Monday 1st September, 2014               2130

Kevin is a jinx. Last night he sent me a message to let me know there was fantastic lightning outside (I hadn’t noticed as I was watching a film) and wondering if we would have a power cut.

Then the storm hit, bringing a deluge with it. Sure enough, at about 2030 the entire area once again was plunged into darkness. Nothing for it but to get out my rechargeable desk lamp, open a book and wait for it to come back. Three long hours later it finally did. Maybe one day they will make permanent improvements to prevent it from happening every time there’s a storm. There’s no reason I can think of as to why they can’t, after all the city never gets blackouts.

This morning, aside from a few last remaining things, Ellen moved back to her dormitory, leaving me with just the animals for company once more. I stayed in bed until noon (must get out of that habit soon!) and in the early evening took Pepsi out for a couple of hours. That and putting my laundry on sums up my entire day! Dinner was leftover chilli mince from last night, four of us ate it but I had made far too much. Maybe I will get to test those stay fresh boxers soon!

Olivier, Coco and who knows which child arrived back this evening and he hasn’t been here yet to demand his plates and knives back so I shall take them tomorrow. Kevin now has an appointment to lodge his application for a new passport and will be going on Thursday in his car. He asked me if I wanted to go with him and provided we (or at least me) stay overnight in an hotel then I may well do so. However depending on his funds he may drive there and back the same day. He has been informed that if that is the case then the answer is a resounding no. It must be all of a six hour drive each way and it’s bad enough if you are the driver but being a passenger for half a day is not my idea of anything other than torture. No doubt I will find out tomorrow and I can make my own decision.

Tuesday 2nd             1800

I won’t be going to Shanghai. Kevin is going to do the round trip in one day and there is no way on earth I intend to sit as a passenger in a car for at least twelve hours driving for a couple of hours there. No thanks.

My schedule has been changed. I still have the same number of classes but now only Wednesdays off. They have moved a freshman class from Tuesday afternoon to Monday morning. Am I upset? No because as it stood the class that has been shifted would have meant a six o’clock finish on Tuesdays. Not only that, after ten weeks the remaining Tuesday class will graduate, leaving me with two weekends a week as I will then have Tuesday and Wednesday off. I am very happy with it!

Earlier I went out with the dog for our usual outing and first met with Kevin at the campus supermarket to collect my new rota. The sky was lowering and I didn’t tarry long. I left to go off campus - I can always park the bike under the overhanging roof and keep it dry if it rains - and made my way towards south gate. Seconds after I left it started spitting with rain but I thought if it stayed that way there was no need to break out the cape. As it started to get heavier (and there were people walking without umbrellas!) I decided to stop and put the cape on. Sheltering under some roadside trees I fitted it to the bike and sat back on, pulling it over my head. Then the thunder and the torrent came. The capes don’t give much protection to your legs either when you are moving or there is a wind, which there was, so I rode through the stair rods only as far as the Foreign Language Department building. There I sheltered with Pepsi underneath until the rain abated.

It wasn’t for long and I continued on my way where we spent an hour in the nicely cool air. The rain still hasn’t stopped and probably won’t for hours yet but at least it is not heavy which means hopefully no power cut tonight even if I have to take an umbrella for Pepsi’s midnight walk.

For some reason I have itchy feet again and because I am not going to Anqing again I have the urge to go somewhere for one or two nights before term starts. It would be nice if it didn’t involve a really long train or bus trip and nicer still if one of my students could show me around. I’m not sure if I will get to do it, only a week left now and students are already trickling back but I just have that urge. We have a week off in October (known as the Golden Week) but travelling at that time would be virtually impossible even in a car.