Wednesday 30th January, 2013         1900

Mange. With Pepsi not being a dog confident enough to interact with me much, I perhaps don’t notice as quickly when something is amiss as I might do if she came for a fuss more often. When I took her out to do her business this morning I noticed her muzzle and the areas below both ears seemed a little dirty. On closer inspection it was apparent it was yet again mange. A couple of weeks ago she had a spot on a front elbow which I got rid of with spray and I am hoping that is all that is required for the latest outbreak. She doesn’t like having it on her snout though and as soon as I finished the application she went potty, rubbing her head over her bed pillows to try and get rid of the smell. I thought with the intensive treatment from the vet it wouldn’t rear its ugly head again and I can do without paying for another course of injections and twice weekly trips downtown with her.

The day though was fabulous at 18C and so I rode to town. I lunched in Ke Bi Wang and for once became extremely annoyed because so many people stopped and stared at the laowei. Not because they stared per se, but because they were doing it while I was trying to eat. I retaliated by informing them (not that they understood) that even foreigners (two of us!) eat there and I also stared some of them out. It is difficult to dine with half a dozen pairs of eyes on you.

Afterwards I took the bike for adjustments and repairs. The brakes were adjusted, the bullbars tightened and then I asked them to fix my lopsided mudguard. I was told they couldn’t and I would have to buy a new one for 35y. I told them to go ahead but my new friend the mechanic ignored this and simply took his drill, made a hole and then used an electrical tie to secure it for free. Somebody has collided with it while it was parked because the small reflector is missing and I think I know exactly where and when. During my exams I heard my alarm going off and when I finished and came out the bike was in a different position to the one I left it in. It can only have been a car, and a teacher’s at that.

All fixed up, I went and bought a load of food for the brood and the lasagne ingredients. No need to shop tomorrow so I have tentative arrangements to meet Crystal for lunch. The forecast is for rain late afternoon and I hope they have it right because at 20C I will take the bike and would like to be home again in the dry before it starts. Qing tells me she is feeling a little unwell but assures me she will make it back here on Friday. I sincerely hope she does as I am looking forward to my dinner followed by a good weekend in Hefei.

Thursday 31st          1545

So much for the predicted 21C with rain tonight - we had rain while I was asleep but it was dry for my ride in to meet Crystal and Pam. They took me for a nice hotpot at a place I hadn’t been to before. Most hotpot places serve much the same stuff and this was no exception except a small side plate was produced that had but a small layer of some grey stuff on it. The girls informed me it was made from shrimps although it didn’t smell like it. I put a small spoonful into my pot assuming it was for flavouring but in fact after a while a lump floated to the top. It was now ready to eat. It didn’t taste of shrimps either, in fact I can’t say what it did taste like as it was unlike anything I have had before. While not being unpleasant it is not something to rave over either.

We spent a pleasant two hours chatting during which I learnt they had dined with Prof Fang last night. Uh oh - the meetings with me simply had to have cropped up in conversation and so I asked. Thankfully Crystal assured me she sang my praises! Before we finished I reminded her that I was unavailable until at least Monday so she could text me then to arrange a further meeting. She looked uncomfortable at this so I asked what the problem was. Monday is a special day apparently, a rehearsal for Chinese new year and families have a big meal together. It seemed odd to me to be having a dry run 6 days before the big event rather than 7 but then certain numbers loom large in Chinese culture, so who knows? Anyway I said she could still text and I would let her know if Qing had gone home again so we could make arrangements. Now they want to meet her, although somehow I think if she comes back with me from Hefei she will probably disappear Monday anyway. Next time they want to try the prawn hotpot seeing as neither of them have been. I’m happy seeing as Crystal’s dad is paying!

When we emerged it was raining so I had a slightly damp return journey and as it looks set to stay for the rest of the day Pepsi will get a quick trot outside the building. I don’t want to go anywhere! Anyway I am exhausted. I went to bed at 0030 with the alarm set for nine. After three hours I woke up and I was damned if I could get back to sleep. I don’t know why because I was certainly tired enough but it guarantees an early finish tonight. No bad thing seeing as I have plenty to do tomorrow.