Wednesday 23rd January, 2013             1800

Last night Qing told me she would come back today and that the meeting she had with the Arabic teacher was “terrible” and that she would explain when she saw me. I was rather upbeat and replied that as I had something on today it would be better if we ate downtown tonight and accordingly went to bed with a smile on my face.

I had made arrangements to meet up with the girl who wants to practise English at 1230 today downtown. I duly arrived at the south gate in good time although had I known today was going to be relatively warm I would have charged the bike last night and taken that instead. I had the misfortune to time my trip very badly indeed, for the nursing college opposite was disgorging young would-be Nightingales as they finally closed for the spring festival.

The first bus was rammed full of bodies and suitcases so I thought no problem, I will take the next bus, plenty of time. Four nurses and I duly waited a few minutes and were rewarded with a new vehicle. By this time though, dozens more fledglings had joined us and as soon as the bus doors opened I found myself in a situation similar to one I was in years ago when I had the misfortune to encounter a Glasgow theatre emptying after a Bay City Rollers concert. There was a sense of every girl for herself, stuff the fat old laowei who was here before us, we are getting on!

Yes of course I was tempted - extremely - to bellow and demand my place near the head of a by now non-existent queue which had become a stampede but I became so angry I actually pushed people away so I could get the hell out of it. Some of these girls (who remember are being trained to be caring and sympathetic towards people) turned to look at me as if I was mad. I simply shook my head with a stonefaced expression. Whether they understood my disgust at such primitive behaviour I know not. So I waited for bus number three. Now of course I was going to be late. It arrived and once again I was surrounded by nurses. I had decided that I was either taking this one or forgetting the idea entirely. Exactly the same happened as before but this time I allowed four people to embark before using my weight, getting to the entrance and then grasping both sides so as to prevent anyone else pushing in front of me. This was met with some surprise but I gave them a (probably unintelligible to them) lecture on manners and the fact this was my third bus. I got a seat.

Half way through my “free” lunch with Crystal and her friend Jim, Qing texted me to say she wasn’t coming today. She had a meeting with a second teacher at six this evening so would return tomorrow. Damn. Still, it gives me all day tomorrow to prepare her dinner request - pizza. Considering her appetite I am wondering whether I should make one each or a third one for her as well!

It was still a lovely day when I got back so I took Pepsi to the outside shops and stood outside having a drink and watching some new puppies playing. Two of them wanted to play with Pepsi but she is not the sociable sort when it comes to strange animals, they were greeted with a low and (if you didn’t know she was afraid of her own shadow) menacing growl. She truly is only secure and happy when we are home. And as soon as the sun disappeared it got very cold very quickly.

As for me, I am tired and I think tonight will be an early one. Having had lunch I don’t really need dinner although I bought some more seafood and cheese spring rolls and will do them for a decent snack later. Oh, and Kevin swears blind he thought my phone call was going to be for a dinner invitation and not to get me to help anyone out. Right.