Sunday 29th November, 2015                  2230

Just starting this with no intention of posting any time soon.

Friday night was indeed hot dog night, disappointing for a couple of reasons. Firstly the buns weren’t soft and secondly, unbelievably, Joan didn’t like the French’s mustard. I mean, what are hot dogs without French’s, onions and ketchup????

Yesterday was indeed lazy, I didn’t even shower until after four and only went to the business street because I had to. Joan stayed over and so dinner was even lazier, I simply reheated the pea soup from Thursday. At least not a lot of it went down the toilet tonight.

Of course by now you are all aware that I live up to the old saying “Wednesday’s child is full of woe”. I am not a believer in such things normally but in this instance I think there is a great deal of truth, certainly in my case.

Ages ago I asked Joan when she would be free so we could visit the Harbin ice festival and she told me the 13th January. Are you absolutely sure? Oh yes. So the moment I had enough money we bought flights. You may recall my concern that the days adjacent to the 13th were double the price.

The return flights from Shenyang to Nanjing are also paid for, the hotel in Harbin is reserved and so only train tickets and a hotel in Nanjing need to be sorted.

Now though, Joan is having bowel movements because she may actually have exams on the 13th, 14th and 15th. This was why I asked if she was certain before making plans. Had she said she wasn’t sure I would have waited until we both were and then looked at my options.

Now of course the entire trip is in jeopardy because to delay it a week sees the flights double and I was on a strict budget for spending money anyway - when I holiday in China I like to treat myself to western food which is expensive and I hate going anywhere on a shoestring. I sat up until four this morning trying to find cheap options the week after we had planned but to no avail. There was a glimmer of hope when I found flights to Beijing still on sale at a bargain price but that was dashed when I saw the cost of getting from there to Harbin.

Joan knows this is entirely of her making and I had to tell her tonight there was no point in worrying until we knew for sure whether she was free on the 13th or not . She did have a wonderfully silly idea that we could go after spring festival until I pointed out that not only did we both have school but the flights were yet more expensive and anyway the ice melts and the sow closes.

What really annoys me is that if - and I stress if - I end up sharing a sleeper with her and two complete strangers for 24 hours (an entire day on a Chinese train???”!!!) it is still going to cost more than the bloody flights I paid for and to add insult to injury, if I have to cancel the tickets there will be fees to pay.

There is nothing to be done as yet, I cant do a damned thing until I know for definite so at present the fingers are crossed. I try to plan so meticulously (an ex girlfriend’s sister who accompanied us on a trip once called me both Capt Mainwaring and the Scoutmaster for having everything planned to a T) and it does rather hack me off when someone else throws an otherwise avoidable spanner in the works.

Anyway, nothing I can do yet.

I have other, more pressing and immediate problems though.

The Chinese ethic of buying and fitting cheap gear to save a yuan or two has once again hit. The little circuit breaker for my shower unit has been occasionally tripping when the bloody thing hasn’t even been in use, something to get someone to see to as and when they can. Then another one started playing up but this one controls half the power sockets in the flat.

I was finding myself plunged into darkness with regularity and of course the internet wifi router was cut off as well. That has to be fixed pronto, like tomorrow. Currently the breaker is being prevented from tripping by two sticking plasters and some of Joan’s Cellotape but clearly that isn’t a satisfactory state of affairs.

After I went to the new little school this afternoon I boiled yet more ham. After last Sunday’s disaster I am sure Andrei and Juliette will be relieved to know they will be getting no smoke wafting up and Vivi is very happy to be able to collect some for herself tomorrow. Joan wants dinner as well so it may be that I make some mash and peas, slice some ham and break out the Branston.

Considering this started as just a preface to another load of daily news from Chizhou, I reckon I had better post it! Keep your fingers crossed that Joan’s exams will finish by the 12th January!