Saturday 24th January, 2015                       1430

Dear me that was a wrench getting up yesterday morning! My own fault of course because I went to bed late and consequently felt awful by the time it came to go to our meeting with the police. There were only two foreign teachers there because Ollivier had already decamped about ten days previously. I wonder what would have happened if we had all gone elsewhere??

No free lunch afterwards as I suspected, however it was in fact mercifully brief, lasting about forty minutes. My little policewoman friend Bonnie was there as usual, along with a male colleague and their very stern-looking female boss. She is actually quite a nice woman, just gives off the aura of a dragon.

Working for other employers and the illegality of it was yet again brought up but in this instance it was mentioned that they had seen an advertisement for a school (either a flyer or in a newspaper) showing Kevin in a photo. This naturally caused mild consternation because it was news to us, not least of all Kevin. Subsequent enquiries have revealed that the foreigner in the picture has less hair than Kevin (I quipped that it must be Yul Brynner) however it is possible it could be me soon after one of the brutal haircuts I have adopted of late. People are trying to get a copy so we can see but I doubt they will. Either way, if it is either of us, our image was used without either our permission or knowledge. In a country where you can be a foreigner simply doing a supermarket shop and have clandestine photos taken of you on mobile phones I am sure the police realise what may have occurred.

But. I must give credit where it’s due. Miss Yin, the foreign affairs officer whom I have castigated so many times in the past, did something really wonderful at the meeting. She enquired as to the procedure for my obtaining a green card! Surprisingly, far from being met with a blank refusal, the police suggested that I go along for a chat after the holidays to investigate the possibility. I was stunned. I will definitely be paying them a visit! I imagine my chances are slim (very few of them are or have been issued to laowei over the years, even when married to a national) but as it is something I would love, I need to take the opportunity, slim though it is.

Mulan, who along with her younger sister will probably be house guests during the holiday, came later and promptly set about cleaning the bathroom. It wasn’t particularly dirty - at least I didn’t think so until I saw the result! No offence to Lucy but Mulan got it near enough as clean as the day I moved in. I can’t wait for her to turn her attention to the rest of the place although there was a cost. She broke the bathroom door latch.

This morning as forecast (which in itself is unusual) it was very mild and indeed now it is hovering just under 20C. I opted to take the bike to town. Breakfast first, shopping and then the search for a new latch. I must have gone to about thirty hardware shops to no avail and then a complete stranger indicated I should follow him on his bike. This kind gesture saw me find what I was looking for, an exact replacement so the screws fitted in the holes, and I was staggered by the price - 2y (20p). I bought two on the spot in case of further damages but will probably pop there again to get more spares for Ollivier and Kevin seeing as it is on the route I always take to town anyway. Mind you, with five days of cold and rain on the cards starting tomorrow, it may be a while before the bike ventures very far.

The campus is very quiet now although there are still stragglers leaving on the buses. Many of the campus shops and restaurants have closed, yesterday they were scrubbing down and I expect before long the new business street will become a ghost town as well. It would be handy if a couple at least stayed open so I have somewhere to take Pepsi for a change of scenery and I will certainly take a ride around to check.

Sunday 25th          1250

I think today is the last day before the dormitories close. Last night I was chatting with a lad who when asked said words to that effect. And as forecast (they are getting good!) we have had light rain this morning. Worse, it is being predicted it will be either cloudy or rainy for at least the next ten days. Why can’t it confine itself to term time?

In an hour the car will come and pick me up to take me for today’s rehearsal. I think I can remember most of the moves but although to the onlooker it appears simple, arms have to be bent at the elbow, hands have to be at such and such an angle etc and the master is quick to point out faults.

Sally from the foreign affairs office has advised the actual show will be about 90 minutes. I have no idea what else is in it apart from the fan dancers and youth footballers who turned up last time. I forgot to mention before that I was a shade disappointed when it became apparent they don’t have a Green Room. I would have enjoyed that a la Oliver Reed!

I think this evening rather than cooking, after we finish I will ask them to drop Mulan and I off at the Sichuan restaurant. I haven’t been there for a while and I have 80y in vouchers to use so it won’t cost much. I might also take her for breakfast in the morning and she can help carry the shopping back.