Wednesday 13th February, 2013        1930

I decided to have a day off from blogging yesterday seeing as all I did was go shopping and have lunch in KFC. The only notable thing I can comment on was the fact I had a beef wrap which would probably not have been quite so disgusting had they omitted the beef.

Having not gone to bed until four this morning I wasn’t surprised when I woke at noon, although I will need to make an effort soon to get my body clock back into kilter, there will be two days a week this term where I need to wake up early.

I deemed it safe enough to go downtown late seeing as the buses have been running for three days since new year. I wanted a new quilt and some bedding. The former so I can donate the old cat-tainted one to Pepsi as her bed and throw out her old pillows, the latter because one of my duvet covers now has a broken zip, again down to the cats. And I thought I would for a change have an evening meal in Ke Bi Wang so I could wish JinJun a happy new year.

That wasn’t possible because it hasn’t reopened yet. Miffed, I went to Lottemart to get my bedding. I had reckoned on it costing 300-400y but was pleasantly surprised to get some good quality stuff for 235y. Dinner of course was now a choice between Da Niang dumplings and KFC unless I wanted to lug my shopping halfway across town. Not fancying yet another steak platter, I decided on KFC and this time I was late enough to order the prawn and rice thing I have wanted to try for months. Actually, it’s not bad at all and very filling. The set meal comes with a hot and sour egg & veg soup or a fish ball soup. Tonight it didn’t because when I pointed to the fish ball option on the card I got an instant “mayo” so hot and sour it was. Not bad either.

My enjoyment of my meal was somewhat tempered by the fact that the entire time I was there I never saw any buses at the main crossroads. I wondered if, just as last year, I had been caught out by them finishing early. When I left the café I noted plenty of people waiting for buses at the stop across the road so thought perhaps I simply hadn’t been looking out of the window at the right times to see passing buses. Indeed at my stop there were eight people waiting and of course the natives would know when the buses stop, wouldn’t they? Not in China. Taxi time.

One of the others hailed one and although I couldn’t understand what was said, the chap was obviously refused as the driver didn’t want to go wherever it was. He then asked the others and they all were refused, then he asked me. I showed him my school business card knowing I too would be declined but he hopped out and put my luggage in the boot. This caused not a little anger in the others and so I feigned contrition as best I could and said sorry. A couple ran up, asked, and were put into the back seat. This guy was clearly aware of the bus situation and intended to capitalise, for he stopped at every bus stop trying to get one more in the cab. And profit he did. Although it remained at three passengers I think he charged the couple 30y to drop them off before me and then charged me 40y. Rather than going potty at this blatant rip off I simply marvelled at his opportunistic acumen.  I even laughed as I paid.

I note today on the BBC website that the country I thought would be the last to ban smoking in public places is probably shortly about to. With a 40% lump of the population smoking, I really thought they never would. It will be interesting to see if, like the Chinese, the Russians simply ignore it.

Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy so apart from local shops I will probably confine myself to barracks. I might even try to make a start on preparations for forthcoming lessons. At some point I hope to spend an hour in Lottemart getting info for a couple of The Price is Right activities - for some reason the students really like that one last term.

In the meantime I look forward to a nice new bed devoid of cat smell and hairs - well, for an hour maybe!