Tuesday 6th October, 2015                1715

Two major news stories have caught my attention of late. Firstly that geek who owns Facebook being so presumptuous as to endeavour to get Xi Jinping to give his unborn child an English name and while I have reservations about his anti-corruption motives I applaud him for smearing egg all over Zuckerberg’s face.

Secondly, the loss of the MV “El Faro“. Not because she foundered (which is of course a tragedy for those involved and their families), it was awfully bad fate for her to lose propulsion and I am sure plenty of my readers will have weathered typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes in their time with no more than an unpleasant ride and all thei stuff in their cabins being unceremoniously dumped on the deck.

What amazed me was the comment from a Junior Engineer from her home port who was interviewed by the BBC, when he stated “We don’t sign up for that.” Forgive me if you disagree but I would have thought the inherent risk in putting to sea means you have precisely “signed up” to take whatever Mother Nature sees fit to throw at you. A tragic loss of life which but for a mechanical problem may never have happened but ever a risk when men (and women) set sail the world over.

Today is one of my lazy days. All I have done is make poached eggs on toast for my sick house guest and go to the business street and whilst in the office attracted rather a lot of attention from families of freshmen who have brought their little darlings back a day early and were treating them to lunch. Surely they are fully aware that in colleges and universities all over China they are likely to encounter people who are not quite cut from their mould?

Wednesday 7th                 1720

Ill-advisedly I stayed up until 0430, keeping an eye on the rugby. Quite why I know not, for England have managed arrange their early departure. It would have made more sense to go to bed early given tomorrow I am working and will need an early night. Having said that I don’t think I will have many problems visiting Nod this evening.

I knew I shouldn’t venture to town today. Naturally the great unwashed are all returning to school today and causing chaos on the 29 and 7 bus routes. However I have had an urge to try and make Cornish pasties for the first time, possibly tomorrow, so off I went. I cheated and rode 2km to the remote terminus in order to get a seat (and now the bus only costs 1y because there’s no heating or aircon switched on) yet presumably because of the students I had to wait for ages for a bus to actually arrive. What amazed me was the volume of students going INTO town - it was rammed.

Not needing any cheap wine desperately, I decided to remain aboard until the commercial centre in order to “cheat” both ways and ensure I had a seat. In all it took me two hours in order to spend ten minutes and 15y buying some vegetables, sugar and salt! Plain crazy but then I don’t like to spend the entire day cooped up at home.

Speaking of which, Joan is yet again asleep next door. If she has been awake more than 24 hours the entire week I would be surprised. She says she is going back to her dormitory tonight and doesn’t want dinner but something tells me despite her protestations she will probably scoff the leftovers I am reheating now - cottage pie and one chilli enchilada from last night. If she does and she is really hungry I can see me being left with a toasted ham and cheese sandwich for my dinner! That reminds me, I must buy some pork and make more ham - or even try my hand at bacon.

The weather lately has been gloomy, rain and with temperatures in the low twenties. I know we don’t get a long winter here but I do find myself increasingly valuing summers, even the scorching days provided I can get some respite with aircon on the buses and in restaurants.

And yes, as predicted I will be sharing my dinner!