Monday 19^th March, 2018 2050

Bit of a mixed bag of a day. I got up early and faddled about whilst considering the chores I had to do in order to present a dinner this evening.

Eventually I loaded the bread machine with the ingredients for phase one of Operation Chelsea Bun. I've never made any kind of bun before so was sceptical as to the end result. I have also learnt that the trick to making anything doughy here is to let it rise for hours – even if it is only bread.

I abandoned ship after lunch to go shopping, having sliced chicken and beef for the fajitas and leaving them marinading. I still did my usual party trick of leaving myself a very busy time just before people arrived!

I ended up spitting tacks over the guacamole though. Three avocados had cost me 58\ and, having been left to ripen, two were rotten when I opened them up. I have never known avocados have skins that were more like nutshells with no “give” and I could only use one. The others liked it (apart from wishing there was more avocado in the guacamole but I gave it a wide berth. Other than that, the fajitas were good.

As for the Chelsea buns? Well, they exceeded my expectations, a welcome and rare event. Maybe a little too sweet (guessing game with the ingredients as usual but not for much longer with digital scales on order) but hell, I will make them again!

Before she left for prep class, Alice told me if her family can afford 30,000\ she has the chance to go to New Zealand for three weeks in the summer but her Mother, brother and sister in law (yes, that's right, sister in law!) forbade her as it's too dangerous. Kiwi. Too dangerous to visit with a party from the school, including teachers?

Sister in law's sage advice is to visit more Chinese cities. When I asked Alice how many countries her sis in law had been to you know the answer – none. I pointed out that every Chinese city was identical, they all speak Chinese, eat much the same food and the only differences are climate and the odd tourist attraction. Do you know, if I didn't already have plans for summer, I would take her to NZ myself. Fine, live your own life blinkered but for God's sake don't fetter others who have a bit of adventure in their hearts. It has left me feeling really, really angry. Ah well.

Oh, and I rather stupidly happened to mention I was making Scotch eggs for my dinner tomorrow. I should have realised my guests would have no clue as to what they are because they begged to come again for dinner. I am now hoping a pound of pork mince will be enough to coat four eggs – I've only made them twice before, in Chizhou for dinner and last year here as snacks to take to school for lunch. Back, rod and own spring to mind.....