Friday 14th September, 2012          2030

Bloody hell - I do have to change my best laid plans! What the hell is the point of producing a school calendar showing exam dates and holidays when it only shows some of the holidays???? Arrgghh!!!

Nothing like the UK I know (yet) but today suddenly turned really cold  as far as I was concerned. The rain arrived earlier just to help matters and I hope it clears up for Sunday when I am teaching - rain is bad enough, but cold rain is the pits. I am having my doggy bag from Wednesday  for my dinner, the kids are having hearts, probably from pigs, and it is not only their first time to eat them but mine to buy and cook them. I haven’t a clue how tough they are or anything. Still, they’re animals so they won’t complain to the management.

Saturday 15th       1400

The cold and rain have thus far confined me to barracks today, any notion I had of venturing to town evaporated as soon as I looked out of the window. I am shepherding my cigars so I will have a few left for the morning to keep me going until I finish teaching and I can get to the kiosk for more.

The bread maker saga seems to be getting resolved. After Kiki leaving online messages for the shop every day, they say they will despatch a new machine to me. Everything will be in Chinese so that is going to be fun! At least it should mean that I will be able to make my own bread during the long, cold holiday without having to pinch Kevin’s.

1900

Took the dog out late this afternoon, the intention being to go out again this evening. Bugger that - it’s only just above freezing! Next bedding change will see the electric blanket make an appearance, that’s for sure. I’m not looking forward to tomorrow because I have loads to do in town including putting money on Kiki’s card so we can do internet food shopping. This month and next I want to stock up ready for the spring festival so I can feed myself well in case it is a bad winter.

Sunday 16th          1400

Well today was even more miserable than yesterday. Constant drizzle since I got up - and at seven thirty I didn’t want to get up at all. I was finished teaching at eleven, there is nothing for me next weekend but if I “wish” to turn up sometime over next weekend they are having Christmas concerts/parties. I suppose I had better show my face, but will probably go for a morning session so I can have lunch and do my shopping afterwards.

I popped to the bank (no sign of Sonya again) and then to get my cigars. Yet again the answer was “mayo!” which rather left me in the lurch, or to be more precise, having to hunt around for some and pay more elsewhere. Eventually I managed to buy two packs in one place and three in another but at 20y a throw. Whenever I have been to Kiki’s bank I have had to queue for ages but for some reason today I walked in and as soon as the machine printed my ticket number it was my turn - result. Then off to see JinJun and have a bite to eat whilst contemplating a damp and cold return journey.

When I got back I came straight home because Kevin is downtown at weekends and I need to bake some bread in his machine - I need breadcrumbs for tomorrow’s western meal (well, it makes sense seeing as I am free all day) of macaroni au gratin. Actually it won’t be macaroni as I haven’t got any but I do have some smallish penne which will do! Until I order stuff online the only other dishes I could have come up with were pottage pie, chilli or Bolognese but this was Kevin’s suggestion. Actually I really should start to use the rest of the cheddar I bought six months ago - because I never froze it it has started to dry out and go crumbly so it was a good call as I never thought of cooking that. My “date” for it is actually the first of this intake of freshmen I have invited, Yvonne. She is one of a small handful of my new students who have come to my attention as being the type that, given encouragement and working at it themselves, will be very good.

For the first time in my life aside perhaps when I was little, I have chapped lips. It’s not from riding the bike because I got them a few days ago when I hadn’t been anywhere, in fact I woke up one morning with them. Thinking the “deposit” on my lips was something to do with what I had drunk or eaten the night before I started pulling it off, only to experience pain when I found myself ripping small holes in myself. I wonder if those lipstick things do any good, I can only try for it makes smiling uncomfortable. Still, my chest has started to ease since I started taking medicine for it, hopefully now I won’t be out of breath when I am Ho Ho Ho-ing on stage on Tuesday!

So, what with cooking tomorrow, three classes Tuesday and Friday both followed by student events, I have a full agenda. If you don’t see my blog for a few days it will probably be because I am busy.