Dark 1 hr LS 6 4 6 Wednesday

I got out of bed too late this morning ... after six, so I had no power to make my coffee. I added instant coffee and milk to my mug, boiled water at work.

Both my deliveries have arrived! Nice! I need to buy electricity tomorrow - even with load shedding as extreme as it is at the moment, I'm below my comfort-threshold. I don't like to have to watch the meter.

This weekend I'm going to make my curry! I just need to figure out how long it needs to cook. It'll make some space in the chest freezer - I'll take out all stewing lamb. I'm just going to buy more potatoes. Maybe carrots, too. And celery. I like celery! I don't need to go to the butchery. I think I have enough food for the ferals, I don't need meat and I have enough cheese.

The potato soup is a hit, though! I love it! A bit thick, so I add a bit of water, when I heat it up, but on the whole: yum!

I'm just looking at our load shedding schedule ... it's depressing! This afternoon from two till six again, then ten to two tomorrow morning, two hours later again from four to six! 4 hours off, 2 hours on, 2 hours off. Then there's a 2 hour outage from noon to two, and another 4 hours from eight to midnight.

I just sneaked a bar of chocolate from my delivery ... munch, chomp, lick!

I also sent a scathing message to my ex tenant - calling him a liar and a thief! What else do you call someone who moves out with your property, and doesn't bring it back? Let's see ... but if he doesn't make good, I'm okay with that. I've written it, my money and him off.

And with this power outage plus change of system - my personal plans have all fallen behind. I don't have time to update my budget, I don't have time to do my tax returns ... I rushed through my shopping ... 

I want time off this weekend. Time to just loaf around, or watch whatever ... well, if I have power, of course ... but no big 'to do' list. I tried that last weekend, but too much ended up on Sunday's list ... and then I had that horrid headache on Sunday. All I really want is not to have a huge 'must' list on Sunday ... 

Well, ten to five ... better publish ...

LS 6 4 6 Tuesday

Not a good night, to start with ... I had taken only coffee to work yesterday, so I ended up drinking coffee late afternoon ... as a result, I couldn't get to sleep. 

I got two vouchers with my last Takealot delivery - R100 each. Unfortunately, valid only this week. Well, I figured, I can get next month's delivery now - and save R200. Only ... 1 voucher per order. Sigh ... well, I got one box of chocolates and another bag of litter, which is still extraordinarily cheap today! Half of what I ordered last week has since gone up. 

I recently had a chat with a friend, and my night toilet light came up in the conversation. Sadly, it has stopped working - no, not just the batteries. Well, it was cheap, so I'm still happy with the purchase. But it got me thinking ... so I'm now looking for rechargeable, motion-sensor lights. I've decided to try one of these new rechargeable light bulbs - they work like standard light bulbs, fit in standard fittings, just stay on - albeit dimmer - when the power goes off. When the power is on, they recharge, if the light is turned on.

Unfortunately, they're all the round bulbs - not yet available in the stick-like form. I don't think they'll fit where the light bulb actually fits horizontal. I'm taking one for the bedroom. And I'm taking another one - with motion sensor - for either bathroom (if it can fit) or passage / alcove. You don't want a motion sensor light bulb in your bedroom, when you have 5 cats! They'll turn your bedroom into a disco every night!

Those are relatively cheap. But now I'm looking at full lights, not just bulbs. I'm thinking of sticking something under the cupboards, over the counter, in the kitchen. Right, second order placed, voucher used, let's see how these lights work! Both deliveries should arrive tomorrow.

Load shedding this afternoon from two till six. 4 Hours! Again from ten to midnight, and tomorrow morning from six to eight. Again.

Anyway. With this being pressed for time writing, I forgot to mention that I was able to pick up and cuddle Vimes this weekend! He's slowly warming up to me! I'm hoping I'll be able to take him to the vet without a trap ... in June. Soon. His sister is an absolute cuddle bug!

Well, five to five ... time to publish ...

LS 5 4 6 Monday

Not a good day, one of the worst, ever.

Aaand load shedding up to Stage 6 tonight (instead of the planned Stage 5) ... it's twenty to five, better publish ... 

LS 5 2 5 Sunday

Not a good day for me, personally. I woke up with a headache - and I can't shake it. I've had liquid, I've had breakfast, noggin still in pain.

I've got the bread going, next comes the chicken hearts. Sigh ...

I've decided to do the potatoes WITH the shin, in one go, rather than separately.

Sigh ... change of plan, I'm afraid. I chopped the potatoes, added the celery and carrots ... and the pot was full! No space for the meat! So ... turned on the pressure cooker, and I'll be doing the meat after that's done.

Not doing well. Head is not happy. I even just fell asleep - and didn't have the energy to even close the front door gate. Seems like it was just a short nap, though. Potatoes are done, just waiting for the pressure to release - in the meantime, I'm frying the chicken hearts. I have to wash dishes in between ... because the potato soup needs to go into the bowl, where the raw chicken hearts are now.

Sigh ... way, WAY too much potato soup! I'm going to have to bag and freeze it ... not that I feel up to it. I also need to mince and freeze the chicken hearts ... powering through a massive headache, just so I can go to work? Not sane!

Aaand load shedding going up a Stage tonight. Instead of the planned Stage 4, we'll enjoy Stage 5! Not that it affects our schedule - thank goodness!

Almost three, and the potato soup is finalised. Three bags in the freezer. I still have to stew the shin, mince the hearts, pack them ... wash the dishes ... one hour is not enough time, not the way I'm feeling!

Quarter to four, I don't know how, but I managed to get everything done. Still need to pack some of the shin - with sauce - in the freezer ... once they're done. Also need to wash the pressure cooker.  Make my lunch, re-fill the kibble pots, clean the litter boxes ... etc. etc. I'm so sick and tired of this load shedding! It sucks! I really don't want to still do chores after six! I want to relax!

Well, publishing now ... 

LS 5 3 5 Saturday

Crappy day. On the whole, that is. I got up quite early, loaded the washing machine, turned on the geyser ... load shedding at eight, so, if I want breakfast, I have to cook it now - not when I'm hungry, now. Which I did - the now usual panlet.

I had unpacked the rest of the deliveries yesterday afternoon, but the power went off before I could vacuum pack the flour.

So, I had to do that this morning.

I also spent some time in the garden, yesterday. I cut down a lot of that bush right outside my lounge. I cleared enough space to place one of my new solar lights. It's beautiful! It really looks like a flaming torch - the light is orange, but flickering, which gives it a real flame effect! Of course I can only enjoy the sight, during load shedding - once the power comes on, the floodlight out back comes on. But that's exactly what I got it for! Something beautiful to look at during load shedding!

This morning, I managed to fill the sinks before the power went off. Washed the dishes. Hung up the laundry. And then I changed the sheets. All of them. Loaded everything in the machine, as soon as the power came on, I turned on the machine. It takes 6 hours to wash and dry ... I have power for only 6 hours. It goes off again at four this afternoon.

Then I took my new mop for a spin! In my bedroom! I moved everything outside, that I could, swept the floor, then mopped. I used about 5 or six buckets of water! Dip the mop, wring out the water, wipe the floor, dip the mop ... I can still see the bottom of the bucket, so: repeat. Second time: bottom no longer visible, so ... fresh water! My bedroom is only 9 square meter! Standard 3 x 3! Just shows you how much dust comes in, eh?

Well, then I decided to remove the friggin nail polish off the tiles! I can't get it off the wall, and I can't get it out of the grouting, but at least I can scrape it off the tiles! Yes, I've tried acetone (nail polish remover) ... yes, it helps, but I really don't feel up to soaking every splat and dabbing it up. It's really thick!

What you can't see, is the arc going all the way up to where the cable holder is, in the skirting. I think someone tried painting over it, there.

Internet is being difficult, again. It took nearly half an hour to upload the above photo - I'll try to upload the 'after' photo now ...

An hour later ... when I can't even write my blog, THAT is when this load shedding seriously gets to me! I mean, it uses minimal data ... I don't need a strong signal ... yet I can't even get what little I need!

Well, I've swept the house ... but I haven't fried the chicken hearts, nor minced them, nor packed them. I haven't made potato soup. I haven't made the stew. All that, I will have to do tomorrow. On top of baking a loaf of bread ... 

Ten to four ... so ... time to publish - let's hope I can! Load shedding only 2 hours - yeah, that's what we've been reduced to! Grateful when the power is off for 'ONLY' 2 hours! Really, this blows!

Anyway, as I said, better publish. Load shedding again from midnight till four and tomorrow only four to six. At least I'll have the freedom to do what I want, when I want tomorrow ... just have to make sure I get EVERYTHING done ... Sigh ...

LS 5 4 5 Friday

It made a nice change to have load shedding end at six rather than start. Instead of rushing to get everything done before the power goes off, I dawdled until the power came on.

I carried all the boxes inside, unpacked some of them - not all. Obviously, first I fed the ferals - Smeagol wasn't there when I gave them their evening treat. Sorry, boy, you missed out!

When the power came on, I heated dinner, I had taken the left over spaghetti Bolognese out of the freezer the night before. Then I cleaned the litter boxes. I turned on the PC to watch a couple of episodes ... that's pretty much all.

This morning I got up before six, enjoyed coffee, mippies, and I'm trying to come up with a solution to the dilemma at work.

I've been agonising over next week's food for two days now ... I think I am going to settle on potato soup with meat. I'll make a potato soup, then cook some meat, and just heat the two in one pot every evening. It's quarter past nine, I'll just go get my groceries ...

Nice! Margarine was on special, so I got two tubs. I use about 1 tub = 1kg per month for my lunch at work. I also got celery, and that's about it at Spar. At the butchery, I got shin, chicken hearts and cheese. I'll make the potato soup, and then the shin - separately.

I think I'll just publish now, as we're enjoying 4 hours of load shedding this afternoon ... from four until eight tonight!

LS 5 4 5 Thursday

This morning I woke up shortly after four ... got up and turned on the geyser. No load shedding until eight, so I have time to wait for really hot water! A hot shower! Bliss! I waited till about half past five ... water is not as hot as it should be, but who cares! Warm water! I feel much, much better!

Flour delivery arrived this morning, cat food just arrived. Now I'm just waiting for my Takealot delivery - also due today. I already decided, with everything arriving today, that I would do my groceries tomorrow. I still haven't decided on food for next week, though ...

Takealot delivery arrived ... car is packed full! I'm going to have a busy time offloading and unpacking tonight! Fortunately load shedding ENDS at six today! Still, the ferals won't be happy if I spend too much time offloading, instead of getting their dinner! They now wait for me every morning and every evening!

I haven't seen the black and white female, nor Sybil's mommy in two weeks! Judging by the amount of food eaten, I'm guessing they show up sometime when I'm not around ... and Smeagol, Tabetha and Vimes seem to have taken up permanent residence in the Wendy. Vimes lets me stroke his back now! Slowly, but surely, I'm making headway!

Well, quarter to five ... I think I'll have another smoke, then start packing up ... 

LS 5 4 5 Wednesday

Some time after nine the power came on at work ... 

First thing I did, though, was put my phone on charge, when that was fully charged, I put my power bank on charge. And, since work internet is back, turned off my little WiFi router.

Now I'm busy online ... I've ordered cat food, and placed a big order on Takealot ... I think they'll both arrive tomorrow ... 

I've also ordered flour, as I'm almost out. I spent way more than I meant to ... I detest rush shopping! But: I held back on anything I wasn't sure about ... and I only bought things I really do need!

Still, I spent way, way more than I had budgeted for this month! However, there was a huge special on Whiskas - over 30%! That was on Takealot, so I only saw that after I had bought what was available on ePetstore ... which was very little! ePetstore were out of stock on almost everything! I bought 7 boxes on ePetstore and 6 more on Takealot - for the 6 on Takealot I paid just over half of what I paid ePetstore! I basically have enough Whiskas to last 2, maybe 3 months! Depends on how often Mewthos twists my rubber arm, ha ha!

I also bought 2 bags of 2kg Whiskas dry food ... for the ferals. Cheaper per kg than the Iams and Royal Canin they're getting now ... 

They had a huge discount on shampoo, and I need shampoo soon. Another huge discount on cat litter, and I have none in stock, so I took 2 bags. Vacuum bag rolls were available again, the right size - again at a huge discount, so I took 1 packet. Rehidrat was available cheaper than I've seen it in months, so I took a box.

I got myself larger record cards, for recipes; and a mop! As I've said, the one I've been using at home is falling apart. I looked at various options, all I want is a simple spaghetti mop - but one I don't have to wring out by hand. That's all. I did my research, though - read the reviews, checked out the video ... I think it'll do the job.

Oh, and for my treat, I got 2 solar powered garden lights.

Load shedding tonight again from six to eight ... then again from midnight till two. But tomorrow afternoon will be from four to six.

Anyway ... time to go home, at last! 

LS 5 4 5 Tuesday

With last night's load shedding schedule, I had about half an hour with power at home! I rushed through my chores, heated dinner and was just busy dishing up when the power went off. 

All electronics were depleted. Smartphone was under 40% when I went to bed, power bank on the last leg. And with power on only from ten till two, then again from four to six ... that wasn't enough time to charge anything. 

So, this morning I took my smartphone next door to charge. Having played my audio book all night, it was down to 11%. And that's AFTER charging half an hour this morning. 

I brewed myself a fresh pot of coffee, then went to work.

Oh, and some joker changed the name of Eskom's MegaWatt park head office on Google maps!

Apt, for sure!

Well, load shedding tonight from six to eight. That's bearable, especially after last night's 4 hour special. Stages have ramped up again, we're now at Stage 4 instead of 3.

Everyone is getting sick and tired of this shit, helplessness is fueling anger everywhere. Our ministers have just 'upgraded' their homes with millions of tax Rands ... basically stocking up generators and petrol, so they won't be affected when the grid collapses.

Their homes will be beacons of light while the rest of us burn ... we don't have a government, we have a rabble of Nero's - playing the harp while Rome is burning. Completely and utterly out of touch with reality. 

I'm thinking of buying myself a generator. No, I can't really afford one, but when the grid collapses, I will need food. I will need to keep the freezer going. Maybe I should start stock piling canned food?

On the other hand ... I can't see how anything I do will really be enough. I mean, it will be chaos! Riots, crime will be the most serious issue. Those who have nothing will be desperate, and desperation breeds violence. 

Yeah, on that gloomy note, I guess I should sign off. 

On the whole, though, we're definitely better off here in Pretoria than Johannesburg! I hear power outages there lasting for days! We're at least not passing the 1 day mark anymore. Let's hope it stays that way!

LS 4 3 5 Monday

I pre-empted Sybil's game! When I came out of the shower, she was in my room, so I shut her in, then went to get the rest of my mippies.

The new Hygrometer is going wonky. According to that thing, maximum temperature yesterday was 35 Celsius! Bollocks! 22 at the most!

It's cold now after sunset, so I sort of went to bed early. Not before seeing the neighbour's dogs, now in my backyard! Right on my porch! Not good!

Well, neighbour is working on it. Nothing I can do but hope the ferals are safe. 

This morning, slow starting. It's cold, ha ha! I still had to make and pack my lunch. Then off to work. 

I'm now charging my smartphone from the power bank, as it was below 50%. I've put the bank in the sun, so it can recharge from solar. Will see how well that goes.

Not going well enough, I fear. It's just past three, my power bank is nearly empty, so WiFi is going to shut down soon. So, I'm going to publish now, while I still have Internet. 

And with load shedding from six to ten tonight, not much chance of recharging anything at home. Sigh ...

LS 4 1 4 Sunday

Brrr, but it's cold in the mornings, now! Well below 10 Celsius during the night! So, no, I didn't get the bread started at six.

I was able to access FaceBook for the first time since Monday! So I spent some time catching up - with Mini curled up on my lap!

I got up, had a smoke, made myself a fresh cup of coffee ... and here we are: Mini back on my lap. And she growls if I try to pick her up or move her. It's just gone past eight ... 

I hear mowing noised next door, which means the worker is here today. My neighbour said he would first quickly mow next door, then come to me. I've turned on the geyser, so I can wash dishes again today. Now I had better get started in the kitchen ... load shedding from ten to noon and again from six to eight tonight. Sigh ...

Right, the worker introduced himself, and I showed him the rose bushes, so they don't get mowed down again. He's just finishing next door, then he'll come here. In the meantime, I've sealed the mushroom bags, and packed the left over rice into a bag in the freezer.

I plan on packing away some of the goulash, with sauce, to freeze - before I add flour to thicken the gravy. I also don't want any potatoes in those frozen bags. At the same time, I want to take the potatoes out of the freezer - from now on, only freeze mashed or Rösti'd potatoes.

I've taken every last pack of potatoes out of the freezer. I was going to defrost them, while I think about what to do with them - then packed them all into the pressure cooker, set to 1 minute on high ... I still don't know what I'm going to do with them.

Okay, so during load shedding, I squished the potatoes through the Rösti maker, I'll make Rösti with them. I mashed some with butter - and they're still grainy. It felt like some very fine sand mixed with them, so: no freezing potatoes!

The worker mowed the whole front lawn - he did a good job! Then cleaned a few beds and asked to leave, as he has something to do. He says he'll come back next weekend to finish. He couldn't get to the back, because the new neighbour's dogs were in that section! All three of them!

I sent a photo to the group, addressed to the new neighbour - he fixed it with an hour!

In the meantime, I chopped the bell pepper and carrots, so when the power came on, I sautéed everything and put it in the pot. I still have to start the bread ... and wash the dishes. Again.

Okay, so first I got the bread going, then I washed the dishes, then I made a Rösti - or rather, tried to make; it fell apart again. Not a problem, I added a ladle of the goulash on top, with a dollop or two of sour cream! Very yummy!

Just past four, I've packed four bags with goulash - they're in the freezer. Washed the pressure cooker, cleaned the litter boxes, refilled the kibble boxes ... It has not been a fun day. And tomorrow? Load shedding from six to ten tomorrow evening!

I've watered the pots on the veranda, my tomatoes and my beans, now I want to quickly shower, before lights out ... and then I'll have to walk all over the garden again to catch Sybil! She still doesn't understand about coming in every evening. She's very glad to be carried in, when I catch her - but she doesn't yet come when it's time. I usually get her first, then shut her into the bedrooms, while I sit outside with my mippies.

Well, bread is almost done, it's almost half past five ... tick tock, tick tock ... rush to beat load shedding! Sigh ...

LS 5 3 4 Saturday

No load shedding scheduled during the day, today - four to six this morning, then eight to ten tonight ...

It's quite cold today, so I took a while to get out of bed. Since I forgot to buy bread, I'm baking a loaf. Loaded the washing machine, then washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen.

It's now half past ten ... nobody's showed up. Nobody. And no, I'm not going to ask ... I'll wait and see ...

I've tightened the washing line, so it's no longer hanging halfway on the ground.

Neighbour just called to tell me the worker will come tomorrow, not today. I had bad signal, so I couldn't hear the reason, but I gather the worker decided to take another job today. Or maybe his main employer told him to come in today. Something like that. Anyway, my neighbour got lucky, he called as I was busy writing here - my phones are usually in the bedroom, so I really don't hear them when I'm anywhere else.

I'm still trying to decide whether I should make the goulash today ... tomorrow I have load shedding from ten to twelve. Possibly more - if Stages are ramped up again without notice. This whole lower Stages thing is nothing more than a political show. It's not real. It's artificial. There is no additional generation of power, nor a drop in demand. So, either they're burning diesel, or they've dropped the safety margin - which increases the risk of a total grid collapse.

There was an interview about the exemption for hospitals and police stations, and Eskom whined how it's not that simple, because every customer on the same grid as those hospitals & police stations would also be exempt - increasing the risk of a total grid collapse ... funny, that. Because none of this seems to be in issue for those hundreds of ANC ministers, etc. who are already exempt from load shedding! This also again clearly states that the comfort of ANC members is worth more than the lives of us ordinary citizens ... utterly despicable!

Anyway ... back to my little life ...

I've fixed mippies' flower fountain again. Sometimes it comes on, if I just switch it off and on again. Sometimes I have to take it apart. Can't call it cleaning, because it is clean.

I spent most of the day out back, cleaning thorns ... this makes two weekends, and I've cleared about a quarter of the lawn. The work made me kind of hungry, so I've made myself a panlet with cheese, as usual.

I went back outside, only this time out front. I cleared the bed around the thyme, and then I started clearing around the third rosebush - which is miraculously not only still alive, but busy flowering! I thought having been mowed down - twice - had killed it for sure! I won't have it mowed down a third time!

I've now enjoyed another hot bath, it's just past seven - time for just one more episode before load shedding. Tomorrow's ten to noon sucks! Stage 1 tomorrow, and we're off in the middle of the day ...

I'm going to have to turn my kitchen mojo back on tomorrow. I've not felt like doing major cooking & freezing for a while ... but I will have to at least cook the goulash! And, if I get up before six, I could bake next week's loaf before load shedding ... it's got to be whole wheat, and that takes 4 hours.

Anyway, better publish while I can ....

LS 5 4 5 Friday

I did go to get groceries, only, I forgot to buy a loaf of bread - for the worker coming tomorrow to cut the grass and clean up the garden a bit.

I got lucky, the butchery had goulash - they don't always have. I had planned on buying stewing steak or shin, and cut it up myself, but the goulash was the same price.

Back at home, I carried on clearing thorns out the back lawn. I've decided I want that area to be a joy to look at. Okay, it's the wrong time of year to plant, so I won't. And that section is also not good soil - it's rock and that hard dust stuff, same as I had at the last place. Succulents will grow well there, but not much else ... well, I've got a few months to plan!

I bought myself a packet of minute steaks for dinner - fried them, and added a slice of cheese on top. Quite enjoyable!

I also bought a connector - I don't trust my ex tenant to bring back the one I'm missing. I also bought a light bulb. I'll try it in the bedroom tomorrow, see how it works. If it fits and works, I'll get more. I don't have any spare, at the moment.

I'm now running myself a nice mustard foam bath - weird, I know. But it works. My back, especially, feels better afterwards. Well, load shedding from eight to ten tonight, again from four to six tomorrow morning. Sigh ...

LS 6 4 5 Thursday

It's almost three. I opted to postpone grocery shopping to tomorrow. I've reached the last few chapters of the book ... he's now getting more into the politics, which I don't fully understand, so it's slow reading for me.

Load shedding is being reduced, slowly, over the weekend. Starting this afternoon with Stage 5 instead of Stage 6 - which makes no difference to me. We're still scheduled to be in the dark for 4 hours, from eight to midnight, and another 2 hours, four hours later, from four to six.

I had planned to make lamb Breyani this weekend, but I think I would prefer something beefy. So now I'm considering Goulash. I'll need a bit more meat, though. That's why I've postponed the grocery shopping. I also feel like potatoes.

Well, either way, I should publish now ... not much else to say. 

LS 6 4 6 Wednesday

I took my WiFi router and my power bank to work, so at least I have something. I messaged my neighbour, he promised to get a worker for me for Saturday, to cut the grass, at least.

I'm spending the day reading the book by Andre de Ruyter, ex CEO of Eskom. It's extremely interesting, and - for me, at least - an easy read. I would like a copy for my library at home.

It's now half past three, still no power. I couldn't get Internet at home last night, so I'll publish now. 

LS 6 4 6 Tuesday

I used the time to get a new battery for my remote, as that was why I struggled to open the gate, and I got my spare gas bottle filled. 

We had about 20mm rain, I really need to make a plan to cut the grass this weekend. 

Mini attacked poor Ziva last night. Right in front of me! Chased her all the way up the bookshelf from my bedroom to the lounge - wouldn't let up, no matter what I called or did. I'm not sure what to make of that.

I enjoyed a hot bath, cooked some rice, enjoyed a hot stew. All good. 

LS 6 4 6 Monday

Struggled to get out of bed this morning, making me a bit late ... load shedding from six to eight, so: cold coffee. I'll have to brew a fresh pot tonight, seeing as I won't have power - again - from six to eight tomorrow morning.

Off to work ... last couple of km I hit traffic. Bumper to bumper! Traffic lights at the killer robot are out ... traffic is backed up for kilometers! Got to work just before eight ...

I checked my messages before turning off the WiFi to charge it ... email telling me I've reset my Facebook password! Wasn't me! Happened ten minutes ago, so I jumped into action. Fortunately, it's a simple matter of following prompts starting with the email from Facebook.

How could this happen? Actually my own fault. Years ago, when I lived in East London (South Africa), I got a second phone number. And I added that to my Facebook account as a security. I'd received notices to verify that number recently - which I didn't get around to.

My guess would be, the person who now has that number, wants a facebook account linked to that number ... well, now they can. I've removed that number from my account, and set a new password.

Brrrr, but it's cold today! From nearing thirty last week, we're now forecast to barely pass ten Celsius this week! Definitely winter!

Placing an order for fruit juice seems a bit ... wrong at these temperatures. But one of the juices is Gingerade, ginger works magic against cold! I ordered the minimum required to qualify for free delivery, meaning that I went below budget.

Right! I've registered for online access to my investment portfolio! I don't know why that's such a big step ... it's a simple phone call; but I'm venturing into unknown territory ... so yeah. It's almost like a phobia now, I literally have to kick myself into doing something as simple as that. Yeah, I'm weird. 

Just got a voice note from my ex tenant ... he'll come on Saturday to drop off my stuff. I'm not holding my breath ...

Aaand Stage 6 load shedding implemented an hour early. Fortunately, that makes no difference to our outages ...

Sigh ... Stanlib sent me a link to activate ... which doesn't work. To my mail, querying this, I get an automated acknowledgement ... sheez ...

Fruit juice delivery arrived, amazing! Also, just in time - just after the delivery arrived, it started pouring!

Rain let up again, just before five, so I got to the car relatively dry. The drive home was bad - heavy traffic!

At home, I unpacked the delivery ... my gosh! Their complimentary delivery was 6 x 1.5L Apple juice plus 2 x 1.5L Gingerade plus 12 x 300ml smoothies! All that on top of my order! I had a hard time fitting everything into the fridge! And I've packed one of the apple juices for work tomorrow, instead of water.

Lady Sybil was difficult to bring inside, again ... sigh ... it's dark, wet, cold ... I don't enjoy these games. I've turned on the geyser, so I'm looking forward to a nice, hot bath - after dinner, which I'm heating up right now ...

LS 5 0 3 6 Sunday

I went to sleep sometime after nine ... and woke up around eleven! It took me a long time to go back to sleep ...

I woke up this morning, a tad 'hungover'. Not from alcohol, but from having woken from deep sleep. Bit of a headache, a tad groggy, Strangely enough, though, the power was on ...

... and it stayed on! By quarter to seven, I decided to make myself breakfast. Another panlet. Then I brewed myself a fresh pot of coffee ... all good. By half past seven, I figured it's safe to turn on the PC. It's now eight, and power stayed on. Hot coffee, hot breakfast - lovely!

Next outage at two, which gives me six hours. To bake bread, cook the lamb ribs ... everything ... sigh ...

Right, mystery explained! Load shedding was suspended at 00:53 this morning, and resumed at 07:45 - at Stage 3! That's why the power stayed on. They announced that at 08:05! Would have been nice to know at 06:00!

Well, at Stage 3, we only have 2 hours load shedding tonight ... Of course, Eksdom hasn't thought that far, yet ... so they'll announce what stage we'll enjoy from 16:00 this afternoon - and if that's Stage 6, power will be off from two to six again.

Quarter to nine, bread is on the go. And I'm in no mood to do anything today ... 

Aaaand Stage 6 from 16:00 today, meaning our power will go off at two and stay off until six! Then tonight, we'll go off another 4 hours from ten to two.

It's ten to one. Bread is done, lamb ribs are done, I still have to do the tomato paste and rice ... I have an hour and ten minutes!

Right! Twenty-five past one. Rice is almost done, tomatoes cut and fried, just need to blend them - and then wash all friggin' dishes! Yeehaa! I've turned on the geyser, I'll have to fill the sink before the power goes off ... and hope I have the patience and enough hot water left for the second load ... 

So, I was busy filling the sink for the second time when the power went off. Still, I managed to get everything done. During load shedding, I just loafed around ... I swept the house again, cleaned the litter boxes, packed slices of bread into the freezer (made sure they fit into the toaster, cut of an edge, where needed) ... that's all. Funny thing, I was really hungry - but just didn't feel like eating the lamb I had cooked. The usual, about not feeling like eating what you've been cooking right away. The lamb is delicious, though. I poured the tomato paste over the rice - just as delicious!

Getting Sybil to come in is a tad tricky after five ... it's hard for me to grab her - away from her mommy, her brother, and her cousins! When they're playing happily! But yeah ... I gotta ...

Now I just want to shower ... then settle in for the night. Load shedding four hours again, from ten till two ... Sigh ...

LS 6 3 5 Saturday

They DID ease load shedding over the weekend ... a bit. Still Stage 5 from 16:00 - 05:00, so not much change to our schedule. This morning, though, we're only off from six to eight - not till ten. That's the only change.

I washed the laundry last night, just in case. I'm glad I did.

This morning, I got up after six, treated mippies, then let them out. Enjoyed a lukewarm cup of coffee, had a smoke. It's unpleasantly cold this early in the morning. Put on socks and shoes, fed the ferals - they were already waiting ... 

With plenty of breaks, I cleaned the litter boxes, swept half the house ... power came on, I made myself a panlet with cheese - as usual - then hung up the laundry.

It's now eleven and I've washed the dishes as well. Power on for another three hours ... 

Half past twelve, I've cleaned the bedroom fan blades. Unscrewed each one, took it down, scrubbed it, screwed it back ... every last one! Okay, so there are only four - but when you feel about ladders the way I do, that's an achievement!

Almost one, one more hour with electricity. Notice how this completely controls one's entire day? Weekend? Life? Yeah ... sucks ...

At least the power DID come on at six! That's always a relief!

On days like today, I almost believe that I just might be able to cope with this whole big garden and big house on my own. I mean, I've done today's chores: laundry, dishes, litter boxes, even swept most of the house. On top of that, I've deep cleaned the fan blades, cleaned the last three shelves of my wardrobe, deep cleaned the floor under it, sorted through my clothes on the shelf, and cleared yet another patch off thorns out back! On the whole, I've made a lot of progress!

Unrealistic thinking, though. Firstly, not every day is like today, secondly, I'm getting older; and thirdly, once it starts raining, progress goes backwards ... I can't weed as fast as they grow! Let alone mow every week, again!

At the same time, I can't afford to pay anyone to help, either. I'm barely making ends meet, as it is. I need a new DVD player, a new mouse, my internet data is due soon, I'll need to get a new router, this one is currently just barely holding together with a hair elastic - the battery is expanding. Again. The new one's I bought a while back, didn't last ... I can't afford any of these things on my budget. And prices are going to go up again, with the increase in petrol and electricity ... 

So, yeah. I really must find a way to earn extra money! Pronto! I've got to look out for myself ... if only it wasn't so freaking scary!

One day at a time.

And today is done. It's twenty past seven, I've enjoyed a lovely warm bath. Yeah, again, not hot. I'm not going to wait two hours for the geyser to heat the water all the way. Can't afford to, but mostly, I don't have the patience.

Load shedding again at ten tonight ... and again six to eight tomorrow morning ... sigh ...

Dark 1 1/2 hours LS 6 Friday

I absolutely loved having electricity last evening! I turned on the PC, watched a few episodes, enjoyed a warm bath (waiting for the water to get hot would have taken too long), turned on the lights every time I entered a room - instead of having to carry a torch around! It was awesome!

I took the dough out of the fridge, after I had fed the ferals, kneaded it a bit - but it wouldn't rise. So, when the power came on, I started baking for 2 minutes, then turned it off - giving it a warm cubicle to rise in. It did rise, but not much. Another turd loaf, I'm afraid - and I let it rise a whole hour!

I watched Supernatural until about nine, then turned everything off and went to sleep ...

I woke and got up quite early this morning ... off to work, traffic was no issue.

The bread turned out fluffier than the last one. On the whole, though, I think the 'freeze and toast' slices option will be the better one here ... especially now, in winter.

Load shedding this afternoon from four to six. Meh! None during the night, but tomorrow morning from six to ten! Then again from two to six, and ten to midnight. That means I have four hours from ten to two to do all work that requires electricity! Unbe-fucking-lievable! Sunday load shedding from six to eight, then again two to six and ten to midnight. So on Sunday I have six hours ... let's hope they announce a drop in Stages for the weekend!

No, I haven't decided what I'll do this afternoon, yet. Right now I don't feel like doing anything. I'll see what I feel like when I get home ... better publish now ...

When I got home, I cleared thorns out of the back lawn. Power came on at six, I enjoyed the first really hot bath in a long time! Next load shedding was only scheduled at six Saturday morning, so I thought I could listen to an audiobook on the PC. No such luck. Power went off around half past nine! Poof! No rain, no wind, no reason ... I reported it and went to sleep. Power came on at eleven ...

LS 6 Thursday

I forgot to mention that mippies folded their towel into their water fountain again night before last, so yesterday morning I found the area around my armchair kind of wet. I had to mop it all up, re-fill the reservoir for them ... not impressed!

Another thing I forgot about, regarding the draining of batteries, is: once drained, they should ideally charge without interruption until full! And with the Magneto, that's 24 hours! I've just checked the schedule, I can run the Magneto light down by Monday morning, then take it to work and charge it here until Tuesday.

I'm currently running down my smartphone - got videos playing, with sound on the earphones, plus turned on the torch. It's just about eight, and I'm at 38%. It was 46% at quarter past seven.

With load shedding until eight again last night, I didn't bake a fresh loaf of bread. I'll need to do that tonight - the dough is now 4 days old. And I'll only need 2 or 3 slices for tomorrow. I'll have to eat the rest over the weekend.

I am, however, looking forward to either a hot bath or shower tonight! Again, no chance of either these past two evenings. It's pretty cold now, winter seems to finally be on the way - so a lukewarm bath is out of the question, and since I don't sweat ... I hope I'm getting away with it. I'm miserable, uncomfortable and cold, though.

There's currently a huge outcry over a court ruling that hospitals, schools and police stations should be exempt from load shedding ... it's a bit of a two-edged sword. On the one hand, hospitals and frail care facilities should absolutely be exempt from load shedding. Lives ARE lost! On the other hand, though ... the more exemptions, the higher the chance of total grid failure!

In my opinion, they should remove the exemption from Ministers! At present, that's the only official admission - that Ministers are exempt from load shedding, but there are hordes of more ANC members who are currently exempt from load shedding! Now they granted a week's exemption from load shedding to Port Alfred, because some ANC bigwigs are holding a conference there! The whole friggin' town! Okay, Port Alfred is relatively small ...

As was said in yesterday's 'Daily Friend' podcast: It shows utter contempt for us, ordinary citizens! Tax payers. Voters. We're treated with utter contempt.

Anyway. It's Thursday, which means grocery shopping. Fun fact: I don't need anything! I found a recipe for cooking lamb ribs in a pressure cooker, so that's what I'll make this weekend. I have all the ingredients at home. I have enough cat food for the ferals still in the freezer. 

Half past ten, phone battery down to 11%. Quarter to eleven, down to 8% - crying to be charged, ha ha! Five to eleven, 6%. And now a colleague has borrowed my plug! Quarter to twelve, battery at 2%. It just occurred to me that these smartphones might not cope with a total drain, so I'll start charging as soon as my colleague gives me back my plug. He usually leaves at noon, so I can wait 15 minutes ... okay, ten to twelve and power is 1%.

Right. Charging now ....

I've had no response to my two mails, so I sent a follow-up. To Sir Fruit I wrote, in all caps 'may I please be granted the courtesy of a response?', to my financial adviser, just 'Hello?'. He just called and answered my questions - still waiting for the tax certificate, should get that soon, though.

Just did my budget. Which looks surprisingly good. I'll be able to take Lady Sybil for her steri this month. Vimes will have to wait another month, I'm afraid. Also, I think I'll need a trap for him. He greets me with the Spitfire Hisses every single time! Hopefully, I won't have to buy electricity again, this month.

Oh, crap! I knew I had forgotten something: fruit juice! Sigh ... still ... having skipped grocery shopping this week, helps. Speaking of fruit juice, Sir Fruit just called. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good signal, so I asked her to write, instead.

Got mail! Sincere apologies, and a promise to deliver the missing items tomorrow, as well as a pack of Smoothies by way of apology. I wrote back, that I'd be placing an order on Monday, hold off delivery and include all in one. Let's see what happens. I did explain that Friday delivery is a problem, as we close early.

She wrote back just 'yes, it will be included in your next delivery'. Her written English seems not too good ... ah, well, it's the service that matters, not the language ability.

Anyway. I suppose I'm going to have to mow the lawn tomorrow afternoon ... not looking forward to that. Especially since the ex tenant has avoided mowing several of the rough areas ... which was precisely what I had hoped his moving in would reduce. Instead, everything is in worse condition than it was when I last mowed myself. Sigh ... I've decided to mow as I please. The back lawn is a 10, 15 Minute job. No problem. Out front, I'll do what I feel like and leave the rest ...

Especially with our time now completely dictated by Eksdom (which is Afrikaans for I'm dumb, as in stupid).

I'm worried, though. We've been at Stage 6 for a whole week ... no indication of any drop in stages, which will most likely lead to higher stages being implemented. Only, at present, we have only 2 more Stages. Nothing above Stage 8. Yet. It's also worrying, that all insurance companies have now explicitly excluded damages caused by total grid collapse - and the rioting & looting expected to follow such an event - from all cover. So, whatever household or business insurance you have, has become practically meaningless. I wonder whether break-ins during load shedding are still covered?

Well, it's ten to five ... better publish now, as I can never be sure that I'll have internet at home ... if I even bother to turn on the PC tonight. Load shedding again from midnight till four, and then from eight to twelve tomorrow. On Saturday, from two to six in the afternoon / evening, then again ten to midnight. See what I mean about having my time dictated? Sigh ...

LS 6 Wednesday

When I got home, the neighbour's cat was sitting on my veranda again. I chased her and she jumped into the next door yard ... or somewhere high in there, I couldn't see her, but the dogs were going ballistic! That brought out the new neighbour's wife - and we had a good chat, getting to know each other.

As we chatted for quite some time, I had less time for my chores ... so I just warmed up dinner (I'm relieved to say there's still gas in my bottle!), brought in mippies ... and then just sat down to wait for the power to come on. Internet was so-so, I was able to chat with a friend ... not much else, though.

Once the power came on ... well ... I went to sleep. I'd put everything on charge, so ...

This morning I got up a tad late. Brewed a fresh pot of coffee, treated mippies ... made and packed my lunch ... 

As I was leaving, I saw the electrician outside in the garden, on the phone. As my gate is giving me trouble again, and I don't want to end up stuck outside for three hours again, I stopped and waited for him to finish his phone call. It was clearly business, took quite a while.

He told me the solar panels are in progress, he's discussing the when and how with my landlord, and I should have lights during load shedding fairly soon. He'll pop in Friday afternoon to check out my gate - tonight after eight doesn't suit me, he offered. So either Friday or over the weekend - I told him no rush, whenever it suits him. He'll get paid - he'll sort it with my landlord, I don't have to go through my landlord.

No response from Sir Fruit, nor from my financial adviser.

I decided to run down the battery on my smartphone - empty it all the way, so it can 'reset' to zero (it's something someone once explained to me. If you keep re-charging and re-charging without the battery ever running completely down, it sort of builds up ... sort of re-sets zero higher and higher, so it eventually doesn't charge full ... yeah, I didn't understand the details, so I can't explain. Basic point: every re-chargeable battery should be emptied every once in a while to keep it lasting longer.). Well, I tried. By eleven, it still had over 40% though, so I gave up and plugged it into the charger. I'll try again tomorrow. I'll do the same with my Magneto torch over the weekend ... the battery used to last me for days, now it grows dim after just a few hours.

Anyway, I'm integrating all statements of one of my bank accounts into one spreadsheet ... going back to 2010, when I opened the account. I'm busy with 2016 now ... well, not the statements, but the transaction history. 

In the past I meticulously downloaded my statements - going back to when I opened the account. Now, however, I want the transaction records, as they give me the kind of details I want ... and I can download one, then, when I set the dates to the previous period, I get kicked out 'unauthorized access'. Sigh ... I guess I'll have to make do with the statements.

Well, five to five ... time to publish ... load shedding again since four, and until eight tonight ... 

LS 6 Tuesday

Again woke up with the same headache, though not as bad as yesterday. I won't take medication if I'm about to drive, so I tried some relaxation exercises. Fortunately they worked enough for me to drive to work.

It had rained again during the night, at least another 10mm, probably more. It was foggy this morning, I could barely see past the fence, out back! It lifted a bit, by the time I was ready to drive, but on the Honingnestkrans road it was really dense. For the first time ever, I put on my fog lights! You wouldn't believe how many idiots drove without lights! Visibility was really bad, and I drove no more than 50 km/h! Once I got to Soutpan road, visibility was much, much better.

I've put together a mail to Sir Fruit about all the eff-ups with their orders ... waiting for a reply before I place another order.

I also sent a reminder mail about my investment - and the missing tax certificate. 

Load shedding tonight from four to eight! I just hope the tenant has left some gas in my bottle, so I can heat up some dinner tonight! I haven't used it since I finally got it back ... 

Same schedule tomorrow evening ... so I can only bake my loaf of bread from eight in the evening, IF the power does come on ... this really sucks!

Well, quarter to five ... better publish.

LS 6 Monday - Splitting headache

I woke up around three in the morning with a splitting headache! It felt like a nail coming through the top of my head, aiming for my left eye ... which was streaming water! I got up for a bit, then back to bed ... woke up again half past five with the same headache, so I called in sick.

I forced myself out of bed, made myself a panlet, so I could take my migraine cocktail - though this wasn't a migraine. Still, all I could do ... went back to bed an hoped ...

I woke up around eleven feeling much better. Mippies were growling - neighbour's cat was on my veranda, about to come and explore my bedroom! Chased her off, but with the new neighbours - who have dogs - she ran out back, followed by Mini! So, I got up, went out back and the poor thing did indeed 'escape' next door, where the dogs got hold of her ... but the neighbour was home, called the dogs off and the cat escaped.

Neighbour is also the landlords electrician - he was telling me about the solar panels that are planned for installation, though he fears they won't work. They might keep the lights on, but not much more ... 

We've had some 20mm rainfall during the night, and as I was feeling better, I decided to do some gardening. I took advantage of the rain and pull weeds out of the lawn ... my word, just WTF? The 'lawn' now looks positively pock-marked! For the past five months, all the tenant did was run the mower over everything ... nurturing each and every weed, to the point where the roots are now very strong, the stems all thick ... and 'mowing' has become a clonk-clonk muscle-power work out!

I managed to get three bins full - all with their roots. Then it started raining again ... the section in front of my bedroom was just as bad! All he's done is spread the seeds and nurture the weeds! I'm back at square one ... all my work, clearing the weeds to make mowing easy ... 

Anyway. I brought mippies in around four or five, when it rained so hard, again. Mewthos was mewling for treats, anyway. Watched one or two interviews, then went to bed ...

LS 5 6 Sunday

I went to sit outside, and Lady Sybil came to join us ... to ensure there's not another episode of cat-up-a-tree, I brought them all inside. Early.

Surprisingly, I had internet during load shedding, so I watched an interview of a political analyst. He pointed out something interesting: Over the past 400 years, South Africa has only known one type of government, the type with only one group being in complete control. Even when we became a democracy, voters gave one party complete control. That is now changing - to coalitions. With the ANC falling apart, right now all parties are trying to become the next complete rulers ... only, that's not going to happen. Coalitions are the future. And ALL parties need to learn to work together to form stable coalitions. Right now, they're all fighting over the throne - bickering, back-stabbing, rattling their sabers to show how much power they each have ... it's going to take a while for them to grow up. And while they learn to play nice, we suffer. Sigh ...

Anyway, load shedding today from ten to twelve - which means I have exactly 4 hours of power this morning, as load shedding ended at six. This evening, again from six to eight ... which means I have six hours with electricity this afternoon. Now, I'm not going to rush into the kitchen to get the bread dough going the minute the power comes on this morning ... I decided last night, that this would be a perfect opportunity to test the 'bake only' setting. I'll make the dough this morning, then bake half this afternoon ... as I was about to type what I've just written, I realised it was twenty past eight ... so I rushed into the kitchen, to get the dough going.

I decanted the chicken stock - filled eight 300ml bottles! As I was busy, Mew and Sybil came in, so I gave them some - they love it!

Well, twenty to ten ... better shut off the PC.

Dough was done a minute before the power went off! I halved the dough and placed both halves in the fridge. I spent the time trimming the tomato plants and weeding the bed. Power came on at noon on the dot. I took one dough out, plopped it in the machine and left it for an hour to rise. Then started baking ... another turd loaf! I think I should have knocked it back, after taking it out of the fridge.

I carried on weeding, around the Wendy. In front, cleaning the step - weeds were knee high, there, already! Then I moved to the other side of the fence and cleaned that, as well.

Aaaand we're going to Stage 6 at four this afternoon. Until further notice ... no change to tonight's schedule, but tomorrow? 2 x 4 hours + 1 x 2 hours! Tomorrow evening six to eight, Tuesday evening four to eight!

I've just cooked my dinner ... fried Bockwurst slices, added a bottle home made tomato paste, chopped in some cheese, added two eggs and then a pot of noodles.

I rushed through all sorts of chores, then spent some time on the veranda with my mippies ... Sybil showed an interest in going walkabout, so I brought them all in early ... 

Surprisingly, I had internet during load shedding, so I was able to watch some new Mrs Brown's Boys episodes. Unfortunately, internet wouldn't co-operate before load shedding, so I couldn't publish ... 

LS 5 3 5 Saturday

With the pressure of load shedding, I fried the chicken hearts, cooked the chicken legs, minced the hearts and then washed all the dishes. Giving myself a head start for the weekend.

Load shedding stages are reduced over the weekend - not that it makes much of a difference. The high stages overnight are the biggest boon to criminals. My neighbour turned on his generator ... kept going till probably ten, I don't know, I went to sleep. Load shedding again from two to four this morning, and again from ten to twelve during the day. Tonight six to eight.

I got up early this morning. I let mippies out only after sunrise. Mini is chasing Sybil away. Which makes me angry!

I can't decide on what to do with all that chicken meat. My real dilemma is, that I have no plan for food for the week ... 

Well, I've picked the meat off the bones, shared with mippies, ate some myself. Chicken stock is cooking, washing is on the line, and the tenant is busy moving out.

Actually, HE is at work, but he's hired some guys with a pick up, his mistress' sister is here, helping, as well. And I just got a voice note that he will come here, after work, to put everything back into the room that he took out when he moved in. Good! Because I was wondering whether I'd have to do that myself ...

Oh, and Sybil is back inside! When it got too peoply outside, she - together with all my mips - came running inside. I've had cuddle sessions with Mewly, with Mini, with Janey ... 

Right. They just left ... they left the TV standing in the driveway - I tried to call after them, but they ignored me. Or didn't hear me. Or whatever. I got handed a bunch of keys - only two of them are mine. The rest ... no clue. I looked inside, and they took my mat, after all. I'll be charitable and assume that was by mistake. I'm guessing the sister took it at the last minute, not knowing that it was mine. I see they also picked clean the so-called spinach the tenant had planted next to the garage ... nice, eh? Not that I care about the spinach - but it's exactly why I'm glad he's gone: I've generously shared the harvest from the veggies I worked to grow - but I haven't received so much as an offer of anything in return! The tomatoes he's planted - with my seeds - are rotting on the ground. The weird spinach ... well, like I just said.

I see they also took my second hose pipe connection and sprayer. During load shedding, I've been weeding outside the kitchen. Oh, first I cleaned the stove top, though. Thoroughly.

Lots of thorns growing out back now ... I'll need to water sections, thoroughly, so I can get them out. That's when I noticed that my connection is missing. I've been thinking that I might like to get that back garden looking attractive - I mean, I look at it every morning and every evening. Flowers and such don't do well, there, though - too dry, and too rocky.

I've been trying to think of what I should eat this week. I looked at some chicken recipes and thought I'd solved my dilemma - but frankly, I don't feel like chicken. Not at all!

Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap! Load shedding Stage 5 implemented with immediate effect - until further notice, I suppose. I can't access the schedule - internet signal dropped a bar or two ...

Ah, signal back. And yes, until further notice. I checked my spreadsheet schedule - no change tonight, but tomorrow morning from two till six! Again from ten to twelve and tomorrow evening six to eight again. Unless we get bumped to Stage 6 - then we'll enjoy another four hours tonight, six to ten; four hours from two to six ... I am so sick and tired of this shit.

I can just about cope with the scheduled load shedding, but when they up the stages - without notice? While the very people who caused all this are exempt from load shedding?

I just started decanting the chicken broth into 300ml bottles, when I remembered that the key to good broth is to let it cool completely. So I poured it all back into the pot ... 

Since I still had no clue what I'd be eating this week, I had a look at my freezer list ... and I saw the Bockwurst. That's what I feel like! Weird, eh?

Sybil just brought me a feather! She is such a darling! Sweeter than any of the mips! Never complains, never demands, happily plays with the simplest things, doesn't seem to have any claws ... apart from the odd evenings, when she stays up the tree ... she's pure pleasure!

Yes, makes it very easy to love her - but no, I'm not neglecting my mippies! I make time to brush, cuddle, and spend time with each of my mippies!

Just got a voice note from my now ex tenant, apparently he'd been shouting at the gate ... must have been while I was washing the dishes. I noticed the cats acting like there was someone ... but didn't see anyone. And I didn't expect him this early - he was here about half past three! He says he'll try to come tomorrow and he'll bring back my stuff, too.

He reckons the hose pipe connection is probably somewhere here ... just an oversight. If it was just the sprayer, maybe! But the whole connector was unscrewed, and removed! That's no oversight - that's deliberate. He's in for a rough ride ... and I'm glad I'm out of harm's way!

Anyway, I carried on clearing outside the kitchen ... and to my delight, I saw Sybil and Lady Jane playing! Not full on, just gently exploring the possibility ... it was awesome! She'll win them over, yet!

Load shedding in forty minutes ... I better publish and shut down the PC now, so I can spend a bit of time outside with my mippies.

LS 6 4 5 Friday

Power came on at six, on the dot. It went off for a few seconds, twice between six and seven. The second time was while I was in the shower ... fortunately it came back on a few seconds later.

I came home to find water everywhere! In the lounge, in the kitchen, the biggest pool in the passage, and some in the bathroom! At first I thought the toilet had sprung another leak - nope. Then I thought the ice defrosting in the freezer might have run out - nope. Eventually I discovered that mippies had toppled my full water filter! The water poured onto the kitchen floor between the sink counter and the fridge, some had flowed to the lounge, but most of it flowed through the kitchen into the passage, where it pooled!

Why? I discovered that, too! They had folded the towel into the reservoir of their water fountain in the lounge, as a result, all the water was soaked up by the towel and the reservoir was empty! Being the ingenious, clever cats that they are, they provided themselves with another water fountain! Sigh ...

They had also lifted the lid on the flower fountain, water all around, there, as well!

Trying to mop all that up, with a torch in one hand and a wet rag in the other ... turning the torch so I could find the puddles ... because ... power off ... urgh! And poor Sybil was quite confused about all that water everywhere. Does she hide somewhere all day, while I'm out? Poor thing!

I will get her room ready for her this weekend. With the tenant moving out, I can store a lot of the ... okay, let's call them 'craft collections' ... there. I'm storing cardboard in all forms, for ideas I have ... to be crafted ... one day. You know how that goes, right?

I will be really glad when my tenant's mistress is gone! She's really not a nice person. Utterly selfish.

Oh, and would you believe it? I forgot to buy electricity yesterday, after all! I realised that, as I was leaving ... and then figured, since the power was off almost 24 hours, one day won't break the bank, so to speak. I'm down to 50 units. On my own, I use no more than 10 units a day - and that's when I'm at home. But since the mistress has moved in, usage had gone as high as 17 units - on average - a day! That's why I'm charging the tenant double for April.

Yes, I bought electricity today! I'll load it, when I get home.

Speaking of which. Load shedding from six to ten tonight - 4 hours! So, my day ends at six ... any activity needing electricity better be finished by six. So ... I better not start my afternoon in the garden, eh?

This morning I watched Lady Sybil. Her favourite toy is apparently the cap on syringes. She has been playing with one ever since she arrived. I've put it back on the sink counter countless times ... and this morning I learned why! She jumps onto the counter, looks for the cap, bats it onto the floor and away she goes!

I've been meaning to do my budget today ... but I just don't feel like it. I guess it can wait till next week ... 

When I get home, I plan on frying the chicken hearts and cooking the chicken legs. I finished the last batch last night, so I need some to feed the ferals tonight.

Anyway, it's ten past two, almost time to go home ... better publish now.

Dark 22 hrs LS 6 4 6 Thursday

Lady Sybil is behaving like a frightened mouse! I really must make a plan to set up the small bedroom for her during the day! I just don't know what mippies problem is with her ...

I keep forgetting to buy electricity ... it's getting pretty low ... I meant to buy on Tuesday, then on Wednesday ... 

Went to bed in time for load shedding ... played with Sybil for quite a while. She LOVES the dangly fishy! Around nine, I went to sleep ...

Woke up around eleven. Power still off! Crap! I need the fan to start wooshing the blerry mosquitoes away from me! Not gonna happen, though ... so, I get up, douse myself in Eau de Buzz-off, turned on the Wifi Router, reported the power outage, then turned on my desk air con - just for a short while. Just enough to cool me down enough to be able to go back to sleep ...

I woke up to the alarm, followed by the new neighbour turning on their generator. I had just enough coffee left for my morning and for work. Cold, by now, of course. Sigh ...

On the way to work, I saw a fleet of police coming the opposite way ... crime is seriously getting out of control. Completely! Law-abiding is purely a personal choice ... there is no visible policing to prevent crime, and the police don't have the resources to successfully investigate crime. So 99% of criminals have nothing to fear ... even if they are caught, they mostly get off ... or simply escape, if they don't have enough money to pay for a 'get off free' bribe.

Gauteng has just spent Billions to recruit and train 4000 crime prevention wardens. Most of that money was spent on their luxury vehicles, I gather - they will be driving brand new BMWs! I just don't know anymore ... my neck is sore from all the head shaking in disbelief!

Well, it's Thursday, and that means grocery shopping. I finished my spaghetti last night - but I don't feel like more of the same tonight. I haven't taken anything out of the freezer ... so ... what's for dinner tonight? Well, that also depends on whether I have electricity tonight!

Okay, I'll get two packets of chicken drum sticks - I can eat dinner, and add any left overs to the next batch of cat food. And in case I don't have electricity, I'll also get a packet of processed sausages, aka viennas. I'll have a look at Spar, whether they have a sauce I feel like adding ... 

I also need cheese and chicken hearts. And I've decided to make chicken broth this weekend. I'll get some chicken feet to add. My biggest problem with that will be storage. I think the snack bags I use for seeds could work - they should hold 1 cup's worth?

Well, I've spent a tad more than I had planned. No regrets, though. I bought a strainer - I couldn't find mine, last time I wanted to use it. And, anyway, I inherited it from my mum - so it's about two decades old, and I remember it had started a bit of rust. Toilet paper was on special, as was long life milk. Although, today's 'special' price exceeds anything I could ever have imagined paying for milk! It's almost criminal!

I also got toothpicks, so I can maybe grow some avos - I 'planted' the pits without the tooth picks, and they're not sprouting. I got ziplock bags for the flour - those are expensive! They didn't have any 'sandwich' sized ziplock bags, only the snack sized ones, which I already have. At the butchery, the only change of plan was, that I bought Sinha's rolls (spiced mince wrapped in a thin slice of beef) instead of viennas.

No news on the power outage, yet. Load shedding at 12 ... power has been off since eight last night!

By the way, I tried the 'toast frozen slices of bread' thing last night. Works perfectly! Yes, the bread is a bit soggy - but only because I eat it only the next day. At the time, it was perfectly standard toast!

Still no power ... it's just almost four! On a positive note, though: apparently my landlord is already planning on installing solar panels! So far, we've been without electricity for 20 hours!

I'll update the total hours in the heading tomorrow morning, IF power comes on at all tonight ... though I sincerely hope it does! Frankly, load shedding is bad enough, but the power outages on top of that? Getting a bit much now ...

LS 6 4 6 Wednesday

Soon after load shedding started, the new neighbours started up their generator!

The silver lining, of course, is: their floodlights add to my safety as well.

Early morning wake-up, courtesy of the neighbours cat having a hissy growl with Mewthos at my bedroom window ... 

This morning, the cat lady, who helped me trap the ferals, had posted that one of her babies had been killed by her other babies! I cannot imagine coming home to such a horror! I think I should reconsider Sybil's situation in my own home. Maybe I should keep her in the spare room, when I'm at work? I'll have to tidy that room up, and give her toys and stuff ... 

Aaand petrol price has gone up! By over 37c! 

At least there is one item of good news: Sign Language is FINALLY an official language! It is an utter disgrace that it has taken nearly 30 years! And no, it's not English - just with signs, you know, like writing ... it is a completely individual language, with it's own grammar, it's own culture ... you can't just learn a few signs, string them together and somehow that's a sentence.

Anyway.

I had another weird dream this morning. About a snake in my garden ... curled up, peacefully, far away from my cats ... then it moved towards my cats and I killed it. And felt bad about killing the snake ... 

Predictably, load shedding is just getting worse and worse. Our government is not doing anything. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. 

The latest news is that they are now blaming the private sector! Seriously! They've slammed the door on the private sector's involvement in electricity generation ... the utter fallacy of such a statement is just incomprehensible!

Our third stooge, MoE (Minister of Electricity) is clearly as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike! (Stole that one from 'Morning Shot' - it was such a classic!). And they are right - the only way to go is off the grid. But how? As a tenant, that's not really my decision ... even if I could afford it ...

Anyway. Time to go home ... 

LS 3 4 6 Tuesday

I spent a lot of time cuddling Sybil. She is such a darling! She purrs up a storm, holds my hand, and just loves being cuddled!

It took quite some time before I could finally go to sleep ... 

I woke up to the alarm, and turned over. Silly of me. I woke again about quarter past six. Treated mippies, brewed myself a fresh pot of coffee, morning smoke and think ... off to work.

Traffic at the intersection of Soutpan and Rosslyn road was a nightmare! The crossing was completely blocked ... I couldn't even see the traffic lights!

Rant alert.

Load shedding tonight from eight till midnight. And again tomorrow morning from four to six. Our Minister of Electricity - aptly a MOE - has now acknowledged that ending load shedding by the end of this year is not possible. Well, when they refuse to accept help from the private sector - just telling them 'no, we will not permit you to not load shed, because you're able to produce your own power, and no, we will not permit you to sell us excess electricity generated' ... well ...

Oh yeah, the latest 'plan' to end load shedding is to sucker us into installing smart meters. The reasoning being, since they can't generate enough to meet demand, they will forcibly drop 'demand'. They're trying to sell us on 'you'll be able to manage your home's demand, with the data the meter provides' while down-playing the fact that they CAN disconnect anything in our home, at will. The words used were 'In theory, yes, we could switch off your geyser'. Similar to the ripple relay - which they called 'a blunt instrument' by comparison.

Just have those friggin' mansions the ministers live in - all paid with our tax money - included in load shedding! You'll drop the entire country by at least one, most likely 2 Stages! And if they enjoy the same 'benefit' of their 'labour' - well, that will encourage THEM to do something about it!

Rant over.

Day over, too, ha ha! Time to go home ...

LS 3 1 3 Public Holiday Monday

I stayed up quite late watching ... Midsomer Murders. No, I don't know why. It's light entertainment.

I've been worrying about the bread problem. I usually bake a loaf on Sunday, but by Wednesday it starts going a bit crumbly, and then it goes off ... I've found it starting to go moldy as early as Thursday. I don't think there's any way to keep bread fresh for longer, so I'm looking into the best way to defrost.

Turns out that the best way to defrost is with heat. Mum always defrosted on the counter, then warmed it in the oven. She'd put it in the oven while it was heating up, when the oven was hot, the bread was done. I was googling the best way to defrost, and came across the option to defrost individual slices. In the toaster!

Defrosted bread is only good for two days, at most. So, a whole loaf is out of the question. I don't finish, even a small loaf, in two days. At the same time, I can't afford to use up vacuum sealer bags at that rate ... 

Another problem is, if I bake a 900gr loaf, the slices are too tall for the toaster. However, if I cut the loaf in half and then slice top to bottom ... that could work.

Another option is to halve the dough and keep half in the fridge. It can keep for up to 3 days. My bread machine has a 'bake only' setting. That takes 1 hour. But the dough can't go from fridge to baking - it has to rise, first. And that takes time ... I'll have to google how much time.

If load shedding is from six to eight in the evening, that gives me 2 1/2 hours to warm up and rise. If load shedding is from eight to ten, though ... I have 1 1/2 hours to warm up and rise, then start baking.

Apparently I can bake straight from the fridge, if I let it rise before I refrigerate it. I'll have to use a 2 liter ice cream container to store the risen dough in the fridge. Or I can let it rise in the fridge ... then give it 40-60 minutes on the counter before baking. I'll have to experiment.

Shite! I was just about to start a loaf of brown bread - and I've had to throw away the complete bag of flour! Filled with bugs!

Never happened until this non-stop load shedding started! I've found flour in old boxes - years out of date - and it was still fine. Okay, so that was the cheap, treated flour, whereas now I buy stone-milled ... I suspect that manufacturers are cutting corners. Can't blame them - if they didn't, prices would rise even worse than they already have! Only way to prevent bugs, is to seal flour air-tight.

I'm going to have to buy some Ziplock bags after all. 400 x 250 mm for flour - I'll just put the whole pack in the bag, in its original packaging. And some smaller ones, sandwich bags, for slices of bread.

Of course, if it wasn't for load shedding, I could simply fill the machine in the morning and set it to bake so that it's done when I get home. Like I used to.

For today, though, I'm baking a 900gr whole wheat loaf, I'll cut it in half, and put half the loaf, in slices, in the freezer.

For dinner today, I still have half the spaghetti I cooked yesterday. With beans harvested from my garden, and frozen peas and brussels sprouts. For the rest of the week, I've taken out 2 packets of mince, I'll now sit with my harvest of cherry tomatoes from this week - another box full!

That box is quite a bit more than I need for the mince ... I'll use some, and freeze the rest.

Half past one. Bread is done, tomato paste is ready. Now I've just had an idea - why don't I sauté the mince, add tomato paste and freeze it in single meal portions? Then I can take it out, pressure cook from frozen, add pasta and have dinner in half an hour. And I can add frozen veggies - whichever one's I feel like on the day.

Just past three and I'm almost done. I mixed a lot of the tomato paste with the mince. Only about 150ml left, which I used to fill one of the half bottles in the freezer. Filled one tub with mince, to put in the freezer, the rest of it, I mixed with the spaghetti from yesterday. Now I still need to cut the loaf of bread and freeze the slices - I've already washed all dishes.

I've re-filled the Iams kibble box for the kitchen, sliced the bread and placed 3 x 2 slices in the freezer, I was about to pack my lunch for tomorrow, when my tenant came to talk to me.

I've been expecting this, given his behaviour on Saturday: he's decided to move back to Mamelodi. True to his pattern, he's babbling on about how it's my landlord's fault, because he hasn't built him a toilet, yet. Which is bullshit, of course! I said nothing, there's no point. He's still in denial, and actually believes he's making a responsible sacrifice. He's moving next weekend.

I'm mostly relieved. Saves me having to have a talk with him, plus it moves me out of the 'collateral damage' zone, when the shite hits the fan. I've endured enough 'collateral damages' already.

The only part that's not relieved, is the part where I don't know, yet, how I'll cope with the garden. That's all. I'm glad the ferals will have a safe, dry, and warm place to stay, again. And I can feed them out back, again, as well. Their food will be safe, and dry, as well.

I told my neighbour, the one who recommended my tenant, and he said he thinks he can arrange for the landlord to mow the lawn. He's got people working full time here - working the fields, mowing, etc. Though he did caution that he speaks under correction.

I've taken out the trash - well, to the garage, I'll drive it to the dump this week. And you know what? I'm feeling relieved. Really relieved, now ... I'm glad I'm out of this soap opera!

Aaaand we're back to Stage 6 load shedding in the evenings. Starting tomorrow evening. We'll enjoy 4 hours, from eight to midnight tomorrow night!

Miss Sybil led me on a merry chase around the garden again. Not up the tree, this time, at least! She ended by lying down, turning on her back ... in front of Mewthos! Who was about to smack her, but ... seeing her turn up her tummy, he didn't. She'll charm him, yet, I'm sure!

I've brought all mippies in, my four were no trouble, at least! Gave them one treat, I'll give them a second one, only if they insist. I'll go take a shower ... load shedding tonight from eight to ten. Unless they suddenly implement Stage 6. Then it will be until midnight. Oh, and with Stage 4 starting at five, we'll have load shedding from five to six tomorrow morning! Sigh ...