Wednesday 10th May, 2017                       1230

That was the quietest birthday I have ever spent. Having kicked around the idea of popping out for dinner but only if I was paid yesterday, I waited for a text from the bank to say the money had gone in. Whilst I am not skint, recent expenses left me determined not to deplete my reserves further (psychological thing) and as the day wore on the beers went down, as did the red wine.

Eventually of course I lost interest in going out. I decided to make enchiladas instead. The packet of tortillas I opened a while ago more resembled a petri dish than anything remotely like food and so sadly I wasted money there. Thankfully I had one pack remaining that hadn’t been opened. I shall ensure that tomorrow night I use up another couple when I prepare my Friday working lunch. I don’t mind wasting cheap stuff but things I buy on Taobao I hate to see getting thrown out. The money text eventually arrived after 1700 - too late.

Today is markedly different to yesterday (and allegedly tomorrow and Friday) by way of being completely overcast. I shall however in an hour or so venture out shopping but I am debating whether to go for a Generation Game hotpot or cook for myself instead.

Joan contacted me on Skype last night. She tried to call me but the internet was playing silly buggers and I was alternately losing connection from the internet altogether or if not, the Firewall Police were working overtime to keep cutting off the vpn. We did however manage a messaging conversation.

She seemed taken aback when she discovered I was all alone and asked why I wasn’t partying with my friends. The fact is I don’t have any here. My students live an hour and a half bus ride from me and in any event I have only known them for three months. To be frank, I am rather getting used to a relatively solitary life, punctuated by the occasional visit by friends from elsewhere. In seventeen days I have three of the four horsemen of the apocalypse arriving and I am quite sure that experience will last me until the summer holidays! That reminds me, I really must make an effort on the floors in here…..

1745

Gave dinner out the elbow in favour of cooking. The shopping was a bit on the high side  but then it was the monthly stock up on essentials - soap, loo roll, and my infrequent big jar of coffee. One of those lasts me two months or more seeing as I have one mug a day and that’s it. But I didn’t get much change out of 300y once half a dozen plonks were plonked in the trolley.

For tonight I decided to try my hand at stir fry and to that end had bought some pork. Here you can buy it ready chopped or sliced, fatty or not so fatty. Normally when I buy it I get them to put it through the mincer but this time I got sliced, lean pork for the fry. I have to say, I’d forgotten just how salty dark soy sauce is! However, noodles, pork, peppers, onion, ginger and garlic fried in soy and chilli oil was actually quick and tasty, albeit after a while the sheer amount of soy I used started to become a touch all-conquering.

The plan for tomorrow’s fare is a potato, carrot and celery soup. I bought a loaf of bread (praying it’s not sweet) and no I’m not going off a recipe, it will just be chuck stuff in and see. And if it tastes great then hope to God I can remember what I did next time. If it’s awful, pray I don’t repeat it!

Also tomorrow I need a haircut and to top up my drugs. Annoyingly, all of my pills have just about run out at the same time so it will cost a bob or two. Most months I just need one or two items but this time I could really do with being in Chizhou. I still have nearly 300y on my medical card but it will only work there! If I ever go back (and I may) I shall take it, get the computer to regenerate it and empty the damned thing by buying as much as it takes.