Tuesday 2nd October, 2012           2245

Another glorious day weatherwise and extremely lazy too. At noon I popped to town and although a jacket is needed in the evenings lately it is still mid-twenties during the day, a little on the cool side for me these days but still short sleeves weather. I did a bit of shopping, mainly to find something the animals will eat seeing as they refuse the duck lately (maybe it is off) and so trotters, kidneys and liver went into the basket. On the spur I also bought the makings for a “pottage” pie which will be dinner tomorrow night for the foreign contingent - nothing special but perhaps best described as “shovelling food”, something which is fine enough and you can simply fill up on it without qualms.

Ke Bi Wang for a quick lunch and to present JinJun with one of the spicy moon cakes the school gave us and I don’t like and then back to campus. I was feeling quite tired for some reason and decided on a nap but; as is often the case; I made a decision that saw a slightly different slant put on the afternoon. Nothing momentous, just something that in my world of curiosity dotted some Is and crossed a couple of Ts. I decided to have a single beer at our shops before going home and accordingly bought it and sat enjoying the sun at an outside table. Across the way I noticed a man looking at me and smiling.

Like most people I suspect, I knew the face but not the place, however I smiled back and then - shame on me - regretted it because it was the encouragement he was looking for to join me. And join me he did. It was not ere long before my memory was refreshed because it was the deaf mute. He actually detained me for a further two bottles by dint of getting his wife to go and buy them for me, although he limited himself to just the one. From our “conversation” I now know for sure he works as a miner in the frozen far north and if he hasn’t already started back will do so early tomorrow. His wife works as a seamstress and I think she is the daughter of the Mama who used to run the China Mobile shop (but which is now home to all sorts of food stands plus the “leemon” tea business). If true, she is mother to this girl, the little honey who is up there in my top ten lookers of all time and also a young fat boy.

But the one observation I made was this: I can only speak English and they can only sign (the only sign language I know is toilet and Guinness - essentials when drinking in a deaf club) yet I understood far more of what they were saying than I ever do from speaking to Chinese people who can’t use English. It does rather prove the power of body language and also shows how I can still demonstrate to my students the meaning of  difficult/lengthy words without having to use Mandarin.

Thursday 4th       2130

Reports of the pizza at the alleged “western” place were terrible, apparently the pizza base tasted like cake, as is normal for any form of Chinese bread. At least it saved me the expense of finding out for myself!

For last night’s pottage pie  which started out with the intention of just being for the three in the foreign enclave, we numbered five in the end. Kevin had asked if Leaf could come as she was keen to try “proper” western food so I said I would invite Kiki and as long as he made a loaf of bread I thought we could stretch the food. We did, and despite my misgivings over the small taste I had of the mince mixture before the spuds went on top, it was universally enjoyed - Kiki fell in love with the crunchy cheesy potato crust in particular. Kevin can pack away a fair amount of grub at the best of times, but whenever I cook he becomes an utter gannet. Everyone had a small portion of seconds, he was playing Mum and left a portion in one of the trays. I swear he did it because he just KNEW everyone would refuse it and it would fall to him to polish it off! Best of luck to him and to be honest it is always nice to see something you made relished. Shepherds pie may be a simple feat in the UK but here with only one hotplate it is a task and a half - meat and veg need to be done then the potatoes need to be boiled after so you are looking at two hours before it even sniffs the oven! Last night was the first time I have left a western Wednesday, gone home and not blogged and downed more wine. Why? Because not only was it two in the morning but there were six empty bottles of plonk! The girls never drank any, Kevin is a lightweight and maybe drank one, leaving Olivier and I to blame for five dead soldiers! A good night indeed.

Earlier though I had gone to buy fish for the animals. I took Pepsi, who on arrival leapt off the bike and darted scared into the undergrowth. I couldn’t find her. After half an hour I left, went back to campus and decided to return with Robin to see if she could help. Kevin came along but we had no success so she spent a cold, lonely and frightening night out in the open. Today I returned with Robin, no sign until I bought a beer with the intention of hanging around for a while in case she showed. No sooner had I popped the top off than Pepsi appeared. Now we are complete again, even Robin is home tonight which is her one night in four - well, that seems to be how it works lately.

On a whim this evening I invited Kiki to the sweet pork place - can I bring my friend? Yes of course - and chancing upon Olivier I invited him as well. Much better because the bill gets halved! We had a great meal, total bill 160y, and I think everyone left completely stuffed.

I don’t know what I shall do tomorrow but it won’t be far away as I am going to take Pepsi to the vet to sort her mange. More bloody expense and likely to cost between 300-500y which is intensely annoying as I had hoped to save some money this month but the spray isn’t working and I can’t leave her looking like, well, a mangy dog.

So I am absolutely whacked tonight, a bit of TV and an early night methinks.