Wednesday 5th September, 2012       1530

Kevin gave me a nice little present at lunchtime - my payment of 50y for judging a drama contest last term. Not a huge amount of money but it buys a case of pijou or all I can eat at the BBQ restaurant. We have a glorious day here and in a while I shall go out and meet him for a chat after his lessons.

The kids school owner called earlier, they have restarted and so I have a couple of lessons on Saturday morning. I really must make an effort to think up some new games to play with them because although there will be new students they will be in the minority.

Thursday 6th      1300

For the first time in months I bought campus food for dinner last night. A load of barbecued sticks which they remembered not to make too spicy for the foreign wimp. For price and convenience they are in fact good - I got what amounted to a large plateful for 12y, tried to be a little healthy by including mushrooms, cabbage and pumpkin along with rice, fish squid etc. Plus they are ideal to reheat at home after cooking for the zoo.

That could have been an impossibility though, for on my return the water was off. In case of emergency I keep a flask of water for animal drinking or cooking and I was relieved to find it holds enough to boil a half a duck. The water was only restored about an hour ago so I assume the new pump they installed in the break is not top quality.

1545

Well, after a brief spell of the water being on it went off again! I am still waiting to get cleaned up.

Friday 7th         0130

The water fiasco continued with the stop-start until eventually I gave up, donned yesterday’s clothes and went out anyway. Just for some shopping and for the dogs to have a stretch, but I was none too pleased at being dirty and sticky. During one of the “on” moments I refilled the flask and kettle and so had plenty of water to make some bread. I had not defrosted anything for the four-legged contingent so bought some of their “alien” food from a café. Duck legs and necks I think, bloody 31y worth. At present the legs have gone but there are still three quarters of the necks left. If my dogs won’t even eat them what on earth are the students like???

I eventually managed a shower at 2230 so at least in the morning if there’s no water I will be reasonably clean, but not long after I took it the water disappeared yet again! This is becoming tiresome.

2045

Not being very productive lately am I? Quiet day in again I am afraid, although I did go outside campus twice. First time was to buy fish - for once I never had to club them to death as they obviously had some gutted ones they couldn’t shift and gave me a good price, the second you will see in a little while.

After buying the fish I went to see if Barry Manilow was there. He was, so at last you can see my scalp again. There are what appear to be some new hands in there (judging by the fact three of them were practising on a mannequin head and a wig) and normally, aside from the fact that having a haircut is a necessary intrusion in my life, I don’t mind it because they don’t speak English so there isn’t the usual obligatory chat with the barber - I can just sit grumpily silent. This time though, I felt like a patient with a rare condition being attended to by a consultant showing medical students the ropes - including the topiarist there were no less than five bodies ranged around me discussing my barnet. Still, it’s done now for another month or so.

I did my shopping and had a swift couple before going home. I wanted to get back before Sky came to clean so I could do the washing up. The only reason was the fact the innards of the bread maker were dirty, they are non-stick and I don’t trust her not to just use the gentle sponge to clean everything. Anyway, I like to take the dogs out of her way.

When she came I left again, this time on foot. Thank God I took the lead because Pepsi wet herself and ran off at the very hint of a vehicle or other people and I ended up having to half drag her. The campus is certainly heaving now with newcomers arriving constantly - the cafes were busy but I had decided to have sardines on toast anyway. Until I changed my mind that is. After observing and thinking that Chinese women should not wear heels because all they do is either teeter/totter/look ungainly I walked back to the bike and took the dogs to the new place just off campus. Actually there are now four new ones - the fifth is some way off opening - but I just fancied fried dumplings.

The place is an offshoot of “my” café here and the wall menu has but two pictures, one of a fish thing, the other of fried dumplings, the rest being in written Mandarin. Nobody spoke English but I pointed to the picture and through gestures I was asked how many I wanted at 4p each. Ten. Then I spotted the boss (the owners son) who speaks a little, only to be told they didn’t have any. Sod it, ok give me boiled rice, the aubergine (eggplant as they call it) dish and something else small you think I will like. I wish I hadn’t bothered because I ended up with just an egg and tomato dish I could have had on campus! Ah well, I will give the other new places a crack at it in time. In the meantime, May (remember the girl who was taking an exam in the holidays who I tried to help?) wants to take me out for dinner on Sunday night.