Monday 25th January, 2016                            2040

It appears I spoke too soon about my boring life.

Last night before bed I checked train times to and from Tongling (got to have cheddar!) and in readiness placed my passport on top of my cigars. I was going shopping today. I set my alarm for nine when the water was scheduled to be turned back on.

At nine this morning (of course) there was no water so I returned to bed to catnap until I heard the toilet cistern filling up when it was. It never did and so at half past ten I decided I may as well get up. I went to the loo (and I had wondered why the cats had been acting up so much because they still had food, lack of which is what normally causes tantrums) and realised it was quite quiet. The old heater I filched from Kevin’s room is quite squeaky and was ominously silent. Investigating, I found I had no electricity. Checked the breakers then put on my bathrobe and went out into the snow in slippers to check my main breaker.

Power cut. Just brilliant.

I have said many times that I detest leaving the house without showering first so I waited a while and hoped it would return along with the water in time for me to make the trip. By midday all thoughts of Tongling had evaporated. One, two and then three o’clock passed and still I was sat in the cold, unwashed and doing Telegraph cryptic cosswords . I could have done what I did the first winter for a week when the water heater packed in and heated some of my stored water on the hob but this time the flat was an ice cube, at least then I had electricity. No thanks.

I eventually sent a text to Anthony asking if he knew when power and water would be restored. After some time, and it turns out he is back on campus (doubtless regretting it today!), he replied saying they hoped to restore power later but the water would be switched back on tomorrow. That means we wil have had no water for 42 hours IF it comes on at nine.

Mentally I was gearing up to checking into an hotel tonight, no way was I sitting in the freezing cold darkness all night but in the interim I decided to go to town (unkempt and unclean) and have dinner. I could of course have cooked by candlelight with gas but I didn’t fancy that.

I don’t know why but I went to a barbecue restaurant. I never eat anywhere near what it costs me and even four beers don’t come close to justifying 59y but at least it was relatively warm.

Anthony informed me during my dinner that we had electricity again and I thought great, by the time I get back we should have internet again - the main server often takes forty minutes to reboot after a blackout.

And then I left.

It was cold when I arrived but by now it was dark. And by God was it cold. I doubt it was lower than -5 but it cut through my gloves and my down jacket - and I never put long johns on. I know old people feel the cold more than youths but this was unbelievable. I recall Kevin relating my predecessor’s remarks on the cold here, which were that he had never known cold like it in his life. He was an Alaskan, born and bred! I must concur.

The only time I have been colder was a winter in Inchon, South Korea, when I was nineteen. Our ship had been in warm climes for three years so none of us had any cold weather gear. I had every stitch of clothing I could fit on me and still ten minutes outside was the most I could stand.

I read the news earlier and they are reporting record lows all over South China with people freezing to death in Taiwan. I think if I do plump for that shopping trip tomorrow I will wear long johns!

The bonus was of course that once I got home it was warm. Whilst the a/c never came on, the cat heaters and the balcony one did and although  it was hardly toasty it was greeted with a sigh of relief from me. The (very slow) ride from the gate to home had solidified my ears and brought my core temperature down at least a degree.

Right now I can’t complain though.