LS 6 Thursday

Again, the power was on, when I got home. We're now back to 10 hours scheduled a day - Stage 6. 2 x 4 hours + 1 x 2 hours. Announced at eleven last night. Until further notice ...

Funny, our Minister of Electricity was asked, during that interview I watched, whether he still stands by his claim that we won't be seeing higher than Stage 4 load shedding, and among all his babbling, the one thing he did say was that he stands by what he said. That was two days ago. <facepalm>

There is still plenty of hissing and growling at poor Lady Sybil. Last night it was getting on my nerves, so I drugged the lot of them - catnip. That seemed to quiet them down a bit.

I did all my chores - including cleaning the litter boxes - showered, heated and ate dinner, then sat on the bed to watch an episode of Partners in Crime. It's based on a collection of Agatha Christie short stories, featuring Tommy & Tuppence Beresford. It's charming, I really enjoy it.

While watching, of course, I play with Lady Sybil! She loves playing with the dangly fish! I don't have to do much, just hold it up - she bats it about, runs around the bed, jumps up, cuddles it ... just goes nuts!

And she still hasn't given up on winning over the big, furry blobs! She continues to make advances, slowly moving towards them ... till she hits the growl-distance, ha ha! I must try to see whether that's getting shorter.

I don't get it, though. Why are mippies like this? Why are they so exclusive? What's wrong with the little one? I remember introducing Mini was also difficult ... but SHE was the one not wanting to be part of the family ... she just wanted me, not other cats as well. Well, let's hope Sybil's persistence will pay off! She is such a snuggle bunny!

This morning, I woke up before six and turned off the PC. Only ... power stayed on! I had coffee, morning smoke, medicated Sybil, fed the ferals ... as I drove through the gate, I checked the time: quarter to seven! So! Again, no load shedding!?!

As I understand it, load shedding is that prevents a total grid collapse. So, not load shedding, when we should, surely increases the risk? Well, I sent a message to our Councilor. He replied that he thinks it's likely that Eskom is giving Tshwane a break, due to the massive power outage still going on, due to the pylon collapse this weekend!

Phew! As long as he's aware, I don't need to worry.

I just sort of shot myself in the foot ... I went grocery shopping. I planned on not getting much, so I could take a bit of a break this weekend ... but then ... potatoes on special; but only bulk pack! AND Mushrooms on special! At an affordable price! So I took 1kg! That's my weekend plans now ... sigh ...

The 3kg chicken hearts are going fast ... I have 2 more packets in the freezer. So I bought another 3kg today. They were still partially frozen, so they're definitely fresh. I also took a packet of frozen chicken hearts at the butchery - they don't give a price per kg, though, just a price per packet. I asked her to weigh the packet - their price is even cheaper than Spar! So, in future I'll be buying chicken hearts at the butchery.

I decided to add chicken meat into the mix as well, hopefully I'll be able to take a break cooking for ferals next weekend! Sybil loves her chicken hearts! Mine only sometimes - other times they turn their nose up at them. Well, I'm going to simmer the chicken hearts in two batches again, I also got half kg chicken livers, and while that's going, I'll make the chicken legs in the pressure cooker. Hopefully I can do the cooking on Friday, let it cool, then mince, mix and pack it on Saturday.

I plan to clean and rearrange the chest freezer again, this weekend. Remember how it was about 3/4 full, but when I had packed everything in bags - organised - the chest freezer was full to the brim? Well, I now have three storage bags. Two blue/yellow/black checkered and one red. I'm thinking of labelling one of the blue ones 'Heat & Eat'. Put everything that is either cooked or quick-fry, like steaks, sausages, etc. in there. The other blue one, I'm thinking of labelling 'Ingredients'. For the tomato paste, the chopped apples for pie, the fruit and vegetables, frozen eggs, etc. And the red one for mostly meat, but anything that takes a long time to cook.

I'll do the chicken hearts & legs, and the mushrooms, rearrange the freezer, and then I'll see whether I still have time and energy for potatoes.

And with 4 hours of load shedding during the day ... that's going to be a challenge ...

Load shedding today from two to six (4 hours) and again from ten to midnight. Tomorrow morning again from six to eight. Yeah, let me not dwell ... better publish before I start ranting, ha ha!