On Saturday I managed to get to town, do my shopping and have lunch then get back before the promised rain arrived - which never in fact materialised - so much for the dire warnings that were issued.
Sunday saw me going back again, this time to accompany two classes of kids to the science museum. I felt obliged to show my face because previously I had been asked for my ideas on what the little school could do to improve. More outings was one of my suggestions. Quite why the place is called the science museum escapes me, for it was small and contained absolutely nothing to do with science - in fact it was more a glorified amusement arcade for children. The best part about it was the 4D cinema - not for me but the children, who of course loved being terrified. For my part, I got the broken seat which was at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal but which I was assured by staff would return to normal once the film started. It didn’t and as a consequence when the water started squirting from concealed holes (it was a pirate film) I got ever so slightly damp. The only good thing was that admission is free. I have suggested that at some point they should take a trip to Apricot Village, at least there I can mess about in boats.
Now on Saturday night, having been informed that a teacher had left the small school that day (Susan) I sent a message to one of my students who had been at the graduation lunch (also Susan) asking if anyone in her class lived locally and was looking for a job. As luck would have it, she lives here and wants a teaching job so she came with me on Sunday and her first “interview” was to demonstrate her control of kids in public places. She is back there some time today to give a lesson, after which she will learn if she can work there.
On Monday the rain came which, whilst not the threatened deluge, was nonetheless unremitting in that it never stopped. Yesterday was grey but dry and today is a mixture of sunshine and clouds and reasonably mild. Yesterday Ollivier and I were having a beer or two in my “office” when his wife Coco complained he shouldn’t drink. Upon my protestations to the contrary I was then informed that he had had what sounds like indigestion (possibly caused by a peptic ulcer) for a month and tomorrow they were going to the hospital, where she has seemingly booked him a barium meal and x-ray. This is also a perfect occasion on which to hitch a lift and stock up on cheap (£1.50 a bottle) wine, something hard to do with limited space on the bike. My initial, poorly thought out, plan had been for them to drop me off at RT Mart while I did my shopping and then went to McDonalds to wait for them. They are going shopping there afterwards anyway and I ultimately realised that if I did this then I would have to lug half a case of plonk plus other items by hand. I think it may be better to get dumped somewhere I can sit and have a drink while Ollivier is probed and prodded and then go shopping with them so that my stuff can go straight in the car.
Tonight I was (and still may) going to take Yvonne for dinner but just now she was informed she has a Communist Party class this evening. Depending on when it finishes - she doesn’t know yet - will see whether we eat together or not. If we do it will now probably be somewhere near campus if we go at all.
Oh yes! My piccalilli arrived! A damned good excuse to buy a baguette tomorrow and have a cheese and pickle dinner! Also, another teacher in China who I only know from the internet sent me a link to a western internet food site run by expats. It is definitely a place I will use, for they sell cornish pasties, steak and kidney pies - even fresh bagels! With the warm weather approaching I foresee smoked salmon and cream cheese being purchased along with the latter. They also do tortillas so certainly an oasis for me here.
Well no eating out for me tonight, the delights of Yvonne’s company will now need to wait until after the Labour holiday. Instead I am making a huge cauldron of carrot and lentil soup which I shall have for my sustenance along with some freshly baked bread made with my own machine. The perfect opportunity to try out my new blender which within the last hour was actually liberated from its box.
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