Wednesday 29th October, 2014 1400
Last night’s graduation party was very enjoyable. They did confuse me when I arrived at the south gate and I was told we weren’t taking the No.29 bus. A minibus was ferrying groups to the venue. Given our distance from the town I expected it to take forever but in fact they had picked an hotel about a mile from the school. The bonus was that they had a room big enough for the forty of us and once again the food in part was really nice. I particularly liked the sweet ribs and the sweet (but no sour) chicken with - of all things - watermelon. Very different but tasty indeed.
Again I was honoured to be one of just two teachers invited, the other being the class teacher who brought along his young daughter. The class teacher traditionally gives a speech at such events but last night after he had done so, for the first time I also was asked to say a few words. They have been a nightmare class to teach but they did throw a good party. I was even given a box of beer to take home.
Now, my morning routine seldom varies. I get up, switch on the laptop and boil the kettle. Then I check my emails and certain sites I follow (BBC news, Facebook etc) and one of those sites is the university website. I like to find out if there is going to be a planned power or water cut before it actually happens. This morning was no different to any other and there was nothing on the school website that concerned me. That is until an hour ago when I spotted a new notice.
Not entirely trusting Google Translate, I sent a text to Cinny for clarification. The sports days have been postponed until next week due to rain! Thankfully I am free on Wednesdays this term because had I had a class this morning I would have missed it and as I switch my phone off when I go to bed they couldn’t have got hold of me. Cinny on the other hand was rudely awoken by a call at 0730 informing her she had a class in less than an hour and the students were informed by a mass message on QQ (the Chinese Facebook).
Three solid days of rain have been forecast for the past week, every day without fail, yet they cancelled on the very morning the opening ceremony was to begin. That’s excellent administration.
Strictly speaking the sports days aren’t a holiday per se but of course many of the students (other than freshmen) take the chance of the five days of no lessons to go home. My cleaner Lucy is in Beijing as you know (with my camera) and so anyone not teaching freshmen - mine are all still here - currently has depleted class sizes. God, the Chinese teachers were asking me last week if I had any plans for the “holiday”. Good job I never decided to go away.
Thursday 30th 1830
And so the relentless rain continues. Instead of three days wherein I could stay in most of the day and keep dry I am having to get damp travelling to classes. I wonder what they will do if it rains next week as well?
Last night was western Wednesday with Lolita, Anna and Yvonne and the menu was split pea and ham soup, scotch eggs with mash and baked beans, apple cake and chocolate mousse. I have to say the soup was heavenly, the scotch eggs (for me at least) not so. In the absence of proper sausagemeat I had improvised with pork mince and a sprinkling of thyme but I found them too bland. To be fair everyone else liked them (Kevin polished off his entire plate) and they certainly looked the part but I kicked myself for not ordering sage online, that may have made a world of difference. Ollivier’s mousse wasn’t set and was too sickly and sweet. Not his fault, he only had Chinese chocolate to use to make it but I suspect he will source French, Belgian or other decent chocolate before doing it again - at least I hope so! We rounded off the evening with Ollivier’s cheeseboard selection and I contributed the Sandemans port. Sadly, as instead of having the anticipated lie in I had to get up at six this morning, I left a lot earlier than I wanted. I still felt terrible when I got up though.
The more classes I am teaching my new chicks, the more I am coming to think they are not of the same standard as my first or second batches. Their calibre of English is markedly lower and as far as being active in class is concerned they are more akin to the three year students. I sincerely hope that as they become more comfortable with me they will open up a hell of a sight more otherwise it will be a long year.
Tomorrow I finish at noon so may take the bus to town and do the shopping for animal food I had intended to do yesterday. I am not wanted at the weekend by the small school (which I am glad about) so fully intend to relax.
Thursday, 30 October 2014
Tuesday, 28 October 2014
Tuesday 28th October, 2014 1150
Saturday evening was fun with the girls, for those who like to put names to faces in photos Dumpling wore a cream top, Caroline a jeans jacket and Joan a light blue affair. I thought I had over-ordered, which indeed I did but not by much, for the girls really relished the food. I made it a meal to remember with the sweet and sour crispy fish, battered prawns and sweet corn, Peking duck, pickled cucumber and radish balls. All that went into doggy bags was part of the fish and most of the sweet corn. It was great to see the radish balls disappear completely because although I love them I can usually only eat a couple and there are often quite a few left.
The evening did start off rather badly though, when we arrived at the restaurant one of my “brothers” indicated they were full and that there were no tables. They are always busy on Saturday nights but normally there are a few tables free and it‘s a big place. I was mildly embarrassed at not having booked a table beforehand but then it hasn’t been necessary in the past. I said we could wait (Chinese diners don’t generally linger once the food disappears) but a brother led us to a table for six which was occupied by a man and a woman who were studying menus. My embarrassment heightened when they were promptly evicted in favour of us! I am not a Hollywood A-lister or Xi Jinping so I felt terrible at having received such preferential treatment and indicated that as there would still be two places at the table the couple were more than welcome to stay. They refused graciously and went to wait for a smaller table to vacate, albeit only for a few minutes. My companions thought this was a completely ordinary occurrence.
Sunday started with a McBreakfast which was followed by the shop for tomorrow’s western Wednesday. I also bought three bottles of cheap but quaffable plonk (12.5y a bottle) and rued not having ensured I had a one yuan coin in my pocket with which to liberate a trolley. The basket became very heavy as I proceeded around RT Mart. Once back I lugged the two carrier bags upstairs, set them down outside the door so as to unlock it and then spotted the large red puddle growing outwards from one of the bags. Somehow the neck of one of the bottles had snapped and I now had a load of potatoes marinating in red wine. Slinging the other bag and the spuds inside, I shut the door and headed downstairs with the bag, noticing the trail of wine leading up - and now - downstairs. Not happy at such profligate waste, I grabbed the brush from outside Ollivier’s neighbour’s door and swept the worst of the spillage away but as Pepsi needed to go out I left the rest of it and scarpered. A little later Kevin sent me a text asking if I was ok seeing as there was a trail of blood leading to my door. Assuring him it was nothing sinister and that the new cat was still alive, I said I would mop it up in the morning. I didn’t, for later Ollivier came in to say he had done it which was very kind of him, so by way of a reward I made him some baguette with luncheon meat so he could recover his energy after his trip to the torture cham…..gym.
Just a morning class yesterday and two visits to my new office punctuated by a short siesta. I don’t know why I take the occasional nap because they do absolutely nothing to stop me being knackered the next day, as indeed I am now. The trouble is, I have another graduation dinner this evening and plenty of gambays will be expected. Still, today I just have some exams to do and then no more work until next Monday. There will be no photos of the dinner because my camera is currently en route to Beijing with Lucy. Tomorrow sees the start of the three day sports festival and as I suggested a week ago, the forecast is for three solid days of rain!
Since Sunday (and I believe for five days) the city has been holding an international wushu competition. Having only heard of this because Carol and Anna are volunteers there, I had to Google to find out that wushu is a martial art, although disappointingly this is the exhibition rather than the full contact version. Forty-five different countries are represented there, giving the girls ample chance to make new foreign friends and practise their English at the same time. They are getting up at 0400 each morning, leaving at five and not returning until the evening so they will be exhausted once it is over. They both came here to take a shower last night and were quite keen to tell me of all their new acquaintances. A Sri Lankan lad appears to have taken a shine to Anna, while Carol would seem to be enamoured of a “handsome” Russian boy. Oh to be young again. For anyone interested, this is today’s article on the contest in our local news:
http://www.chiznews.com/news/jrywNews/2014/1027/1410278228G84G11804DFFHDDKIA82.html
Zorro has calmed down a touch but not completely. Two nights ago I paid my final visit to the toilet before getting into bed. As I stood there evacuating my bladder, the little sod leapt up onto the toilet bowl rim and set about killing the snake he could see, almost destroying completely what little chance I have left of starting a family. It reminded me to exact revenge with a visit to the vet for the chop for that young man once the rain disappears.
Saturday evening was fun with the girls, for those who like to put names to faces in photos Dumpling wore a cream top, Caroline a jeans jacket and Joan a light blue affair. I thought I had over-ordered, which indeed I did but not by much, for the girls really relished the food. I made it a meal to remember with the sweet and sour crispy fish, battered prawns and sweet corn, Peking duck, pickled cucumber and radish balls. All that went into doggy bags was part of the fish and most of the sweet corn. It was great to see the radish balls disappear completely because although I love them I can usually only eat a couple and there are often quite a few left.
The evening did start off rather badly though, when we arrived at the restaurant one of my “brothers” indicated they were full and that there were no tables. They are always busy on Saturday nights but normally there are a few tables free and it‘s a big place. I was mildly embarrassed at not having booked a table beforehand but then it hasn’t been necessary in the past. I said we could wait (Chinese diners don’t generally linger once the food disappears) but a brother led us to a table for six which was occupied by a man and a woman who were studying menus. My embarrassment heightened when they were promptly evicted in favour of us! I am not a Hollywood A-lister or Xi Jinping so I felt terrible at having received such preferential treatment and indicated that as there would still be two places at the table the couple were more than welcome to stay. They refused graciously and went to wait for a smaller table to vacate, albeit only for a few minutes. My companions thought this was a completely ordinary occurrence.
Sunday started with a McBreakfast which was followed by the shop for tomorrow’s western Wednesday. I also bought three bottles of cheap but quaffable plonk (12.5y a bottle) and rued not having ensured I had a one yuan coin in my pocket with which to liberate a trolley. The basket became very heavy as I proceeded around RT Mart. Once back I lugged the two carrier bags upstairs, set them down outside the door so as to unlock it and then spotted the large red puddle growing outwards from one of the bags. Somehow the neck of one of the bottles had snapped and I now had a load of potatoes marinating in red wine. Slinging the other bag and the spuds inside, I shut the door and headed downstairs with the bag, noticing the trail of wine leading up - and now - downstairs. Not happy at such profligate waste, I grabbed the brush from outside Ollivier’s neighbour’s door and swept the worst of the spillage away but as Pepsi needed to go out I left the rest of it and scarpered. A little later Kevin sent me a text asking if I was ok seeing as there was a trail of blood leading to my door. Assuring him it was nothing sinister and that the new cat was still alive, I said I would mop it up in the morning. I didn’t, for later Ollivier came in to say he had done it which was very kind of him, so by way of a reward I made him some baguette with luncheon meat so he could recover his energy after his trip to the torture cham…..gym.
Just a morning class yesterday and two visits to my new office punctuated by a short siesta. I don’t know why I take the occasional nap because they do absolutely nothing to stop me being knackered the next day, as indeed I am now. The trouble is, I have another graduation dinner this evening and plenty of gambays will be expected. Still, today I just have some exams to do and then no more work until next Monday. There will be no photos of the dinner because my camera is currently en route to Beijing with Lucy. Tomorrow sees the start of the three day sports festival and as I suggested a week ago, the forecast is for three solid days of rain!
Since Sunday (and I believe for five days) the city has been holding an international wushu competition. Having only heard of this because Carol and Anna are volunteers there, I had to Google to find out that wushu is a martial art, although disappointingly this is the exhibition rather than the full contact version. Forty-five different countries are represented there, giving the girls ample chance to make new foreign friends and practise their English at the same time. They are getting up at 0400 each morning, leaving at five and not returning until the evening so they will be exhausted once it is over. They both came here to take a shower last night and were quite keen to tell me of all their new acquaintances. A Sri Lankan lad appears to have taken a shine to Anna, while Carol would seem to be enamoured of a “handsome” Russian boy. Oh to be young again. For anyone interested, this is today’s article on the contest in our local news:
http://www.chiznews.com/news/jrywNews/2014/1027/1410278228G84G11804DFFHDDKIA82.html
Zorro has calmed down a touch but not completely. Two nights ago I paid my final visit to the toilet before getting into bed. As I stood there evacuating my bladder, the little sod leapt up onto the toilet bowl rim and set about killing the snake he could see, almost destroying completely what little chance I have left of starting a family. It reminded me to exact revenge with a visit to the vet for the chop for that young man once the rain disappears.
Saturday, 25 October 2014
Saturday 25th October, 2014 1000
We now have the technology to make ham at will. It wasn’t quite your honey roast from the delicatessen but the European residents of this little enclave in China unanimously declared it to be authentic. I had fully expected to have to make several attempts before getting it right and was gratified to be able to make myself a passable cheese and ham baguette at the first knocking. Had I known how simple a job it is to make the stuff I would have started doing it soon after arriving here! I wonder if I could have a crack at making bacon………..
Of course, with the first western Wednesday of this academic year happening next week, there was really no question as to what soup I will make - it HAS to be split pea and proper ham. I’m also going to enter unknown waters by attempting my first ever scotch eggs. not particularly exciting I know but you can’t get them here and combined with mash and baked beans (Heinz of course - are there any others?) it will show the students simple English fare. Mind you, it might be hit and miss with the absence of sausage meat and of course there isn’t the option of ringing for a pizza delivery if it all goes wrong. Desserts will of course be concocted by that show-off Ollivier. I swear the students would eat his chocolate mousse before dinner if we let them.
With a long delay between blogs it is sometimes difficult to remember what has happened but I shall do my best. I got up early on Wednesday so I could get to town in time for a McDonald’s breakfast. I have concluded the best thing they offer by far is the bacon and egg McMuffin. Probably the healthiest as well. A bit of shopping afterwards and that was basically my day.
Thursday I was busy all day doing very little of note except that when my morning class came to the break, one of the boys came out and said he had a question. The question was to the effect of “why was I teaching them a contemporary English lesson instead of a business lesson?“ Unbelievably they hadn’t said a word about my using the wrong book and had sat in virtual silence for forty-five minutes!
Yesterday was manic. Solid classes from 0820 to noon followed by a mad dash home to let Pepsi out for a wee before going out again. I wasn’t best pleased to be greeted by the sight of squitters all over my bedroom floor, something had upset her stomach. I cleaned that up and sped down to the west gate to meet my class who were having the graduation lunch. Most of us took the number seven bus and alighted at the same stop that coincidentally I will be getting off at tonight. Had I known where their restaurant was I could have ridden there because this week has been lovely with temperatures in the mid to high twenties.
I was honoured to have been one of only two of their teachers they invited and better still, I actually liked quite a few of the dishes. There was naturally the usual orgy of gambaying and boys getting drunk and telling me I was a lightweight - despite drinking far more than them and remaining compus mentis. At one point it all got a trifle silly when the girls took a glass and started mixing a cocktail of juice from the dishes, coke, fruit juice, beer etc and daring the boys to drink some of it. It looked revolting. One of the lads (Alan) was urged to be the first and like a fool I ended up encouraging him as well. Seeing his escape route, he declared that if I drank it first then all the four boys would follow suit. To the collective horror of the assembled males who thought they were home scot-free, I took the glass and downed some, declaring it to be delicious. It was utterly stomach-churning. However, fair play to the lads, they all did their bit. Unusually for China, once lunch was finished, instead of all skedaddling immediately everyone retired to another room to continue drinking and playing cards. I did enquire as to how much this feast had cost each student and was astonished to be told 50y (£5) including crates of beer and soft drinks.
Of course with the Lingdian Society’s bash in the evening, my idea of a decent afternoon kip to recharge myself took a direct hit and I ended up getting about thirty minutes shut eye before venturing to the roundhouse for what was a most unusual event for them. Hitherto there have been acts, songs, dances and games but this one was purely to meet everyone and so it was over after an hour, after which they interviewed dozens for the positions of unpaid helpers.
I came home to tackle a couple of proof-reading jobs. I completed one in ten minutes and then was beaten by the second one. Not being a geek I didn’t know that read-only files can’t be edited unless you unlock them so asked Kevin for help. He arrived muttering about how useless I was with computers (he’s not entirely wrong) but when even he couldn’t do anything with it he did have the good grace to retract his comments! Of course the person who had sent the file had long since gone home so this morning I have batted it back to them to either unlock or get the stupid client to do it. I would rather like to finish it this afternoon as I won’t have much time tomorrow.
Tonight I am taking three of my new “wives” for dinner at the Sichuan place - Dumpling, Caroline and Joan. Hence, rather than riding to town, we will take the bus as I said previously. Tomorrow I am at the little school in the afternoon to play games and next week we have the sports days on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Doubtless the beautiful weather will forsake us for that and it will be wet. I won’t be taking any photos of the events though as Lucy my cleaner asked to borrow my camera as she is going to Beijing then. She has however promised to bring me photos of the capital - or the smog, depending!
We now have the technology to make ham at will. It wasn’t quite your honey roast from the delicatessen but the European residents of this little enclave in China unanimously declared it to be authentic. I had fully expected to have to make several attempts before getting it right and was gratified to be able to make myself a passable cheese and ham baguette at the first knocking. Had I known how simple a job it is to make the stuff I would have started doing it soon after arriving here! I wonder if I could have a crack at making bacon………..
Of course, with the first western Wednesday of this academic year happening next week, there was really no question as to what soup I will make - it HAS to be split pea and proper ham. I’m also going to enter unknown waters by attempting my first ever scotch eggs. not particularly exciting I know but you can’t get them here and combined with mash and baked beans (Heinz of course - are there any others?) it will show the students simple English fare. Mind you, it might be hit and miss with the absence of sausage meat and of course there isn’t the option of ringing for a pizza delivery if it all goes wrong. Desserts will of course be concocted by that show-off Ollivier. I swear the students would eat his chocolate mousse before dinner if we let them.
With a long delay between blogs it is sometimes difficult to remember what has happened but I shall do my best. I got up early on Wednesday so I could get to town in time for a McDonald’s breakfast. I have concluded the best thing they offer by far is the bacon and egg McMuffin. Probably the healthiest as well. A bit of shopping afterwards and that was basically my day.
Thursday I was busy all day doing very little of note except that when my morning class came to the break, one of the boys came out and said he had a question. The question was to the effect of “why was I teaching them a contemporary English lesson instead of a business lesson?“ Unbelievably they hadn’t said a word about my using the wrong book and had sat in virtual silence for forty-five minutes!
Yesterday was manic. Solid classes from 0820 to noon followed by a mad dash home to let Pepsi out for a wee before going out again. I wasn’t best pleased to be greeted by the sight of squitters all over my bedroom floor, something had upset her stomach. I cleaned that up and sped down to the west gate to meet my class who were having the graduation lunch. Most of us took the number seven bus and alighted at the same stop that coincidentally I will be getting off at tonight. Had I known where their restaurant was I could have ridden there because this week has been lovely with temperatures in the mid to high twenties.
I was honoured to have been one of only two of their teachers they invited and better still, I actually liked quite a few of the dishes. There was naturally the usual orgy of gambaying and boys getting drunk and telling me I was a lightweight - despite drinking far more than them and remaining compus mentis. At one point it all got a trifle silly when the girls took a glass and started mixing a cocktail of juice from the dishes, coke, fruit juice, beer etc and daring the boys to drink some of it. It looked revolting. One of the lads (Alan) was urged to be the first and like a fool I ended up encouraging him as well. Seeing his escape route, he declared that if I drank it first then all the four boys would follow suit. To the collective horror of the assembled males who thought they were home scot-free, I took the glass and downed some, declaring it to be delicious. It was utterly stomach-churning. However, fair play to the lads, they all did their bit. Unusually for China, once lunch was finished, instead of all skedaddling immediately everyone retired to another room to continue drinking and playing cards. I did enquire as to how much this feast had cost each student and was astonished to be told 50y (£5) including crates of beer and soft drinks.
Of course with the Lingdian Society’s bash in the evening, my idea of a decent afternoon kip to recharge myself took a direct hit and I ended up getting about thirty minutes shut eye before venturing to the roundhouse for what was a most unusual event for them. Hitherto there have been acts, songs, dances and games but this one was purely to meet everyone and so it was over after an hour, after which they interviewed dozens for the positions of unpaid helpers.
I came home to tackle a couple of proof-reading jobs. I completed one in ten minutes and then was beaten by the second one. Not being a geek I didn’t know that read-only files can’t be edited unless you unlock them so asked Kevin for help. He arrived muttering about how useless I was with computers (he’s not entirely wrong) but when even he couldn’t do anything with it he did have the good grace to retract his comments! Of course the person who had sent the file had long since gone home so this morning I have batted it back to them to either unlock or get the stupid client to do it. I would rather like to finish it this afternoon as I won’t have much time tomorrow.
Tonight I am taking three of my new “wives” for dinner at the Sichuan place - Dumpling, Caroline and Joan. Hence, rather than riding to town, we will take the bus as I said previously. Tomorrow I am at the little school in the afternoon to play games and next week we have the sports days on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Doubtless the beautiful weather will forsake us for that and it will be wet. I won’t be taking any photos of the events though as Lucy my cleaner asked to borrow my camera as she is going to Beijing then. She has however promised to bring me photos of the capital - or the smog, depending!
Tuesday, 21 October 2014
Tuesday 21st October, 2014 1215
Yesterday was a really warm day at over 30C and as I finished class at noon I took Pepsi straight out even though I was exhausted despite having retired at a sensible time. As my phone was down to just 23y credit (and the China Mobile shop I used to use on campus hasn’t reopened - although there is an automated machine in Chinese which I don‘t know how to use on the floor above) and not needing any excuse for a beer, I went to the fish place. I have topped up there often enough that the chap simply punches in the first three of my numbers and waits for me to give the rest and the money, I am in and out in one minute flat.
Then to the restaurant for an ale. I usually sit on my bike drinking there but the sun was too hot so I went inside and sat down while the dog hid in the undergrowth. Mamasan was watching her soaps but when customers arrived and she had to cook she offered me the TV remote control. They have either satellite or cable because I can get the English speaking news channel and also western films. I watched the news whilst using their swatter to try and reduce the fly population.
Next was the outside supermarket for my necessities but whilst there I decided to buy my own swatter. Pleasantly cheap at 1.5y (15p) I took it to office number four in the business street. I am sick and tired of sitting at an outside table being plagued by flies so I continued my murder spree there and indeed the swatter is now there any time I go - I have customised that office!
After a couple there I became decidedly lethargic so decided I simply had to go home and take a nap, much as I hate doing so. It was only for an hour but by heck, when the alarm went off my head felt as heavy as a hippo. I could easily have stayed put but I was meeting Doris. For some reason I have become the person to go to if you are about to take the IELTS exam. They never go to Kevin (or if they do he is sending them to me!) and invariably they only come to me when the exam is a couple of weeks away. I will do my best for her but miracles can’t be accomplished in such a short time.
So it was back to office number four, Pepsi presumably wondering what she had done to have two outings in an hour, and Doris joined me. Five minutes later Ollivier turned up on his pushbike, his car having been abandoned in Huimin - unnecessarily so in my opinion. He was bearing a Spanish sausage weighing a kilogramme and a half which has been hanging on his balcony for two months shrouded in foil and cling film. He has hitherto been forbidden from opening it because Coco can’t stand the smell. In a land of noxious fumes and pongs I find that most odd. Granted, the sausage did stink but it was very tasty, albeit damned chewy and took me five minutes to break down but one slice. Nice though. I had a little dinner there consisting of a cabbage dish and a chicken and vegetable affair with rice. That was nice but far too much for my reduced appetite. Back home I relaxed for a while and despite having had a siesta I went to bed before midnight. Pointless as yet again I kept waking through the night, meaning today I am just as tired as I was yesterday.
I have used the tooth polisher twice so far and whilst my teeth will never be white (they never have been) it has certainly made one hell of an improvement. I have a dark brown spot that I don’t think will ever disappear as it is where I have lost the enamel but at least the others look better. It’s amazing how a soft rotating rubber cup can make your gums bleed!
Today consists of exams for the three year students and these will take place over the forthcoming fortnight as well. This morning’s class is having a graduation lunch on Friday which I shall attend. I hope I don’t enjoy myself too much as that evening the Lingdian Society has a party. Today has also been wet and the temperature has plummeted to the low twenties.
For the past hour the pork that has hopefully been curing in my fridge for a week has been boiling. Before I go to the next class I will put it into cold water and leave it, then later put it in the fridge until tomorrow. Tomorrow will tell whether I was successful or not. Fingers crossed.
Yesterday was a really warm day at over 30C and as I finished class at noon I took Pepsi straight out even though I was exhausted despite having retired at a sensible time. As my phone was down to just 23y credit (and the China Mobile shop I used to use on campus hasn’t reopened - although there is an automated machine in Chinese which I don‘t know how to use on the floor above) and not needing any excuse for a beer, I went to the fish place. I have topped up there often enough that the chap simply punches in the first three of my numbers and waits for me to give the rest and the money, I am in and out in one minute flat.
Then to the restaurant for an ale. I usually sit on my bike drinking there but the sun was too hot so I went inside and sat down while the dog hid in the undergrowth. Mamasan was watching her soaps but when customers arrived and she had to cook she offered me the TV remote control. They have either satellite or cable because I can get the English speaking news channel and also western films. I watched the news whilst using their swatter to try and reduce the fly population.
Next was the outside supermarket for my necessities but whilst there I decided to buy my own swatter. Pleasantly cheap at 1.5y (15p) I took it to office number four in the business street. I am sick and tired of sitting at an outside table being plagued by flies so I continued my murder spree there and indeed the swatter is now there any time I go - I have customised that office!
After a couple there I became decidedly lethargic so decided I simply had to go home and take a nap, much as I hate doing so. It was only for an hour but by heck, when the alarm went off my head felt as heavy as a hippo. I could easily have stayed put but I was meeting Doris. For some reason I have become the person to go to if you are about to take the IELTS exam. They never go to Kevin (or if they do he is sending them to me!) and invariably they only come to me when the exam is a couple of weeks away. I will do my best for her but miracles can’t be accomplished in such a short time.
So it was back to office number four, Pepsi presumably wondering what she had done to have two outings in an hour, and Doris joined me. Five minutes later Ollivier turned up on his pushbike, his car having been abandoned in Huimin - unnecessarily so in my opinion. He was bearing a Spanish sausage weighing a kilogramme and a half which has been hanging on his balcony for two months shrouded in foil and cling film. He has hitherto been forbidden from opening it because Coco can’t stand the smell. In a land of noxious fumes and pongs I find that most odd. Granted, the sausage did stink but it was very tasty, albeit damned chewy and took me five minutes to break down but one slice. Nice though. I had a little dinner there consisting of a cabbage dish and a chicken and vegetable affair with rice. That was nice but far too much for my reduced appetite. Back home I relaxed for a while and despite having had a siesta I went to bed before midnight. Pointless as yet again I kept waking through the night, meaning today I am just as tired as I was yesterday.
I have used the tooth polisher twice so far and whilst my teeth will never be white (they never have been) it has certainly made one hell of an improvement. I have a dark brown spot that I don’t think will ever disappear as it is where I have lost the enamel but at least the others look better. It’s amazing how a soft rotating rubber cup can make your gums bleed!
Today consists of exams for the three year students and these will take place over the forthcoming fortnight as well. This morning’s class is having a graduation lunch on Friday which I shall attend. I hope I don’t enjoy myself too much as that evening the Lingdian Society has a party. Today has also been wet and the temperature has plummeted to the low twenties.
For the past hour the pork that has hopefully been curing in my fridge for a week has been boiling. Before I go to the next class I will put it into cold water and leave it, then later put it in the fridge until tomorrow. Tomorrow will tell whether I was successful or not. Fingers crossed.
Sunday, 19 October 2014
Sunday 19th October, 2014 1015
That was a long time! Part of it initially was that I was either too busy or tool tired to write but that quickly became something else when a virus got into my laptop. I think it entered when I clicked on an Adobe upgrade pop-up (seeing as it was then everything went pear shaped) and now it has corrupted Chrome, causing me all sorts of problems.
The only cure will be to remove and reinstal it but Kevin is trying to find some software with which I can capture my saved passwords (there are a lot!) and bookmarks, otherwise it will give me real grief. For now, I have learnt how to make it work despite itself although I have to use IE to deal with iPlayer.
On Tuesday we had the school final of the speaking competition. At two thirty I was just getting ready to leave for it nice and early so I could take my time climbing six floors and be able to have a smoke beforehand when I received a text from Kevin. “Where are you?” Somehow it appeared perhaps the start time was two thirty and not three as I had thought. I shot straight out of the door, rode to the building, went as fast as I could up to the top (not running of course, just not stopping halfway as I usually do!) only to be confronted by locked shutters at the top of the west stairwell! Great! Back down a floor, along the length of the building to the east and up, finally, thinking I was about to expire from oxygen starvation, entering the room.
Picture the scene. A room full of students, a load of Chinese teachers including Prof Fang as judges and all looking straight at me. “Sorry” was all I said as I took my place next to Kevin., convinced I had held everyone up. All I can say is that there are occasions when technology failures can be welcome. This was one such, for they had been having problems with the microphones and so I never delayed proceedings at all. Phew.
As we are all working Christmas and Boxing days, instead of doing what we usually do which is go out for dinner with a student apiece, Kevin suggested (after my tales of my night in the Hilton Hefei recently) that we should go there on the 27th. My pal Steve who used to be the gaffer there was approached to see what discount we could get for booking three executive rooms. The executive bit is important because although a lot more expensive, you get to use the executive lounge. Not much use for me during the day but in the evening the bar is help yourself for free. There are spirits and decent plonk as well as beers and soft drinks on offer so they can expect to take a huge hit that night both before and after dinner. Sadly I am pretty sure they clear the bar away at about ten to get ready for breakfast but we can always go down to the sports bar and play pool when that happens. I am surprised they are not doing traditional Christmas dinners though because when I was there last I read a booklet about events just past and forthcoming and they had most of the festivals covered. I am sure we will find food to suit us though - Vivian’s steak being a case in point. Plus of course there’s a decent breakfast to look forward to.
Thursday and Friday I was busy teaching and struggling with it because this sodding cold is tenacious. Either that or I contracted another one just as the first one left. I took delivery of a consignment from Jinkou, I only ever buy 500y plus of goods from them as it gets you free delivery. I now have bangers, pies, smoked salmon etc along with breadcrumbs (I want to have a crack at Scotch eggs at some point) and eight boxes of instant macaroni cheese. The latter were purely to make up the price to qualify for free delivery as some of the pies I wanted were out of stock. I have also splashed out on two bottles of Sandemans port which came last night and that tooth polishing thing I mentioned. That is the last thing I am waiting for although having now found hotdog buns, and being in possession of proper American hot dog sausages, I may have to order some of them as well as French’s mustard! All these things most of you can just pop down to your local shops for……
On Friday night I took Carol to the Sichuan restaurant seeing as Ollivier had given me discount vouchers worth 20y. She ordered duck heads and ten half heads arrived complete with half beaks. She relished getting her chopsticks in and winkling the brains out, declaring this practice makes you smarter. I will stay thick. I ordered sweet and sour fish and a whale arrived. I nearly died when I saw the size of it but of course there’s always the doggy bag for Carol to take back for her mates - and there was a fair bit left. A nice evening and Kevin very kindly dropped by to give us a lift back after he had finished in town. The meal was made more interesting by the fact that the entire middle of the place had been taken over by a wedding party and the happy couple actually tied the knot up on stage. It must be said, she was a stunner.
Yesterday I had (unwisely) agreed to play games in two classes for the little school. One was at 0930 and the other I was told 1400 but that later changed to 1430. Not only is that not fair on Pepsi, I wasted an entire day for two classes so I told the owner I wouldn’t do that configuration again. Fair enough, there was plenty of time for me to shop in between along with meeting up with Carol and Anna and having lunch but by the time the second class came around all I wanted was my bed.
It is a glorious morning here with temperatures expected of 29C (they are saying 31C tomorrow) which is yet another example of the sheer vagary of climate here surrounded by the mountains. I did my laundry late last night and it is all dry now, even the towels. I shall therefore have a shower now and take Muttley out. We may be adventurous today and go to the fish place as I need to top up my phone before going to the supermarket and the Business Street, which is what the students call the new shops/restaurants development. I must say I wish they had built it three years ago because prior to that there was only one place anywhere near that had food I liked - and that’s closed now!
Oh yes, nearly forgot. Ollivier has taken his wife and youngest to Huimin where they will stay while he returns presumably today or tomorrow. He had a translation he had emailed off but something went wrong and, having left his computer behind, he asked me to get the file and email it for him. Well not only am I the last person to ask when it comes to computer technology but coincidentally when I did get home my own laptop went into meltdown. I was going mad for an hour when Kevin suggested by text that I restart it. It worked. So I went to Ollivier’s armed with a usb stick. He has two screens (confused the hell out of me) and it’s all in French! I changed the thing at the bottom to English but nothing happened. I tried to do what he asked and muddle by, trying to recall forty odd years ago at school but wasn’t doing very well. I clicked something and a screen came up which I thought was asking me if I was sure I wanted to do whatever I had clicked. Er, no. Annuler looked a pretty good bet to be “cancel” so I did and his laptop promptly shut down! Give me strength. I restarted and was greeted by an entirely black screen with a flashing cursor - that was it. Oh my God, I’ve blown HIS up as well as my own!
I am relieved to report that Kevin came back later and all was fixed so the first Ollivier will know of it is when he reads this blog……
That was a long time! Part of it initially was that I was either too busy or tool tired to write but that quickly became something else when a virus got into my laptop. I think it entered when I clicked on an Adobe upgrade pop-up (seeing as it was then everything went pear shaped) and now it has corrupted Chrome, causing me all sorts of problems.
The only cure will be to remove and reinstal it but Kevin is trying to find some software with which I can capture my saved passwords (there are a lot!) and bookmarks, otherwise it will give me real grief. For now, I have learnt how to make it work despite itself although I have to use IE to deal with iPlayer.
On Tuesday we had the school final of the speaking competition. At two thirty I was just getting ready to leave for it nice and early so I could take my time climbing six floors and be able to have a smoke beforehand when I received a text from Kevin. “Where are you?” Somehow it appeared perhaps the start time was two thirty and not three as I had thought. I shot straight out of the door, rode to the building, went as fast as I could up to the top (not running of course, just not stopping halfway as I usually do!) only to be confronted by locked shutters at the top of the west stairwell! Great! Back down a floor, along the length of the building to the east and up, finally, thinking I was about to expire from oxygen starvation, entering the room.
Picture the scene. A room full of students, a load of Chinese teachers including Prof Fang as judges and all looking straight at me. “Sorry” was all I said as I took my place next to Kevin., convinced I had held everyone up. All I can say is that there are occasions when technology failures can be welcome. This was one such, for they had been having problems with the microphones and so I never delayed proceedings at all. Phew.
As we are all working Christmas and Boxing days, instead of doing what we usually do which is go out for dinner with a student apiece, Kevin suggested (after my tales of my night in the Hilton Hefei recently) that we should go there on the 27th. My pal Steve who used to be the gaffer there was approached to see what discount we could get for booking three executive rooms. The executive bit is important because although a lot more expensive, you get to use the executive lounge. Not much use for me during the day but in the evening the bar is help yourself for free. There are spirits and decent plonk as well as beers and soft drinks on offer so they can expect to take a huge hit that night both before and after dinner. Sadly I am pretty sure they clear the bar away at about ten to get ready for breakfast but we can always go down to the sports bar and play pool when that happens. I am surprised they are not doing traditional Christmas dinners though because when I was there last I read a booklet about events just past and forthcoming and they had most of the festivals covered. I am sure we will find food to suit us though - Vivian’s steak being a case in point. Plus of course there’s a decent breakfast to look forward to.
Thursday and Friday I was busy teaching and struggling with it because this sodding cold is tenacious. Either that or I contracted another one just as the first one left. I took delivery of a consignment from Jinkou, I only ever buy 500y plus of goods from them as it gets you free delivery. I now have bangers, pies, smoked salmon etc along with breadcrumbs (I want to have a crack at Scotch eggs at some point) and eight boxes of instant macaroni cheese. The latter were purely to make up the price to qualify for free delivery as some of the pies I wanted were out of stock. I have also splashed out on two bottles of Sandemans port which came last night and that tooth polishing thing I mentioned. That is the last thing I am waiting for although having now found hotdog buns, and being in possession of proper American hot dog sausages, I may have to order some of them as well as French’s mustard! All these things most of you can just pop down to your local shops for……
On Friday night I took Carol to the Sichuan restaurant seeing as Ollivier had given me discount vouchers worth 20y. She ordered duck heads and ten half heads arrived complete with half beaks. She relished getting her chopsticks in and winkling the brains out, declaring this practice makes you smarter. I will stay thick. I ordered sweet and sour fish and a whale arrived. I nearly died when I saw the size of it but of course there’s always the doggy bag for Carol to take back for her mates - and there was a fair bit left. A nice evening and Kevin very kindly dropped by to give us a lift back after he had finished in town. The meal was made more interesting by the fact that the entire middle of the place had been taken over by a wedding party and the happy couple actually tied the knot up on stage. It must be said, she was a stunner.
Yesterday I had (unwisely) agreed to play games in two classes for the little school. One was at 0930 and the other I was told 1400 but that later changed to 1430. Not only is that not fair on Pepsi, I wasted an entire day for two classes so I told the owner I wouldn’t do that configuration again. Fair enough, there was plenty of time for me to shop in between along with meeting up with Carol and Anna and having lunch but by the time the second class came around all I wanted was my bed.
It is a glorious morning here with temperatures expected of 29C (they are saying 31C tomorrow) which is yet another example of the sheer vagary of climate here surrounded by the mountains. I did my laundry late last night and it is all dry now, even the towels. I shall therefore have a shower now and take Muttley out. We may be adventurous today and go to the fish place as I need to top up my phone before going to the supermarket and the Business Street, which is what the students call the new shops/restaurants development. I must say I wish they had built it three years ago because prior to that there was only one place anywhere near that had food I liked - and that’s closed now!
Oh yes, nearly forgot. Ollivier has taken his wife and youngest to Huimin where they will stay while he returns presumably today or tomorrow. He had a translation he had emailed off but something went wrong and, having left his computer behind, he asked me to get the file and email it for him. Well not only am I the last person to ask when it comes to computer technology but coincidentally when I did get home my own laptop went into meltdown. I was going mad for an hour when Kevin suggested by text that I restart it. It worked. So I went to Ollivier’s armed with a usb stick. He has two screens (confused the hell out of me) and it’s all in French! I changed the thing at the bottom to English but nothing happened. I tried to do what he asked and muddle by, trying to recall forty odd years ago at school but wasn’t doing very well. I clicked something and a screen came up which I thought was asking me if I was sure I wanted to do whatever I had clicked. Er, no. Annuler looked a pretty good bet to be “cancel” so I did and his laptop promptly shut down! Give me strength. I restarted and was greeted by an entirely black screen with a flashing cursor - that was it. Oh my God, I’ve blown HIS up as well as my own!
I am relieved to report that Kevin came back later and all was fixed so the first Ollivier will know of it is when he reads this blog……
Monday, 13 October 2014
Sunday 12th October, 2014 1930
I am sad to report that about an hour after I posted yesterday the puppy expired. Entirely expected but sad indeed not only to me but especially the three girls who tried their best to save her. They found a peaceful place in the dark last night and buried her, no doubt a few tears being shed in the process. This morning I asked to see what medicines the chap the vets despatched had actually sold them. All three they were flogged were for intestinal health, not exactly anything that would ever help the baby in that position. Unbelievable. It would have been kinder had they just charged for the visit and said there was nothing to be done but they could try milk, which is what I suggested.
Today I spent three hours helping to recruit for the language society, during which time I noted that my being there attracted members and frightened prospective ones away in equal measure. It was however interesting to sit and observe the other stands with their displays of robots, martial arts and the like although every stall competed with the others for the loudest music. In total three of the stands asked me to use a microphone to announce their purpose and attract members. It seemed to work for a time.
At lunchtime I rode to town to shop and besides pet food bought a leg of pork which currently sits in the freezer awaiting me to have the momentum to try to cure it and make ham. This evening I have spent two hours composing 16 questions, one for each speaker, for the speaking competition on Tuesday. It wasn’t easy and Kevin feels the same way, especially when most of the speeches are similar even though the topic this year is one with infinite possibilities. It shows a distinct lack of imagination when Change The Unchangeable only throws up Obama, Thatcher, Helen Keller and the Wright brothers in most of the offerings. I have sent my questions to Kevin (we ask one each) for comparison because this year there is a strong possibility we would have many identical questions.
Carol came quite late to run through her speech with me even though she is Kevin’s student (Anna has been going to Kevin) and because she had been talking loudly for two entire days whilst recruiting for her society her voice was a trifle hoarse. With luck it will recover in time for the finals tomorrow afternoon.
Monday 13th 1300
It was lucky I checked my roster last night. I was convinced my class started after lunch but no, it was 1020. Typically, when I can have a lie in I can’t sleep and when I can’t have one I could have slept for hours, as was the case this morning. I shall try to grab an hour soon in preparation for my observed class at 1530.
Zorro is driving the entire household barmy and me to distraction. He is going to be more of a handful than Pooh ever was. Last night I picked him up to fuss him and he promptly sank his teeth into me chin, drawing blood! Just now while I was making a sandwich he decided to again make me bleed even through reasonably thick trousers. I am beginning to understand perhaps why the people upstairs let him go!
2040
I got frozen riding the bike home after a most unsatisfactory dinner. The restaurant doesn’t sell beer (bad point but at least you can take your own) and they only offer nine dishes. I tried the sweet spare rib affair but quite simply couldn’t eat them. The meat was as tough as army boots and you would think with such a limited range on offer they would at least make what they do good. Today wasn’t so warm, about 21C which these days for me is decidedly chilly. However tonight the mercury has really dropped. I really hope this isn’t the harbinger of a hard winter, although at least if it is I have a home I can actually keep warm and the new classrooms have aircon.
I am sad to report that about an hour after I posted yesterday the puppy expired. Entirely expected but sad indeed not only to me but especially the three girls who tried their best to save her. They found a peaceful place in the dark last night and buried her, no doubt a few tears being shed in the process. This morning I asked to see what medicines the chap the vets despatched had actually sold them. All three they were flogged were for intestinal health, not exactly anything that would ever help the baby in that position. Unbelievable. It would have been kinder had they just charged for the visit and said there was nothing to be done but they could try milk, which is what I suggested.
Today I spent three hours helping to recruit for the language society, during which time I noted that my being there attracted members and frightened prospective ones away in equal measure. It was however interesting to sit and observe the other stands with their displays of robots, martial arts and the like although every stall competed with the others for the loudest music. In total three of the stands asked me to use a microphone to announce their purpose and attract members. It seemed to work for a time.
At lunchtime I rode to town to shop and besides pet food bought a leg of pork which currently sits in the freezer awaiting me to have the momentum to try to cure it and make ham. This evening I have spent two hours composing 16 questions, one for each speaker, for the speaking competition on Tuesday. It wasn’t easy and Kevin feels the same way, especially when most of the speeches are similar even though the topic this year is one with infinite possibilities. It shows a distinct lack of imagination when Change The Unchangeable only throws up Obama, Thatcher, Helen Keller and the Wright brothers in most of the offerings. I have sent my questions to Kevin (we ask one each) for comparison because this year there is a strong possibility we would have many identical questions.
Carol came quite late to run through her speech with me even though she is Kevin’s student (Anna has been going to Kevin) and because she had been talking loudly for two entire days whilst recruiting for her society her voice was a trifle hoarse. With luck it will recover in time for the finals tomorrow afternoon.
Monday 13th 1300
It was lucky I checked my roster last night. I was convinced my class started after lunch but no, it was 1020. Typically, when I can have a lie in I can’t sleep and when I can’t have one I could have slept for hours, as was the case this morning. I shall try to grab an hour soon in preparation for my observed class at 1530.
Zorro is driving the entire household barmy and me to distraction. He is going to be more of a handful than Pooh ever was. Last night I picked him up to fuss him and he promptly sank his teeth into me chin, drawing blood! Just now while I was making a sandwich he decided to again make me bleed even through reasonably thick trousers. I am beginning to understand perhaps why the people upstairs let him go!
2040
I got frozen riding the bike home after a most unsatisfactory dinner. The restaurant doesn’t sell beer (bad point but at least you can take your own) and they only offer nine dishes. I tried the sweet spare rib affair but quite simply couldn’t eat them. The meat was as tough as army boots and you would think with such a limited range on offer they would at least make what they do good. Today wasn’t so warm, about 21C which these days for me is decidedly chilly. However tonight the mercury has really dropped. I really hope this isn’t the harbinger of a hard winter, although at least if it is I have a home I can actually keep warm and the new classrooms have aircon.
Saturday, 11 October 2014
Saturday 11th October, 2014 1300
Well the new addition is certainly making his presence felt (assuming I have sexed him correctly). He is terrorising the other two and even has Pepsi scuttling for cover. Little bugger is constantly trying to get into the bedroom and doesn’t realise that by sticking like glue to me when I am walking that he could easily end up flat. Assuming I am now stuck with him, he has been christened Zorro on account of the black mask he has.
I have just had an exchange of messages with Kevin when he asked if the language lovers society had forgotten to ask me to take a turn on the recruitment stall. I said they hadn’t forgotten and I had agreed to go tomorrow morning and had confirmed it only yesterday. When I was initially told it was taking place this weekend I did opine that it was a silly time to do it when it is a normal teaching day due to the recent holiday. This prompted an indignant response because he is there and he is also teaching, plus they are my freshmen students. I had to remind him that I was there last year when they were his. Trying to lay a guilt trip on me rarely works and anyway to be honest I would far rather have stayed in bed all day today, that’s how I feel at present.
A few days ago I learnt of the latest campus fact/rumour concerning me. Over the past four years there have been many outrageous ones but this is the best yet. Apparently I am a frequent visitor to East and West Streets in the evenings and take liberal advantages of the favours of the girls working the night shift. I would dearly love to know how these things are started considering I have only ever been to either street to shop or eat and haven’t even done those things for about a year.
1800
This morning one of my students rang Kevin at 0700 saying they had found an injured dog. They had tried calling me first but of course my phone was off. Kevin told them he couldn’t do anything but when I switched my phone on later I had a message from the girl and so called her. By then she and her friends had called the vet to come out and I am immensely proud to say that they were perfectly willing to foot the bill for a wild dog. Not all Chinese are as callous as portrayed. I said I would ride down and take a look at it once I had showered but ten minutes later I was told the vet had been.
The vet (I found out later the same one I use all the time) took it away then brought it back with some medicine and returned it to the three girls. I only found this out this afternoon as one of the girls was in that class and she asked me to come and take a look after we finished. The poor little thing had been in a box under the stairs all day alone.
They had found it that morning in one of the teaching buildings on the fourth floor with a bloody muzzle and blood on the floor. I would love to know what happened, for this thing is just a few days old - its eyes haven’t opened yet - and it’s highly unlikely a bitch about to whelp would go up there where there is great human activity to do so. She would find somewhere secluded and sheltered.
Anyway, working on the premise that the mother who this mite so desperately needs for nourishment would not have only had one pup, we went in vain to search for the nest so as to leave her with her siblings. The situation as it stands is I think my students concealed her in a box and smuggled her into their dorm where apparently using a syringe they have managed to get some medication and cows milk into her. I have told them it will need feeding every few hours and that if she survives the night (I will be astonished if she does) they can bring her here and put her in the spare bedroom away from the other animals and I will give them a key so they can let themselves in and feed her. I don’t mind doing it before bedtime and first thing in the morning but I can’t commit to doing it all day. Fingers crossed but I anticipate sad news in the morning.
Well the new addition is certainly making his presence felt (assuming I have sexed him correctly). He is terrorising the other two and even has Pepsi scuttling for cover. Little bugger is constantly trying to get into the bedroom and doesn’t realise that by sticking like glue to me when I am walking that he could easily end up flat. Assuming I am now stuck with him, he has been christened Zorro on account of the black mask he has.
I have just had an exchange of messages with Kevin when he asked if the language lovers society had forgotten to ask me to take a turn on the recruitment stall. I said they hadn’t forgotten and I had agreed to go tomorrow morning and had confirmed it only yesterday. When I was initially told it was taking place this weekend I did opine that it was a silly time to do it when it is a normal teaching day due to the recent holiday. This prompted an indignant response because he is there and he is also teaching, plus they are my freshmen students. I had to remind him that I was there last year when they were his. Trying to lay a guilt trip on me rarely works and anyway to be honest I would far rather have stayed in bed all day today, that’s how I feel at present.
A few days ago I learnt of the latest campus fact/rumour concerning me. Over the past four years there have been many outrageous ones but this is the best yet. Apparently I am a frequent visitor to East and West Streets in the evenings and take liberal advantages of the favours of the girls working the night shift. I would dearly love to know how these things are started considering I have only ever been to either street to shop or eat and haven’t even done those things for about a year.
1800
This morning one of my students rang Kevin at 0700 saying they had found an injured dog. They had tried calling me first but of course my phone was off. Kevin told them he couldn’t do anything but when I switched my phone on later I had a message from the girl and so called her. By then she and her friends had called the vet to come out and I am immensely proud to say that they were perfectly willing to foot the bill for a wild dog. Not all Chinese are as callous as portrayed. I said I would ride down and take a look at it once I had showered but ten minutes later I was told the vet had been.
The vet (I found out later the same one I use all the time) took it away then brought it back with some medicine and returned it to the three girls. I only found this out this afternoon as one of the girls was in that class and she asked me to come and take a look after we finished. The poor little thing had been in a box under the stairs all day alone.
They had found it that morning in one of the teaching buildings on the fourth floor with a bloody muzzle and blood on the floor. I would love to know what happened, for this thing is just a few days old - its eyes haven’t opened yet - and it’s highly unlikely a bitch about to whelp would go up there where there is great human activity to do so. She would find somewhere secluded and sheltered.
Anyway, working on the premise that the mother who this mite so desperately needs for nourishment would not have only had one pup, we went in vain to search for the nest so as to leave her with her siblings. The situation as it stands is I think my students concealed her in a box and smuggled her into their dorm where apparently using a syringe they have managed to get some medication and cows milk into her. I have told them it will need feeding every few hours and that if she survives the night (I will be astonished if she does) they can bring her here and put her in the spare bedroom away from the other animals and I will give them a key so they can let themselves in and feed her. I don’t mind doing it before bedtime and first thing in the morning but I can’t commit to doing it all day. Fingers crossed but I anticipate sad news in the morning.
Friday, 10 October 2014
Friday 10th October, 2014 1945
Freshmanitis is particularly debilitating this year. I have felt terrible for two days now and this has been exacerbated by constantly waking myself up with coughing during the night. The cough at least had better clear off before Tuesday as Kevin and I are question masters at the school final of the national speaking competition and if I am barking I will have no option but to absent myself. It would interrupt the students’ speeches.
Yesterday there was a classic cock-up. I finished my afternoon class, went home, collected Pepsi and went out off campus. Ten minutes later Cinny called to ask if I had forgotten. “Forgotten what?”
“The observed class!”
“But that’s on Monday!”
Needless to say three observers were waiting in the classroom for me to give the lesson that I am scheduled to be teaching when the government inspectors come next month. Not only was I not on campus but I never had any students to take the class. It wasn’t going to happen.
Let me explain how this occurred.
During the golden week holiday I had sent Cinny a text asking her to confirm that the class was in fact still scheduled for four o’clock yesterday as 1) they never turned up to either mine or Kevin’s classes when they were supposed to before the holiday and 2) as I would be dragging a class out of their free time to come and take the lesson I didn’t want to waste 30 students’ time for nothing.
Ten minutes later she replied to say there was a new schedule on the 13th (Monday). What would you think? What I thought was terrific, by that time I will at least have met all my classes at least once. The problem was, Cinny never received my original text and was in fact, by an unfortunate coincidence, simply informing me that as from Monday we are operating the winter schedule which sees the lunch break reduced by thirty minutes to an hour and a half.
The lesson will take place on Monday after all but my head is telling me that somehow I will be thought of as deliberately transgressing even though all I had been trying to do was to ensure everything went ahead as planned. Such is life.
Today I saw the last two classes I had yet to meet and in fact managed to ascertain one of them was free for that period and to agree to give up their time and come to the lesson. This is a bonus because it means the poor souls I teach on Mondays won’t have to sit through the same lesson twice. For both me and my students it has worked out far better.
I taught all morning feeling like death and thankfully as the first lesson is always a meet and greet affair it wasn’t too onerous. At noon I got the dog and went out for a couple, exhausted. On my return I simply had to take a nap although I was (and still am) overtired and as a result every time I started to drift off I awoke with a start. Pointless. At least I don’t have to be up until eight tomorrow.
Earlier Kevin and I had dinner together off campus, nothing special, just some chicken drumsticks, rice and veg but cheap enough at 13y. A couple of beers each and it was time to come back with me having every intention of trying for an early night yet again.
When we got back to our building a black and white kitten was outside. A Chinese couple have been keeping it on the fourth floor but leaving their door open so it could come and go at will. It started meowing at my two mogs from outside, bolted into Ollivier’s when he heard it and opened the door and his wife Coco has been leaving food and milk (terrible thing to give a cat) out for it. We all now think they have tired of the kitten and have left it to fend for itself.
It is currently scoffing Whiskas and chicken in my living room and causing great consternation and hissing fits from Tigger and Lottie. Unless the couple upstairs say they want it back (I think it may be a boy) then it looks as if I will be back up to three cats again.
A busy weekend looms, what with teaching morning and afternoon tomorrow, helping Carol on the recruitment stand on Sunday morning, going to town shopping and at some point going over Carol’s speech with her again. I thought I was back at work to be able to relax a bit!
Freshmanitis is particularly debilitating this year. I have felt terrible for two days now and this has been exacerbated by constantly waking myself up with coughing during the night. The cough at least had better clear off before Tuesday as Kevin and I are question masters at the school final of the national speaking competition and if I am barking I will have no option but to absent myself. It would interrupt the students’ speeches.
Yesterday there was a classic cock-up. I finished my afternoon class, went home, collected Pepsi and went out off campus. Ten minutes later Cinny called to ask if I had forgotten. “Forgotten what?”
“The observed class!”
“But that’s on Monday!”
Needless to say three observers were waiting in the classroom for me to give the lesson that I am scheduled to be teaching when the government inspectors come next month. Not only was I not on campus but I never had any students to take the class. It wasn’t going to happen.
Let me explain how this occurred.
During the golden week holiday I had sent Cinny a text asking her to confirm that the class was in fact still scheduled for four o’clock yesterday as 1) they never turned up to either mine or Kevin’s classes when they were supposed to before the holiday and 2) as I would be dragging a class out of their free time to come and take the lesson I didn’t want to waste 30 students’ time for nothing.
Ten minutes later she replied to say there was a new schedule on the 13th (Monday). What would you think? What I thought was terrific, by that time I will at least have met all my classes at least once. The problem was, Cinny never received my original text and was in fact, by an unfortunate coincidence, simply informing me that as from Monday we are operating the winter schedule which sees the lunch break reduced by thirty minutes to an hour and a half.
The lesson will take place on Monday after all but my head is telling me that somehow I will be thought of as deliberately transgressing even though all I had been trying to do was to ensure everything went ahead as planned. Such is life.
Today I saw the last two classes I had yet to meet and in fact managed to ascertain one of them was free for that period and to agree to give up their time and come to the lesson. This is a bonus because it means the poor souls I teach on Mondays won’t have to sit through the same lesson twice. For both me and my students it has worked out far better.
I taught all morning feeling like death and thankfully as the first lesson is always a meet and greet affair it wasn’t too onerous. At noon I got the dog and went out for a couple, exhausted. On my return I simply had to take a nap although I was (and still am) overtired and as a result every time I started to drift off I awoke with a start. Pointless. At least I don’t have to be up until eight tomorrow.
Earlier Kevin and I had dinner together off campus, nothing special, just some chicken drumsticks, rice and veg but cheap enough at 13y. A couple of beers each and it was time to come back with me having every intention of trying for an early night yet again.
When we got back to our building a black and white kitten was outside. A Chinese couple have been keeping it on the fourth floor but leaving their door open so it could come and go at will. It started meowing at my two mogs from outside, bolted into Ollivier’s when he heard it and opened the door and his wife Coco has been leaving food and milk (terrible thing to give a cat) out for it. We all now think they have tired of the kitten and have left it to fend for itself.
It is currently scoffing Whiskas and chicken in my living room and causing great consternation and hissing fits from Tigger and Lottie. Unless the couple upstairs say they want it back (I think it may be a boy) then it looks as if I will be back up to three cats again.
A busy weekend looms, what with teaching morning and afternoon tomorrow, helping Carol on the recruitment stand on Sunday morning, going to town shopping and at some point going over Carol’s speech with her again. I thought I was back at work to be able to relax a bit!
Wednesday, 8 October 2014
Wednesday 8th October, 2014 1345
One day just maybe one of my trips will go without a hitch!
On Monday morning I went to the bus station and paid 80y for my ticket to Hefei. The place was mobbed and of course the queue for the bus I wanted just had to be the longest, didn’t it? I joined it and then almost immediately the gate opened and people were let through. It was patently obvious that the bus I was looking at was incapable of carrying everyone and so with an inner sigh I realised I would have to wait another half an hour before the next one was due. Worse, it meant I didn’t dare go to the smoking area because I would lose my place with the inevitable result that I would leave even later.
As expected, the bus quickly filled to capacity but seconds later another bus pulled in next to it. This was one of those you sit on the top deck and are much more comfortable because they only have two seats on the left and one on the right. And yes, clearly additional vehicles had been drafted in for the rush. Great. Not long afterwards I was aboard and had bagged a single seat. In fact we left before the previous bus did so my luck was in.
The driver never stopped for the customary toilet break so not only did I have to hold it in but I couldn’t smoke either. I had though taken my snuff for just such an eventuality. The bus duly arrived at Hefei South after three hours and to my consternation everyone seemed to be disembarking bar me. I needed Hefei North as the cab from there costs about 10y whereas from South it is a lot more. One of the last to get off was a girl who spoke a little English and so I asked her if the bus would go to the north station. “Yes, yes” said she so I settled back in my reclining leather seat. We never embarked any more passengers though and I thought that was a bit odd and we left the station, the only person who had got on was an “aunty” who was downstairs with the driver chatting away as he drove.
Being alone on the top deck I decided to be a bit naughty and have a couple of puffs on a cigar. Ducking down behind the seat in front of me so as not to be caught on camera, I lit one, took a few drags and then put it back in my cigarette case. We had been driving for about ten minutes when I coughed. The bus had just stopped at red lights and suddenly there were exclamations from downstairs and the driver shot up the stairs, aghast that someone was still aboard. Using body language I explained I wanted the north station. He in turn made it quite plain he wasn’t going there but was in fact returning to Chizhou! Had I fallen asleep I could well have ended up back where I started and the stay in Hefei would never have happened! I got off and waited for a passing taxi, wondering just how much this was going to cost me now as I hadn‘t the foggiest where I was.
It wasn’t as bad as I feared as it was only 35y and unbelievably when we got there the main road was still closed outside the hotel. It was scheduled to be for two years and it is way past that now. Checking in, the receptionist said “You want a no smoking room sir?”
“Oh no, no - smoking”, said I. Then he said “Wait a moment, the manager wants to speak to you” and he called her. I wondered what was going to go wrong now but it was the VIP welcome and to inform me that I would have a welcome bowl of fruit and I could avail myself of the executive lounge facilities. She even carried my small bag up to the luxurious and spacious room.
After she left I opened a bottle of wine I had bought and poured a glass, intending to have a nap before the girls were due to arrive at six. By now I was gasping for a smoke and looked in vain for an ashtray. Then I spotted the warning sign that were I to smoke there would be a deep cleaning fee of 900y - I had been given a non smoking room. A call to downstairs and two minutes later someone came with the card for a room on the floor below on the 24th. Same room and to be honest it didn’t smell smoky.
I never got my sleep and at six Vivian (who made my video) arrived. Anna was late, her taxi having been caught up in traffic but when she finally arrived I suggested we go to the executive lounge for a complimentary drink before going to the Happy Panda for dinner. The manager had informed me I should just sign for the meal even though I did tell her there would be three of us.
Vivian went for scotch which she thought too “hot“ and I suggested she put lemonade in, I had a large G&T (you just help yourself) and I thought Anna had taken a white wine. Unbeknown to me she had copied Vivian. I wasn’t going to waste half a can of tonic so got another one a little later, so did the girls but Anna this time did plump for wine. Then it was off for dinner. Every time I have been to the restaurant before it was a buffet affair and paradise on earth for gourmands. It has now changed to either a set menu or a la carte. The food is still excellent but the place was almost empty, such a shame. If possible I was treated even more like royalty than when I used to stay with Steve when he was the gaffer. I ordered fish and chips (delicious but far too big for me), Vivian an Australian steak which looked very tender and was certainly the best I have seen in China, while Anna went for the mixed grill.
She then promptly announced she was drunk. Given that she had drunk a large brandy in Shanghai in the summer I thought she was joking after just two glasses of plonk. It was then that I found out she had taken a generous helping of malt. Anna decided she would sleep on the table (see photo) and a little later Vivian had to take her to the ladies - in fact this happened three times but to her credit she never embarrassed me aside from not being capable of touching her enormous mixed grill which had the biggest prawn I think I have ever seen, along with steak, sausage etc. She did sober up a little after the third visit to the toilet and after we sent her plate back to the kitchen for reheating she did make an effort to eat as much as she could.
Dinner over, I suggested we go up to the room. I was concerned about Anna perhaps being taken advantage of if she took a taxi or worse, during the summer holidays four university students were raped and killed elsewhere in China. I suggested I accommodate her for the night, after all we were going to travel back together but she flatly refused. To compromise I suggested she have a lie down while Vivian and I went for post prandial drinks in the Soho sports bar. She agreed.
The bar has a pool table so we played a couple of games and had a drink or four before returning to the room to wake up Anna. As it was well past eleven it was too late for her to go home and so reluctantly she agreed she should stay in the safety of the hotel. I was glad.
In the morning I took her to breakfast. I rarely eat breakfast, especially so in China given the offerings but the Hilton does a passable impression of a full English even if the chef uses chopsticks when frying your eggs. it really set me up for the day with bangers, eggs sunny side up, tomato, hash browns and fresh toast (another one afterwards with marmalade). It literally did set me up for the day as that was all I ate. Anna on the other hand opted for the Chinese option. Steamed bun, noodles, sushi and huge amounts of cake!
Back in the room I finished packing (Anna didn’t need to as she only had what she was wearing the night before) and polished off the last of my wine. I then discovered she had snaffled everything that was of any possible use to her! The moisturiser, shampoo, conditioner etc had all disappeared into her bag along with all the fruit in the free bowl! Knowing as I do now that even unused toiletries are dumped when a guest leaves, there was no guilt whatsoever, I was simply annoyed at myself for forgetting to nick a pair of slippers.
Then it was taxi time to Anna’s home for her to collect her bag and laptop. I opted to stay nearby her building in a café drinking a beer and reading the complimentary China Daily while she was saying goodbye to her parents. Another cab to the bus station and needlessly she paid for both our bus tickets. We managed to get “contiguous” seats and once again the bus never stopped on the way back. Good job I used the loo in the café.
The plan was for Anna to ride back to school on my bike with me, hence I had only taken a small bag so as to have room for her luggage. The bus was entirely populated with our students and when we got to Chizhou station there were conversations between the driver and passengers. I stood up to get our bags down and Anna said to me that the driver was going to take everyone to our south gate so we should stay on board. She had forgotten already that my bike was in the station car park! We were the only ones who got off. It was though a nice gesture from the driver and I hope the students appreciated it.
By the time we got back I was so tired and thanked my luck that I had no classes today.
This morning I got up deliberately early for two reasons. One was that I needed to post bail for Pepsi who had spent eight days in a cage and the other that I knew I would be hungry, having only eaten breakfast yesterday. That plus the fact I need to get up at six on Thursdays and Fridays this term. The McMuffin was most welcome, as was the bottle of free body wash I was given even though I won’t use it. Yvonne will I am sure.
Pepsi was overjoyed at being paroled on her own recognizance and I was rewarded with an even greater bowel movement from her than other occasions when I stopped at the first piece of grassland after leaving the vets. I swear she saves it up for me.
My Instacure finally arrived at lunchtime so the only thing I haven’t got now in order to take a bash at making ham is the pork itself. Had I known this morning I would have bought some but as it stands it will now be Sunday probably before I can go shopping again as we have catch-up classes on Saturday and the language society have asked the laoweis to help with recruiting on their stand. I will probably sit on the stand in the morning on Sunday for a couple of hours and go to town in the afternoon.
Thankfully my observed class has been postponed to Monday which is much better because I will have met all my students by then (I still have four classes I haven’t seen) and as it stood I had no students organised to come to the pretend lesson anyway.
After hearing of my tales of the highlife in the Hilton, Kevin has asked me to make enquiries about discounts at the hotel for three people booking three exec rooms with a view to making that our Christmas do the weekend after the 25th December. We can’t do it on the day because we are all teaching as well as Boxing Day. Whether we will actually do it or not remains to be seen but I am up for it.
One day just maybe one of my trips will go without a hitch!
On Monday morning I went to the bus station and paid 80y for my ticket to Hefei. The place was mobbed and of course the queue for the bus I wanted just had to be the longest, didn’t it? I joined it and then almost immediately the gate opened and people were let through. It was patently obvious that the bus I was looking at was incapable of carrying everyone and so with an inner sigh I realised I would have to wait another half an hour before the next one was due. Worse, it meant I didn’t dare go to the smoking area because I would lose my place with the inevitable result that I would leave even later.
As expected, the bus quickly filled to capacity but seconds later another bus pulled in next to it. This was one of those you sit on the top deck and are much more comfortable because they only have two seats on the left and one on the right. And yes, clearly additional vehicles had been drafted in for the rush. Great. Not long afterwards I was aboard and had bagged a single seat. In fact we left before the previous bus did so my luck was in.
The driver never stopped for the customary toilet break so not only did I have to hold it in but I couldn’t smoke either. I had though taken my snuff for just such an eventuality. The bus duly arrived at Hefei South after three hours and to my consternation everyone seemed to be disembarking bar me. I needed Hefei North as the cab from there costs about 10y whereas from South it is a lot more. One of the last to get off was a girl who spoke a little English and so I asked her if the bus would go to the north station. “Yes, yes” said she so I settled back in my reclining leather seat. We never embarked any more passengers though and I thought that was a bit odd and we left the station, the only person who had got on was an “aunty” who was downstairs with the driver chatting away as he drove.
Being alone on the top deck I decided to be a bit naughty and have a couple of puffs on a cigar. Ducking down behind the seat in front of me so as not to be caught on camera, I lit one, took a few drags and then put it back in my cigarette case. We had been driving for about ten minutes when I coughed. The bus had just stopped at red lights and suddenly there were exclamations from downstairs and the driver shot up the stairs, aghast that someone was still aboard. Using body language I explained I wanted the north station. He in turn made it quite plain he wasn’t going there but was in fact returning to Chizhou! Had I fallen asleep I could well have ended up back where I started and the stay in Hefei would never have happened! I got off and waited for a passing taxi, wondering just how much this was going to cost me now as I hadn‘t the foggiest where I was.
It wasn’t as bad as I feared as it was only 35y and unbelievably when we got there the main road was still closed outside the hotel. It was scheduled to be for two years and it is way past that now. Checking in, the receptionist said “You want a no smoking room sir?”
“Oh no, no - smoking”, said I. Then he said “Wait a moment, the manager wants to speak to you” and he called her. I wondered what was going to go wrong now but it was the VIP welcome and to inform me that I would have a welcome bowl of fruit and I could avail myself of the executive lounge facilities. She even carried my small bag up to the luxurious and spacious room.
After she left I opened a bottle of wine I had bought and poured a glass, intending to have a nap before the girls were due to arrive at six. By now I was gasping for a smoke and looked in vain for an ashtray. Then I spotted the warning sign that were I to smoke there would be a deep cleaning fee of 900y - I had been given a non smoking room. A call to downstairs and two minutes later someone came with the card for a room on the floor below on the 24th. Same room and to be honest it didn’t smell smoky.
I never got my sleep and at six Vivian (who made my video) arrived. Anna was late, her taxi having been caught up in traffic but when she finally arrived I suggested we go to the executive lounge for a complimentary drink before going to the Happy Panda for dinner. The manager had informed me I should just sign for the meal even though I did tell her there would be three of us.
Vivian went for scotch which she thought too “hot“ and I suggested she put lemonade in, I had a large G&T (you just help yourself) and I thought Anna had taken a white wine. Unbeknown to me she had copied Vivian. I wasn’t going to waste half a can of tonic so got another one a little later, so did the girls but Anna this time did plump for wine. Then it was off for dinner. Every time I have been to the restaurant before it was a buffet affair and paradise on earth for gourmands. It has now changed to either a set menu or a la carte. The food is still excellent but the place was almost empty, such a shame. If possible I was treated even more like royalty than when I used to stay with Steve when he was the gaffer. I ordered fish and chips (delicious but far too big for me), Vivian an Australian steak which looked very tender and was certainly the best I have seen in China, while Anna went for the mixed grill.
She then promptly announced she was drunk. Given that she had drunk a large brandy in Shanghai in the summer I thought she was joking after just two glasses of plonk. It was then that I found out she had taken a generous helping of malt. Anna decided she would sleep on the table (see photo) and a little later Vivian had to take her to the ladies - in fact this happened three times but to her credit she never embarrassed me aside from not being capable of touching her enormous mixed grill which had the biggest prawn I think I have ever seen, along with steak, sausage etc. She did sober up a little after the third visit to the toilet and after we sent her plate back to the kitchen for reheating she did make an effort to eat as much as she could.
Dinner over, I suggested we go up to the room. I was concerned about Anna perhaps being taken advantage of if she took a taxi or worse, during the summer holidays four university students were raped and killed elsewhere in China. I suggested I accommodate her for the night, after all we were going to travel back together but she flatly refused. To compromise I suggested she have a lie down while Vivian and I went for post prandial drinks in the Soho sports bar. She agreed.
The bar has a pool table so we played a couple of games and had a drink or four before returning to the room to wake up Anna. As it was well past eleven it was too late for her to go home and so reluctantly she agreed she should stay in the safety of the hotel. I was glad.
In the morning I took her to breakfast. I rarely eat breakfast, especially so in China given the offerings but the Hilton does a passable impression of a full English even if the chef uses chopsticks when frying your eggs. it really set me up for the day with bangers, eggs sunny side up, tomato, hash browns and fresh toast (another one afterwards with marmalade). It literally did set me up for the day as that was all I ate. Anna on the other hand opted for the Chinese option. Steamed bun, noodles, sushi and huge amounts of cake!
Back in the room I finished packing (Anna didn’t need to as she only had what she was wearing the night before) and polished off the last of my wine. I then discovered she had snaffled everything that was of any possible use to her! The moisturiser, shampoo, conditioner etc had all disappeared into her bag along with all the fruit in the free bowl! Knowing as I do now that even unused toiletries are dumped when a guest leaves, there was no guilt whatsoever, I was simply annoyed at myself for forgetting to nick a pair of slippers.
Then it was taxi time to Anna’s home for her to collect her bag and laptop. I opted to stay nearby her building in a café drinking a beer and reading the complimentary China Daily while she was saying goodbye to her parents. Another cab to the bus station and needlessly she paid for both our bus tickets. We managed to get “contiguous” seats and once again the bus never stopped on the way back. Good job I used the loo in the café.
The plan was for Anna to ride back to school on my bike with me, hence I had only taken a small bag so as to have room for her luggage. The bus was entirely populated with our students and when we got to Chizhou station there were conversations between the driver and passengers. I stood up to get our bags down and Anna said to me that the driver was going to take everyone to our south gate so we should stay on board. She had forgotten already that my bike was in the station car park! We were the only ones who got off. It was though a nice gesture from the driver and I hope the students appreciated it.
By the time we got back I was so tired and thanked my luck that I had no classes today.
This morning I got up deliberately early for two reasons. One was that I needed to post bail for Pepsi who had spent eight days in a cage and the other that I knew I would be hungry, having only eaten breakfast yesterday. That plus the fact I need to get up at six on Thursdays and Fridays this term. The McMuffin was most welcome, as was the bottle of free body wash I was given even though I won’t use it. Yvonne will I am sure.
Pepsi was overjoyed at being paroled on her own recognizance and I was rewarded with an even greater bowel movement from her than other occasions when I stopped at the first piece of grassland after leaving the vets. I swear she saves it up for me.
My Instacure finally arrived at lunchtime so the only thing I haven’t got now in order to take a bash at making ham is the pork itself. Had I known this morning I would have bought some but as it stands it will now be Sunday probably before I can go shopping again as we have catch-up classes on Saturday and the language society have asked the laoweis to help with recruiting on their stand. I will probably sit on the stand in the morning on Sunday for a couple of hours and go to town in the afternoon.
Thankfully my observed class has been postponed to Monday which is much better because I will have met all my students by then (I still have four classes I haven’t seen) and as it stood I had no students organised to come to the pretend lesson anyway.
After hearing of my tales of the highlife in the Hilton, Kevin has asked me to make enquiries about discounts at the hotel for three people booking three exec rooms with a view to making that our Christmas do the weekend after the 25th December. We can’t do it on the day because we are all teaching as well as Boxing Day. Whether we will actually do it or not remains to be seen but I am up for it.
Sunday, 5 October 2014
Sunday 5th October, 2014 Noon
I’m getting too old for this travelling “joy”. Thirteen hours after getting off the train last night and my body is still on the damned thing. I never used to have any after effects after a sea trip or flight.
Knowing food would probably not figure very much yesterday, I ensured I was early enough for the McDonald’s breakfast menu. I had the breakfast plate with scrambled eggs, muffin, burger and hash browns but decided afterwards I would have been better off having a McMuffin. At least I had eaten something though.
The first train (as mentioned) was the high speed express D train which does Yiwu to Hangzhou in an hour, half the time of the slower high speed K trains. The D trains are impressively new and sleek and everyone has a small table in front of their seat. My seat was occupied when I boarded but simply showing the errant “standing ticket” passenger was enough to see him get up and stand, leaving me free to flop into it. In fact the chap very kindly lifted my case up onto the luggage rack, something with my arm I find impossible to do, given the weight of luggage I packed. I couldn’t help but notice the train doesn’t seem to go any faster than the K trains - I was expecting to be streaking through the landscape but that wasn’t the case. I am convinced the huge time saving is purely because it doesn’t stop at many stations.
I had a couple of hours to wait in Hangzhou and could have shovelled more sustenance into myself but so soon after breakfast I wasn’t hungry. I knew I was condemning myself to Garibaldi biscuits for the rest of the day. The second train was very busy with standers mainly using the vestibules between carriages. This of course is where one can smoke and even as a smoker I found the atmosphere highly unpleasant. It wasn’t as bad as going for a tinkle though. The toilet windows were locked shut, resulting in the ammonia stench of old urine being strong enough to make the eyes water. It was a case of go in, squeeze hard whilst trying to hold your breath and then get the hell out as quickly as possible. One time when I was having a smoke someone left the toilet door open, allowing the toxic air to circulate which was most unpleasant.
Chinese train toilets are often simple squat affairs with a pipe which funnels effluent directly onto the tracks, no such things as septic tanks. One time a door was left open and to my disgust I noted that someone had left a turd that was easily a foot long sitting in the toilet glaring malevolently at passersby. Perhaps it was just as well that I wasn’t going to be eating.
Of the seven hour trip on that train, about an hour in total was spent standing idle in the middle of nowhere and for no apparent reason. Very frustrating when all you want to do is get home. Just after eleven my trip ended and I braved the gauntlet of the people trying to convince me to take a room in whatever hotel they were touting and went to the bus station car park where my bike was waiting for me. Twenty minutes later I was home. I washed all my laundry and hung it up to dry and by then I was overtired so knew I wouldn’t sleep. In fact it was almost four when I turned in. Had I known at the start this would happen I could have taken a pie from the freezer and heated it up.
Hefei will see me dining with multimedia Vivian and also Anna who lives close by. She is returning to school on Tuesday as well so she said she would go and try and buy “contiguous” train tickets for us. As I have never heard anyone refer to adjoining seats by that word, my guess is she used an online translator! Anyway, there are no seats left on that train nor any standing tickets, not that I would be prepared to stand anyway. I told her we would have to take the bus instead, more expensive but guaranteed a seat, plus there is more than one bus a day, unlike the train. Unfortunately, an online search for tickets for me to get there tomorrow showed me the outbound train is also sold out. Consequently after my shower I am going to the bus station to see if I can buy a ticket for a bus, hopefully leaving late morning. I will also travel light, minus laptop this time. I will also have to get some food inside me. I just wish I could get off the train………
2000
Having booked a hotel room at a price which didn’t include breakfast I asked my friend Steve in Shenyang how much it costs and also how much the Happy Panda restaurant is for dinner. I need somewhere nice to take the girls to eat. To my surprise he has contacted the hotel and told them to upgrade my room to one on an executive floor! Very kind of him indeed, for that now means breakfast is included and in addition I get the use of the executive lounge atop the hotel where drinks and snacks are complimentary! Now all I have to do is make sure I am up in time on Tuesday so I can take advantage of an almost English start to the day.
I will be offline once I leave here tomorrow, I’ve had enough of hauling heavy baggage and will just be taking a change of clothing, a book and something to drink en route.
I’m getting too old for this travelling “joy”. Thirteen hours after getting off the train last night and my body is still on the damned thing. I never used to have any after effects after a sea trip or flight.
Knowing food would probably not figure very much yesterday, I ensured I was early enough for the McDonald’s breakfast menu. I had the breakfast plate with scrambled eggs, muffin, burger and hash browns but decided afterwards I would have been better off having a McMuffin. At least I had eaten something though.
The first train (as mentioned) was the high speed express D train which does Yiwu to Hangzhou in an hour, half the time of the slower high speed K trains. The D trains are impressively new and sleek and everyone has a small table in front of their seat. My seat was occupied when I boarded but simply showing the errant “standing ticket” passenger was enough to see him get up and stand, leaving me free to flop into it. In fact the chap very kindly lifted my case up onto the luggage rack, something with my arm I find impossible to do, given the weight of luggage I packed. I couldn’t help but notice the train doesn’t seem to go any faster than the K trains - I was expecting to be streaking through the landscape but that wasn’t the case. I am convinced the huge time saving is purely because it doesn’t stop at many stations.
I had a couple of hours to wait in Hangzhou and could have shovelled more sustenance into myself but so soon after breakfast I wasn’t hungry. I knew I was condemning myself to Garibaldi biscuits for the rest of the day. The second train was very busy with standers mainly using the vestibules between carriages. This of course is where one can smoke and even as a smoker I found the atmosphere highly unpleasant. It wasn’t as bad as going for a tinkle though. The toilet windows were locked shut, resulting in the ammonia stench of old urine being strong enough to make the eyes water. It was a case of go in, squeeze hard whilst trying to hold your breath and then get the hell out as quickly as possible. One time when I was having a smoke someone left the toilet door open, allowing the toxic air to circulate which was most unpleasant.
Chinese train toilets are often simple squat affairs with a pipe which funnels effluent directly onto the tracks, no such things as septic tanks. One time a door was left open and to my disgust I noted that someone had left a turd that was easily a foot long sitting in the toilet glaring malevolently at passersby. Perhaps it was just as well that I wasn’t going to be eating.
Of the seven hour trip on that train, about an hour in total was spent standing idle in the middle of nowhere and for no apparent reason. Very frustrating when all you want to do is get home. Just after eleven my trip ended and I braved the gauntlet of the people trying to convince me to take a room in whatever hotel they were touting and went to the bus station car park where my bike was waiting for me. Twenty minutes later I was home. I washed all my laundry and hung it up to dry and by then I was overtired so knew I wouldn’t sleep. In fact it was almost four when I turned in. Had I known at the start this would happen I could have taken a pie from the freezer and heated it up.
Hefei will see me dining with multimedia Vivian and also Anna who lives close by. She is returning to school on Tuesday as well so she said she would go and try and buy “contiguous” train tickets for us. As I have never heard anyone refer to adjoining seats by that word, my guess is she used an online translator! Anyway, there are no seats left on that train nor any standing tickets, not that I would be prepared to stand anyway. I told her we would have to take the bus instead, more expensive but guaranteed a seat, plus there is more than one bus a day, unlike the train. Unfortunately, an online search for tickets for me to get there tomorrow showed me the outbound train is also sold out. Consequently after my shower I am going to the bus station to see if I can buy a ticket for a bus, hopefully leaving late morning. I will also travel light, minus laptop this time. I will also have to get some food inside me. I just wish I could get off the train………
2000
Having booked a hotel room at a price which didn’t include breakfast I asked my friend Steve in Shenyang how much it costs and also how much the Happy Panda restaurant is for dinner. I need somewhere nice to take the girls to eat. To my surprise he has contacted the hotel and told them to upgrade my room to one on an executive floor! Very kind of him indeed, for that now means breakfast is included and in addition I get the use of the executive lounge atop the hotel where drinks and snacks are complimentary! Now all I have to do is make sure I am up in time on Tuesday so I can take advantage of an almost English start to the day.
I will be offline once I leave here tomorrow, I’ve had enough of hauling heavy baggage and will just be taking a change of clothing, a book and something to drink en route.
Friday, 3 October 2014
Friday 3rd October, 2014 2130
Today did not see the best start. Having had a late night I fully expected to sleep through until nine, said time being what I had set for my alarm so as to have a McDonald’s breakfast.
I was woken abruptly by the sound of drilling that surely had to be happening in close proximity. Feeling very woolly-headed, I looked at my watch. Seven sodding twenty!!! This is not just any hotel, it is an expensive one and I do not expect maintenance to take place at such an ungodly hour unless it is critical and urgent. I gave it two minutes and when it didn’t abate, called reception to advised of an impending murder, the method of which would be by the insertion of a Black & Decker up someone’s anus. Just as the aircon seemed to have been turned back on last night after my complaint, so the drilling ceased, although the chap may have finished anyway for all I know.
I went back to sleep, cancelled the alarm when it went off and dozed until nine forty-five. Recalling that McDonald’s change from the breakfast to daytime menu at ten, I hurriedly dressed and went out. The lifts were all busy so I had a wait but got to McD at five to ten. They had already switched to Big Mac mode. No way can I stomach a double cheeseburger just after getting up, so I left, not pleased,
Just to cheer me up further, after my shower when I was dressing my watch strap broke. This was turning into a bonzer day.
Vivian suggested that she come to the hotel at six which suited me fine because I was tired and just knew I would need an afternoon sleep. At noon I went to Century Mart which is next to the hotel. I bought some wine and beer for the room, had my watch strap repaired and came back to the lobby bar, where I sat wondering why on earth I felt so tired.
Eventually I went to bed, forgot to set an alarm and so was woken by Vivian calling me from downstairs at the appointed hour. I still felt exhausted and do now!! “We can walk to Pizza Hut” said she. I expressed concern at this unwarranted assault on my legs but she assured me it was close, even though my better judgement, gained from observing out of taxi windows, said that while it may be close to her it was a trek for me.
And trek it was. If I was tired before, my legs certainly were by the time we arrived. Still, a nice pizza was sure to be presented to me and cure my fatigue. In China Pizza Hut is for special occasions even if in the west it is everyday fare.
This was the absolute dregs of a Pizza Hut. The cold beer was warm and the pizza was overdone and revolting. More than two hundred yuan spent for what essentially was worse than you would have expected in the old days on a British Rail train platform. I really wish we had gone to the curry place again, more expensive but far more enjoyable and given that tomorrow I will be lucky to eat anything beyond breakfast, worth it.
Lo and behold, as if saying goodbye to Vivian wasn’t bad enough (although she and Coco have threatened to come and stay a night or two at my place in the spring festival), Yvonne cancelled Anqing for Monday! That was disappointing as I had really been looking forward to it but yet again her younger sister got in the way. Mum decided they should escort her back to her college before Yvonne came back to Chizhou.
Left with an hotel booking to cancel, a dog in a prepaid cell until Wednesday and an itch to travel, I started sending texts to people I know in an effort to find somewhere - anywhere - to go for a night. Eventually I succeeded with another Vivian, the one who produced my video in college. She has graduated and now lives and works in Hefei so that’s where I shall go. Not only that, I am splashing out on Steve’s old hotel the Hilton. Bugger it, for one night at least I know I will get a proper hotel even if at a cost. I did ask Steve what food the Happy Panda served on Monday nights but he said he closed it before he left due to lack of customers! It was my favourite restaurant in China………..
So tomorrow I head back home for a day and I just know I will be exhausted when I arrive at 2300. The highlight will probably be my first train from here to Hangzhou. It is a bullet train and will do a two hour journey in an hour. Pity the next one isn’t so fast.
Today did not see the best start. Having had a late night I fully expected to sleep through until nine, said time being what I had set for my alarm so as to have a McDonald’s breakfast.
I was woken abruptly by the sound of drilling that surely had to be happening in close proximity. Feeling very woolly-headed, I looked at my watch. Seven sodding twenty!!! This is not just any hotel, it is an expensive one and I do not expect maintenance to take place at such an ungodly hour unless it is critical and urgent. I gave it two minutes and when it didn’t abate, called reception to advised of an impending murder, the method of which would be by the insertion of a Black & Decker up someone’s anus. Just as the aircon seemed to have been turned back on last night after my complaint, so the drilling ceased, although the chap may have finished anyway for all I know.
I went back to sleep, cancelled the alarm when it went off and dozed until nine forty-five. Recalling that McDonald’s change from the breakfast to daytime menu at ten, I hurriedly dressed and went out. The lifts were all busy so I had a wait but got to McD at five to ten. They had already switched to Big Mac mode. No way can I stomach a double cheeseburger just after getting up, so I left, not pleased,
Just to cheer me up further, after my shower when I was dressing my watch strap broke. This was turning into a bonzer day.
Vivian suggested that she come to the hotel at six which suited me fine because I was tired and just knew I would need an afternoon sleep. At noon I went to Century Mart which is next to the hotel. I bought some wine and beer for the room, had my watch strap repaired and came back to the lobby bar, where I sat wondering why on earth I felt so tired.
Eventually I went to bed, forgot to set an alarm and so was woken by Vivian calling me from downstairs at the appointed hour. I still felt exhausted and do now!! “We can walk to Pizza Hut” said she. I expressed concern at this unwarranted assault on my legs but she assured me it was close, even though my better judgement, gained from observing out of taxi windows, said that while it may be close to her it was a trek for me.
And trek it was. If I was tired before, my legs certainly were by the time we arrived. Still, a nice pizza was sure to be presented to me and cure my fatigue. In China Pizza Hut is for special occasions even if in the west it is everyday fare.
This was the absolute dregs of a Pizza Hut. The cold beer was warm and the pizza was overdone and revolting. More than two hundred yuan spent for what essentially was worse than you would have expected in the old days on a British Rail train platform. I really wish we had gone to the curry place again, more expensive but far more enjoyable and given that tomorrow I will be lucky to eat anything beyond breakfast, worth it.
Lo and behold, as if saying goodbye to Vivian wasn’t bad enough (although she and Coco have threatened to come and stay a night or two at my place in the spring festival), Yvonne cancelled Anqing for Monday! That was disappointing as I had really been looking forward to it but yet again her younger sister got in the way. Mum decided they should escort her back to her college before Yvonne came back to Chizhou.
Left with an hotel booking to cancel, a dog in a prepaid cell until Wednesday and an itch to travel, I started sending texts to people I know in an effort to find somewhere - anywhere - to go for a night. Eventually I succeeded with another Vivian, the one who produced my video in college. She has graduated and now lives and works in Hefei so that’s where I shall go. Not only that, I am splashing out on Steve’s old hotel the Hilton. Bugger it, for one night at least I know I will get a proper hotel even if at a cost. I did ask Steve what food the Happy Panda served on Monday nights but he said he closed it before he left due to lack of customers! It was my favourite restaurant in China………..
So tomorrow I head back home for a day and I just know I will be exhausted when I arrive at 2300. The highlight will probably be my first train from here to Hangzhou. It is a bullet train and will do a two hour journey in an hour. Pity the next one isn’t so fast.
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Thursday 2nd October, 2014 1500
I really regretted my trip yesterday but not for the reason I expected. Certainly I arrived at the station to find it thronged. There were some of my ex students there - naturally - as it was the first day of their holiday as well as being the day modern China celebrated her 65th birthday.
Safe in the knowledge that I had bought my tickets for seats and not standing, I was prepared to turf anyone parked in my seat out if necessary. There is no way I can stand for any length of time on a train in motion, not these days. However, as we left Chizhou, although I was sitting in a pod of four seats with three young people, I noticed opposite there were four empty ones and so moved there. Great thought I, I hope this is the case all the way.
Sadly, as indeed when I travelled to Huainan and the same happened, when we got to the first stop (which was Tongling) the train filled up and so I had to take my proper place again. Yes there were people who had only bought standing tickets but it wasn’t the horror story I had been told and I sat peacefully with my crossword book and Jing Jo, occasionally visiting the vestibule for a cigar.
In Wuhu I had two and a half hours to kill and bearing in mind my anticipated late arrival, I wanted something to eat. With a small travelling suitcase that weighed almost as much as the bigger one I would use for flying to the UK (I had packed wine and things for the hotel room as I knew the shops would probably be closed when I got there) and having had already scaled far too many steps, I didn’t want to walk far. I found a small restaurant annexed to Wuhu train station just outside. No beer but the shop next door sold it so I bought one and then ordered egg and tomato. I expected steamed rice to come with it, especially as the price was 15y (expensive) but no such luck. In fairness there was plenty of egg - normally it’s mostly tomato - and it was enough to satisfy me.
As I had bought the last cold beer the shop had, I decided to go back into the station in search of more. My train (of course!) meant I had to climb to the 3rd floor. By the time I got to the top I was not only done in but also needed the loo. There was a shop selling cold pijou so I went in intending to go to the toilet and then buy beer from them to pass the hour I still had to kill. On asking I was told the toilet was on the ground floor. Shit. No way was I dragging my case all the way back down and then up again so with body language I asked if they could look after my bag for a few minutes. They pointed to CCTV screens. Bigger shit. Worried perhaps I was a Uiyghur terrorist wearing a fat foreigner disguise. I decided to “tie a knot in it” because I truly wasn’t going down the mountain and back up again. The shop lost at least two overpriced pijous worth of custom for their lack of trust.
The ensuing six hour train trip was pretty packed and with standing passengers but they didn’t impinge too much on me. I read the book (Is That Fat Foreigner Rich? - available on Amazon) I bought from the owner of the Flying Fox and author in Shanghai in the summer, drank my medicine wine and took the occasional bite from my bologna baguette. When I finally arrived in Yiwu at 2205 I was jaded to say the least. At least I didn’t get a rip off taxi, the guy went on the meter and 32y later I was deposited at the entrance to my 4 star business hotel (the highest is 4 stars in China).
For the second time (and both have been 4 star hotels), my foreign expert certificate was insufficient to check in, only my passport would do. That irked me because not only does it state in both English and Chinese that it is my ID in China, when hotels copy it they send it to the PSB to register you there. The PSB actually ISSUE that document!!! This is China. The manager was called. Yes we could probably take your FEC but a passport is better for us. I caved in because I couldn’t be bothered arguing. I was then told the room I had booked was not available but as a special favour for an honoured foreign guest (a likely story) I could have a free upgrade. I responded by saying that for free they could give me the presidential suite (on the 26th floor) for all I cared. Ah, but you will have your minibar. I retorted that they advertise all rooms as having them. What I actually have is a mini fridge that had a can of coke and three cans of milk. Minibar my backside but sufficient for me to keep my own beer in.
After going to my room I went straight down to the lobby bar (yes this time they have one) and had three very small bottles (expensive at 20y apiece) and then went back up. I was so tired I could only drink half a bottle of my wine before collapsing into bed. I set my alarm for 0830 as I knew I would be starving this morning having eaten very little yesterday. Western breakfast is included in the price so I was looking forward to at the very least bacon and eggs with some toast. When I went for breakfast it was business as usual. There were dumplings, snot soup, noodles and other unmentionables but nothing remotely resembling a western breakfast. I enquired where to get a western breakfast and a waitress appeared to twig what I was after and promptly sent me to the toilets!!!
Now, I had gone to the 24th floor (my room is on the 16th) because the bloody lift would only go to the 24th and then go back down and yet the book in the room said the western place was the 26th floor. I wasn’t pleased and so went to reception to ask how the hell I could get the breakfast I was expecting. I was intercepted by Vivian (now called Jasmin) who hadn’t told me she was arriving so early. She was waiting for Coco but had spotted, as she put it, a belly arriving. I got her to ask reception. 24th floor was the reply. Right, so no western breakfast available then.
Come on Vivian, there is a McDonald’s in the hotel, I can still get a bacon and egg McMuffin. That was breakfast and it may well be the same tomorrow if I wake up in time. Annoying because by rights I should have my breakfast included and in McD I have to pay. By Chinese standards I am paying a lot at £30 a night so it rankles. Who else besides the Chinese can face dumplings, noodles and snot soup first thing in the morning??
Anyway, after my breakfast I got Vivian to complain about the aircon. We were told it was turned off. It is central a/c and not individual and my room was warm all night. Sure, in October it is normally cool but right now it is 26 degrees, pleasant outside but not in a bedroom. I am pleased to say that as I sit here my room is now cool so perhaps they have turned it back on and are hoping my internet review will be a good one!
Anyway after breakfast the three of us went to what is billed as the biggest market in the world with over half a million different products on offer. Which one did I want to go to they asked? There are different sections for different items so I chose the festival decorations one. This was because I will probably yet again be Santa this Christmas and the suit the uni has is too small and poor quality. I wondered if I could buy a decent one myself that actually fitted. We went there and there was everything you could want to decorate your home for Christmas - trees, baubles, you name it they had it. And yes, Santa outfits and one big enough and of good quality to fit fatty here. I will take one, for 100y. Vivian informed me I couldn’t buy one because the entire market and all the others are wholesale only. Now I am not exactly going to buy a hundred Father Christmas kits am I? I can however buy one in November when they sell retail!
I will not be returning next month but I suggested perhaps the girls could buy me what I want and send it to me if I gave them enough to cover the cost of both purchasing and sending it. Oh no, they want to pay and send it to me as their gift. I forget what Coco is doing at present and will find out tonight but Vivian is a pre-kindergarten teacher (bugger that). So far today they have paid for the taxis and I paid 35y for lunch - I never ate but had a couple of drinks - so I have told them I will pay for dinner tonight. Having said one of my two remaining nights here will be eating at Pizza Hut, the plan tonight is for curry and as luck would have it, Trip Advisor has an Indian restaurant as the number one expat place to eat here, the Mughal Durbar. I really hope it lives up to the customer reviews as neither of the girls has had a curry before. Right now it is time for a nap. This entry is rapidly becoming an epic!
2230
Let’s put this one to bed eh?
We went to the number one restaurant in Yiwu and after I finish this blog it will still be the number one. Sadly, as happens so often when you are being hurried by a beautiful girl, I forgot to take my camera. Not that important though because to be honest it would only have been mainly pictures of the food. But superb food. As always I ordered too much but when you have no idea of portion sizes it is difficult to know. The front of house “face” Manish did me a favour and suggested (knowing how much food was coming whereas I didn’t) that it would be better to just order two prawn curries rather than three and he was absolutely right. The girls and I were well and truly stuffed at the end and it was a great dinner. Not only that, Coco works for a plastics company and now she has “networked” with Manish who will now recommend his Indian customers to get prices from her firm for plates, bowls etc. That’s how it works in both India and China.
Considering we also had after dinner drinks of Baileys and for myself two large Bombay Sapphires and tonic, I was pleasantly surprised when the bill was only 500y. The girls paid for the taxis both ways.
Tomorrow it will just be Vivian and me as Coco has to work and dinner will indeed be Pizza Hut, one of their branches being a stones throw from the hotel. Vivian is not keen on Pizza but I have assured her she can get steak and many other things instead. She seems concerned that on Saturday I will leave alone because neither of them can take a day off just to escort me to the station, which is sweet but I am a big boy now and I never visited to cost them money.
I really regretted my trip yesterday but not for the reason I expected. Certainly I arrived at the station to find it thronged. There were some of my ex students there - naturally - as it was the first day of their holiday as well as being the day modern China celebrated her 65th birthday.
Safe in the knowledge that I had bought my tickets for seats and not standing, I was prepared to turf anyone parked in my seat out if necessary. There is no way I can stand for any length of time on a train in motion, not these days. However, as we left Chizhou, although I was sitting in a pod of four seats with three young people, I noticed opposite there were four empty ones and so moved there. Great thought I, I hope this is the case all the way.
Sadly, as indeed when I travelled to Huainan and the same happened, when we got to the first stop (which was Tongling) the train filled up and so I had to take my proper place again. Yes there were people who had only bought standing tickets but it wasn’t the horror story I had been told and I sat peacefully with my crossword book and Jing Jo, occasionally visiting the vestibule for a cigar.
In Wuhu I had two and a half hours to kill and bearing in mind my anticipated late arrival, I wanted something to eat. With a small travelling suitcase that weighed almost as much as the bigger one I would use for flying to the UK (I had packed wine and things for the hotel room as I knew the shops would probably be closed when I got there) and having had already scaled far too many steps, I didn’t want to walk far. I found a small restaurant annexed to Wuhu train station just outside. No beer but the shop next door sold it so I bought one and then ordered egg and tomato. I expected steamed rice to come with it, especially as the price was 15y (expensive) but no such luck. In fairness there was plenty of egg - normally it’s mostly tomato - and it was enough to satisfy me.
As I had bought the last cold beer the shop had, I decided to go back into the station in search of more. My train (of course!) meant I had to climb to the 3rd floor. By the time I got to the top I was not only done in but also needed the loo. There was a shop selling cold pijou so I went in intending to go to the toilet and then buy beer from them to pass the hour I still had to kill. On asking I was told the toilet was on the ground floor. Shit. No way was I dragging my case all the way back down and then up again so with body language I asked if they could look after my bag for a few minutes. They pointed to CCTV screens. Bigger shit. Worried perhaps I was a Uiyghur terrorist wearing a fat foreigner disguise. I decided to “tie a knot in it” because I truly wasn’t going down the mountain and back up again. The shop lost at least two overpriced pijous worth of custom for their lack of trust.
The ensuing six hour train trip was pretty packed and with standing passengers but they didn’t impinge too much on me. I read the book (Is That Fat Foreigner Rich? - available on Amazon) I bought from the owner of the Flying Fox and author in Shanghai in the summer, drank my medicine wine and took the occasional bite from my bologna baguette. When I finally arrived in Yiwu at 2205 I was jaded to say the least. At least I didn’t get a rip off taxi, the guy went on the meter and 32y later I was deposited at the entrance to my 4 star business hotel (the highest is 4 stars in China).
For the second time (and both have been 4 star hotels), my foreign expert certificate was insufficient to check in, only my passport would do. That irked me because not only does it state in both English and Chinese that it is my ID in China, when hotels copy it they send it to the PSB to register you there. The PSB actually ISSUE that document!!! This is China. The manager was called. Yes we could probably take your FEC but a passport is better for us. I caved in because I couldn’t be bothered arguing. I was then told the room I had booked was not available but as a special favour for an honoured foreign guest (a likely story) I could have a free upgrade. I responded by saying that for free they could give me the presidential suite (on the 26th floor) for all I cared. Ah, but you will have your minibar. I retorted that they advertise all rooms as having them. What I actually have is a mini fridge that had a can of coke and three cans of milk. Minibar my backside but sufficient for me to keep my own beer in.
After going to my room I went straight down to the lobby bar (yes this time they have one) and had three very small bottles (expensive at 20y apiece) and then went back up. I was so tired I could only drink half a bottle of my wine before collapsing into bed. I set my alarm for 0830 as I knew I would be starving this morning having eaten very little yesterday. Western breakfast is included in the price so I was looking forward to at the very least bacon and eggs with some toast. When I went for breakfast it was business as usual. There were dumplings, snot soup, noodles and other unmentionables but nothing remotely resembling a western breakfast. I enquired where to get a western breakfast and a waitress appeared to twig what I was after and promptly sent me to the toilets!!!
Now, I had gone to the 24th floor (my room is on the 16th) because the bloody lift would only go to the 24th and then go back down and yet the book in the room said the western place was the 26th floor. I wasn’t pleased and so went to reception to ask how the hell I could get the breakfast I was expecting. I was intercepted by Vivian (now called Jasmin) who hadn’t told me she was arriving so early. She was waiting for Coco but had spotted, as she put it, a belly arriving. I got her to ask reception. 24th floor was the reply. Right, so no western breakfast available then.
Come on Vivian, there is a McDonald’s in the hotel, I can still get a bacon and egg McMuffin. That was breakfast and it may well be the same tomorrow if I wake up in time. Annoying because by rights I should have my breakfast included and in McD I have to pay. By Chinese standards I am paying a lot at £30 a night so it rankles. Who else besides the Chinese can face dumplings, noodles and snot soup first thing in the morning??
Anyway, after my breakfast I got Vivian to complain about the aircon. We were told it was turned off. It is central a/c and not individual and my room was warm all night. Sure, in October it is normally cool but right now it is 26 degrees, pleasant outside but not in a bedroom. I am pleased to say that as I sit here my room is now cool so perhaps they have turned it back on and are hoping my internet review will be a good one!
Anyway after breakfast the three of us went to what is billed as the biggest market in the world with over half a million different products on offer. Which one did I want to go to they asked? There are different sections for different items so I chose the festival decorations one. This was because I will probably yet again be Santa this Christmas and the suit the uni has is too small and poor quality. I wondered if I could buy a decent one myself that actually fitted. We went there and there was everything you could want to decorate your home for Christmas - trees, baubles, you name it they had it. And yes, Santa outfits and one big enough and of good quality to fit fatty here. I will take one, for 100y. Vivian informed me I couldn’t buy one because the entire market and all the others are wholesale only. Now I am not exactly going to buy a hundred Father Christmas kits am I? I can however buy one in November when they sell retail!
I will not be returning next month but I suggested perhaps the girls could buy me what I want and send it to me if I gave them enough to cover the cost of both purchasing and sending it. Oh no, they want to pay and send it to me as their gift. I forget what Coco is doing at present and will find out tonight but Vivian is a pre-kindergarten teacher (bugger that). So far today they have paid for the taxis and I paid 35y for lunch - I never ate but had a couple of drinks - so I have told them I will pay for dinner tonight. Having said one of my two remaining nights here will be eating at Pizza Hut, the plan tonight is for curry and as luck would have it, Trip Advisor has an Indian restaurant as the number one expat place to eat here, the Mughal Durbar. I really hope it lives up to the customer reviews as neither of the girls has had a curry before. Right now it is time for a nap. This entry is rapidly becoming an epic!
2230
Let’s put this one to bed eh?
We went to the number one restaurant in Yiwu and after I finish this blog it will still be the number one. Sadly, as happens so often when you are being hurried by a beautiful girl, I forgot to take my camera. Not that important though because to be honest it would only have been mainly pictures of the food. But superb food. As always I ordered too much but when you have no idea of portion sizes it is difficult to know. The front of house “face” Manish did me a favour and suggested (knowing how much food was coming whereas I didn’t) that it would be better to just order two prawn curries rather than three and he was absolutely right. The girls and I were well and truly stuffed at the end and it was a great dinner. Not only that, Coco works for a plastics company and now she has “networked” with Manish who will now recommend his Indian customers to get prices from her firm for plates, bowls etc. That’s how it works in both India and China.
Considering we also had after dinner drinks of Baileys and for myself two large Bombay Sapphires and tonic, I was pleasantly surprised when the bill was only 500y. The girls paid for the taxis both ways.
Tomorrow it will just be Vivian and me as Coco has to work and dinner will indeed be Pizza Hut, one of their branches being a stones throw from the hotel. Vivian is not keen on Pizza but I have assured her she can get steak and many other things instead. She seems concerned that on Saturday I will leave alone because neither of them can take a day off just to escort me to the station, which is sweet but I am a big boy now and I never visited to cost them money.
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