Well Teddy went out on the lead with me and Pepsi late last night and didn’t disgrace himself inside when I was sleeping. When I got up this morning I thought I would take a chance and let him come without the lead. He was as good as gold, sticking close to me all the way.
On the way back however there was a plump elderly Chinese woman who called out to him and he greeted her like a long lost friend. She picked him up and rattled off a load of Chinese to me so I motioned for her to wait whilst I phoned the student who originally brought him to me. I had a feeling the dog was hers and I was right. After they spoke for a while the student said I should let her have Teddy which I did but not before asking the student to tell the woman to get some treatment for him. He trotted off after her as happy as Larry, thus sparing me the worry that the student would indeed take him home in the break. In a way I am a little sad because he had a lovely character but taking two dogs on an e-bike?
That now means I only have to take Pepsi to the vet sometime next week. After complete silence from her since I last visited, this lunchtime Qing finally called me. Her phone had been broken and during the repairs all the numbers had been deleted. She mainly uses her phone for the internet so never emailed me. I have mixed emotions regarding her news. She decided not to study in Australia after all and is now the assistant to the general manager at her uncle’s company plus she is their translator - they do a lot of business with Arabs and Russians. I am a little disappointed she never went to Oz because it would have been good experience for her and a Masters degree from Sydney would have been a great fallback. On the other hand, very selfishly I am happy because she is only an hour and a half away so I can see her during holidays. I know her uncle tempted her with a salary far greater than mine! She is reverting with which two days she will have off during the national holiday and I shall do what I did last time.
Tonight is western Wednesday, the chicken wings are done and just need reheating in the microwave, the beef stew is bubbling away waiting for me to plop the dumplings on top (I pray they are better than my first attempt which was a disaster) and Ollivier is making an apple pie. Our meal is either going to be very good indeed or an unmitigated flop. Normally I would be supremely confident of my wings if nothing else but this morning I realised I had no wine so used Jing Jo (medicine wine instead! Watch this space!
Thursday 26th 0030
Western Wednesday ended rather late only after six bottles of imported French and fake Chinese French wines were consumed. Personally I found them all drinkable but Kevin being the pseudo wine buff found the “fake” unpotable but strangely only after Ollivier pointed out errors in the French on the labelling. Me? Well it meant more glasses for me seeing as I thought it tasted fine!
The wings went down well (so glad because in 3 years Joanna had unbelievably never had them), the beef stew I have to say even though I cooked it was superb. Kevin offered a rare compliment by saying it was the best dish yet. Olivier of course took the prize for his desserts of both apple pie ( actually an apple tart but forgive him, he’s from Barcelona!) and his oh so rich chocolate mousse. I think it’s the only time apart from pizzas that all three of our Chinese guests have liked everything. So yes, the perfect meal and now I wish I had done double the dumplings because the girls (Doris, Marlene and Joanna) all loved them. They are of course used to Chinese dumplings (or dim sum to western folk) and have never had good old suet dumplings. I simply wasn’t sure if I could make decent ones.
A lovely, lovely night and one which reinforced why we are here. Not just to teach them our language but a little of our culture.
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