Wednesday 8^th November, 2017 1845

My God. If there is one thing worse than going to bed late and not getting enough sleep, it is going to bed at a sensible time and not sleeping enough!

Whatever happened to the days of going to bed at night and waking at dawn, ready, able and willing to face the challenges of the day??

Long gone for me.

Today was a trial as far as I was concerned. All day trapped/imprisoned on the 7^th floor. And by God, did I have to act to make believe I was awake and “with it”.

My late morning class saw a girl come to gaily inform me that the freshmen are having a party soon (by party she really meant a show, probably one evening next week) and would I record a video message for them? I did so at noon, she filmed me on her phone and was so pleased it was ridiculous – you would have thought she just got Tom Cruise or Harrison Ford to do a piece to camera – had to be careful there so I never chose any of the people being exposed in the latest campaign to brand all men sexual molesters!

But yes, by the day's end I was done in. I thought about inviting Annie somewhere for dinner but cancelled that. I was hungry to be sure but I still had the baguette from Tuesday, I only need half of it to try to make stuffing. Toasted and with bacon and fried egg it was to be enough for my dinner tonight. I really was exhausted.

Tomorrow will be different. Roast chicken and trimmings and the first time I have attempted sage and onion stuffing. If that works I will be glad and the next English roast will feature Yorkshire puds. I have made them successfully many times in the past but the last two attempts were disasters! I mean really, what the hell is there to get wrong?? I manage disasters sometimes!

Yes, I did make a fuss of Pat this morning in class. It was easy to remember she came nowhere in the provincial final and forget she was still good enough to win her university heats. Naturally I personally would have won and gone to Beijing but then when I gave my speech it was purely being listened to rather than being scored and it was only my pride in being a great orator that was at stake. She of course had seven professors picking away at her score. I hope I managed to boost her confidence a touch.

At lunch break I sent a text to the vice-dean to ask if we had a room for English corner tomorrow. After all, I did make waves a fortnight ago and so far no result.

No, not yet. There is a “room” for tomorrow which I will guarantee is the same stairwell I went to last time. To keep me quiet, if I go, they will arrange a chair for me!

Well fine, treat me as a geriatric case but they don't realise I have been trouble with a capital T all my life. I fight battles that are not my own as well. This is not mine but I am making it so. It is bloody ridiculous that students are giving up their free time to attend and the school has not afforded them facilities. I can say what I like about Chizhou but the students always had at least a classroom they could use, often a small theatre. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. My bathroom panelling is all new now and the door shuts. I am sure I am hated by some and I regret that but not for making things happen.

This one I will not let drop. I have not said as much in my reply but I will if necessary strike a deal with the hotel and pay for a meeting room for 90 minutes each week if I have to.

No, I am not being a hero, I simply hate seeing people (students) making the school happy by appearing delighted to attend social events and then being denied the basic facilities, of which the school has plenty. I guess I am a Tory by nature but a Labour by action. Please do NOT suggest that makes me a Liberal!!!