Friday 24th August, 2012           2100

Haha! So much for an early night. Granted, I was enjoying some downloaded films - hardly as conducive as Horlicks or a bottle of port for slumber - but even so it was three before I evicted the furry things and lay down. I thought perhaps I would feel human by about eleven but to my astonishment I obviously made up for the previous night by sleeping on and off until one.

I didn’t need to go to town (I could have mashed spuds with something - sadly not sausages) but I did anyway for a spot of shopping and some dinner. Unbelievably I almost took a sweater with me because it was “only” 28 today. As I was leaving, I passed 305 who made the comment that it was cold and went on to ask when I was moving out to the new apartment! I had to put her straight by telling her the only people who have mentioned it have been her and her neighbour. I am not sure how the rumour started, and it may well prove to be true in time, but I am not sure if I actually want to move. Could I be given a ground floor place? Where the hell do I shelter and charge the bike? They are two big cons as opposed to one big pro - a dedicated animal bedroom. Doubtless when this place properly comes alive again I will find out, until then, “I know nothing!”

Our supermarket was still open after eight tonight, the southern approach road now has banners strung between lampposts presumably to welcome the new intake of freshmen, coincidentally advertising 3G mobile phones from one of the service providers. More and more suitcases are being dragged up from both gates. I am sparing a thought for the greenhorns. For most this will be their first time away from home, most will arrive here scared stiff and for the first time will have to live and sleep with five complete strangers. Everything will be alien. The school does its bit by instructing juniors (3rd year students) to meet, greet and give a tour but of course no sooner are they here than they are put in camouflage garb and bellowed at by the Red Army! Sure, they are all nineteen and as such adults, but in China they mature much later than in the west - they are still kids.

Saturday 25th        2000

Managed to get up before noon today, although not by much! Of course I could always set an alarm, but when you are on holiday, why? I did get a message from Kiki when I turned my phone on, telling me she was coming back today. I asked what time and of course she was already here.

I took the dogs out for a beer again and the restaurant, which has just been ticking over and closing between seven and eight, was busy. I sat outside on the bike as is my wont, and in so doing spotted my first freshmen. Well, not mine - at least I hope not judging by their level of English! Freshers are easy to spot for me, the double-take, the nudging of who they’re with and the muttered “laowei” are a bit of a giveaway. These two girls were going with the parents of one (or both maybe but doubtful) to eat there. I called them over and introduced myself. They were of course mildly embarrassed, but serve them right for acting as if I had two heads. The parents simply smiled benignly. Doubtless at some stage this term one or both of them will come up to me and mention the incident, of which there will surely be many more during the coming few weeks. The reason for it is mainly twofold - one, very few “junior” schools have foreign teachers and two, a lot of our students are from very rural areas where no foreigner has ever been. It’s all good fun though.

K has been in contact with the bread machine shop online trying to chase up my replacement. Eight hours ago they were checking up on it but as yet no reply. Why am I getting a funny feeling about it? I also mentioned to her about the bus trying to terminate in the middle of nowhere on the return from Hefei. It would appear that the driver probably didn’t want to go to the bus station (she reckons it happens all the time) because where he stopped would have been near his home and incredibly would have left the bus parked there overnight until his next shift. My guess was very wide of the mark but if it ever happens again I will stand my ground as I did this time. Kevin told me it happened to him once and it was an even more remote location. He refused to get off the bus so they simply took his case from the luggage hold and dumped it on the side of the road!

2200

And time to cook for the brood and relax. I cooked a pasta bake tonight - first proper cooking I have done since Hefei - and knowing it would be too plain for K I put liberal amounts of chilli in it. Her verdict? “Ok”. Mine? Nothing startling but eminently filling and made much more interesting by having a bit of fire to it. Now I have to think what on earth I can make for us tomorrow that we haven’t had before. I am not attempting lasagne until we have a dinner party.