Tuesday 21st October, 2014                1215

Yesterday was a really warm day at over 30C and as I finished class at noon I took Pepsi straight out even though I was exhausted despite having retired at a sensible time. As my phone was down to just 23y credit (and the China Mobile shop I used to use on campus hasn’t reopened - although there is an automated machine in Chinese which I don‘t know how to use on the floor above) and not needing any excuse for a beer, I went to the fish place. I have topped up there often enough that the chap simply punches in the first three of my numbers and waits for me to give the rest and the money, I am in and out in one minute flat.

Then to the restaurant for an ale. I usually sit on my bike drinking there but the sun was too hot so I went inside and sat down while the dog hid in the undergrowth. Mamasan was watching her soaps but when customers arrived and she had to cook she offered me the TV remote control. They have either satellite or cable because I can get the English speaking news channel and also western films. I watched the news whilst using their swatter to try and reduce the fly population.

Next was the outside supermarket for my necessities but whilst there I decided to buy my own swatter. Pleasantly cheap at 1.5y (15p) I took it to office number four in the business street. I am sick and tired of sitting at an outside table being plagued by flies so I continued my murder spree there and indeed the swatter is now there any time I go - I have customised that office!

After a couple there I became decidedly lethargic so decided I simply had to go home and take a nap, much as I hate doing so. It was only for an hour but by heck, when the alarm went off my head felt as heavy as a hippo. I could easily have stayed put but I was meeting Doris. For some reason I have become the person to go to if you are about to take the IELTS exam. They never go to Kevin (or if they do he is sending them to me!) and invariably they only come to me when the exam is a couple of weeks away. I will do my best for her but miracles can’t be accomplished in such a short time.

So it was back to office number four, Pepsi presumably wondering what she had done to have two outings in an hour, and Doris joined me. Five minutes later Ollivier turned up on his pushbike, his car having been abandoned in Huimin - unnecessarily so in my opinion. He was bearing a Spanish sausage weighing a kilogramme and a half which has been hanging on his balcony for two months shrouded in foil and cling film. He has hitherto been forbidden from opening it because Coco can’t stand the smell. In a land of noxious fumes and pongs I find that most odd. Granted, the sausage did stink but it was very tasty, albeit damned chewy and took me five minutes to break down but one slice. Nice though. I had a little dinner there consisting of a cabbage dish and a chicken and vegetable affair with rice. That was nice but far too much for my reduced appetite. Back home I relaxed for a while and despite having had a siesta I went to bed before midnight. Pointless as yet again I kept waking through the night, meaning today I am just as tired as I was yesterday.

I have used the tooth polisher twice so far and whilst my teeth will never be white (they never have been) it has certainly made one hell of an improvement. I have a dark brown spot that I don’t think will ever disappear as it is where I have lost the enamel but at least the others look better. It’s amazing how a soft rotating rubber cup can make your gums bleed!

Today consists of exams for the three year students and these will take place over the forthcoming fortnight as well. This morning’s class is having a graduation lunch on Friday which I shall attend. I hope I don’t enjoy myself too much as that evening the Lingdian Society has a party. Today has also been wet and the temperature has plummeted to the low twenties.

For the past hour the pork that has hopefully been curing in my fridge for a week has been boiling. Before I go to the next class I will put it into cold water and leave it, then later put it in the fridge until tomorrow. Tomorrow will tell whether I was successful or not. Fingers crossed.