Yes it’s late but in my defence I did have a kip this afternoon, although I am rather hoping to get up early enough to not only give Joan a lift to the bus stop but also go into town in time for breakfast.
I did go yesterday for some supplies and made a cheesy Captain’s/Admiral’s pie for dinner. I must remember in future to remove the mussels from the frozen mixed seafood, they rather overpower all the other subtle tastes one is supposed to enjoy. It was however filling and nutritious and a welcome boost after the starvation of summer camp.
Tonight was more simple, hot baguette with cheese and bunion, I don’t see why I should spend ages cooking every night and then having loads of washing up the next day. In fact tomorrow will be prawn salad wraps - nice and easy.
Anyway, back to the bus into town. As I think I have mentioned, my preferred seat is the very rear right of the bus. With so few students here I am virtually guaranteed the seat, although there must be enough on campus that justify a few shops and restaurants in the business street remaining open - at least for now.
Now, for those unaware, the Chinese are addicted to their mobile phones. If the networks were shut down for an hour the entire country would grind to a halt. If you are standing talking to someone, whilst you are in mid-sentence if their phone rings they will not even ask for a by your leave, they will simply answer the phone with a “wei, nihao!” leaving you looking like a spare part at a wedding. And God forbid YOU get a text message mid-conversation because they will stop and ask if you are going to answer it! They seem stunned when you tell them yes, later, after we have finished talking.
Well, I am forever telling my students of the perils of phone addiction. Not the playing of games (although that’s bad enough) but the fact they are utterly oblivious to their surroundings when they are replying to a text or QQ message when they are crossing a busy road. I may as well try to fart against a force 10 gale.
So, halfway between the university and the train and bus stations, there is a remote rural stop. A woman in her early thirties was at the stop (which serves two other bus numbers) and she was squatting on her heels clearly sending a message to someone. Although you are supposed to hail the bus the drivers do have a little consideration, so this one tooted and slowed on approach. No response from the woman, who was completely engrossed in her “conversation”.
That is, until the bus speeded up again and where I was sitting became level with her. At this point she suddenly looked up, realised she wanted the bus to stop and frantically waved. Sadly for her the driver wasn’t looking in his mirror (or if he was perhaps he thought stuff it I did more than I needed anyway) and I laughed aloud at the woman gesticulating wildly in our wake. It is a pity the 29 runs every 10 minutes instead of every two hours as some rural buses do. Then at least one person may have learnt that a text message is not something which must be addressed immediately and at all costs. This is a tale I shall relate to my pupils next term.
Those of you who are in contact with me on Facebook will already know this next part so you can skip it.
On Thursday I asked Joan what the noise was outside, it sounded like a baby crying. There are still Chinese teachers here so it was feasible. Yesterday though I heard the baby crying again in the morning and went to investigate.
I located it on the floor above - third floor. It was a tiny kitten (see photo, the “big one” is still a kitten itself!) and I have no idea how it climbed all the way up but plainly it was too frightened to emulate the Grand Old Duke Of York’s men because it was going neither up nor down.
I already have four bloody cats so what was I supposed to do? This thing doesn’t even look big enough to be away from its mother yet here it was all alone and crying.
I now have five cats.
I haven’t named it yet because I can’t sex it and I would defy any vet to do so with the benefit of a simple external examination. I did expect a lot of hissing and snarling when I introduced it to the rest of the gang but instead they all leapt from their lofts to have a sniff and inspect the newcomer, who seemed both bemused and unconcerned. That lasted an hour or so before Zorro (in the photo) who is the bully boy kitten, decided he wanted to devour the baby. Despite a few smacks on the arse which deterred him for some minutes, the rest of yesterday saw me hearing plaintive cries, going to investigate and finding Zorro holding the baby up by the back of the neck.
A harsh induction perhaps but today everyone seems to be getting along fine. The little one, despite my concerns, can eat the food and even jumps up onto the rim of the huge water bowl and there is no fighting.
I must be mad.
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