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.