Saturday 1^st September, 2018 1300

Not entirely unexpectedly I wasted three hours travelling to China Tobacco only to come away empty handed. Yesterday I went to the Baian shopping centre where I obtained some baked beans, real peas (not the faux peas that are really beans you normally get) and – a miracle – they actually had cheese. Only two blocks mind, one mild and and one strong cheddar. They now have none.

We are having a mini rainy season here right now, maybe five days of “English” rain by the time it is over. My pain management is working, no more rib-interrupted nights but rather than bones it is now muscles! Somehow I think that is due to spending months sitting on my fat backside because I couldn't walk though. Hopefully once I get back to work it will improve.

Janet texted me last night with just the two words – Thursday, Friday. I knew she meant I would teach those days this term but hell, I need a little more than that! You know, number of classes, which classroom(s), times etc! I was hoping for a half day Thursday and full day Friday but seeing as she said to take my laptop on Thursday I suspect it's two full days but with the 4.5 hour lunch break Thursday. Not too bad, I can get my weekly breakfast at Pizza Hut!

Kevin went water skiing yesterday while taking Vivi back to Hefei. The only minor problem was that he was driving his car.

There was heavy rain and he aquaplaned, spun out and smashed beam-on to the armco barrier, leaving the car worse for wear and now more like a motorbike because two wheels were ripped off. Most importantly neither of them were hurt although by all accounts Vivi couldn't stop crying for hours. Kevin was convinced it was a write-off but the insurance company are confident they can get it repaired. Bit awkward though, they had to take the bus to complete the journey and after an overnight stay he is now on another bus to get back to Huangshan. Couldn't take a train as he has no ID - it was all handed in to the school for permit renewals. He never thought to photocopy his passport of course because he never expected to be taking public transport.

Anna has been texting me today as well, initially to wish me happy teachers day (which is in fact the 10^th) but now telling me she will come and visit me next year. You may recall she is in barracks not far from here but liberty is highly restricted, she can't even email me any photos of her new life.