Thursday 28^th February, 2019 1730

As first days back at work go, I've had considerably better.

The school bus picked me up a few minutes early and very nicely got me there by 1400. that gave me half an hour to get my stuff together, make a coffee and have a smoke. I wasn't feeling too hot, in fact hadn't all week. I still don't but it seems to be improving slowly. I was beginning to think fruit and laxatives were ineffective and that perhaps something more serious was wrong. Maybe tomorrow I will be back to my normal self, for tonight I am having a roast dinner, the first proper food I hope to stomach in over a week.

Anyway, the first setback came when I put my key in the office security lock and then had to check I was indeed trying to enter 404. The locks had been changed. Worse, anybody who might have helped would not be returning until 1430 or even later.

Annoyed, I sent Janet a text then sat in an empty classroom twiddling my thumbs. Well, that's not entirely true, I did smoke a cigar and spitefully flicked the ash all over the floor. Of course, help never arrived before the bell so I had to start without a vital piece of equipment: my Puzzlers Lists. This week sees all new students and none have an English name. I pass the book out so they can choose their names. Nothing major, but hugely irritating.

Then I had a sense of dejà vu. It was my very first lesson all over again. Somehow the students had a book which was not of my stipulation. Never threw me much the first time, so hardly likely to now, especially when the book is not referred to the first week anyway. They had time to buy me a copy .

Fifteen minutes in and my new key was delivered and I could go and get the book. So far so good. During the break my copy of the course book mysteriously appeared. Cooking with gas now!

The lesson ended and I had a twenty minute gap before the second class, the one that ensures I have to take public transport or a taxi to get home. Starting said class, it was immediately clear the previous lot had taken both my Lists and the attendance book! Thirty minutes later a rather sheepish monitor returned with them. Not feeling so well, I couldn't wait for the end. Nothing further could surely go wrong?

End it did and I walked out to the bus stop. There was one seat left for the infirm, parent and baby or old farts and I gratefully occupied it. Now, getting the bus to school, I take the 15 to the terminus, walk to Five Streams mountain and then the 12 to campus. Taking it from school, I take the 12 but normally disembark early at the main train station, thus avoiding the walk from Five Streams to where the 15 finishes. I'm lazy.

Well, I can never tell when we are near the station because I don't take the bus home that often. I did though think I recognised the automated bus announcement which says something like “Lanzhou Jerjian”. When we got to the stop I couldn't see the station so remained seated. Half a mile on we passed the station. They have relocated the stop due to building works. I started to fume again but rapidly realised I was better off going to Five Streams – the walk was going to be shorter. That was the best thing to happen all day.

Having eaten nothing for two days (Alice had come for her dinner on Tuesday of sausage rolls, mash and beans but I, despite cooking for two, couldn't face it) I had to get something inside me so settled for some cheese and wine. As aforesaid, I am attempting something more substantial in a while.

Earlier today I had a relayed message from Brenda via Eli that other foreigners are not allowed to stay in our apartments and to be wary of the scams that are prevalent at the moment. The latter is patently fluff because unless I suddenly learnt Chinese then I am immune to their texts and calls. No, it was all about foreign guests. I haven't had any, nor I think have Eli or Annie. That leaves Nordine, who did have his girlfriend staying for ages and who I now assume has left. It smacks to me of the typical pettiness sometimes meted out by school officials all over China. It has now been consigned to the “ignore” file.

Ah well, let's hope tomorrow fares better!