Tuesday 17th September, 2013            1930

Basking up in the mid thirties, once again demonstrating the completely unpredictable weather we get in this small corner of China.

This afternoon I went to the sweet pork place cum fruiterers with Pepsi and checked to see if I had been paid yet. I haven’t and Cinny will go to accounts tomorrow as she doesn’t believe their cock and bull story either but that’s not why I mention this. I have on numerous occasions queued for the ATM and waited impatiently while students take ages to withdraw monies.

Today though I think I finally twigged why so many of them take out multiple amounts. The girl in front of me took 100y out and then without removing her card took another hundred and then did it a third time. The options here are as of course anywhere else - here being 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000. She wanted 300y so as it wasn’t an option she made three separate transactions instead of manually keying the number in!

Tomorrow afternoon is my last class before the three day break and already I have had two students (both boys) asking for leave. The first one - a broth of a boy - said it is his birthday and he wants to go home early. Honesty I admire but number two has a “cold”. I am now in the process of either calling his bluff or costing myself money! I have said I will visit his dorm after class with some fruit. I could be wrong! I am sure by lunchtime tomorrow I will receive a few headaches, “stomaches”, “teethaches” and fevers - I just wish they wouldn’t look upon me as an idiot and tell the truth. They think they are the only ones who have ever been students….. not that I ever bunked off in my life (and I am not claiming to be perfect, I just never did).

Wednesday 18th         2215

Why do Chinese trousers never have grippers in the waistband? Possibly it’s fine for “normal” people but for a porker who wears them under the gut rather than over, it means racheting the belt up really, uncomfortably tight. One day I will see if I can afford a tailor and have some made the way I need them.

By the way, the chap I never believed was ill? Let’s just say it cost me money for fruit but I have no doubt word will get around and just maybe I might start to see a little more honesty from those skipping lessons.

Holiday time now and tomorrow is the harvest moon although it won’t be much of a holiday for me. I need to go shopping tomorrow and I want to try to make it to the passing out parade on Friday morning. Saturday I probably have kids to teach and of course Sunday is back to work anyway.

I have declared a western Wednesday for next week and will do wings for Joanna but I am struggling for inspiration as to what to do for a main course. It can’t be anything time consuming due to the wings so I am toying with the idea of a prawn and chorizo fritatta, except I will use Chinese dried sausage in place of chorizo. I am dubious as to how it will go down with our Chinese guests though, what with it being so eggy.

On Friday evening I am taking Ashley (aka Petty) to the Japanese place and tomorrow my pies, scotch eggs, gammon and ham should arrive. At some point before Monday I also need to dream up yet another activity for the students. No wonder I always feel tired!

Oh, and finally I got paid today a week late. I have no idea what lame excuse would be given if I bothered to ask but both Cinny and I agree we would rather not see the problem again.