Thursday 15^th February, 2018 Chinese New Years Eve 1645

Well the stallholders at the veg place never took the Mickey. In fact they weren't there, their son was manning it. That often happens at holidays. You may think that's unkind on the sons or daughters of small business owners, they are supposed to be on school holidays. But think again. Those business owners work every day of the year to feed, clothe and pay for education for their children so that hopefully when they qualify they don't have to stand there in the freezing cold flogging potatoes or apples without ever going away on a break.

Anyway, I was delighted to see the same two pigeons I saw two days ago when I bought eggs. One was a particularly nice cerise-type colour. Nobody had eaten them and best of all, not only did it merely cost me 100\ but the boy knew exactly what I was there for. Last time he tried to catch them, thinking they had escaped from me!

So two birds have been given their lives back and hopefully I just guaranteed myself some good luck for the coming lunar year. Not that that is why I do it, if I was rich I would do it every day but I am not so I have now set myself a precedent in Lanzhou at least. And this time I took a couple of photos.

Komodo (Steph) sent a message from Florida this morning. At least she wasn't shot at yet another of their “will you ever learn?” school massacres. Were there any spices I needed? Jesus. She took a list of things to buy before she left. She has either lost it or forgotten about it. I have asked for parsley and dill plus baking powder, everything else I use I have ample. No doubt I shall see them both Tuesday or Wednesday, Steph gets back on Sunday, Annie on Monday. We shall go out for a celebration meal although it may not be seen as such by them.

This has been their first time away from home in a foreign country. They have just completed their first term of four here. Doubtless they missed their family, grits, chittlins etc and I doubt their frames of mind are the same as mine was when pursuing a seafaring career. Especially now they know the only place they can get decent western food is mine!!

So I am making a large lasagne plus a little one in an aluminium takeaway tray. The big one I will freeze for a meal with them and I shall have the little one tonight. I was going to make a load of small ones but found I have only so many pasta sheets left, I am not confident I could make my own yet although I will give it a go sometime.

Later if I am still awake I shall take my camera to the square and photograph the silly dog display they have this year and see what pyrotechnics get let off. I'd have bought a box of rockets myself but still I haven't seen anywhere selling the damned things.

1830

Please remind me never, ever to use Chinese onions in lasagne again!

Chinese new years day midnight

I should have just gone to bed. Last year there were at least a few families with sparklers and rockets. I just went down to the square and I would have been alone were it not for a solitary girl clearly arguing on the phone with her boyfriend. I could have taken these photos last week and I am so glad I never paid good money for a box of rockets now!

There are of course fireworks going off nearby but I doubt they will last beyond 0100. if I am still here this time next year I will either be somewhere else for a holiday or I will stay home.