closing it during that time, plus adding meat to freeze.
I want to see what happens during load shedding. We're scheduled from ten to noon tomorrow, so I want to use it on the chest freezer before, during, and after load shedding. I want to see whether it 'keeps' it's reading for 2 hours, or whether that's too long. It turns off fairly quickly after use - but when you turn it on, it still shows the last reading. I'm guessing it will just continue afterwards, but you know me: I don't like to assume, I like to know. Ha Ha!
Lady Sybil is now in my Marigold bed, Mini has claimed the bed. Lady Jane has claimed my arm chair. Mewthos is on guard out back - neighbour's tomcat keeps coming around.
Half past four, and I'm quite hungry now. Potatoes are still in the pot - waiting for it to release the pressure naturally; I think I'm going to try making mac and cheese. On the induction plate, though.
Yeah, I did a good job, but I can't say it'll ever be my favourite. Possibly because I have only cheddar cheese, not the fancy parmesan. Maybe next time I'll try to spice it up a bit. If there is a next time.
Lady Sybil had come back inside and settled on my bed. She showed little interest in food - which always worries me. Freaks me out, to be frank. But she's been eating a lot today - I gave her treats, remember? And she doesn't feel hot. And I'm not freaking out, because she's going to the vet tomorrow, regardless! She seems a little listless ...
Well, I mixed some minced chicken hearts with the pet mince for the ferals. I gave Sybil plain mince chicken hearts ... she took a little nibble, no more. She's happily curled up on my bed.
Mini is still attacking Ziva! She just chased her full flight up the bookshelf! I turned Mini away - Ziva accidentally hooked a claw in my calf. I'm pissed at Mini!
I've packed the chicken hearts into the fridge, and I'm leaving the potatoes in the pot. I've done enough for today! And I haven't pushed myself, just did what I felt like, when I felt like it. Plenty of breaks, too!
Well, power off from 02:00 - 04:30 again tomorrow morning, and then 10:00 - 12:30. Sigh ...
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