Friday 19th June, 2015                       1245

Thought I should make a start during my lunch break seeing as I haven’t had much impetus since last time!

Firstly, the bank still hasn’t called to tell me what an idiot I am.

On Monday I did go to town and breakfast (they had bacon that time) and something odd occurred in McDonald’s. I had just finished eating and was sitting musing whilst finishing my coffee when a man in McD uniform plonked two fruit pies down in front of me saying, “These are for you.”

I asked why and he produced a packet of cigarettes and asked if I smoked. I told him yes but only cigars and he suggested we go out for a smoke (McDonald’s is one of the few places you can’t smoke inside in China). We went out, lit up and he explained the pies were to apologise for all the mistakes they have made in the past with my meals.

He then gave me an accolade I never expected or indeed I am sure I wanted but he informed me I was their best customer and he didn’t want to lose me. As manager he felt he should show me some preference! This news seemed to miff Kevin for he probably goes more often than I do, however usually he only goes for a coffee - I often take Joan and we both have breakfast. I suppose this “honour” may be beneficial if it means I will always get jam for my muffins!

That night I used the last of my mustard and produced what I think was a damned good macaroni cheese - there was even enough to give a dish of it to Ollivier to cook for him and his wife. I also had a first in that I actually ate twice as much as Joan! Giving some to Ollivier was my good deed and hopefully helped his wife Coco (henceforth to be known as Penelope Pitstop) following a road traffic accident she had in which she was clearly at fault, given that the other driver (unusually for Chinese drivers) hadn’t cut the corner when turning and Penelope hit him on his side of the road, she having gone extremely wide. Apparently there was space for three cars but she still managed it. Luckily damage was minor and nobody was injured. It may be a while before she gets behind the wheel again.

We have had some awful rain lately (thankfully today we have sun but the forecast for Monday looks hideous) and tomorrow is Dragon Boat Day so the students have a long weekend. Makes no difference to me of course. This week Kevin and Ollivier completed all their exams whilst I won’t start mine until next week. It’s not them trying to squeeze another fortnight’s holiday, rather they will have class parties with their lot as a farewell. To be honest I would do the same and doubtless there will be a few tears shed, possibly not only by the students. They have taught here for six and three years respectively and granted, Ollivier made the decision to leave but Kevin didn’t. I can guarantee when it happens to me I will be a train wreck.

One of my bathroom lights packed up last night (again) and the alternative in the evenings is to use the halogen lamps which heat the bathroom. Not ideal given that it is summer and in the high twenties. As a result tomorrow morning’s breakfast run with Joan will have to be on the bike so we can find somewhere that sells replacements. I have started using the bus more lately simply because the centre of town now frightens me, in particular the roundabout where I broke my pelvis. I would take a circuitous route except that Ollivier informed me of where he got the last bulb and the road runs off the roundabout.

Saturday 20th                       2130

Later yesterday afternoon as I was leaving for the office I met Ollivier with little Hadrian coming out of our building. I hadn’t realised it was the day he was taking Penelope and the lad to Hefei to get the train to go to her parents. I knew he would be alone for Monday’s final western meal and also knew that he would be fetching the in-laws, wife and two kids back after school broke up before leaving for good. What I didn’t know was that in a week he will bring the wife and the other son back but not Hadrian. When I said that he would be returning again after that he said yes, but they will just be passing through. So that was probably the last time I will ever see the boy. He gave me a little kiss on the cheek and a cheery wave and suddenly melancholy reared its ugly head. After years of saying goodbyes when at sea one would expect to be inured by now but it simply isn’t true.

In the evening I prepared chicken arrabiata for Joan and myself (hence why I never completed this post) and unexpectedly Anna turned up for a shower. She had forgotten to bring conditioner and unbelievably asked me if I had any! As I keep my hair short enough to not even need a comb the likelihood of me using conditioner was always going to be remote. As always she was starving so I had to offer her food as long as she could wait until Joan came. It was a shame I hadn’t had notice because I could have diced another chicken breast but I overcompensated by doing double the pasta I needed. The girls seemed to enjoy it.

Breakfast and shopping run again this morning with Joan, when I bought Monday’s starter. It was going to be smoked mackerel bought online but none of the shops could guarantee I got it in time for the meal so I plumped instead for a very 70s UK favourite - the prawn cocktail. Tomorrow I must ask the other two ‘Erberts how many McD coke glasses they have so at least I might be able to concoct reasonable facsimiles. Actually I don’t need to - I just went and checked to see how many I still have (I gave a fair few away to students) and as luck would have it I have exactly six left. Perfect.

Tomorrow will be a lazy day.