Friday 23^rd February, 2018 0030

Remember I said I wasn't feeling so hot? Well I didn't yesterday either. I went to the precipice with the shopping which unless I want to do it on a chaotic weekend day will have to happen later today.

I wasn't the only one feeling under the weather, apparently Dariush gave Steph the Dragon a bad cold and funnily enough I reckon with her favourite dish on offer and her refusal, just maybe she was really ill. A takeaway portion was nonetheless delivered later by Annie.

It was not just Annie and me though, she rounded up Trey (someone they call Nate had to study or prepare classes or other nonsense) and yes, even having been frozen for weeks the lasagne for me was still redolent of onions. I should have caramelised them first.

Of course you would never have known it from the portions the Peace Corp platoon ate! There was enough for six (or twelve of me) and just one portion was left for Steph – Annie and Trey wolfed down 5¼ normal portions between them! I tried a quarter and even had I felt ok I would have eaten no more. It has proved to be the case that even when I fail in the kitchen the Peace Corps still think it's great! They (or at least Annie) think I am too harsh on my cooking.

Do you agree? If you cook something you think is wrong do you still eat it? I don't. Having said that, I made that lasagne a couple of weeks ago and froze it. There was no way I was dumping it in case the others would eat it, it cost too much in imported stuff. Maybe old age is making me a perfectionist....

I sort of raised a toast to starting work next Wednesday. Annie looked at me aghast, “You don't have class Monday???” Uh uh. “Tuesday??” Nope. Wedenesday all day, Thursday all day and until midday Friday. While that was sinking in I pointed out that including commuting it still equated to 27 hours. Terrific, I get a very long weekend but three intense days and more work than her – and all because one of the Peace Corps did a bunk. I wonder if that will see my contract renewed for another year........ I bloody hope so or that will scupper the summer plan. I shall ask soon if I will still have a job next year.

Not that it is any real comfort but today I read on the BBC site that university lecturers in the UK are going on strike. They seem to have little more job security than I do, the difference being that probably I can readily find another post. That's not me though. I set down roots and bring a couple of hundred kgs of gear when I move. The more I am over 60 though (and in a couple of months I shall turn 62) the more limited the options – although if any of the three posts that withdrew offers after the medical two years ago due to the report are up for grabs I can command a much higher salary. The tachycardia/arrythmia thing was sorted within a month of that medical but too late not to accept this posting.

Whilst earning good money is important, it is not everything. As I have aged the emphasis has leant towards the package. In China I get free digs and utilities. In universities I get mega-holidays, normally very little working hours (Ok, for nearly a year I am helping with a Peace Corps absconder but still being kept within contract hours and yes, good to teach English majors again) and I have been treated very well indeed.

I complain. I am a grumpy old man. I complain about anything I don't like. Then I get on with it. Sometimes I change things, sometimes not. But how many people can say that the only weight on their mind besides their own mortality (and God knows why but I have been thinking about that lately!) is whether they can save enough for a big holiday for two people?

I have no bills dropping through the letterbox – I don't even have a letterbox! I feed and water the waifs of the Peace Corps and it maybe costs me double what it does to feed myself seeing as I chuck most of it out.

No, all I have to worry about right now is saving what I think is enough to show Alice the UK. And getting a contract renewal for another year.