Friday 24^th November, 2017 1430

I am somewhat glad to be at the tail end of what has not been a particularly enjoyable week.

It started dismally with the crash on Monday, continued with that blessed dog waking me at all hours and looked set fair to end on a sour note when I got up this morning.

I went to the loo, then brushed my teeth, or at least what's left of them. Come rinse time, the water from the tap was still worryingly cold. Thinking we must have had a power cut during the night, I went to the kitchen to reset the gas boiler. It was fine. There was no bloody gas. I absolutely abhor leaving my home without showering in the morning – it wakens me more effectively than coffee and makes me feel human again. No shower means I am placed in bad mood territory all day.

It was however, apposite, because this week's unit is entitled “Combating Bad Moods”! If nothing else, it afforded me a terrific introduction for today's classes. There was a moment of humour after the break between periods 1 and 2 though. Because my classroom computer still has faulty audio (they changed the tower but the fault lies elsewhere), I instruct my students to go down a floor to the teachers' training room where the computer does work.

At the end of the break I toddled on down, breezed into the room and was taken aback by a load of Chinese characters projected on the screen. A rather surprised/amused “Hello Steve!” came from the class and I turned around to ask what on earth they had put that up for, considering they were about to be shown a film. I had blundered into a group of about forty teachers.

I beat a hasty retreat and located MY brood in the room opposite.

Having made an egg baguette for my lunch because I didn't fancy the trek to McDonald's, I sat and ate that in my office, delighting in the fact I can now log on to the school internet with my laptop.

At 1230 a student sent me a text informing me that as the entire afternoon class were rehearsing something they had been excused from my class by their form teacher. Please understand that unexpected time off is always welcome but why, oh why, could they not have told me at noon??? I could have taken the school bus. Instead I had to spend 90 minutes on two public buses getting home – either that or sit there for four and a half hours for the next school bus. I did however arrive home just before I would have started that class. Thank heaven for small mercies though, at least someone actually told me and never left me scratching my head and searching for my pupils.

On my return I ventured to the top of the line of stalls for only the second time. I wanted to see if what I thought was beef the last time was in fact bovine flesh. It is. They are the only stall selling it, together with lamb. In celebration I asked them to cut me a steak to have for dinner. It must weigh nearly a pound as it cost 20y but it looks like a fine piece of meat. Fried onions, egg, peas and some chips and I reckon I might just put the past week behind me, although I don't think I will be able to finish all the steak. I may cut it in half and freeze some for another day or another dish.

Annie and Stephanie had told me they wouldn't require feeding last night when they were here Tuesday. I found out yesterday afternoon why when Dean texted to wish me happy thanksgiving. Of course!! I did however set Dean right as to why I do not celebrate a day rejoicing in my country being beaten in a war.

So I had Pat, Ariel and Alice here for dinner, a simple affair consisting of cheesy bacon and egg frittata, French bread and salad followed by fruit and ice cream. The girls loved the frittata, having never had eggs prepared in that fashion before.

Interestingly, they informed me Annie was ill and had cancelled her classes that day. I confess that my immediate reaction was to assert that my cooking on Tuesday was not to blame but later on it appeared her powers of recuperation were nothing short of miraculous for she emailed me to say she was at another school which was holding a Thanksgiving party! You can join the dots on that one.......