Tuesday 26th January, 2016                1925

I didn’t honestly think I would have anything interesting to write about today. I was wrong.

Still hoping to get to Tesco in Tongling in my ceaseless search for cheddar, I set my alarm for nine when the water was supposed to come back on. Of course, there was no water so I went back to bed with one ear open for the sound of the cistern  refilling.

That happened at 1020 and so while the system was building up pressure I decided to refill the bucket I had used to flush the toilet previously. It didn’t even reach a quarter full before the trickle stopped. I started to think the Tongling Cheddar Chase was doomed.

So I sat and waited, someone who detests not having at least one shower a day. At one I sent a text to Anthony asking if he any more info than me, no just wait. Well unless I wanted to heat a pan of water on the hob and mix it in a bucket, then sit and wash using a mug then I had no option - although it was definitely on the cards and wouldn’t be the first time.

Then to rub salt in the wound my internet disappeared. I tried all the usual tricks, rebooting the router, the laptop, connecting to Andrei’s to no avail. As I was checking the server for our building downstairs (the lights were all flashing merrily away) a Chinese couple came downstairs in their pyjamas. Unbeknown to me they were off to hand wash their car in this weather! Anyway, when I asked they told me they never had a connection either so at least I knew it wasn’t just me. Shortly afterwards Anthony, who lives in the next building, informed me his internet was fine. I needed that!

I thought sod it, I’m going to Tongling to buy some cheering cheese and just maybe the internet will be fixed when I get back. If not, I had enough stuff on iPlayer to see me through the evening.

At the station I achieved a first. Despite an irate old man at the adjacent teller point creating the Dickens of a row, I managed to buy a rail ticket unaided. Not quite  what I asked for (I got 2nd instead of 1st class) but as it’s only a 20 minute trip it mattered little. I then got shouted at and thrown out of the station toilets when I tried to spend a penny because the woman was cleaning the floor. Somewhat miffed, I lit a cigar and stood puffing away until the lady realised I had no idea there were other toilets at the opposite end of the concourse. Well I mean, who studies train station waiting rooms?

On the platform once we had been let through to wait for the train I stood in the advertised place for car 5 (the fast trains only stop for two or three minutes) and a woman with a young daughter started to speak to me in poor but understandable English. Where was I going, what was I doing etc. We were both going to Tongling shopping, maybe we could shop together she suggested. Hmmm. I need Tesco. No problem she said, how will you get there? Number 2 or 21 bus, I replied, Amy had been very helpful when I asked her. Car 4 stopped where car 5 was supposed to.

Sod’s law had it that we sat in the same row so numbers and email addresses were exchanged, photographs taken etc and then the offer of a lift to the town centre with the friend she was going to meet. Very kind but I really didn’t want to be tied to a schedule, especially as she seemed rather keen on accompanying me back to Chizhou. Had she not been married to a chap who owns a company in Shanghai and who is returning in two days then I may have felt more ambitious but I didn’t want to be rushed.

I accepted the lift and her friend actually very kindly dropped me at the entrance to Tesco. I told them I was going to Pizza Hut afterwards and if I would be finished by six then I would let her know. Tesco, that very haven of Britishness in China. No! It was even worse than Chizhou! Any variety of processed burger slices you like but no proper cheese whatsoever! God it was galling. There was no sign of anything remotely western so that I could justify my visit by buying either so I left empty handed.

I couldn’t find Pizza Hut but stumbled across a Papa John’s and went there instead. I ordered the biggest pizza they did with a view to a doggy bag for tomorrow’s dinner and sat down to wait. This was at four ten. Tina (the train lady) sent a message to say she had to leave at five! I had no return ticket and no idea how long my pizza would take so I told her I would make my own way back. She is persistent, I will give her that! No need for a ticket, her friend would drive us back.

By now I was beginning to think she, the friend or both were completely bonkers. She had come all that way to spend an hour with a friend? And now he was prepared to drive us all to Chizhou and go back?

It turns out he also lives in Chizhou but has a business in Tongling so it was not out of his way. He has a home here and also had a business meeting scheduled, hence the early departure. My pizza had arrived and I knew I wouldn’t eat even half of it (nearly though!) and also that I could get back to where they had dropped me off in time for five so I agreed. As they were saving me bus and train fares I bought two expensive hand made cakes (14y each) for mum and daughter as a means of saying thanks and duly waited at the rendezvous point. They in the meantime had located Pizza Hut and ordered a takeaway to eat on the ride back so they were fifteen minutes late! They may as well have come with me.

The friend dropped us all off at a place I know, very close to the German restaurant but from where I would have the devil’s own job to get to a number 29 bus. Oh no, Tina would drive me to college! She is a very rare breed in China, when asked her job she told me “housewife”. Normally both work but obviously hubby is doing very well for himself so she doesn’t need to take a job and they certainly live in an expensive gated complex with security guards so they have some poppy. I waited outside in order to have a smoke while I waited.

Despite my protestations that just dropping me at an appropriate bus stop would be quite sufficient kindness, she insisted on driving me all the way to school. There is an ulterior motive of course because she wants to improve her English and would also love me to teach the little one. On an informal basis that could work out and she has also threatened to cook a special dinner and invite me to her home. I will go.

Back at home I found the water still on, in fact with temperatures set to remain above freezing they have no good reason to cut it again and better still, after a bit of jiggery-pokery as you can see I now have internet again.

No mad dashes chasing downhill after rolling cheeses for me tomorrow, a trip to RT Mart for wine will do and perhaps a far more relaxing day.