Thursday 11th April, 2013             2010

Not a lot to report today, my worst day of the week, except for what happened in the early morning class. I did my usual “Good morning!” and then “is everybody happy?”

Now I am always waiting for a “no” or two because then I can ask them why and thus get some interaction going. This morning I got loads of Nos and of course asked why.

“Because we can’t eat chicken any more” came the reply.

The reason? Because of bird flu. I asked them who on earth told them that, only to be informed it was on Chinese television. I then spent the next five minutes explaining that you can’t get it from eating chicken or from other people (one of my students went to Shanghai in the holiday and reported that everyone there is wearing face masks!) and that the people getting the illness all work or worked with live chickens for a living. I further explained that you can even eat rotten meat, which although might not taste particularly nice, is perfectly safe to eat provided it has been cooked hot enough and long enough to kill anything nasty. To reinforce this I pointed out that a couple of days ago I treated Qing and I to a roast chicken dinner and we are both still alive.

Hopefully they will stick with their original diet which is something I can’t do tonight. I was at the shops for one beer, did my shopping and ordered a chow mien to take away for my dinner. It was only when I got home after putting the bike on charge that I realised I had forgotten to collect it! Too tired to go and unplug the bike to go back I have decided to write off the 6y it cost me and have cheese and biscuits instead. Certainly the café staff will put it down to my being a Loopy Laowei but I have an excuse! A young man who graduated a while ago (you may recall this is the lad with glaucoma who expects to go blind in a few years) is back for a couple of days for some reason and he saw me. He always took the chance to chat with me if he could, he was a history major but his English is very good. My food slipped my mind after he repeatedly told me he worshipped me and his parents admired me because I enjoy life while they don’t! He now has my phone number because he wants to invite me to his hometown to meet his family. It is Tongling (where Qing’s family are) and I agreed provided he left it until after I have been back to the UK. Whether it  is a Chinese promise or not only time will tell but my instinct on this one is that he will indeed call. I will be happy to meet his parents, be treated to a special meal and stay a night in an hotel.

As the weather currently is - if not perfect - at least above 20C tomorrow when I finish at lunchtime I shall ride to town. Tomorrow is payday but I checked and we were paid today so I will go and shop and have lunch. I also need to sort out the washing machine filler hose because although it was fine the first time it now leaks everywhere so I need to take the whole thing to a plumbing supply shop and get a proper washer that fits.

Friday 12th       1915

Absolutely knackered today. Morning classes followed by a run to town. cash point and then a plumbing shop where I tried to buy the correct washer for my washing machine hose. No joy but the woman shop owner recommended (in Chinese) that I buy a completely new hose and fittings assembly. I paid 20y and now everything is fixed.

Lunch in KBW where not only did they not have any sweet pork but JinJun rejected my marriage proposal and then a whiz around Lottemart, during which I was really pleased to see tins of “tomato paste” (puree) on the shelf. I bought sufficient to last until summer because doubtless once they have gone it will go the same way as bacon and margarine and I won’t see it again for a year. Today they have Whiskas biscuits again. Too late Lottemart! I have found much cheaper and more convenient supplies thank you, and if I can do the same for the dog then you have lost yourselves a decent pet food customer.

On my return and after fixing the washing machine I went to watch the Foreign Language Dept play the Media Dept at football. Absolutely dire on the part of both teams. Sure, we won 2-0 (the first goal was a farce because it trickled between the keeper’s legs) but considering we had at least 80% of the possession and it was in their half it should have been a margin of five or more. Still, the girls got excited!

That’s me for the night now. Early bed after cooking for the four-legged ones and heating up the second chow mien I have paid for in 24 hours. I will go out a little later but only to take Pepsi to do her business. I hope I can sleep through until at least seven in the morning.