Thursday 20th June, 2013        1900

Just one more class to test in the morning and then an end to the six-thirty alarms, at least for a while.

When I took Pepsi out this afternoon after work, whilst sitting on my bike watching the world, I wondered about the inordinate number of trucks turning into the road leading to the south gate and simply parking up for a while. I don’t think any of the bigger lorries wasn’t overloaded and mused that VOSPA in the UK would have a field day with them. Eventually they all started up, turned around and headed off in the direction of the west gate. That road is heavily used by trucks and there is rarely a day that goes by without me hearing the explosion of a tyre blowing out.

When I left myself I went that way and wondered why on earth there was a veritable convoy of lorries parked up with the drivers sitting on the roadside grass. Then I realised. Further up the road near the west gate was a police checkpoint! They were stopping goods vehicles and my best guess is that the drivers saw it, knew they would be in trouble and decided to wait it out. I have no idea how long the police intended to stay but if I were one of the coppers I would have driven down and detained all of them for inspection. As it is I suspect the old bill will do nothing except stop those brave (or foolhardy) enough to continue further.

Saturday 22nd         1700

Whoops - I do apologise folks, I didn’t realise it had been so long.

Yes, I did finish before lunch yesterday and it was quite a good feeling. Previously it has not been quite so welcome but after a very hard semester (self inflicted I should remind everyone) it was akin to banging your head against a brick wall - it’s good when you stop.

When I completed the very last student test I suddenly had a handful of previous examinees enter the classroom. Knowing full well what they were after, I asked why they hadn’t gone for an early lunch. They had waited so they could find out their marks. I advised them to wait until I entered them on the computer system next week like everyone else and their response was “But you are kind!” My answer was “not that flipping kind!”

This morning was an 0630 alarm which saw an overcast sky but no sign of the forecast rain. I collected Joanna at 0815 and we set off for my two hours work (which became two and a half)  in the playground near town. First though’ Joanna being just 21 and normal (unlike me), we had to procure some breakfast for her. I remembered from taking Qing in the spring festival holidays that there were roadside stalls very close to the school and so we stopped whist she bought a takeaway, then arrived early at the playground so we could sit on some playthings while she ate. I had been remiss seeing as I had promised to spring for her breakfast but she refused my money - breakfast had cost 2y (20p). Not that it was large mind you, she had a meat jowza and a fritter affair with a green vegetable filling which she informed me is called “bing”.

When we set out it had been pleasantly cool at about 85F so I had loaded the cool bag with drinks and ice packs but decided I wouldn’t need my little towel to mop my head. Mistake. About half an hour in, far from remaining cool as expected, it got a lot warmer and it was humid. I ended up with the slightly embarrassing situation whereby Joanna and Helen (the school owner) took it in turns to fan me.

The kids were as always terrifically well-behaved and I didn’t mind that we overran, although I was flagging a bit towards the end. The problem was, this time she has five different levels of student and so instead of three lots I had five. She was highly apologetic but as a free lunch was awaiting for both of us at Win Qing neither of us was overly concerned.

Lunch was actually quite nice, with Helen and her high school teacher husband plus the lawyer who insisted on cooking for us last summer. Win Qing is renowned for its jowza (there are three in the city) and it is a while since I have had any fried ones. There were other dishes such as sweet chicken (complete with bones of course), tofu hotpot, pork and vegetables etc but unusually for a Chinese meal, no fish.

Unbeknown to me previously, Joanna was supposed to be teaching a couple of pupils at home later so she asked me if I would give her a lift after lunch. No problem. She called to see what time they wanted her to come and was disappointed when they cancelled due to other arrangements - nothing to do with today’s events I hasten to add. She was due to teach for two hours and earn 50y for it (the going rate for student teachers is 25y/hour here) and I know she struggles at times to make ends meet. Remember she took that dodgy night job in the bar that I was desperately unhappy about?

I offered to ensure she was no worse off today and would pay her for being so kind as to afford me her company, and indeed at times her help. It took me almost the entire twenty minute ride back to get her to accept but I am glad to say that ultimately she did. I also have a request for another two hour stint towards the middle of August as Helen is running a small summer school, so as Joanna should still be staying here in Kevin’s place then hopefully she can come that time - even if it’s just for the meal afterwards.

Just before we came through the south gate we stopped for her to buy half a chilled watermelon and then I took her back to her dormitory. By now Pepsi had been indoors for eight hours after her last bladder break so I was praying she had held on. She had and she was the least of my worries! I can only assume I neglected to put the chair against my desk cupboard door, for the cats had opened it, removed half the contents (mouse, charging cables, camera etc) and systematically shredded a new large pack of tissues. There was snow everywhere.

After cleaning up the mess I went to the shops with the mutt and sat in the oppressive heat and humidity while the aircon at home started to cool the place down. I heard rumbles of thunder in the distance just as Joanna sent me a text to say my final parcel had arrived from this month’s internet shop - the sausage rolls. To say I am dubious about them would not be an understatement, they look like no sausage rolls I have ever seen and I can’t recall how much they cost but there are only four and they are hardly jumbo ones. No doubt in the week I will make them for Kevin and me and pray that the only decent food that night is not simply mash and peas!

When I got home it did eventually bucket down for ten minutes but looking outside now you would never know, nor has it done much because my bathroom is still an oven. I just hope it doesn’t do that tomorrow as I want to go shopping and take Joanna to teach and hopefully bring her back again. For now, it’s a quiet night in and sadly an early one because I am tired - annoying when you don’t have to get up early…….