Friday 4th January, 2012     2030

For some reason I awoke at 0330 this morning which: considering I had to get up at 0630 anyway; displeased me greatly, especially as I was singularly unable to drop back off again. Instead I did what most people do in such a situation, I stayed in bed hoping for blessed oblivion. It arrived five seconds before the alarm went off.

As if that wasn’t a bad enough start to the day, when I pulled the curtains everything was white. No e-bike to work and I had to do it twice. Salvation came after lunch though because Kevin decided his feet were too cold to walk and we went in his car. When I asked him how many packs of cigars he managed to buy for me last night the reply was, “You never reminded me”. Considering we only discussed it two hours before he left campus I assumed I wouldn’t need to. Bemoaning the fact that I was down to my last six smokes, after class I searched my home and found two pouches of Craven Aromatic I never knew I had and which after three years are as dry as tea leaves, rooted out some pipes and joyfully went to his place to impart the good news that I had a temporary reprieve before needing to climb the walls or go in search. And strewth was it cold sitting in classrooms testing today.

To his credit he phoned Daisy who is staying in his downtown pad and asked her to pop to his local shop and see how many they had of the little expensive ones. It turned out they had 300 that I could buy for 570y but a week away from payday I don’t have enough. I said I would buy 100. On impulse he decided we would go there and then and whilst there we would have a prawn hotpot, so I naturally agreed. My peas, prawns and pasta can wait until tomorrow. It would seem there is a chance this shop may be able to source my cheaper ones and he has been promised sales of three cartons per month if he can oblige. The snow hasn’t stopped all day and although it has been relatively light, it has settled in many places.

It doesn’t really matter that much now because I am done with work for the next seven and a half weeks, the students will disappear in a fortnight and the number 29 will be almost empty. It just helps to have the bike to go to the supermarket here to save carrying heavy beer and wine back or indeed to leave near the bus stop in case I bring back plenty of shopping, which I need to do often because of the pets.

I won’t be going out again tonight, I prefer seeing my snow from the warm side of a window.

Saturday 5th      1900

I never went to bed until seven this morning. I got second wind and instead sat up all night playing long forgotten songs that evoked past memories. As a result I never woke up until one this afternoon and on turning my phone on I found a message from an ex student here. Not one of mine and not even an English major, but a rather pretty girl I often used to say hello to. She has been working in Tongling, very close to this city, and wondered if I was free because she wanted to return to school for a visit this afternoon.

She arrived just after four and since making friends in her new town with foreigners her English has gone from one to about five on a scale of ten, remarkable in just a few months. Clearly she is a bright student because she passed a postgraduate entrance exam with marks high enough for a university in Sydney to accept her next summer, so I am really pleased for her. Any OCs in the area are requested to indicate whether they would be willing to meet her when she is living there. Please let me know, she is a really charming girl.

Anyway, we had a “reunion” and I brought her home to get warm, her timing on this occasion was really bad, for all her old classmates (along with Kiki) were taking postgrad entrance exams elsewhere today and her plan was to book into an hotel downtown for the night. It is freezing cold so I asked Kevin if he was staying downtown, the thought being that maybe she could kip in his room here. If he does then Daisy and Susan will stay there so that ruled out that possibility. To my amazement, she suggested she stay here tonight. She has just popped out to get herself some soft drinks (I only keep alcohol and black tea) and I am even going to share my pasta, prawns and peas with her later - I have nothing else substantial to offer her.

Sunday 6th     1000

I didn’t get a particularly sound sleep, hardly surprising seeing as the only thing I normally share my bed with are cats but I really did enjoy it. She has popped to the hairdressers to get her hair washed and we will go to town together a little later. She is thinking of staying on campus until her friends return this evening so there is a possibility she may stay with me again tonight. She seems to have enjoyed herself here, so I hope she does, it makes a change to have company.

1500

We managed to get seats both ways on the bus which was good but we didn’t tarry in town too long, just bank and shopping. Anita is staying again tonight as her father (a policeman) will come and collect her at lunchtime tomorrow. I bought the requisite items to be able to make some Bolognese for later although I must admit I feel a little out of sorts at present. Maybe I am coming down with something. Anyway, it looks as if she wants to come and stay next weekend as well, so as my cleaners quit due to study requirements I don’t have much choice other than to get the place nice and clean during the week. Here are two photos, one of her and one showing how little Lottie has grown over the past weeks.