Friday 31st August, 2012       1300

Once again, the best laid plans of mice and me. No dinner with Joanna tonight, for when she set out travelling it transpired her usual route no longer exists, so she will take a lot longer - and she sent me the message before eight this morning so I don’t envy her probably 12 hours on buses and trains. Still, we rearranged it for tomorrow night instead, so it has worked out well in the end because now I can go downtown late this afternoon, go to the bank, do some shopping and then have a cheap dinner while I am about it. I am sure K will be fine now all the eateries  are open here and I can’t be bothered cooking again. When I worked in the UK I probably cooked once or twice a week because of the luxury of takeaways and ready meals. Here of course I have cafes literally one minute away and if I want to eat local food it is a lot cheaper than cooking for myself because I use a lot of imported stuff.

Tina contacted the secretary this morning re splitting that class and was told that contrary to what I thought it only had 32 students. Fine, if that is the case it doesn’t need halving. However I am unconvinced, because when I checked my records the only class I had with that number was one half of the huge class I did split. Why would they only give me one and not the other? Watch this space on Monday to find out if I am faced with standing room only in my classroom.

I just looked at the weather forecast. It shows that the new academic year (and all the hatchlings) will be welcomed with rain. They will get it on Sunday when they arrive and again on Monday when they report for duty! I should have no need to venture far so as the saying goes, “I’m all right Jack!” - now wait and see if I get my come-uppance with a soaking after that!!  

2200

Nice little run to town. For the second time running Sonya was not in the bank and then I twigged. She is taking her banking exams. I wish her all the best and will ask her how they went next time I am in. On this occasion, because I went late afternoon, there was a queue and rather than stand loitering, this time I decided to take a seat. Not the normal customer seats but the comfy one behind an unoccupied desk I have been offered before close to the ticket machine. On previous occasions I have noticed the security guard pressing the screen, getting tickets and sticking them on said desk under the counter. I never realised why until today. I bagged 127 and he got 128, duly leaving it near my elbow. A few minutes later a well dressed woman came in, parked her handbag also near my elbow and surreptitiously slid the ticket - which was obscured from my view - into her hand. Obviously if you are in the know you can call or text beforehand en route and save yourself a wait! One day when I’m in a hurry I will try that with Sonya! Needless to say, even though we couldn’t speak to each other, the lady was left in no doubt that I knew what was going on.

I then went to K’s bank and whacked some money for online shopping in her account (can’t wait until payday for litter and Eucryl), hit Lottemart and had some dinner. On the way back as I was approaching Pyngtian lake where I turn left off the main road (remember we drive on the right here) I checked my mirrors, glanced over my shoulder and moved into the “fast” lane. This is a 6 lane main road. Apart from an oncoming van the only traffic in sight was a car far behind me, also travelling at speed in the outside lane. Now, this car had the pick of three lanes. I was indicating the turn so commonsense dictates the car should use one of the other two available lanes. But no. Fifty yards before the turn he/she warned me. Not with a normal car horn but a police siren. Clearly an unmarked car and with no lights flashing it was not on an emergency call. I had two seconds to react. It wasn’t indicating a turn yet I was, so I really had to execute my manoeuvre. I didn’t dare pull to the right in case I died and going left I could still die - or at the very least end up in hospital again. The car was going straight on. What in God’s name do they teach these people when they learn to drive? Two spare lanes and no traffic but he/she had to put the willies up me. I am going to save up and buy a Chieftain tank.

All day today there have been fireworks. I can only assume they were to mark the festival of hungry ghosts, although I am not sure ghosts can eat spent explosives. Notwithstanding, it is a treat to see the nation observing tradition when so many UK religious festivals are now simply viewed as a holiday and an excuse to drink. I don’t count myself in their number because I am agnostic and I don’t need an excuse to drink - being awake is enough!

Back on campus the influx had started in earnest. They are flocking back and over the weekend it will become a torrent. I saw some of my (now ex) students, put the shopping in and took the dogs out. Whilst having a beer I had a text from Happy (very apt for she always is) asking where I was. We met up in my office - an outside table on campus outside the cafes - half an hour later. Seeing so many old faces tonight brought it home to me just how much I have missed these kids, and worse, how much I will miss teaching them. Of course I will still see them and chat occasionally but it is nothing like the same.

After Happy left I sat alone, deliberately staying out a little late so that when I came home I wouldn’t have to let Robin out after her dinner - she stayed out all night yesterday again. Glancing around to spot familiar faces, I spotted a girl in the China Unicom shop.  Couldn’t see her face but she wore a dark blue top and as the assistant I had seen in there was wearing the same colour I thought to myself that although her face was a bit “plain Jane” my goodness did she have a stunning body and legs. Almost enough to make one change mobile providers!

Imagine my shock when the “assistant” left the shop and it was none other than Joanna, accompanied by Balance! They both came for a brief chat, brief because they needed to buy necessities and Joanna hadn’t had dinner. This was at nine and she had travelled all day. Deferral of our dinner date was certainly a wise move and hopefully we will both be chipper tomorrow night. I have been tired all day but this time I know the cause was the females talking loudly outside from eight this morning onwards.  Online shopping is now ordered, I have nothing to do during the day tomorrow so will stay in bed as long as possible.