Tuesday 19^th December, 2017 2020

Yesterday was full-on with testing. Even more so in the afternoon when, after examining the sixteen students I specified there still seemed to be hordes massed outside my office. I was tempted to send the surplus away but given that the school bus didn't leave for ages I decided to get as many done as I could. That would mean far less work next Monday afternoon.

Pointless really, or so I thought, because of the English corner Christmas Day.

By the end there were merely two students left to test. Now, I don't mind working on Christmas day – I did enough of that at sea – but I do mind probably finishing at 0930 then hanging around clicking my heels until 1430 to test two students who couldn't bother to come and then another two hours for an English corner.

When I got home I decided that my phone, which is quiet at the best of times (although I normally get the odd text or call trying to sell me a house or a flat) had been decidedly mute. This turned out to be because it had been off all day, my having failed to turn it on when I woke. A text from the morning came in telling me the afternoon class had to all turn up for testing as next week they had other exams!

I emailed Janet and explained the situation. I would rather finish at around 1000 and go home. I can instruct the recalcitrant two pupils to present in the morning break or risk being given zero for the test and I could be home in time to actually cook Christmas dinner for Annie and Stephanie on the day itself rather than boxing day.

Great.

I think Janet agreed. Earlier today I cut things a little fine what with leaving it late to go shopping and actually caused myself stress as to whether I would prepare the meal on time tonight. As it turned out my timing was perfect and the lasagne was ready as soon as the girls had a welcome drink and chat.

I asked what they were doing on Christmas evening with the intention of announcing we would have our dinner on the day. Annie cheerfully piped up with “I am going to the Peili Christmas party with you!”

Eh?

Yes, you are dressing up as Santa!

When did we discuss this? I thought maybe previously I had been rather more in my cups than I thought and had assented.

Just now.

What??

It seems Annie accepted the invitation on my behalf, very kind of her. I will still be cooking on boxing day. But I will be Father Christmas on Monday. I will not however be taking a secret Santa present – merely appearing in costume ought to suffice! This is at odds with the recent news that a university in Shenyang has banned students from any form f celebrating Christmas.

They then gave me a card and a gift. The wording they penned in the card was very touching indeed and their gift showed considerable forethought. For a couple of months now I have been doing what many people do when they need to replace something – we say, I really need to get a new one or some new ones, then never actually do.

Well they clearly remembered because my gift was a pair of oven mitts. If I was forced to make a list for Santa they would have been at the top followed by black socks and boxer shorts. Thoughtful gifts are always more valuable than expensive ones and I am really pleased.

On to dinner. I got a BOGOF on grated mozzarella in BHG and was happy considering one bag is 41y. I found out why it was on offer when I opened a bag and found that far from being grated it had solidified into one misshapen lump! I suspect the second bag will be likewise and, forewarned, next time I will slice it instead of as today, trying to break off little lumps!

The verdict from Stephanie? “This is the best salagne (although she vehemently denied the malapropism afterwards) I have ever had – I have to send a picture to my Mom and tell her it's better than anything she ever made”.

I am on critically low levels of cinnamon (not something you pick up in supermarkets here except in stick form) so used mace for my bread and butter pudding. It was fine but not as pungent as cinnamon so as I have plenty of mace, next time it calls for more sugar.

But Stephanie referred to it as French toast. I am used to her peasantry (translated into American: trailertrashspeak) because she described my Yorkshire (pronounced York-Shy-ire) puddings as Yorkshire bread. My efforts at education extend well beyond mere students.

But a great night marred only by the news that apparently my exams on Peili should be finished this week and not next as planned following information provided, because some of my students have a practicum next week. I could have done that. But I was told I needed to finish by next Friday and I have an email to prove it. It will be as planned and it is the school's fault if half the students attain zero marks. I won't feel guilty for following instructions although in future I may advance matters by a week to achieve yet another extra week of holiday!

Ah, it's all good fun here – even when you do what they ask it still turns out they asked you to do wrong!!