Monday 16th March, 2015                  1100

After receiving the bad news on Saturday I now feel a lot better mentally. The grumpiness is dissipating now it has sunk in and acceptance starts to take over. I think most of my problem was that I knew something was wrong but had been told it wasn‘t. With a clearly defined enemy, now I have something to fight, which in this case actually involves sitting around doing as little as possible as often as possible - something I am not averse to!

It would be nice to be able to get out and about a bit more, of course it would, as would it be nice to be able to have poor old Pepsi back but adaptations have to be made. I couldn’t wish for better carers in Mulan, Joan and Anna, they go and buy my bits for me and Mulan and Joan either cook or help me to cook. Anna has offered but each time she has, one of the others has already arranged to do it.

In fact, last night Joan came. She hadn’t told me she had an evening class (in fact it is prep but the whole class turns up at seven) and as she arrived after five it was going to be a feat in itself to cobble a Bolognese together early enough so she could eat her fill as well before leaving. It takes time to issue instructions and have things brought to the bedroom for me to cook but it was good teamwork and there was enough time for her to polish off an enormous plate of sauce with penne (I ate considerably less but was left extremely satisfied nonetheless) before she went to study.

Tuesday 17th                     1400

I have a new phone now, it wasn’t the card as I had hoped so Joan got me a new one. I have never heard of TETC but I asked her to just get a basic one. She paid 200y for it and boy is it basic! It doesn’t even have predictive text! Still, it does all that I need and it was cheap.

Last night I fancied being brave and going to the business street on the bike for dinner. I couldn’t think of any place where they might have a soft seat but I didn’t want anyone to have to cook for me either, not that I had much to cook with. As it happened both Joan and Mulan were busy with classes in the evening as well so I just asked for some crackers and a pineapple to be brought and had that with cheese. I often do that and at least I ate some fruit.

My washing machine rarely sees a day go by now when it is not in use by one or other of the girls (Anna not so much). Mostly it is things such as coats and heavy tops, they wash smaller stuff by hand, as do all the students.

The forecast changes hourly but today we have had a bit of light rain with heavier stuff supposed to be tonight and moderate downfall tomorrow and Thursday. Joan came at lunchtime to see if I needed anything doing. I didn’t but she cleaned the bathroom floor anyway and will return later to help with reheating the left over Bolognese for my dinner. She spotted the two bottles of fizzy orange drink by my desk and said with great sadness “I can see you have made your decision”. At the hospital on Saturday she entreated me to promise that I would obey the doctors and stay in bed for four weeks, to which my reply was not to ask me to make a promise I knew I would break. She has no conception of what a perilous position simply having the accident has placed me in and although my not missing classes may not make any difference as to whether I get another year here at least it won’t be because I never discharged my duties. In fact I am even going to an English Language Corner on Friday evening, although I have stipulated that under no circumstances will I be performing, singing, taking part in any games etc. Ollivier and Kevin can do that!

In theory the cast comes off this weekend so my hopes for Wuhu have been rekindled somewhat. I have two and a half weeks to get to the shuffling unaided stage for it to happen and of course hopefully have enough money left in the bank to fund it. By the time this is over Pepsi’s prison stay will run to over a thousand yuan which here is a tidy sum. I have my fingers crossed - while I am not exactly going stir crazy, spending near enough all the time either in my bedroom or classroom is rather getting dull! I have however today managed to formulate an activity for this week’s classes. It will involve one student from each class volunteering to be the glamour writing on the board but it should be fun for everyone.

Now I must shower before Joan returns at four. This week I am changing  routine and instead of abluting in the mornings I will do it late. I don’t like it but needs must, plus it gives me a later alarm call. Onwards and upwards it must be, this morning I actually noticed a marked decrease in discomfort when getting out of bed, which cheered me up no end.