Wednesday 29th May, 2013            1900

Whilst sitting watching a film last night I realised that due to the dragon boat festival holiday - one day made into three simultaneous days by working the two non-holidays at the weekend but the other day not being caught up - this morning was going to be the last time I ever stood before Joanna’s class in a lesson. The other two classes will have that pleasure next Thursday and Friday but the realisation smacked me bang on the nose.

These are the kids I have been with from day one for them - and for me as a teacher. Sure, they have another year as seniors but there will be no oral English lessons from now on for them. These are the students I demanded back this term because they mean so much to me and now it is over bar seeing and occasionally chatting with them singly on campus.

So I stayed up far longer than I wanted to, remembering them as bright eyed and bushy tailed freshmen, the laughs and tears, the frustrations and triumphs and the pride I have felt in being able to say they were “mine”. Yes, I was bloody miserable and  really wasn’t looking forward to this morning.

I had an activity for them prepared but I gave them the opportunity to decide what we did for the first half of the double period. I was astonished that they wanted to nonetheless partake in my lesson, with the proviso that photographs could be taken. Funnily enough, I had taken my camera with me specifically for that purpose and here are the pictures we took. Sadly three students (including Happy) were absent as they were away in Hefei sitting a BEC exam, but this is one of the three finest classes I have had the privilege to be associated with and I am proud to be able to say that every single one of them is my friend.

At the death I made a little speech and the boulder in my throat threatened to beat me but I saw it off. My final comment before I let them go - and I meant it - was “I hope you have enjoyed our time together and thank you all for being MY teachers”. By sheer coincidence fate has seen fit to make this blog entry number 622 - that was my HMS Conway number……….

Anyway. Less of the maudlin stuff. In the break Joanna gave me my snuff. Yes of course I have tried it! It seems an odd thing to do with tobacco but then if I think about it, burning and inhaling it is as well. I do believe it will help a lot more on a flight than patches and I may well persevere with it in case it reduces my cigar consumption. Even taking into account the need for extra tissues, seeing as they only cost threepence here for a packet, it would still save money.

Thursday 30th          2000

An utterly awful day, long, wet at the beginning and by my standards for this time of the year flaming cold at about twenty. I had thought I had seen the last of my jumpers until the autumn but not so.

As of this morning we foreigners now have our social security cards. None of us really know what they are except that we have been told the 25y a month deducted from our salaries is paid onto it along with a bigger contribution from the school. We are also supposed to be able to use the monies on it when buying medicines from a pharmacy - that is something I will test in a couple of weeks!

I am facing a busy weekend. Tomorrow night I will be going back to Pop’o’Fish with a group of students, there is the philately exhibition in our library which various students want me to go and see and for my last weekend this term at the little school I have been “blessed” with one lesson on Saturday and two on Sunday. The start of the holidays can’t come soon enough so I can rest and start getting things done that need doing. I want to try and find a few shirts big enough for me (no easy matter here) and locate a bag suitable for carrying my laptop plus a few other things to use as hand luggage on the flight. No way can I use my expensive leather job after three years of cats sharpening their claws on it, people will think I am homeless!

Tuesday 28th May, 2013        1900

An eventful couple of days but little to actually report I am sorry to say.

Last night we went to Pop’o’Fish where we were met by Georgina, Echo and Jane. Although my discount card was of no use there they had booked online and made a decent saving by doing so, it being 52y for two, or about £2.60 per head for the set menu which included two kilogrammes of fish and presumably all the other stuff they ordered for the hotpot after we had finished the fish. Well I say “we” but they very kindly ordered the sizzling prawns for me so I never had much of it. Towards the end we were joined by the girl whose name I didn’t know - and still don’t! Sadly I had departed in such a rush I omitted to take my camera which I blame on the following:

We had arranged a departure time of 1800 which I made, in fact I was ten minutes early, but events saw everything rushed. Firstly Alice, Kevin’s assistant, contacted me to say she wanted me to sign my revised CV and needed to give me my passport back. I was down at the supermarket and said I would be there for a further 20 minutes. That passed and so I informed her I was leaving but perhaps we could do it at ten to two this afternoon. Her reading skilss aren’t up to scratch for she then agreed to meet me at ten this morning. No thank you, I only have one day in the week I don’t have to rise at dawn. Oh, please wait for me. I did. I signed, got given back our passports and was then staggeringly told the FAO would be needing them back in a few days! Why the bloody hell didn’t she just hang on to them?? I predict what will happen now is that at some point it will become “urgent” and one of us won’t be able to be there. Maybe I should construct a short course on nous.

Anyway, to top it, Daisy and Susan had begged a lift from Kevin so he wanted to leave earlier. Fine, I just had to lock the dog in, dump my shopping in the bathroom - depositing my passport on the worktop in the process. On my return later I was horrified to find that for the first time in a while Pooh had opened the bathroom door. To my relief the only casualty was the shampoo which he’d knocked to the deck and the passport was where I had left it. Had he dislodged that and Pepsi decided it was good chewing material then I would have had a serious problem. Lesson learnt.

Today as usual I only had one afternoon class but at lunchtime the monitor sent me pleading messages for the students to be allowed to attend a singing competition to support their classmates taking part. I agreed and went along myself, wondering if it would be possible to sit quietly at the back observing and not get roped in as a judge. I need not have troubled myself for Kevin and I were instantly appointed “distinguished guests” and the judging was left to others. Out of 21 songs there were even a couple I really liked!

That’s the end of my report on a hot evening and I shall bid you goodnight while I cook myself some bangers and mash.

Saturday 25th May, 2013        1530

I suppose if you discount washing up, changing the bed and doing the laundry then I am having a lazy day today. Thank heavens for aircon, it’s only about thirty today but humid. Apparently we are in for rain tomorrow, which I would welcome were it not for the fact I will be going to town. What’s the bet I will get damp? Still, at least it has been changed from one lesson in the morning and two in the afternoon to just the two later ones. If I leave at midday I can get lunch and do my shopping before classes.

This afternoon when I changed the bed I broke out my new summer quilt (cost 79y)and so far I am over the moon with it. Thin enough to fit in the washing machine and also extremely easy to get it into the cover.

A couple of months ago on the school website I spotted an entry stating all teachers had to submit to an annual medical but on investigation ascertained it did not apply to foreign teachers. All that has now changed. I have a strong suspicion that because of recent events regarding me, we three now have to take it as well. Paranoia over my imminent demise appears to be unabated. Over 45s also have to have their prostate examined, something I am not particularly keen on.

Sunday 26th                      2000

Bit of rain last night which decided to arrive just when I was taking the dog out for her final outing of the day. Then I checked the forecast and was dismayed to see heavy rain for most of today. There was none when I got up this morning and none when I went to town at lunchtime although there were strong winds and ominous clouds. Knowing it would be getting on for five o’clock before I got back again I was expecting to get a drenching at some point but until now all we have had are a few spits and now the forecast says sunny tomorrow whereas before it was for heavy rain. I really should stop even looking at what they say.

Thankfully any classes I have next weekend will be the last for a while. The following weekend I will be teaching here making up classes for the dragon boat festival break and I may well turn down any summer school lessons, at least until after my own holiday which starts in 7 weeks. The time has certainly been evaporating rapidly since I booked the flights and hotel. Mind you, I read a scientific report some weeks ago which apparently proved that time does indeed fly by faster the older you get, something I have long believed to be true anyway.

So two more week of lessons here, a fortnight of exams and then three weeks to relax before the off.

Tomorrow Georgina, Echo and another girl who I taught but for the life of me can’t remember her name (her fault, she wasn’t active in class!) are treating Kevin and me to dinner at Pop’o’Fish. Georgina, whose father is apparently footing the bill even though he’s not going, had her heart set on Old Cologne. Kevin tried to dissuade her by mentioning the expense but failed because Georgina isn’t paying herself. I succeeded because I said the food was terrible there now. Not strictly true but what has happened is they have hiked the prices and also reduced what you get. Soup and cake used to be included, now you have to pay and the last time I went I had a Kiev which was fine (and a generous size) but all I got with it was a tablespoon of coleslaw and two tiny potato croquettes. Mashed or roast spuds in decent quantities coupled with perhaps some peas would have turned an expensive, awful meal into an expensive but worth it one.

Still, Pop’o’Fish is where she took me before and very kindly ordered sizzling prawns so I am happy. And I think I’m going there again on Friday!

Friday 24th May, 2013              2200

Today was a day when many students had their graduation photos taken. Unless I suddenly decide to become a mature student there is no chance of my featuring in a picture wearing a gown and mortarboard unless I am taking part in a play. However during the break between lessons this morning I observed a group of “our” students gathered at the front of our teaching block in full regalia getting ready to pose for a group photo.

I watched from above as a few shots were taken and then when they did that thing where they all cheer and toss their mortarboards in the air in unison I found it extremely poignant. Back in class after the break, we had just commenced my activity for the class when four girls still wearing their robes interrupted my lesson. They wanted to take photos with me. I asked when and was told now. My class of freshmen erupted into applause and cheers and the odd thing about it was that I had never taught any of the four girls - they must have been Kevin’s but he only has classes on Friday afternoons.

I obliged by stepping outside for the shoot and found myself incredibly moved. On returning, one of my female students asked why I was crying. I wasn’t but I am man enough to admit I was a little misty-eyed. I told the truth - that I thought it was sweet of them to ask for a photo with me and that I was nostalgic insofar as these were young people at an exciting time in their lives, education complete and about to scatter to the winds and carve out new lives for themselves. Like many of the older generation I would love to be 22 again and whilst it is part and parcel of this job to see kids come and go and I am happy to see them embark on a new life journey, I am always a little sad to bid them farewell. God knows if they understood the sentiment but sometimes I think I give them less credit than they deserve.

Tonight there was a foreign language corner at which I was the only foreign teacher. Kevin is always busy on Fridays but although Ollivier was invited, for some reason he never attended. I understood about a quarter of what was going on but have no complaints at all because all five languages (Chinese, English, French, Japanese & Korean) which are taught here featured at some point and I impressed myself by being able to at least recognise which was which even if I couldn‘t understand. I was also tasked with making a speech to bring it to a conclusion, following which there was an exodus. Panic-stricken, a couple of students begged me not to go as they also wanted photos with me. I wasn’t going anywhere because I hadn’t long pulled the tab from a can of Snow beer!

One of my girls came and muscled in so she could stand next to me for the group picture and informed me she loved me. Assuming she was joking I asked if she wanted to marry me. Yes, she said. I advised her that she really needed to consult with her parents first as I doubted they would be pleased. Her response? I don’t care!  She's the one singing the theme song to Titanic solo.

Thursday 23rd May, 2013               1030

Tuesday was notable as that was the day Kevin took Daisy to Hefei for her interview at the Hilton. I had seen her CV and suggested emendments and I have to say it was quite impressive - she has received numerous awards from this place and can speak three languages, so I felt certain she would land a job front of house at least.

Imagine my discomfiture when; whilst sitting on my bike outside the sweet pork place in the sun with a beer enjoying the warmth; I received a text from Kevin telling me Daisy had been told they were too busy (THEY had arranged the date and time) and to return another day! Outraged and embarrassed because it was a round trip of 5 hours costing over 400y, I asked if they wanted me to use the Old Pals Act. They did, so I did, and she was indeed interviewed shortly thereafter.

The thought crossed my mind that the people in charge of the process, whilst obeying their boss’ instructions, may go one of two ways - one to go through the motions and not offer a job, two to employ her due to having connections. They went in between the two, sending a girl even younger than Daisy to conduct the interview who took little or no account of her linguistic ability and who ultimately offered her a job. Clearing tables. Understandably Daisy declined the kind offer and although I shouldn’t, I feel a trifle guilty about the whole thing. I am certain my friend knew nothing of this, although I will not be able to simply say nothing about the matter when I see him in 7 weeks.

In the evening I went out for the shrimp hotpot. Arriving at the west gate with still no idea who and what sex I was meeting, I was greeted by a car containing two boys and one girl. The driver was “email” (I gave him the name as that’s what his Chinese name sounded like), the other boy was LJ (who is now tuning in to this blog - hi LJ!) and I never did clock the name of the girl. Dinner was fun, if a little strange. The girl never spoke once in English and hardly anything in Chinese, instead spending a great deal of time intently peering at her mobile phone. Bizarrely, at about half past seven she informed the others that she had to leave as her mother had told her to come home! I did get another stamp on my card though and think I only need one more to qualify for either a free hotpot or a free meal, I’m not quite sure which.

Yesterday was a little hectic with me trying to prepare Bolognese and garlic bread between and after classes. If I say so myself, the food was particularly good and I had invited Anna as my guest. Ninety minutes before we were due to start the meal I got a message from Kiki saying that she was back! Had I known of course, she would have been my “date” and as it was I nevertheless invited her to come as well, thinking there was plenty of food for seven. She instead wanted to dine with her classmates but promised to show up later after we had eaten. Probably just as well because Kevin asked if we had enough for Susan to also stay to eat with us. There was enough for ten seeing as I had used 4lbs of mince.

As usual the three laowei thoroughly enjoyed my food with Kevin and Ollivier both having seconds. Also as usual, there were mixed reactions from the Chinese contingent. Anna declared it “so so”, Daisy loved it and Ollivier’s guest Soleil was somewhere in between. And again as usual Ollivier upstaged me by bringing home made chocolate mousse. It is peculiar that although the Chinese don’t like sweet things, they devour avidly any such dish. I am wondering whether I should demand that we switch roles, with me trying my hand at a baked Alaska and getting Ollie to do coq au vin! Of course, with seven people present and only 6 mousses, I made the ultimate sacrifice so that no-one else missed out but Kevin took a while to cotton on. “Don’t you want one?“ - “No, not my cup of tea”. Of course I wanted one!

Anyway, Kiki turned up at about nine, much to everyone’s surprise bar mine as I had not mentioned it - I was simply delighted to see her again. Sadly she had to leave again this morning but I stayed up later than intended last night as I invited her to my place for a chat. I am suffering as a result and will go to bed for an hour in a little while. She is looking for different employment after the summer but after what happened to Daisy I am loathe to get an interview set up at the hotel, so I have contacted my good friend Capt Orange in Shanghai - currently in London - and with luck one of his company’s offices might have a vacancy she can try for.

That’s it for now, I need to try to refresh myself for a solid afternoon of business classes with students who don’t want to be there!

Monday 20th May, 2013              1930

I really didn’t want to teach yesterday. I went to bed late on Saturday but failed to sleep late even though I took the dog out later so she would last. No chance of going back to bed as I had no choice but to go shopping beforehand, so I duly set out just after twelve.

It was a lovely warm day but I knew it would be after five before I got back without going shopping afterwards, so as the nights can still get a bit cool I did everything first. What I didn’t know was that the city was staging an Iron Man triathlon. As I cleared Pyngtian lake and wanted to go right towards town, I discovered the road completely blocked by police cones for the contest and backed up by blue and white vehicles. I knew the way if I turned left but it would take me miles out of my way, so I took a chance and went straight over and onto a small road I have never been up. I ended up wishing I had gone left. Every little track I encountered to turn right and get back on course, I went up a few hundred yards and was thwarted by a police car. I did get severely hacked off in the end and somehow emerged underneath Qi Shan, the mountain I climbed the other week.

KBW disappointed yet again with no sweet pork, thus darkening my humour yet more - I think they have stopped doing it and if that is the case they may well lose my custom - so one of my dishes was, unusually for me, a whole fish. Trying to eat a fish with chopsticks is - for a westerner - no easy task. I must say though that when I did manage to prise off some flesh and bones it was surprisingly tasty.

Did my shopping afterwards including the makings for Wednesdays Bolognese and then with little enthusiasm went and did my two lessons. Thankfully in a few weeks the little school won’t need me further due to exams although I may agree to a few appearances when they start summer school. I won’t mind doing more after I get back because that will be all I will be doing. This term has indeed been a struggle and to be honest there is nobody to blame but me. The revised schedule could have been kinder to me but that’s life.

Today is the second worst day of my week with 6 lessons but at least I am finished for 1540. However in the afternoon class I was presented with an invitation for yet another English corner/party on Friday evening. May is English month on campus, hence the volume of events and as this is apparently the last they want me to do a closing speech on the night. Thank heavens I have Saturday off.

I have also been receiving messages from someone (no idea what sex) who apparently I was speaking to last summer before they went to the USA. They want me to meet so he/she and friend or friends can practise their English. I declined at the weekend and again this evening but agreed to meet tomorrow evening. This time it turned out well. I am being treated to dinner downtown ( I got to choose so suggested the prawn hotpot) and they have a car so I will be collected and returned. Result! We are going early enough so I can still get back, cook for the pets and get an early night. I will need that because Wednesday I intend to make garlic bread as well so in my break I can bake the baguettes and leave them cooling when I go to class.

Tomorrow Kevin is taking Daisy to Hefei for an interview at the Hilton hotel. At their request I contacted my friend and he set it up (although he will quite rightly not intervene) so fingers crossed she gets a job and starts what could be a very rewarding career for her.

Qing sadly isn’t now coming any time soon, she has realised the amount of things she must do before leaving for Australia. However there is a chance that she will join me at the Hilton when I go to stay for the weekend before flying out. She says she will but who knows?

Well I am tired again which is annoying because tomorrow is the only day I don’t have to get up early. Dinner tonight is going to be bangers, mash and beans. Once out of the plastic “suitcase” they were in the sausages actually looked like real ones and so far the only criticism I have is that the skins are a little too thick for my liking. The proof will be in the eating but I am hoping this will be the first such decent dish I have had in almost three years. If they turn out to be reasonable I may before close of play this term be adventurous and have a bash at toad in the hole - but just for the three foreigners one evening. Making it for six would involve two mini ovens and a regimental cauldron for the mash!

Signing off for now and there may be nothing further for a few days seeing as I’m busy but I hope to have some pictures for you in the next edition.

Saturday 18th May, 2013          1400

Thursday was the usual horrible day this term - solid business all day with the added bonus of the entire afternoon being in the company of students who couldn’t care less. Yesterday is a day I look forward to not only because I finish at noon but both classes are active.

I wasn’t particularly pleased to be told that the three foreign teachers needed to sign contracts at 1550 though seeing as it was my afternoon off but considering recent events, I didn’t think it prudent to complain in case minds were changed! In the event the FAO was “unavailable” and so now we will be given them in the week to read through and sign. I sincerely hope it doesn’t happen on Wednesday as the intention is to have a final western Wednesday before the exams start.

The admin here is woeful, which brings me on nicely to the saga of the CVs. Now of course they were all sent here before we were even interviewed for the job but they need it on the computer system. All well and good, except in my case it has taken three years to get round to asking me and suddenly, due to incompetence and a mad panic over a pending inspection, it has to be done yesterday.

Ok I said, I will do it at the weekend. The problem is I don’t have Word and when I opened the file in Google, although it was ok, as soon as I went into edit mode all the rows and columns shifted. To cut a long, sorry tale short, I tried everything I could think of to no avail. Anyway, there are sections in it asking for contacts in China (I left it blank because the school is my contact so they should know) and also the contact details of all my family and friends together with their job details! Needless to say that has also been left blank. I managed to fill in the other parts but God knows if everything is in the right columns and I have said that if it’s not good enough then it will have to wait until Kevin is back on campus and we can use his machine. I have wasted two hours of my life on it so far and I don’t feel inclined to waste any more at present.

Qing is retaking her IELTS this weekend to try to get a higher score so we will chat on Skype tonight so she can practise - providing the internet is fast enough. Her oral test is in the morning and straight afterwards she is going back to Tongling for a family wedding, at which she is a bridesmaid. She may come here on Monday - it will be nice to have her here again and if she is still going to be here on Wednesday I will let her choose what I cook.

The weather is dismal and has been for days, almost constant rain which hopefully will clear up by tomorrow. Just when I thought the little school didn’t need me any more, they came up with two lessons in the afternoon. Not so bad, I will need to go downtown regardless of the weather as pet food is non-existent after tonight. In fact when I just took the liver out of the freezer it was smaller than I thought so I have had to supplement their dinner tonight with a small piece of very expensive beef! I won’t cut that up, Pepsi can have that while the cats argue over the rest.

1730

Well I am now the expectant owner of 16 allegedly British pork sausages. For what I paid for them - one banger would probably easily get me 1lb of Tesco value ones - they had better be good! They don’t look so good but I am putting that down to the fact they are hermetically sealed in thick plastic so when cooked they might look a bit better. I would have had some tonight for dinner but the campus fruit and veg shop hasn’t got any potatoes today and somehow for that price I simply don’t want to waste them on sausage sandwiches.

My cheddar arrived at the same time and as the packaging for both items was as usual large, I opened the boxes and removed the contents. As the rain had started again I was in my café and as always the ladies in there couldn’t wait to see what weird things the laowei has been buying now. The bangers they understood but the cheese was a complete mystery to them. In order to explain I had to do my impression of a cow, milking it and then churning. I am not sure if even now they fully grasped what the strange yellow stuff was. God help them when the snuff arrives if I’m in there!

Wednesday 15th May, 2013           1035

On Monday AFTER I finished my classes another teacher came and asked me to be a judge in an English speaking competition. I don’t mind except for when I am asked less than four hours before the event! As it happened I had nothing else on (bar being knackered) but I might have. The only judges were the teacher who asked and me so when we decided to award the speakers marks out of 100 instead of 10 I gave the first contestant 73 which I thought more than fair considering I hardly understood a word. I was then instructed I should make the minimum possible a mark of 90! I suppose had it been from ten the minimum would have been 7. I much prefer to be honest and fair in my assessment but then I suppose it isn’t that far different to the UK where some schools don’t allow kids to fail dismally at anything - even if they are last in a race. In my view people need to fail every now and again to actually spur them on but maybe I’m in the minority on that one.

It was 30C on Monday and 32C yesterday. Only part-way through my afternoon class yesterday did I suddenly remember I still had to mark CVs to give back this morning, so in the baking heat, after I finished I collected Pepsi and went to the sweet pork place where I sat on my bike, slaked my thirst and marked them alfresco. Whilst doing so I learnt a valuable lesson, namely that by not telling them until afterwards that it would count toward their final exam, I found out exactly who actually cares about my lessons and takes them seriously.

To my astonishment the only person to complain last week about not being told was also the only one to receive “excellent” on their paper. I have little doubt that had Joanna submitted one (I had sent her home as she looked terrible) she would have gotten likewise, but the thing that stunned me was that it was Norman. Some of you may recall in my first term I mentioned a lad with awful English but who I felt sorry for because I had to mark him down yet he was really trying? Yes, that’s him - Joanna has consistently been the best student of her intake but Norman must surely take the accolade of most improved. In fact thinking about it, by implication he has also to be my best success!

I looked at the forecast last night, noted rain expected for this evening and so when I returned from the shops I parked the bike outside the front. I even bought a No. 4 from Meille for my dinner - a rice, veg, meat, tofu and mushroom concoction recommended by Kevin with the rider that the taste was a trifle bland. No problem, some sweet chilli sauce sorted that. Too tired to blog, I simply watched a film and hit the hay.

At 0630 this morning I took Muttley out for the usual and just as we were about to re-enter our block it started to rain. It was pointless going up to get my keys and move it under shelter so I got a wet bum going to class. I checked the forecast again and even though it was already raining it still didn’t say the rain was coming until after lunch. One day I will learn not to look, I promise. It is still in the mid-twenties though  Of course that stuffed this morning’s plan to take Joanna to the ATM to deposit the money for my shopping so she will do it another day on her own. Aside from cheese this time I am ordering 2.5lbs of what are described as British butchers sausages. At £10 they are hardly cheap but with my appetite, plenty of mash and baked beans I reckon they should be good for 8 dinners - if they are decent.

I am also entering uncharted territory. I have decided to try a new approach to the vexing problem of no smoking flights. Although I still have patches left (which may be useless after three years) I have ordered snuff! No, not the tin you take a pinch from and snort but a German affair which you put to your hooter, click a button and it delivers a dose to your nostril. Whilst I have no desire to become “toffee nosed” if it eradicates the cravings then it will do for me. As a new user I strongly suspect I will be prone to violent sneezing so will confine my activity to the aeroplane toilets!

Sunday 12th May, 2013             1945

No I am not dead or in hospital, just been incredibly busy and extremely tired - something which a weekend off failed to rectify.

This will be a quick catch-up but at least there are photos for you!

Thursday was my “Heinz” birthday and to be honest the one I had two years ago in hospital was more enjoyable. Ok, maybe some of it was my fault for keeping it quiet (only my mother and Qing wished me happy birthday by voice - phone and Skype respectively) but Thursday as you know is a bad day for me and I didn’t have the energy when I finished to even think of doing something special. Never mind, it’s just another day anyway!

Friday night some of my students staged a party cum concert which I am glad to say was conducted mostly in English as it should have been. I attach the photos of that. I didn’t feel so hot going to it despite grabbing forty winks beforehand.

Yesterday I again took a nap, which again didn’t help, and in the evening rode into town to meet up with Sonya from the bank, her cousin and a friend. She wanted to treat me to dinner and we went to a new prawn hotpot place not far from the one we normally use. They must have a special offer on as they are new because it was mobbed, with people queueing with tickets for the next available tables. I suggested we try my restaurant but being a Saturday night there was also a wait there so I suggested perhaps we go to the barbecue restaurant opposite, which is where we ended up eating. Sadly I didn’t feel that hungry but it was a very pleasant evening nonetheless. Again the pictures are attached, Sonya is wearing black and white hoops.

Today was lovely, about 30C which was just as well as I needed to go shopping, having no pet food at home. I also decided to get the squeaky suspension on the bike oiled (haven’t seen an oilcan since I’ve been here and still haven‘t, he used a paintbrush) and a new button for the horn which is essential on campus where students straddle the entire width of the roads. I was quite miffed when I had to pay for the horn - 2y! Then off shopping where I also bought a summer quilt (the winter one is far too hot now) and two more pairs of boxers with no holes in. Again I wasn’t pleased because here for L sized it was 28y but for XXXXL it was 52y - that’s fattist! Unfortunately my request as to whether they had any jumbo summer shirts elicited the usual “mayo!”.

On the return journey I had a collision. Not with a car but an e-bike. I was overtaking a chap and was abreast of him to his left when without warning he turned left. I had no time to do anything and so my right arm connected with his mirror and as the combined weight of my bike and I far exceeded his I had rather hoped he would come off but he didn’t. Had I been hurt other than a light skin scrape or any damage been caused to my bike I would have stopped and had a few words because regardless of whether his mirrors were adjusted so as to actually be able to use them for anything other than preening yourself, his peripheral vision should have picked me out when I was barely a yard away. What really made me angry was that where he jinked left there isn’t a turning anyway! Had it been a car he would have been in real trouble, as it was all he was treated to were some good old anglo-saxon expletives over my shoulder. They have absolutely no idea.

Anyway, short and sweet I’m afraid, early night on the cards but at least now I have had a nice short haircut - I wasn’t even bothered about the price increase from ten to twelve yuan, it just feels so much better in this weather!

Tuesday 7th May, 2013              1130

Yesterday was a struggle which was made worse by suddenly finding out in the morning there was a foreign language concert last night. The show was ok but although the dancers were entertaining not one of the sketches was in English - considering the vast majority of them are studying it one could be forgiven for expecting a fair part of it to be in that language.

After the show Qing called to say she was popping back briefly this morning for some paperwork and she needed my assistance. What she wanted of me was to word a certification letter in Mandarin so it made sense in English. She needs the English version signed and sealed by the school in order to forward it to Sydney. The visit was extremely brief and she is already on her way back to Tongling. She will however be back in probably just under a fortnight.

The forecast is for rain all this week although we have yet to see any. The problem is that the football final is scheduled for four this afternoon but in the event of rain it will be postponed. Although we have an artificial pitch it is rock hard and they won’t play when it is wet as there would be too many injuries.

1945

By the time I finished afternoon classes it was spitting with rain but I went to the stadium anyway to see if the match was still on. It was.

Right from kick-off I had a feeling of déjà vu. Had I had the chance I would have put a bet on the game finishing goalless and us losing on penalties exactly as happened last year. I would have made money. As ever, our lot created chances but squandered them every time because they have no finishing skills. Never mind, there’s always next year!

Anyway with the rain finally here I am sure we can expect it up until the weekend. As for me, early night for sure but here are the pictures from the concert which include the losing finalists today in the yellow shirts.