Sunday 14th October, 2012          2130

Well nothing official has been said about Robin either today or yesterday, and of course with popular belief being that I actually own every wild dog on campus it is not outwith the bounds of possibility that Robin is not guilty. What she is guilty of though is barking all night and causing a stupid woman to crash her motorbike.

As a result I have been searching the Chinese internet sites for muzzles and anti barking collars. After a long time I found both, although at around 500y for a collar that delivers electric shocks to the barker, it gave pause for thought! So, as I am taking Pepsi to the vet on Tuesday, I will see if he sells muzzles. The con of this is of course that wearing one she will be unable to defend herself against other dogs but having said that, it is normally her that instigates it these days and anyway, she has brought this on herself (and me) with her behaviour. The pros are that not only will she be unable to bite anyone but hopefully not eat scraps on the ground, which maybe would ensure she had to come home at night because she would be famished. The thing that worries me is whether a dog can still drink when muzzled, so I shall need to do some more research on the subject.

I have done absolutely nothing of note all day and it has been great. I am looking forward to an easy week with just two lessons tomorrow, a trip to town Tuesday and some serious cooking Wednesday.

Monday 15th  1515

Still nothing mentioned officially about a dog bite. I am reasonably sure a dog did bite a student because a couple of pupils have mentioned it to me, although nobody is accusing Robin straight out. It matters not, the muzzle is a good idea and also a perfect rebuff should ever an accusation be levelled in the future - not to mention that it may cure the night barking problem and save me a packet on a special collar.

Today’s class was the usual unresponsive bunch - with three exceptions - but some were determined to carry on their own conversations while I was speaking. Nothing is guaranteed more to annoy me in a classroom, so I exacted revenge on the worst culprit. Our topic was job interviews, so I appointed a panel of three bosses and three interviewees. The main offender was picked as one of the latter and was also told why she had been picked. These kids will be examined by me for the last time in a fortnight so you would have thought they would try to maximise their chances, but no.

2245

I had a rather fruitless attempt at a siesta this afternoon, sometimes I wonder why I bother. Robin is again refusing to come home tonight, although she did make it as far as the door before deciding against. Her loss - the others will relish the liver I am cooking for them. Pepsi is off to the quack tomorrow and I don’t know what the blue gunk was he stained her with last week, but it is absolutely marvellous. Where she had mange really badly on her muzzle and under her chin it has virtually cleared up in just a few days. I will dump her with the vet while I pop out to (hopefully) get my months supply of cigars and the shopping necessary for western Wednesday. A trifle ambitious what with chicken wings and six pizzas and limited facilities but hopefully it will be alright on the night. Regardless, I will not be setting an alarm for the morning, I can go to town whenever I please although with a chance of rain in the afternoon I will be better off leaving by eleven.

Earlier tonight Happy sent me a text asking what she should do because she failed both her TEM and CET exams. As it’s a bit late in the day to be asking me that, I replied that she shouldn’t have wasted the last two years at school and paid attention to what I told all my classes at the very start. Needless to say I have told her to buy some past papers and will spend some time with her when I am free in the evenings, for what it’s worth. Her problem as I see it is the fact she has a boyfriend and has spent more time with him than on her studies. I will bet money that the boyfriend will pass HIS exams in whatever he’s studying, so who is the fool? The annoying thing is, she’s a lovely girl and only now is she realising that you reap what you sow - or don’t in this case.

Anyway, enough for now, I need to feed myself as well as the furry ones.