Friday 8th March, 2013                       1800

Absolutely shattered this morning. Had it not been for Pepsi I would have cheerfully come home at noon when I finished and crashed for two or three hours. However I had put it off long enough and today was so warm I rode there and back in short sleeves - long may it continue.

The visit to the vet was distressing to say the least. Not just because it cost me 260y (didn’t have enough on me so I owe him 15y for Tuesday when I take her back for more) for three jabs, more spray and some cream. Oh, and yes she did have a bath so although she doesn’t stink any more, when I pick her up I just get greasy cream all over my hands. Even the fact it is going to cost 500y for Lottie to be spayed which; whilst a blow; was not the worst thing.

No, the really distressing thing happened when I went in the entrance downstairs. There is a room where they keep unwanted dogs in, hoping to get them adopted. Currently there are four residents in cages including one rather fine (and loud) specimen of an Alsatian. I took a quick peek to make sure Robin was gone. I wouldn’t have wanted to know if she had been rehomed or put down, I just wanted her to be gone. She is still there. I can only hope she never realised who I was. It was only for a split second because as soon as I spotted her I ducked out of sight.

When I got upstairs the vet suggested (even though he doesn’t speak a word of English) that I go and say hello. Naturally I would have loved to but I refused. If she had seen me she would have thought I had come to rescue her. I can’t take her and to me, giving her false hope would have been extremely cruel. Nonetheless when I left Pepsi there for her shampoo and went to get lunch I was most despondent. I really do hope someone gives her a new home soon, preferably on a farm, because being cooped up all day with maybe two or three outings for a walk on the lead must be awful for an animal that is used to being a free spirit. Her own fault of course for biting people but it doesn’t lessen my melancholy.

With the vet having cleaned my wallet out, on the way back I went to a branch of my bank for make a withdrawal. Both outside cash points had no money so I tried the one inside. No money there either and no wonder there were huge queues at the two positions open. Sod that. I went to a “foreign” bank’s ATM near the sweet pork place to get cash, had a couple there and came back to the campus shops. There I had cause to complain that although my “office” - the bbq café - had now switched the drinks chiller on after the winter the only cold drinks were soft ones and the beers were warm. If they don’t rectify it then until they do they will lose my custom - I can buy warm ones in the supermarket.

However, whilst I sat there not enjoying boiled beer, I witnessed a perfect example of the Chinese “shoot first and ask questions later” mentality. This is something that is embraced throughout the land and includes the Gods in Beijing who often pass laws without thinking them through first.

One of the takeaway cafes has bought what appears to be a double oven range and they brought it back on an e-pickup. Three men hefted it off and deposited it outside the frontage of the takeaway. There then followed a pantomime that really should have been headed off at the pass before they bought the thing.

I found myself grinning hugely as one of the trio picked up a mop and used the handle and his thumb to compare the width of the entrance hatch to that of the range. It was obvious to anyone with the power of eyesight it was never going to go through and he proved it. There ensued much scratching of heads followed by the mop being brought into play again. Maybe they could lift it through the serving hatch? Nope.

Now I am denigrating the fact nobody had the foresight to take measurements first but now I really should pay tribute to the Chinese propensity for improvisation (or bodging). Within three minutes silicone sealant had been removed, as had screws, followed by the extraction of an entire window display cabinet. In went the range and the cabinet was replaced - although it appears as if the sealant will have to be applied at a later date. They most certainly are experts in the field of bodging!

I really am fading rapidly so tonight will be inordinately curtailed. The good thing I hope is that I will wake up early so I can go shopping in town, lunch and then have a siesta so I can stay awake and hopefully have fast enough internet to watch the rugby which is on late. Oh - nearly forgot - my last class of the week wanted to go outside so I took them. Many of the trees which have been planted are now in leaf but the tallest species they put in have all perished. So much so that they are so dry the trunks have snapped. I now have a three foot log in here as a horizontal scratching post for the cats and so far it has been well received!