Sunday 17th March, 2013           2000

One word would sum up today. Miserable. Constant rain which became heavy at about five. Rather fitting really seeing as this idiot sat up and watched appalled as England were taken apart by a Welsh team that should all be locked in The Tower and then compounded his error by watching France actually win a game. I did however draw some comfort from the fact the Italians claimed a scalp (I admire them for persevering all these years as the losers) and the fact that even by beating Scotland, France still got the wooden spoon. At least I have something to throw back at a certain person from Marseille if he says anything!

Actually, he had better not say anything seeing as I along with another have just done him a favour. We were chatting a couple of nights ago when he mentioned he would go to Shandong province in a fortnight by train to collect his wife (who has been living with her parents since he came here) and their newborn son Hadrian plus the in-laws old car now they have bought a new one. They are leaving the slightly older son with the grandparents for a couple of months longer. He was bemoaning the fact that the drive back is 1,000km (625 miles) and the fact it would be difficult to do in one day with a baby. It would be difficult anyway but in China for 625 miles translate that to at least 1,000 miles in a country with decent roads.

As he is travelling down on a Friday and returning Saturday I pointed out the obvious, that he should break the journey and have a rest before coming back on Sunday. He agreed but commented that it would be better if he had a friend as I do who runs the Hilton in Hefei. Needless to say I begged a favour and all three can stay gratis with my mate, which was very kind of him to agree to. Having said that, the plan is for my friend to visit our little backwater on 27th April which will mean Ollivier will also be obliged to chip in when we ensure that he doesn’t pay for any food or drink during his weekend stay. The date is subject to confirmation at this end because with the Mayday holiday shortly after I need to ascertain whether the school has extended the holiday and we will have to play catch up with lessons that weekend.

Monday 18th         2030

Today started chilly and overcast so I thought I would have to shelve Pepsi’s vet trip but by noon it cleared and became sunny, so when I finished at three off we went, hot on the heels of Katrina who took the bus with a roommate to collect Lottie. She had 500y to pay the bill but of course with the “complications” the price rose to 700y. I wasn’t happy but I trust this chap not to rip me off. After Pepsi was injected thrice and had yet more gunk applied I left even poorer, having had a text from Katrina saying her building jobsworth supervisor had told her Lottie could stay in her dormitory for a maximum of one hour.

As she was in a cage I told Katrina to tell the supervisor it was my cat and if she was evicted if I couldn’t get back in time I would make a complaint to the Chancellor. It seemed to work.

When I arrived and she was brought out I thought Lottie’s entire torso had been shaved for the operation. It was only when I got home and freed her that I saw  it was a body stocking - quite a good idea and obviously to stop her licking or worrying the stitches. She seems none the worse and in fact is now allowing me to stroke her instead of - as previously - fleeing in terror when I approach.

Now I am hoping it will still be dry tomorrow morning. I need pet meat and as I only have one class in the afternoon my plan is to go in the morning. We have rain forecast from late morning but as all the predictions are based on Anqing it usually lags by a few hours so I may get away with it.

The flaming kids school owner informed me happily he has “filled me up for both this coming Saturday and Sunday. Quite what he means I will find out when he emails me tomorrow but he had better not have packed my entire weekend or he will be disappointed. He also asked if I had any students graduating soon as he will need a new teacher in May. I suggested Kiki because she is teaching now and when I asked her she said she would be happy to start next semester. I then asked the owner if he would take her, in which case I would ask if she could come earlier from Beijing where she is teaching now. The answer was that an interview was necessary (even though he has met her when she was with me) so he has been told flatly that I have no intention of dragging her all the way back on the off chance. He has delusions that he is running a top flight university instead of a small private school that has to recruit students every term.