It’s been a week but this time I make no apology. I have either been busy, sick or too damned tired!
Last Tuesday was the grand opening show for the foreign language month and despite being implored to be backstage by five (the show kicked off at seven and we were act seven of twelve!) I arrived at six along with the other foreign teachers. We had rehearsed for all of 15 minutes and to be honest it was always going to be a case of winging it once on stage so what the hell.
Not long before curtain up I went outside for a smoke and when I returned found backstage in darkness. Thinking this was to make the opening more dramatic, I was soon disabused by being told we had a power cut! All credit to the students - both cast and audience - because undeterred, they used their mobile phones on stage and in the seats to provide some illumination and some of the cast performed impromptu acts. Shortly before Prof Fang decided to have the whole thing postponed (more than an hour later) they even implored me to sing a song. I still have a parade ground voice thankfully and sang Botany Bay (the Rolf Harris version) and was somewhat surprised to find someone assisting in the chorus, later discovering it was Kevin from the seats.
The show went ahead on Wednesday instead. I spent the entire show either out the back or outside, not daring to take my front row seat as I couldn’t risk sitting down. Not because I wouldn’t be able to get up again but because I feared the effect of expansion on my girth might pop a button or two on the slightly too small shirt we obtained on line. I have to say it was a marvellous show all round - the students taking part had invested a lot of time and effort - and I think I can safely say it was well received by all. It was amusing at the end when all the cast members came on stage for the obligatory photos and Prof Fang stood next to me. She said “That was amazing, you really looked like an official - did you get the clothes from Taobao?” I casually informed her they used to be my work clothes. I have since learnt from her assistant that she opined ours was the best act - not bad considering they were worried because I point blank refused to audition (the others didn’t know this) on the basis I wanted it to be a surprise to everyone.
On Thursday Ollivier and Coco took my documents to the bank to try and finally free my e-money. The first attempt succeeded only in removing another 500y from my cash account but the second try worked. The problem was, the opticians ran out of money so after many weeks I was reunited with proper, hard cash on Sunday when I went to the bank myself.
Friday was my birthday. I felt terrible when I woke up and in fact did so until Sunday lunchtime. I did however rejoice because I had spent the past year with a nagging fear in my brain. Forty-one years ago at HMS Conway I had predicted I would die from a massive heart attack when I was 57. Nonsensical I know but the thought was there.
Not wanting to leave my special day uncelebrated (although not feeling much like it) I took Chris to a restaurant near campus for dinner. I could only eat a few morsels and really just wanted to take to my bed. “Happy birthday my backside” was my thought!
On Saturday I almost cried off the little school but seeing as I had no pet meat I had to go to town anyway. I lunched royally on a BLT and double McCheesburger and instantly regretted it and that evening, despite good intentions of blogging I just wasn’t in the mood. Trying to be interesting and faintly amusing is impossible when you are tired and ill.
Sunday morning saw a marginal improvement which became better as time wore on. Just as well because I had invited Joanna for dinner (and by extension Balance because Joanna quit her job in Nanjing and is now living with her) and had given her the choice of restaurant. She opted for Browning’s the “western” place. It’s expensive and I’m not that keen on it (less so now) but we duly went there. I think it has changed hands. The menu which used to be in both Chinese and English with photos is now a leaflet only in Chinese. They had no beer and the wine bottles in the wine racks weren’t for sale! Joanna solved that problem by nipping next door and buying a bottle of wine from the shop but even that was not without problem. I paid 68y, got the restaurant to uncork it and then Joanna came racing back in because the owner had just realised he had BOUGHT it for 98y!!! I gave her 30y with the instruction to tell the chap I wouldn’t pay any more seeing as he made the mistake and not me but she returned with my money. He apparently said as it was his mistake he would swallow it - either that or Joanna said something to dissuade him.
Ollivier had baked me a pineapple upside-down cake to take to the restaurant, which was enjoyed by the three of us and hopefully after work the two waitresses who we gave a slice each for later. The third that remained was taken home by my companions.
On Monday I showed both classes films. Amy’s class is the first one on Mondays and there is an extremely disruptive boy in it. For nearly two years I have been warning him that his behaviour must improve and for two years he has been promising, only to behave for one lesson and revert to being a little **** the next. Well yesterday instead of watching the film (with English subtitles) he simply sat right at the back of the room playing games on his phone. I left him to it but when the film and class ended I announced that I hoped everyone had watched it closely as it would form the basis of their end of term final examinations. It won’t of course and the comment was aimed squarely at the boy who said nothing at the time but then bombarded me with texts after begging for the name of the film. I refused and there then ensued hours of messages during which I told him there was no question he was going to fail, followed in turn by empty promises (as before) that he would improve. A little late in the day seeing as we perhaps have but two lessons left before the exams start. He even gave Amy a long apologetic letter to give to me which I told her would make no difference, he had really blown it this time. I won’t fail him - although I really should - but by God I am going to make him sweat.
Tomorrow evening is a night I have been anticipating for four years and not necessarily with joy - Joanna’s class graduation dinner. I shall of course be extremely proud but also I will be sad, this was my first ever best class and I shall miss every one of them. The good thing is that Joanna may well stay for a while in town before she finds a job closer to her hometown.
Since four o’clock it has been raining, heavily at times, and I am hoping that perhaps it will have cleared by tomorrow night so Joanna and I can take my bike to the meal - if not it will have to be the bus.
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