Friday 13^th December, 2019 2030

Classes finished now until February, just two weeks of exams to conduct. There will be failures, of that I am convinced. After a term I still have students who are so testudinal that around campus I wouldn't even know they were in my class. But hey, two more weeks and I am off for six. I always keenly anticipate time off but here in Lanzhou the feeling is very much accentuated. I suppose in part it comes down to “brown-out”, part due to reduced mobility and the majority of it to the regime/quality of students here. It really is now down to gritting teeth and getting through the next thirty or so months. That and making sure I have decent holidays to anticipate.

Eli approached me on Thursday to ask what I was doing for Christmas. Last year I catered for five guests and besides cooking, ordered in a leg of ham, Christmas crackers and other festive treats. Cost me a fortune but I never even asked anyone to bring so much as a piece of reindeer shit by way of a thank you. I did as it happened receive a couple of token gifts which were appreciated.

This year the landscape has changed and so has my timetable. More classes plus I am working Christmas afternoon and all day Boxing Day so “on the day” celebrations are out at my age.

Eli said he wanted to do something for Khloe as I am guessing she is homesick (she's 22) seeing as she is in fact returning home in spring festival. Ok said I, let's go to Holiday Inn for an all you can eat and drink buffet on the 28^th. Now that's not cheap by local standards (bargain in the UK of course!) at 168¥ a head (£18/$24US) and given that they are on a pittance, I invited Alice to make a foursome, said I would throw ¥500 in the ring and the other two could take up the slack and pay for the taxis.

I thought I was being extremely reasonable. It meant instead of 168 they had to pay 86¥ apiece and about 40¥ I total for taxis in total. So just over a tenner apiece whilst I paid £55. Does that make me Ebenezer?

Today I was informed it was out of their price range.

Before anyone suggests I should shoulder the entire bill out of pity, firstly be aware I would for good friends (as indeed a certain friend of mine has on occasion done for me) but not mere acquaintances, and make no mistake, that is what these are. Secondly, Khloe can afford to fly back to the USA in the holiday while Eli is jetting off to have a break in Singapore! I am stuck here.

£18 is going to ruin their holidays, is it?

I shall take just Alice for a meal for two somewhere, my offer is off the table now. I have suggested our parsimonious pair would be better suited having their Christmas meal in the school canteen where they can dine for a pound.

Oh, and just to keep me happy, a three hour round trip today to China Tobacco for cigars was fruitless and my dinner ended up being chicken nuggets.