Friday 9th August, 2013                   2000

Another in a series of  seemingly endless hot days hitting 40C.

Just one class this morning followed by a lunch meeting with Angela (daughter), Julie (teacher), mum and dad (he is a physics teacher here) and another chap I never did find out who or what he was.

They took me to the Lotus Bloom restaurant. I have been before a few times but don’t go often purely because the price of the beer is way too high at 16y a bottle. I did mention this but they were adamant, so we ate and I drank!

I must say that after a few minutes of chatting with Angela I was dumbfounded that she only scored 5.5 in the IELTS exam. Her English would make her the equal of Joanna who is my best! I don’t need to teach this girl English - I need somehow to boost her confidence, for it appears the examiner was so stern her brain froze. Aside from that there is no reason whatsoever she can’t get at least 6.5 to allow her to attend the LSE (London School of Economics for the uninitiated!). I have 14 days in which to ensure my 100% record remains unblemished. We set the first meeting for Monday after I finish teaching in the afternoon.

I suspect there will be some very disappointed newlyweds at present. The most popular (by far) venue for wedding photos here is the jetty with the eternal fisherman. Sadly for those recently hitched, it has had all the planking removed and is now closed - presumably for renewal. Indeed, I hope so.

Yesterday evening when I was riding with Pepsi to the restaurant by the fish place I caught up with another, older, bike. From behind, and from the amount of stuff the chap was carrying, I had a feeling it was the old boy who repairs all the punctures on campus. I was correct. Now he is about 65 years old and knows bicycles inside out but the silly old fool clearly knows little about traction. The entrance to the shops where we both were going (and he LIVES down there somewhere!) is a bumpy dirt track which is currently dust but after any rain is a mudslide. Regardless of the conditions I always take it slowly and was surprised at his speed, assuming that perhaps he wasn’t going home. He was!

He turned in at speed and almost immediately the bike lost grip. In a flash the bike was over and he was sprawled in the dirt. Concerned, I stopped to see if he was ok. Yes he was, for apart from a badly grazed right knee and elbow he was fine, albeit all the crap he had been carrying was scattered everywhere. From the way he shooed me off I garnered the impression the things most hurt were his pride and dignity! The best of it was, when I got to the restaurant everyone had witnessed it from afar and although they speak no English it was plain they thought perhaps I had caused the accident! I’m not sure my head shaking was convincing……

It has now been decided that I will go to Tongling next Saturday to meet Qing and her family and to partake of that lovely fish again. By going a little earlier than anticipated it leaves the door open for one final visit possibly before she jets off down under. I have to say I am really looking forward to it although if Pepsi knew it meant another night in “gaol” she might not be too enthusiastic.

Oh and did I mention I had a whole day off tomorrow? Belay that, it evaporated this evening following a phone call from the kids school asking if I would be a judge in the morning at their speaking contest! Yes I agreed and seeing as I will be in town anyway I brought the initial meeting with Angela forward so she can take me to lunch (on dad’s money) at the Tsingtao restaurant.

There’s nothing quite like a holiday is there??!!