Tuesday 11th September, 2012 1645
I am done in! On a whim I decided to clean my oven. It’s only the size of a large microwave but what a job! Now I remember why I never ever cleaned proper sized ovens!
I checked with Sonya to see if the wages were in early but on the one day I really wanted them to be they weren’t. It’s a lovely day today so I could have gone to town and done all I needed to, especially buy the ingredients for tomorrow. I would have done so for the very good reason that tomorrow it is supposed to pee down all day so it appears I will get a bit damp.
On another whim, I was sitting near the café thinking about dinner tonight - I have a hankering for a decent meal rather than campus food, bread or as last night, something I can never really enjoy or fill up on, yet I don’t want to go to the city. I decided I would go to the sweet pork place because I can take the dogs, K is busy tonight and so I invited Joanna. She is coming tomorrow so I thought she would cry off but I am happy to say I am picking her up at six outside the library. She jumped at the chance because she thinks campus food is terrible. Well, I believe it IS in the student cafeterias (yet the prices have all gone up again) but the cafes still do a good trade - more expensive though - and although I find the fare either inedible or boring the students seem to like it.
However by going to eat early I might be able to get an early night, the main rain is forecast from late morning onwards and I have noticed that if whatever is forecast happens, it generally arrives here between two and four hours later. Fingers crossed that if I go early I will avoid most of it.
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I had a lovely time with Joanna but I do wish she wouldn’t be so careful with my money. I ordered the prawns and told her to order two dishes she liked so she ordered egg and tomato soup for about 60p and that weird dish I think I mentioned before. Lots of small balls with sweet corn and all different colours so it resembles those play pits they hide treasure in and kids have to dive in. Definitely not my cup of tea! Anyway, at least I am knackered so will definitely hit the sack as soon as I have cooked some duck and finished my bottle of plonk. Night all.
Wednesday 12th 1400
Payday. Or it was supposed to be! I rode into town without getting any rain but when I got to the bank our wages hadn’t been paid in. It’s damned annoying because I planned on loading up the bike with loads of stuff and there I was with 100y in my pocket and a dinner party to cook for and pets with no dinner! As it happens, I bought everything for tonight including the animal fodder for 93y but it means I will have to go back there tomorrow - although I can buy fish here I will run out of cigars. Sonya will check my account and send me a message when the money’s there. I have a little money in my UK account but I don’t keep the debit card on me - it’s not something I use more than once a year here!
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For me the lasagne was a little runnier than I would have liked, mainly because I used more milk in the cheese sauce than normal due to there being five diners, but pronounced a success by all, as was the garlic bread. Kevin had reacted with disdain when I told him I did it in Bacofoil, opining he liked it toasted otherwise it became soggy yet he couldn’t leave it alone! I made three baguettes and there is nothing left, although there are two portions of lasagne residing in my freezer for another day - one of which he has laid claim to.
He did tell me that by accident he ended up eating with Olivier and Coco (the new French teacher and his Chinese wife) in KFC the other night. Apparently she is pregnant with their second child and so soon will leave to live with her parents miles away until it is born and thenceforth Olivier will be alone. Kevin took the liberty of telling him he would be invited to our western evenings as and when we hold them. I don’t mind as long as he contributes with some vin rouge, but of course will not welcome anything other than mild criticism from a traditional enemy regarding my culinary prowess. This isn’t Masterchef, it’s producing western food under fire!
The girls were good company as well, although the only one of us who has showered today was Kevin - downtown. The water has been off for most of today, it came on while I was preparing dinner for the oven but went off when I finally had time to stop and get cleaned up. Lately this has become more frequent and is particularly galling when I found out the student dormitories still have water.
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