Sunday 20th September, 2015               0220

I know. Watching the opening match of the world cup yesterday morning and flopping onto the mattress at five wasn’t so wise at my age, and no I am not watching the final match of today to repeat the mistake. I woke up at midday and only because Mulan arrived and eventually made so much noise clearing her things she had stored from the spare bedroom I was roused. I strongly suspect it was a deliberate attempt to waken me (she could have simply hammered on my bedroom door!) because the moment I groggily staggered out to the bathroom she announced “Finally you woke up!” and immediately proceeded to go through my bedroom to the balcony and stuff her laundry in my washing machine. I have no idea how long she had been there but she left straight away and asked for a text when her washing was done. The night before Joan came and shoved her clothes in the machine, showered and left saying she would come back for them another day because she knew I would hang them up to dry! I should start charging…..

Anyway, it is with regret that I have to report that a state of war now exists between England and Romania.

A few hours ago for the first time in China I had the unusual chance of taking  the delectable Dumpling (but not my camera - sorry) for a western meal at which I was a Kevin. Didn’t have to cook, just buy some wine, what a luxury. Andrei cooked what I can categorically say was the worst paella I have ever had, it was also the best I have ever had because it was my first and even with ersatz saffron it was very tasty. For my part I took a bottle of my cheap plonk plus one I paid 98y for - a first for me, even port is less than that including delivery online. Give me the cheap one any day, I really didn’t like the one that cost eight times more.

Dessert was a team affair with Andrei making the crepe mix and Juliette actually frying them and showing off with her tossing abilities, at one point she almost ended up with a pancake between her cleavage. Absolutely great pancakes, nice and thin and honey or jam to put on them or in my case, I took my newly arrived maple syrup.

There is something wrong with Andrei and Juliette because so far every time I have stayed much longer than intended, they haven’t yet kicked me out and indeed Joan found herself locked out of her dorm once and this time Dumpling had to wake the “Auntie” to let her in. But a really lovely evening which saw me have to declare kitchen hostilities.

Andrei fired first. As for me, I simply made good old fashioned English grub but he had to get all fancy pants - now he tells me on Monday he’s making moussaka! Swine.

I can’t compete with a trained chef but I will give it a bloody good try! Western Wednesdays look set to become very interesting indeed.

1900

I watched a bit of the France game but it seemed obvious they would win against Italy so I retired earlier. Still late but I had no ideas about going anywhere. All I have done is go to the office for an hour and am now cooking bread pudding for dumpling and her roommates.

That started badly because I had bought six eggs a couple of days ago, three for the pudding and three for my dinner tonight of scrambled eggs on toast. I had cracked two of the eggs into a bowl but when the third went in it was rank. The smell of a rotten egg makes me feel nauseous so all the eggs were dumped and I had to nip out and buy some more, this time from the campus shop - he sells enough so they don’t have time to go off.

I shall post this now and go back to trying to watch Samoa v USA - annoying because the internet is deathly slow at this time of night. At 0300 of course it works perfectly but of course I wouldn’t be later in the day when I have classes!