Friday 21st December, 2012            2330

I am still awaiting Armageddon so I assume if the doomsayers were correct it will happen in my sleep and this entry will never be read.

I need a rest. Yet another concert/party tonight and another to come on Christmas Eve night but at least tonight all I was expected to do was sit and watch and drink the beers the students provided. It was their first attempt at organising a show and of course there were a few glitches, but in the main it was enjoyable. I am only sorry I forgot to take my camera - not that it was a spectacle to rival Tuesday’s gala but because my own pupils organised and took part. They had decorated the blackboard (we were in a classroom which could accommodate 200 and it did tonight) with “Welcome Lo Our Christmas Party - Celebrate the End of the World!” Forget the “Lo” instead of “To” and concentrate on the last part. Contrary to many press/media reports, the Chinese in the main do not think the end is nigh.

Our Christmas dinner courtesy of the university is tomorrow at 1730 at the Happiness hotel (well, that’s the English translation!) and although I may have been there I have no idea of where it is. I intend to do stuff all tomorrow before that except ensure I have a long sleeved shirt pressed and some clean trousers. I won’t wear a suit because I can’t fit into it - well maybe my evening suit but that would be overkill - and anyway Ollivier doesn’t have one, the Chinese contingent won’t be wearing one and as long as we are smart then who cares? I will try to remember the camera. And just in case I get back late or get waylaid I have ensured the animals will get fed even if I am too “tired” to cook. There are, for the first time ever, tins of dog and cat food in my cupboard which will be opened and dumped in their communal bowl.

Saturday 22nd            2145

So that was Christmas dinner with the school. There was sleet when I rode my bike to the English department block to wait for our lift, only to find that of course there was a cock up. Alice (Kevin’s assistant) had assumed that the teacher who was giving her, Ollivier and me a lift was invigilating CET6 exams but in fact he was at home downtown. Eventually she persuaded a teacher from another department to give us a lift to town, albeit nowhere near the restaurant. This then involved a decent hike to crossroads to hail a taxi and I was not impressed because I was wearing my other pair of slightly too small shoes! With hindsight the delay was probably merciful because we didn’t have so long to wait while the card games were played and the food arrived. It wouldn’t be a problem if beer was offered on arrival instead of green tea.

It was actually a damned good evening, plenty of dishes on offer - initially there were twenty on the table but more followed later. I asked my neighbour what one particular dish was and was informed it was dog meat. Naturally I wasn’t going to even think about trying it but when Kevin took some and ate it I asked how could he?  He swore blind it was beef but Prof Fang continued the charade (if charade it was) and assured me it was dog. I will try anything once but I draw the line at that and regardless of what it was, not a morsel passed my lips.

Nonetheless. I did enjoy myself, in fact it was probably the best occasion so far that the university have laid on. Oddly, Kevin and I were seated either side of Prof Fang and the new boy Ollivier was two seats removed when I fully expected as a freshman he would take pride of place. Chinese formal dinners have a strict seating code (for those who don’t know) and plonking one’s backside on the wrong chair can incur huge displeasure. However I know Ollivier wants to sign again for a second year so I put in some good words for him by way of pointing out that his French corners are well attended because he cooks them pancakes. They don’t go to learn French but to eat! I also took the opportunity to ascertain whether Kevin and I needed to come in April to ask if our contracts would be renewed for 2013-2014 and I am happy to say that there will be no problems in that respect.

I was a little disappointed my assistant Cinny wasn’t seated beside me but I did inform Prof Fang that she has been excellent. The Prof was rather pleased as it had been her appointment, but more importantly I hope, it will go in her favour with the school. I actually mentioned the seating arrangements in the cab on the way home and it was as I suspected, Cinny hinted at the pecking order thing. My old drinking mate Director Shiu of the Foreign Affairs Dept (pictured to the side of Ollivier and wearing a dark blue striped shirt) was on good form despite his wife being present and as usual encouraged the others to pick on me to “gambay”. At one point I protested that they were neglecting the French contingent because Ollie can pack away booze as well as me. Kevin was keen to point out that in fact he can’t although from the plonk he puts away at our western meals it seemed the case to me.

So tomorrow I am free, Kiki and I will do my internet shopping, the list for which I may adjust to allow batch cooking of things like chilli con carne for the long cold holiday seeing as we will probably only have one more western meal before we all relax. I haven’t a clue what classes I am seeing next week or at what times, one of mine asked if I could accommodate them with a change  so my schedule is awry. The important thing is that my Thursday is yet again free. I have yet another student party/concert to attend on Monday night and I know the ones I rearranged for have one Christmas night. Sadly because we are going for our steak dinner (both Kiki and Joanna will be my guests) I had to decline. I feel bad because clearly the pupils don’t realise the importance of the day for us, although I have had three invitations to go and stay at girls parents’ homes for Chinese new year - again declined because nobody is available to look after my brood. Such are the joys of pets!