Thursday 11^th January, 2018 2245

Having done bugger all yesterday, as usual I left it all to do today.

In fairness I did actually try to start “early” by getting my final top-up of electricity before the big shutdown by going at 1130. I have no idea what the electricity auntie's hours are but considering she only works Tuesdays and Thursdays they seem rather lax because of course she wasn't there.

I try not to leave it until I am desperate, having had prior experience but this was in fact crucial, nearly two months to last and about 830\ on the meter. For a Chinese that would probably last six months but I do not sit at home in sweater and coat. My little fan heater supplements the radiators the entire time I am up if necessary. You may imagine my slight concern as I left the empty building, wondering if she would be there this afternoon and if not, having to make waves. She ain't a bad sort, just terrible at timekeeping.

So off I went to spent a fortune in the supermarket and hey! Blow me if suddenly there are fish sticks! No, not what you are imagining, these look like fish fingers! I haven't had them for 8 years and even at 50\ a box I had to have them. No idea how I can make parsley sauce without parsley though!

I did also buy, after all the Yaketty-Yak Xining weekend, two yak steaks. Originally I was going to make omelette but this was whimsical. I knew it was wrong but it would at least shut up Stephanie forever.

Don't you just love it when someone texts long after you have been shopping to ask if they can invite Denver to dinner too? Well, something like bolognese or lasagne no problem because it can stretch but two steaks between three people. I felt bad but not my fault.

Got home after shopping, relaxed and waited until I felt even the tardiest of aunties would return from lunch. She had thank God. Lovely, eeh chien (1,000\) credit bunged on so now I have 1,800 – plenty for spring festival.

Next the monthly drug run followed by the jing jo top-up. Actually I have rather too much jing but that's because I have been drinking too much pijou but never mind.

Then it was time to cook dinner. Yak steak eh? Well it was much as expected. Somewhere they are breeding perfectly cylindrical yaks with a diameter of 6”, just as they breed Aberdeen Angus the same dimensions especially for Chinese supermarkets. Bloody plastic.

But hell, I suppose they were actually yak so I have now eaten it. Tough and the sauce was awful, wish I hadn't bothered because I am convinced it was yak milk butter. But I can say I have had it. It does not rank anywhere near ostrich, which cooked correctly is superb.

And then the piece de resistance was almond and pistachio ice cream. I hate almonds. I loathe marzipan. But in ice cream of course the predominant flavour will be pistachio, right?

Ever tried marzipan ice cream???

It took three full swigs of wine to eradicate the assault on my taste buds. Oh yes, SHE liked it of course. And now I am stuck with half a tub of very expensive inedible ice cream in my freezer for when Annie returns after the holidays. Oh yes, Steph never missed the chance to send a picture of the yak steak to Annie just to annoy her.

So an early morning tomorrow for this apparently very formal meeting which will feature speeches and other traditional niceties. I am only interested in the gifts they will give us, whether I will actually want them or give them away!

Should I be posh and wear the suit and medal?

I will decide when I get up.....