You all know why I haven’t posted for a while.
On Saturday I decided against taking the bike to town, mainly because I didn’t want to tempt fate and end up in another accident. Instead the bike was parked at south gate and Joan and I bussed it to McDonald’s for breakfast and took another bus back to the train station.
As we were only going one stop to Tongling and Chizhou is where the train starts and ends its journey on that route it wasn’t crowded and indeed after we left the station I spotted two sets of double seats opposite each other which were free and got Joan to move so we had plenty of space. She ended up having all four seats because some students nearby were playing Landlord and Farmer (dodiju) at cards and invited me to join them. I spent the entire journey playing the game, it certainly shortens a trip.
On arrival we were too early to check in at the hotel so had to kill some time. I had eaten at the hotel a couple of years ago when Qing took me there and expected it to be a decent place to stay. I didn’t however expect it to be on a par in most respects with the likes of the Hilton but it certainly was. The place was spotless, the room everything as advertised and the service was the equal of anywhere I have ever stayed. I was absolutely astonished by the speed with which they responded both times we called to report a problem (no disposable razor and idiot here couldn’t figure out how to turn the computer on), for on both occasions there was a discreet knock on the door within a minute of the call being made!
There was only one disappointment and that was the complete lack of anything western on offer for breakfast. I had really expected to at least be able to get a poached egg on toast but it was not to be. Next time I go I will try another hotel near there which may have western breakfasts but somehow I think they will not be able to match the service.
In the evening Joan, Qing, Jimmy (her boyfriend) and I all met up at the restaurant where Qing’s mother works. I had built up the virtues of the sweet fish they do to Joan and was fairly frothing at the mouth myself in anticipation. Regular readers know by now that any trip I take always features a disaster and this was no exception. I never figured out whether the dish I had gone especially to eat was discontinued or they had simply run out but I never got it. Talk about a letdown.
I made up for it on Sunday though. The train back wasn’t until after four and there are two Pizza Huts in Tongling (pure greed seeing as we don’t have one) and we all went there for lunch. I could only manage the smallest pizza though because for some reason I have been bunged up for some days, said problem is being handled by some prescription pills I still have from the UK. The fish aside I did have a really nice birthday weekend and I am glad I didn’t simply stay here for it.
Tuesday 12th 1330
Last night was named Mexican Monday. I made tortilla chips and coupled them with assorted dips and the main course was con carne enchiladas smothered in cheese and Ollivier made his trademark “biscuits” the students all get to take to their roommates at the end and a fabulous chocolate souffle with Chantilly cream.
Kevin had been disappointed when he learnt I wasn’t doing a chilli but I am pretty sure he was happy with what I produced, as was everyone else although the enchiladas were like Shredded Wheat - nobody could manage more than two, not even the boys. I think we disposed of a fair few bottles of vino as well. I don’t think Ollivier will have had any difficulty in getting to sleep anyway!
I can see that outside it is breezy but sunny so time to take a shower and then head off out to the hole in the wall and then get my supplies.
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