Wednesday 4th June, 2014                   2000

An important anniversary in China but not one most people here are aware of!

No, Monday I was my usual lazy self and did as little as possible.

Tuesday saw me start the exams for the second of my large classes, following that it was time to nip home, take Pepsi out for a short time then return home to start doing my bit for our western evening.

As I rode up the ramp to the entrance of the shopping area I was struck by the fact that there seemed to be very few e-bikes parked there when usually it is rammed with them. Unusually two of the security guards were also standing there. Clearing the top of the ramp, it was apparent that there were no e-bikes or bicycles at all parked there. Undaunted, I parked up next to the security guards, let Pepsi off and gave a grin and a thumbs up to the guards. I also gestured to the uncluttered space and using body language ascertained the space was being cleaned.

I went and bought a bottle of wine for the dinner, put it in the bike and grabbed a cold beer. When I got to one of the outside picnic tables with benches I noticed something further. For months they have been abysmally filthy - so much so that you were loathe to lean your arms on them - but someone had given them a good scrubbing. Hallelujah! I thought as I opened my beer.

Then it dawned on me. This week is the first government inspection! All this was being done for that. I watched as e-bikes and bicycles were sent away by the guards and even cars weren’t allowed to park on the road outside. There was just one bike in the prohibited area - mine! I think they should have an inspection every week.

Once home I set to work on my part of the meal. it wasn’t too hard and I managed to cook early for the animals while I was at it. I knew there was no way I would want to cook for them after dinner. Ollivier inveigled his student Annie into making the batter (and had to nip to the shops to buy more eggs, he used 32 eggs yesterday!) and I duly set about preparing the Toad, spuds and onion gravy (home made but cheating with Bisto).

The other students invited were Ida (with Kevin) and Yvonne. I had given Ollivier a tin of luncheon meat and a block of smoked cheese to put with his salad. Now the salad was supposed to be an entrée but with the amount he made we could all have just eaten that and been full! He now has plenty of it in his fridge for later consumption. I in turn introduced the students to that most quintessential of English salad accompaniments, Heinz salad cream, which was well received.

To my relief the toad in the hole turned out just fine (had it been awful Ollivier was going to get the blame) with the exception of the sausages. I only had them delivered on Monday but compared to the last two consignments they weren’t up to much. Very disappointing and why the butcher cannot maintain consistency I have no idea. The mustard mash was liked by all except me and the students also had their first ever Heinz baked beans.

Desserts were Ollivier’s “biscuits” which are more like bits of bread with nuts and fruit in it (again I don’t like them but the students do and he always makes plenty so they can take some home to share with their roommates) and mousse au chocolat. That wasn’t to his usual high standard for two reasons. He left it too late for it to set properly in the fridge and also he used both dark and white chocolate, the latter not setting at all.

All in all though, the evening was a success regardless of the minor problems.

Today Lucy came to clean and aside from popping out with the dog for campus shopping and a couple of bottles I have done little other than my laundry. Tomorrow I will go with Ollivier shopping  and force another big Mac down me to get a glass, hopefully I can get one I don’t already have!