Monday 21st January, 2013       1730

It looks as though Qing has made her mind up regarding her future - as much as that happens here because things always change. What she wants to do is to study Arabic in Hefei for 4 months and then in the summer go to Sydney. Ideally she wants to be a TV or radio hostess but I doubt that will happen. I think she has chosen the best path which is also her father’s wish.

She says that working for a local television station would get her an annual salary of 36,000y - not a bad wage, but if she works for her uncle’s business he will pay her eight times that, which is astronomical here. At least if she does in fact make it to Oz she has thinking time as to what she really wants to do in her life. From my perspective, the problem is that tomorrow morning she is going to Hefei to meet two teachers who will tutor her in Arabic (not a lot of call for it in China!) and it is quite possible she will start studies almost immediately which will mean she won’t come back here. Our weekend at the Hilton in a fortnight is still on track though - for now!

She cluttered off downtown a couple of hours ago to buy a pair of slippers she saw the other day but didn’t buy. In the meantime I am busy baking fruit bread for her to take in the morning and my version of shepherds pie for our dinner later. I told her I would hold off on the mashed potato until she returns so I can show her how to make it.

Tuesday 22nd          0830

While she was out shopping I did the “filling” for the pie, adding some hot chilli to pep it up, but waited until she came back to boil the spuds. She was then treated to a lesson in mashing and when it was done I let her take a spoonful to taste before I covered the meat & veg. “Wow!!!! That’s delicious!!!” was the response, so I told her to wait until she tasted the entire thing.

Now, the pie was easily enough to feed four. When it was done she thought the pattern in the potato I scratched with the tines was absolutely marvellous and I dished up a quarter each. I couldn’t finish my portion (but I have to say it was very tasty) as I was stuffed, she on the other hand had no such problem. She ended up eating the same amount again AND a cake for pudding! How in God’s name she stays so slim with the amount she packs in I don’t know but she did say if she lived with me she would get fat because she loves my cooking.

This morning we got up early as she wanted to set out in good time for Hefei. It takes about four hours by buses all told so I imagine she will be having lunch at midday. I turned out in the cold to give her a ride to the south gate - I would have taken her to the main bus station but she would have been frozen on the back of the bike and anyway the bus from here only costs 1y.

I don’t know if the promise of a selection of more western cooking had any bearing on it but at some point she will indeed be returning because she decided to leave her laptop and a few other items here. The sooner she returns the better as far as I am concerned.

1000

I was toying with the idea of going to town for lunch and shopping today but also with going back to bed for a while, when the phone rang. It was Prof Fang asking me what my plans were for the holiday. Kevin told me yesterday to expect a call as he said she would invite me to dinner, probably with some of the school bigwigs. Either he has become a simpleton or he is a duplicitous bastard and I know which one I think and I will kill him! Not that it would have made any difference if he had told the truth, the result would have been the same. I told her I was going to Hefei for a weekend but aside from that I would be local the rest of the time, which is true because at present the only other arrangement I have is a two hour appearance downtown on Sunday to test pronunciation for Helen’s students (she is the one whose kids are really well behaved).

Anyway, far from receiving a dinner invitation, I was told she needed a favour. The vice chancellor’s daughter hasn’t gone to uni yet and needs to practise her English. I have a feeling this is the same girl Cinny brought for a chat a couple of weeks ago. Well how the bloody hell can I turn down the dean and the number two honcho??!! Not that I would anyway, when students of any major approach me for help I give it freely. The girl is willing to come here, possibly with another girl she is friends with, however I suggested that as I often go to town in the holidays to buy supplies perhaps we should meet there. It looks as if it will be tomorrow lunchtime. It means I won’t be going out today (better bake a loaf for my food today then) but it does mean I will be treated to lunch.

For now though it’s back to bed. Not only was I up early but the cats were up to mischief all night and at one point Qing had to get out of bed to rescue a key which sits in  a wardrobe lock quite high up and with which they were playing after Pooh (probably) removed it.