Sunday 14th June, 2015                           1800

After class on Friday afternoon Joan and I rode to town to the bank about the person who has been filching money from my account. To be fair, even though the banking rules and system here are labyrinthine, any bank I have entered for help has always bent over to help the foreigner and this occasion was no different.

A printout was obtained of all transactions and two suspicious ones were identified - one in April (when I thought I should have had 1,000y more when I went to Huainan) and the other early this month. The April one was certainly suspicious, for on that day it was alleged I withdrew 1,000y from the China Postal Savings bank and then hours later withdrew the same amount on campus. Why on earth would I do that, especially when I have never been into that brand of bank to withdraw money? Besides, my bank is straight across the road from them.

CCTV footage was requested and we were told they would get it on Monday and call Joan with their findings.

Teed off at the fact someone was ripping me off (I changed the PIN on my card) I then investigated these withdrawals further. The best way was to prove I couldn’t have taken the money as hopefully I was nowhere near either the bank or campus at the time. That’s where I thought the blog might come in handy.

Well it did that, the April withdrawal was a day I had completely banished from my thoughts, given that it was the day I took Pepsi to the vets and she died that night. It all came back. My card wouldn’t swipe in their PDQ terminal and I had had to go downstairs to an ATM just outside the ground floor door. I can only assume it belongs to the China Postal Bank. And yes, I withdrew 1,000y and then later quite probably I withdrew more on campus.

I have that sinking feeling that I am going to look a complete prat tomorrow when they call Joan and tell her the thief is none other than yours truly. Joan has been coached on how to deliver my abject apologies to them - thank God they never asked us to go back to the branch to see the footage. In fact I feel (quite rightly) a complete idiot and if only it was possible to print out mini statements (as Joan can do with the same bank) none of this would have arisen. What a dilph.

Yesterday was a McBreakfast and shopping, I have two pork steaks for us tonight and thought Monday I might make macaroni cheese but annoyingly RT Mart never had any bacon. I will probably try again in the morning, good excuse for another breakfast.

So far today I have been rather lazy. I stayed in bed until almost eleven (mind you I never turned in until three) and then spent some hours window shopping online for travel plans in the summer. I did though give the bathroom a going over when I showered, Zorro leaves fur all over the toilet and cistern and he is rather fond of sleeping in the sink any time of the day.

We will be hosting our last Western Wednesday next Monday and I discarded my idea of trying something new and spectacular on the basis that I really don’t want to cock the very last one with present colleagues up. Accordingly Joan has just ordered what I need online for bangers, mash and beans - unless I burn the sausages I can’t go wrong! I am stuck for ideas for easy starters though but I am sure I will think of something,

I nearly passed out late yesterday afternoon when an email arrived with a proofreading job. It has been three months since I have had anything so it was most welcome and I hope more come in, especially over the summer holidays.

I have also been asked by the small school in town if I would go to summer camp with them. My initial thought was “After last year where I starved., no way!” but this time it is Hefei. The owner sent me the details and it will be in an ecological village. I agreed provided I don’t have to share a room with kids again (noisy little bleeders). Although the food will be Chinese I am certain it will be better than the slop served up last year. Plus it doesn’t look as if there are loads of hills to climb just to get to your room. Four days and three nights, volunteering of course but a free mini break. Provided they have army instructors to tire the kids out all I will have to do is be there.