Wednesday 21st October, 2015                     1700

Well we finally got paid a week late on Monday, much to my relief. I had plans for this weekend and next Monday and without knowing I would have money or not, I couldn’t move.

However, all is well with the world again (and the Chinglish translations have started up again, even if they ARE stultifyingly  boring scientific reports on research into diabetes mellitus) and I have now booked a night in an hotel in town for Saturday ( a western restaurant is advertised and I can but live in hope of getting a semblance of a western breakfast) because it is Joan’s birthday on Monday so I am treating her. On the day itself, provided my internet shopping arrives in time (mainly Lyle’s golden syrup) then her class will be treated to juice, cola and if I don’t screw it up because I have never tried to make it before, fudge.

I know it doesn’t sound like it but I am actually trying to save up enough to visit the ice city in spring festival as well as going to see Steve in Shenyang again. I just hope I can do it. The problem is, whenever I search for dates for flights or hotels during the festival, they are way above what I would pay if I was going or staying tomorrow. I really can see us taking a sleeper train to get there, if not on the return as well. The only good thing is that if we go by train it can be timed so that we won’t need a hotel in Hefei on the outbound leg and if Joan is sensible she will not return here, rather spend a night in Hefei with me and have already bought her train ticket to Suzhou. Hefei is five hours on the train and it is en route to her home, so she would have four hours or less to travel.

I have three pieces of pork to turn into ham but I had forgotten the sports holiday next week so again it will be left curing for ten days or so. This time I am trying with some honey in the mix. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

For the past five days I have not slept well. A molar broke some time ago and because it caused me no discomfort other than a sharp edge my tongue kept worrying and also the lack of a medical card (I didn’t want to spend my own cash), I left it. I now have an abscess which is quite painful and which I am treating with antibiotics and of course painkillers. I know it is pointless going to the dentist until the infection is gone so for the present  it is a case of grinning and bearing it. When I do finally go I reckon it will cost a packet because I will ask if they can make me some dentures which are not like the NHS ones I have never worn with the metal clips to hold them in place. If I am going to take the plunge I want the ones that stay put by themselves without needing superglue.

We are having really nice weather at the moment, mid twenties every day with no rain in sight. In fact if it was like this all the time it would be perfect.

Tomorrow and Friday I will shop and the Lingdian society had scheduled a freshmen welcome party for Friday night. Due to class commitments they have now rescheduled to Saturday afternoon which is a pain because I am collecting Joan at 1630. I have told them I will have to leave early. Richard I think can attend the entire thing but Juliette, if she turns up at all, will be late. I do wish they would get their act together.