Monday, Leap Day, 2016 1900
I had a grenade lobbed into my life late last night and can’t tell a soul, ever. That will prove difficult due to the nature of its relevance to me personally.
However, this afternoon I had yet another “first”. I prepared to go through my new student spiel (two classes still to see on Wednesday) and was about to get them to enter their details in my personal book I use with their names, telephone numbers and hometowns, when I suddenly realised some of them looked familiar.
I stopped myself in the nick of time and asked them if I had seen them before. Yes, last Thursday. I have this class twice a week (that means I will run out of activities pretty sharpish). Not only that, I wasn’t prepared for a proper lesson because I thought I had five new sets of students - no matter, I found out the “new” course book is the same as the old one, it simply has a different cover - phew.
And then in conversation it transpired that Richard didn’t teach them last term. That threw me completely. So who taught you? Which teacher? Well that elicited odd looks and a general muttering. To cut a strange tale short, after their first term, students here can apply to change major. Many times in the six years I have had classes which increased in size in term two because one or two from chemistry/history etc had switched.
Never in all that time did I have a COMPLETE class of 29 who have ALL changed major! That left me stunned. Still, they don’t seem a bad lot, a little reluctant to volunteer at first for reading the dialogues but we will get there.
The teaching area has now become a no-go zone even for bikes. The cones were out in force today and security were there in abundance in case anyone had the audacity to try and get through on an e-bike. Doesn’t bother me using the back lanes so it’s not important. There were cars abandoned on all the approach roads and I did point out to my students that those in the administration block (closest to south gate) could still park right by their building, there being nothing blocking their way. Those at the top of the food chain who made the decision get to park, yet deans and teachers must walk. Personally I had a problem just getting my bike through to underneath our building because of the unusually large number of other bikes already there, ones which would normally park out front. I have a feeling that perhaps there is another major inspection looming so just maybe all this is for that, certainly the bollards aren’t cemented in and can be removed by a forklift or crane. Time will tell.
The meal to ascertain my future? Nothing happening so far, although I have spotted a missed call from Anthony made when I was taking a shower at one. He has yet to reply to my text this evening. Notwithstanding, I have polished up my CV and will now commence moving matters forward, the last thing I need is to be jobless at the end of the semester.
A few days ago I got Joan to order 20kg of cat litter, 10kg of cat food, a kilo of cheddar and a dental cleaning kit. The cheapest thing was the cleaning kit but I am highly conscious of the brown stains from smoking and Eucryl (at 50y a tub!) helps but doesn’t work 100%, neither does the electric tooth polisher I bought last year.
Well the litter and cheese came Saturday and Sunday and today the cat biscuits arrived. When I worked out roughly how much it would be I had thought it would be somewhere between 400 and 500 yuan so when Joan said it was 562y I was surprised. She would never diddle me so I thought the delivery charges must have been inflated. No. she made a mistake and ordered double the amount of cat food, which explains everything. Even with my five fat moggies I somehow think I won’t need to buy any more in March!
Dinner tonight is pizza from Papa John’s (the doughiness of the crust I now realise is the cheese stuffing) but had I finished earlier I would have had something I haven’t had in probably four decades - chip butties! It will happen one night that’s for sure. I am still mulling over attempting home made sausage rolls and Cornish pasties and even had a hankering for home made crumpets the other day (nowhere online are they available here and toasted crumpets with baked beans and cheese on top are delicious), so much so that I bought bicarbonate of soda and a lemon yesterday. All of the aforementioned will probably be complete disasters but it can’t hurt to try.
Monday, 29 February 2016
Sunday, 28 February 2016
Sunday 28th February, 2016 1800
Breakfast tonight - French toast, eggs and bacon. Forgot to get a tomato when I was out but no matter. It pains me to say that I will need to check online as to whether I use milk as well as egg for the toast! It has been a while since I made it.
I never went anywhere other than the environs in the immediate proximity of campus yesterday. I did though get charged my usual 3y for a beer. It appears they have two types, both the same ABV, one (for me) is 3y and the other 5y. As there’s not a blind bit of difference betwixt the two I will stick to the cheap one. It’s only flavoured water that helps to pass the time when I leave home anyway, hardly something I clamour for and must have. Now Guinness? Well that’s different!
I did get a surprise yesterday when I went to the office. They have now rendered the teaching blocks, or at least the front of them, a car free zone. There are concrete bollards across all the roads. I got my bike through.
I also saw something on the website which I think I know what it means but can’t be sure because Google isn’t too hot on translating. I suspect all vehicles will now have to have a campus pass, including e-bikes. It seems as though you have to prove ownership, show your licence (don’t need one for an e-bike), provide ID and fill out forms. For starters I can’t fill out Chinese forms and secondly nobody has informed me officially so I am ignoring it until such time as A) I am told about it and B) someone offers to complete the paperwork. Naturally I look just like any other Chinese person and security don’t know who I am, so I must have a pass! I envisage leaving campus one day and them trying to prevent me returning. Given that at various times during the day and night they are fast asleep in their chairs and the entire Japanese army could sneak in it does seem rather pointless.
Anyway when I went to town today, it was plain that they are also trying to stop bikes from transiting the teaching area because they had placed traffic cones in the gaps between the bollards! Fine, I don’t care and am happy to take the back routes but I have images of dozens and dozens of teachers’ cars parked and blocking the other roads when they park and walk to class. I’m not sure this is a sensible innovation. In fact, I think there will be an accident between a car and a bike because the campus roads are not particularly wide - two cars travelling in opposite directions do have a bit of a squeeze to pass.
Anthony has yet to reply to either my email or my text message requesting his assistance in setting up the meal this coming week. Somehow I get the impression I may need to try to do it myself - easier said than done when two out of three don’t speak English.
The weather is gradually warming up, today I only needed my fleece and I find myself longing for days and evenings when a short sleeved shirt is all that’s needed.
I was washing the dishes earlier and glanced out of the window. I espied Joan walking across the car park. She looked my way but gave no acknowledgement so I assumed she either couldn’t see that far or thought perhaps I couldn’t. I waited for her to arrive (thinking she was coming to collect her laundry) but she never came. I saw her pink coat later, heading in the opposite direction so I have no idea what she was doing up in this neck of the woods.
Time now to watch Capt Winkle Brown on the laptop then cook my breakfast dinner. Back to work tomorrow afternoon for one class, Tuesday off (when the buses should be down to 1y a pop) and then Wednesday I meet the last of my new recruits. I must remember to bring the text book home tomorrow so I at least have an idea of what I am supposed to teach!
Oh, and pineapples are back in season so I shall now start eating fruit again.
Breakfast tonight - French toast, eggs and bacon. Forgot to get a tomato when I was out but no matter. It pains me to say that I will need to check online as to whether I use milk as well as egg for the toast! It has been a while since I made it.
I never went anywhere other than the environs in the immediate proximity of campus yesterday. I did though get charged my usual 3y for a beer. It appears they have two types, both the same ABV, one (for me) is 3y and the other 5y. As there’s not a blind bit of difference betwixt the two I will stick to the cheap one. It’s only flavoured water that helps to pass the time when I leave home anyway, hardly something I clamour for and must have. Now Guinness? Well that’s different!
I did get a surprise yesterday when I went to the office. They have now rendered the teaching blocks, or at least the front of them, a car free zone. There are concrete bollards across all the roads. I got my bike through.
I also saw something on the website which I think I know what it means but can’t be sure because Google isn’t too hot on translating. I suspect all vehicles will now have to have a campus pass, including e-bikes. It seems as though you have to prove ownership, show your licence (don’t need one for an e-bike), provide ID and fill out forms. For starters I can’t fill out Chinese forms and secondly nobody has informed me officially so I am ignoring it until such time as A) I am told about it and B) someone offers to complete the paperwork. Naturally I look just like any other Chinese person and security don’t know who I am, so I must have a pass! I envisage leaving campus one day and them trying to prevent me returning. Given that at various times during the day and night they are fast asleep in their chairs and the entire Japanese army could sneak in it does seem rather pointless.
Anyway when I went to town today, it was plain that they are also trying to stop bikes from transiting the teaching area because they had placed traffic cones in the gaps between the bollards! Fine, I don’t care and am happy to take the back routes but I have images of dozens and dozens of teachers’ cars parked and blocking the other roads when they park and walk to class. I’m not sure this is a sensible innovation. In fact, I think there will be an accident between a car and a bike because the campus roads are not particularly wide - two cars travelling in opposite directions do have a bit of a squeeze to pass.
Anthony has yet to reply to either my email or my text message requesting his assistance in setting up the meal this coming week. Somehow I get the impression I may need to try to do it myself - easier said than done when two out of three don’t speak English.
The weather is gradually warming up, today I only needed my fleece and I find myself longing for days and evenings when a short sleeved shirt is all that’s needed.
I was washing the dishes earlier and glanced out of the window. I espied Joan walking across the car park. She looked my way but gave no acknowledgement so I assumed she either couldn’t see that far or thought perhaps I couldn’t. I waited for her to arrive (thinking she was coming to collect her laundry) but she never came. I saw her pink coat later, heading in the opposite direction so I have no idea what she was doing up in this neck of the woods.
Time now to watch Capt Winkle Brown on the laptop then cook my breakfast dinner. Back to work tomorrow afternoon for one class, Tuesday off (when the buses should be down to 1y a pop) and then Wednesday I meet the last of my new recruits. I must remember to bring the text book home tomorrow so I at least have an idea of what I am supposed to teach!
Oh, and pineapples are back in season so I shall now start eating fruit again.
Saturday, 27 February 2016
Saturday 27th February, 2016 0300
Yep, late again. It’s Ok folks, no classes until 1530 Monday. Why am I up so late? The bloody rugby. No way am I watching the Wales/France match because it starts at 0400 my time but I would like to watch the England/Ireland one tomorrow at 0100.
Did my shop today - literally bus in, shop and bus back - and encountered Richard when I was riding home. I think he is convinced I changed all his classes to the same room on the fifth floor because obviously I would prefer the lower floors. Nothing could be further from the truth but in fairness he said he didn’t mind, as indeed he shouldn’t because were I his age they could have sent me to the eighth floor. The reality was that I thought being able to leave your bag and books all term in one classroom to save you lugging them up and down was best for all.
Immediately afterwards I met Mum and Bruce, a Chinese teacher. Mum didn’t say much (unbelievably she is starting to moult and it’s not that warm) but Bruce did and it was nice that he said that my having to leave at 60 was “bullshit”. not that it will help me but I know I am not alone in my thoughts.
On Kevin’s suggestion I tried to enrol Jane (ex-Prof Fang’s assistant, now the new dean’s assistant) into helping me with a dinner to discuss matters. If it ever happens it will either be the best money I ever spend or my farewell and thanks party. I am getting to the point where I am starting to care a little less.
Anyway, not unexpectedly, Jane doesn’t feel able to come to the meal. Whether that is because it would place her in a difficult position or not I don’t know because presumably she is now the new dean’s assistant. I am not inviting the new dean because I know she doesn’t like me and the feeling is entirely mutual. I expect no quarter from that direction.
So I am trying to get Prof Fang, Director Xu and Miss Yin to be free one evening next week and agree to come for dinner. I have sent an email to Anthony but have yet to receive a response to my asking him to arrange a mutual time. Quite why he has email I know not, for he checks it monthly I think and his phone if you are lucky daily. I have told him I would invite him also but I don’t want to put him in an uncomfortable situation. If he feels fine with it then he is of course welcome.
Joan came tonight but purely to use the “hotel” for a shower! I don’t mind, she is busy studying for upcoming exams but she did pass CET6. She was disappointed that her score was not good but it was a pass and a pass is a pass. TEM4 beckons next month. Everything she needs to pass with flying colours is here but if she chooses to study with her dorm-mates what can I do?
As it will soon be March I tried to register on a job website. I have no recollection of ever registering with said website (they are probably the most respected by western expats in China) and it said my email was already in use. Ok so I tried to log in with every password I could think of to no avail. Emailing them produced a PHP error (whatever that is) and so currently I can’t apply to any jobs, not that I want to until I know for sure I need to but I want to check them out. There is a high school job with double plus salary compared to that I get now, plus others that look attractive. I will contact the site tomorrow (Kevin gave me an email address) so I can perhaps re-register.
Don’t want to leave but I need to know for sure and then I need to plan. I have to try to stay though.
I had the steak and bacon pie I found in the freezer tonight with mash and gravy. Absolutely marvellous and not something people who can go to the corner shop and buy sausages, a snake and pygmy pie or a pasty would appreciate. From where I am sitting it was heaven.
Yep, late again. It’s Ok folks, no classes until 1530 Monday. Why am I up so late? The bloody rugby. No way am I watching the Wales/France match because it starts at 0400 my time but I would like to watch the England/Ireland one tomorrow at 0100.
Did my shop today - literally bus in, shop and bus back - and encountered Richard when I was riding home. I think he is convinced I changed all his classes to the same room on the fifth floor because obviously I would prefer the lower floors. Nothing could be further from the truth but in fairness he said he didn’t mind, as indeed he shouldn’t because were I his age they could have sent me to the eighth floor. The reality was that I thought being able to leave your bag and books all term in one classroom to save you lugging them up and down was best for all.
Immediately afterwards I met Mum and Bruce, a Chinese teacher. Mum didn’t say much (unbelievably she is starting to moult and it’s not that warm) but Bruce did and it was nice that he said that my having to leave at 60 was “bullshit”. not that it will help me but I know I am not alone in my thoughts.
On Kevin’s suggestion I tried to enrol Jane (ex-Prof Fang’s assistant, now the new dean’s assistant) into helping me with a dinner to discuss matters. If it ever happens it will either be the best money I ever spend or my farewell and thanks party. I am getting to the point where I am starting to care a little less.
Anyway, not unexpectedly, Jane doesn’t feel able to come to the meal. Whether that is because it would place her in a difficult position or not I don’t know because presumably she is now the new dean’s assistant. I am not inviting the new dean because I know she doesn’t like me and the feeling is entirely mutual. I expect no quarter from that direction.
So I am trying to get Prof Fang, Director Xu and Miss Yin to be free one evening next week and agree to come for dinner. I have sent an email to Anthony but have yet to receive a response to my asking him to arrange a mutual time. Quite why he has email I know not, for he checks it monthly I think and his phone if you are lucky daily. I have told him I would invite him also but I don’t want to put him in an uncomfortable situation. If he feels fine with it then he is of course welcome.
Joan came tonight but purely to use the “hotel” for a shower! I don’t mind, she is busy studying for upcoming exams but she did pass CET6. She was disappointed that her score was not good but it was a pass and a pass is a pass. TEM4 beckons next month. Everything she needs to pass with flying colours is here but if she chooses to study with her dorm-mates what can I do?
As it will soon be March I tried to register on a job website. I have no recollection of ever registering with said website (they are probably the most respected by western expats in China) and it said my email was already in use. Ok so I tried to log in with every password I could think of to no avail. Emailing them produced a PHP error (whatever that is) and so currently I can’t apply to any jobs, not that I want to until I know for sure I need to but I want to check them out. There is a high school job with double plus salary compared to that I get now, plus others that look attractive. I will contact the site tomorrow (Kevin gave me an email address) so I can perhaps re-register.
Don’t want to leave but I need to know for sure and then I need to plan. I have to try to stay though.
I had the steak and bacon pie I found in the freezer tonight with mash and gravy. Absolutely marvellous and not something people who can go to the corner shop and buy sausages, a snake and pygmy pie or a pasty would appreciate. From where I am sitting it was heaven.
Friday, 26 February 2016
Friday 26th February, 2016 0140
Early morning again but at least I don’t have to work tomorrow.
This afternoon I met two of my new classes. Not a bad bunch and apart from one incident in the first class, I don’t think things went too badly.
The incident?
Well I had just outlined my rules for the classroom. Nothing draconian, well I don’t think so, just no mobile phones, talking when someone else has the floor etc and the last thing I said was that there will probably be times when I come to class when all I want to do is go to sleep (unlikely this term given my classes are all late bar one) but that I would not fall asleep on my desk and I didn’t expect students to do it either.
Unbelievably, not five minutes after I said this, I spotted a boy fast asleep on his desk. I had already cautioned everyone against nudging their neighbour if I had spotted anyone asleep and to be fair nobody did. So I woke the lad by getting close to his ear and bellowing in a stentorian fashion, “Good afternoon!!!”
I confess I have never seen the like before. I am glad my face wasn’t directly above his head for he shot up, his spectacles fell off and he had a look of abject terror on his face. I don’t think he will ever fall asleep in my class again. Equally, I think he doesn’t like me now. Tough, don’t sit up all night playing computer games when you have my class.
I am pretty sure Richard made it back for his first class, certainly he is here although I haven’t seen him, just heard his door closing. It seems a bit of a shame he came back for one class, seeing as he is now off again until Tuesday and can travel back to Changsha to be with his girlfriend.
As for inviting important persons to dinner, I have as yet done nothing because I find myself unaccustomedly reluctant. I think I know I will be unsuccessful but also I have to find an evening when all are free together. If I leave it won’t be for the lack of having all turrets firing when I am sunk but it must happen next week to give me a good chance of bagging a decent job now some universities are advertising for September starts.
I had a trawl through earlier online. Still nothing decent in Nanning but I live in hope. I even - yes really - looked at a job in Inner Mongolia! I know, I know. Hideously cold in the winter but at least they build their homes to stave off the chill. If I applied it would be pure devilment on my part for the hell of saying I am there and I really do want somewhere further south but with the age thing I really need to pay heed to what I can realistically get and also the package. After six years I have no intention of taking a job offering less (one I looked at was offering 3,500y or £350 a month for God’s sake) and it is now time to be a little more materialistic as I inevitably approach retirement age.
During the break with the second class Alice sent me a text to tell me that John from the little school had offered her the job - she had earlier texted to say she wouldn’t get it. I was delighted for her and it means after a year she can go to Guangzhou to find a job and she will be a slightly seasoned and experienced teacher. It is always lovely to know your students start to make something of their lives.
Well soon after we reconvened after the break my phone rang in class. I had not long told them my rules and that they would not see me answering my phone in class unless it was the school calling, not for students, my mother, anybody and I expected them to do likewise. Well I looked and it was Anthony, my assistant teacher. Well that’s the school so I needed to answer it.
Except I couldn’t. Every time I did there was nothing there. There ensued a pantomime where I was cancelling the calls whilst trying to send a text saying I had a problem, couldn’t answer and please send me a message instead. It was incessant. Within seconds of cancelling the calls it rang again. The students thought it highly amusing, I found it hugely annoying. In the end I had a brainwave, I would call him.
He answered and I think he had read my message. I asked him what the problem was that he had to be so insistent as to speak to me. He hadn’t called me. What? I had 18 missed calls in the space of five minutes!
Having established there was no earthquake on the way or a police raid, the only way I could stop the calls was to switch my phone off and hope later when I turned it back on it would be gone. It was. Very reminiscent of the night my phone sent 88 identical texts to Mulan. Very odd.
My office has now increased the price of a beer to me from three to four yuan which didn’t please me so now I may shop around. If it is available for three elsewhere then I may well move my custom. Take me for granted at your peril. I’m not going to eradicate all your flies every day and pay top whack.
So tonight I ate some of last night’s frittata and put the remains out for Mum. I will go shopping tomorrow and if it is warm enough I may ride the bike. Not because I want to but because I discovered I can’t indicate left for some reason. Right, yes, left no. Is it important? In China definitely not but to me, yes. I doubt they understand hand signals.
So that’s it, I am gainfully employed once more and will try to be as professional as I can regardless of my future. It’s not fair on the students for me be a Tuna fish and simply give up once my head is out of the water. I feel much happier now that there is life on campus and later today I will send some texts to try to arrange the all-important dinner. The sooner I do it the sooner I will know what I need to do.
Early morning again but at least I don’t have to work tomorrow.
This afternoon I met two of my new classes. Not a bad bunch and apart from one incident in the first class, I don’t think things went too badly.
The incident?
Well I had just outlined my rules for the classroom. Nothing draconian, well I don’t think so, just no mobile phones, talking when someone else has the floor etc and the last thing I said was that there will probably be times when I come to class when all I want to do is go to sleep (unlikely this term given my classes are all late bar one) but that I would not fall asleep on my desk and I didn’t expect students to do it either.
Unbelievably, not five minutes after I said this, I spotted a boy fast asleep on his desk. I had already cautioned everyone against nudging their neighbour if I had spotted anyone asleep and to be fair nobody did. So I woke the lad by getting close to his ear and bellowing in a stentorian fashion, “Good afternoon!!!”
I confess I have never seen the like before. I am glad my face wasn’t directly above his head for he shot up, his spectacles fell off and he had a look of abject terror on his face. I don’t think he will ever fall asleep in my class again. Equally, I think he doesn’t like me now. Tough, don’t sit up all night playing computer games when you have my class.
I am pretty sure Richard made it back for his first class, certainly he is here although I haven’t seen him, just heard his door closing. It seems a bit of a shame he came back for one class, seeing as he is now off again until Tuesday and can travel back to Changsha to be with his girlfriend.
As for inviting important persons to dinner, I have as yet done nothing because I find myself unaccustomedly reluctant. I think I know I will be unsuccessful but also I have to find an evening when all are free together. If I leave it won’t be for the lack of having all turrets firing when I am sunk but it must happen next week to give me a good chance of bagging a decent job now some universities are advertising for September starts.
I had a trawl through earlier online. Still nothing decent in Nanning but I live in hope. I even - yes really - looked at a job in Inner Mongolia! I know, I know. Hideously cold in the winter but at least they build their homes to stave off the chill. If I applied it would be pure devilment on my part for the hell of saying I am there and I really do want somewhere further south but with the age thing I really need to pay heed to what I can realistically get and also the package. After six years I have no intention of taking a job offering less (one I looked at was offering 3,500y or £350 a month for God’s sake) and it is now time to be a little more materialistic as I inevitably approach retirement age.
During the break with the second class Alice sent me a text to tell me that John from the little school had offered her the job - she had earlier texted to say she wouldn’t get it. I was delighted for her and it means after a year she can go to Guangzhou to find a job and she will be a slightly seasoned and experienced teacher. It is always lovely to know your students start to make something of their lives.
Well soon after we reconvened after the break my phone rang in class. I had not long told them my rules and that they would not see me answering my phone in class unless it was the school calling, not for students, my mother, anybody and I expected them to do likewise. Well I looked and it was Anthony, my assistant teacher. Well that’s the school so I needed to answer it.
Except I couldn’t. Every time I did there was nothing there. There ensued a pantomime where I was cancelling the calls whilst trying to send a text saying I had a problem, couldn’t answer and please send me a message instead. It was incessant. Within seconds of cancelling the calls it rang again. The students thought it highly amusing, I found it hugely annoying. In the end I had a brainwave, I would call him.
He answered and I think he had read my message. I asked him what the problem was that he had to be so insistent as to speak to me. He hadn’t called me. What? I had 18 missed calls in the space of five minutes!
Having established there was no earthquake on the way or a police raid, the only way I could stop the calls was to switch my phone off and hope later when I turned it back on it would be gone. It was. Very reminiscent of the night my phone sent 88 identical texts to Mulan. Very odd.
My office has now increased the price of a beer to me from three to four yuan which didn’t please me so now I may shop around. If it is available for three elsewhere then I may well move my custom. Take me for granted at your peril. I’m not going to eradicate all your flies every day and pay top whack.
So tonight I ate some of last night’s frittata and put the remains out for Mum. I will go shopping tomorrow and if it is warm enough I may ride the bike. Not because I want to but because I discovered I can’t indicate left for some reason. Right, yes, left no. Is it important? In China definitely not but to me, yes. I doubt they understand hand signals.
So that’s it, I am gainfully employed once more and will try to be as professional as I can regardless of my future. It’s not fair on the students for me be a Tuna fish and simply give up once my head is out of the water. I feel much happier now that there is life on campus and later today I will send some texts to try to arrange the all-important dinner. The sooner I do it the sooner I will know what I need to do.
Thursday, 25 February 2016
Thursday 25th February, 2016 0020
A little late admittedly but first day back at work later today and I don’t start until 1330 so I can stay up a bit because my Mother’s not looking over my shoulder. Well knowing her, she probably is………..
Well Tuesday night Alice and Hayley came. I defrosted some Bolognese and fed them and even introduced them to Sangria by donating some wine for their orange juice (I don’t keep soft drinks, if students want them they have to buy their own but they are welcome to beer).
And so they watched Season 6 Episode 1 of Downton Abbey, not a programme I have ever watched but between that and Sherlock (again I don’t watch) they are very popular in China. Not so popular it would seem without Chinese subtitles! Alice and Hayley would have been fine with English subtitles but there were none,. They lost interest.
So I showed them Evan Almighty which they loved and then they said they wanted to come back and watch the prostitute film - Pretty Woman. Fine said I, let’s do it tomorrow (a few hours ago). Alice also said she was looking for a job as a teacher before she graduates in June so I sent the little school owner a text asking if he needed anyone. He needs two so I connected Alice and John and she has an interview and demonstration lesson this morning. It’s not an easy place to find so I arranged to go yesterday morning to show her so she won’t be late.
Late this morning I picked her up and now we are fully back to cheat mode for the bus, it is mental. We went to town and I knew I would suffer. For New Concept school you need the number 7 bus but I was going shopping and my bike was at south, not west gate. And boy, did I suffer.
She does now know exactly where to go, we had a light lunch and I shopped at RT. She indicated that she, Hayley and Fiona would like to watch the film (Pretty Woman) last night and I asked if they would like dinner. No, no, we don’t want to trouble you. Well that’s fine but if I don’t have anyone to cook for, generally I don’t bother to make anything special. It was only going to be frittata anyway, I had two dozen eggs in danger of going off. I said I would cook for myself and it was just as easy for four, only the washing up changes.
Back on campus the secretary was in her office so I took the opportunity to make some classroom changes so that all of my classes are in the same room (leave my bag there all term) and all of Richard’s were likewise, albeit the floor above me. He is less than half my age so the fifth floor is a breeze for him and I hope he doesn’t mind. As for me, I need to take a rest at least once just to get to the 4th floor. Juliette? If I could I would have tried to make her classrooms more convivial but for some unknown reason they have her shuttling between buildings and I really didn’t know how to ask on her behalf or I would have tried to get all her classes in the same room so I am sorry Juliette (she will read this) switching classrooms in the same block can be done but when you don’t speak Chinese and two blocks are involved it is not something I could do. I am happy and somehow I have a feeling Richard will be unhappy. He has strange values and may just think my intervention was uncalled for. No matter, I am happy and anyway he is not here. I have an odd feeling that he will either come back this morning (his first class is 1330) or he will completely miss start of term. I wish I could be so cavalier.
On the bus I convinced Alice that dinner was not a problem and she agreed. She is like Anna and Joan in that she wants to try different cuisines and as I had to eat myself I thought what the hell, a frittata for one or a frittata for ten? The only difference is the number of eggs and I needed to get rid of some, in fact I bought 15 new ones in case the others had gone off. Thankfully they hadn’t so now I have loads of eggs but they are new.
Hayley never came (and she was the one that wanted a romantic story!) but Alice and Fiona did and loved both the film and food. Well I do make my frittatas a bit interesting with some chilli oil.
Joan came as the film ended and Alice excused herself. I have really missed Joan, much more than anyone else in my time here. I didn’t miss her however when she told me my internet shopping was 560y when the only things for me were a kilogramme of cheddar and a dental hygiene kit! All the rest is cat food and litter!
The dental thing? Well I am pissed off with brown teeth and for sure I could go to the dentist for scaling. I use Eucryl which helps a bit but I thought I would try a bit of DIY. My front teeth are crumbling and I am led to believe it is from years (30 now) of prescription drugs and I have no reason to disbelieve. I will try this kit (no, not whiteners, I am not stupid) and I will scrape and “erase” and if it works then all well and good. If it doesn’t then I will make a dentist do it. My smile was never pearly white but it really hacks me off that nowadays when I hear “may I make a photo with you?” I have to just smile with my mouth closed.
A little late admittedly but first day back at work later today and I don’t start until 1330 so I can stay up a bit because my Mother’s not looking over my shoulder. Well knowing her, she probably is………..
Well Tuesday night Alice and Hayley came. I defrosted some Bolognese and fed them and even introduced them to Sangria by donating some wine for their orange juice (I don’t keep soft drinks, if students want them they have to buy their own but they are welcome to beer).
And so they watched Season 6 Episode 1 of Downton Abbey, not a programme I have ever watched but between that and Sherlock (again I don’t watch) they are very popular in China. Not so popular it would seem without Chinese subtitles! Alice and Hayley would have been fine with English subtitles but there were none,. They lost interest.
So I showed them Evan Almighty which they loved and then they said they wanted to come back and watch the prostitute film - Pretty Woman. Fine said I, let’s do it tomorrow (a few hours ago). Alice also said she was looking for a job as a teacher before she graduates in June so I sent the little school owner a text asking if he needed anyone. He needs two so I connected Alice and John and she has an interview and demonstration lesson this morning. It’s not an easy place to find so I arranged to go yesterday morning to show her so she won’t be late.
Late this morning I picked her up and now we are fully back to cheat mode for the bus, it is mental. We went to town and I knew I would suffer. For New Concept school you need the number 7 bus but I was going shopping and my bike was at south, not west gate. And boy, did I suffer.
She does now know exactly where to go, we had a light lunch and I shopped at RT. She indicated that she, Hayley and Fiona would like to watch the film (Pretty Woman) last night and I asked if they would like dinner. No, no, we don’t want to trouble you. Well that’s fine but if I don’t have anyone to cook for, generally I don’t bother to make anything special. It was only going to be frittata anyway, I had two dozen eggs in danger of going off. I said I would cook for myself and it was just as easy for four, only the washing up changes.
Back on campus the secretary was in her office so I took the opportunity to make some classroom changes so that all of my classes are in the same room (leave my bag there all term) and all of Richard’s were likewise, albeit the floor above me. He is less than half my age so the fifth floor is a breeze for him and I hope he doesn’t mind. As for me, I need to take a rest at least once just to get to the 4th floor. Juliette? If I could I would have tried to make her classrooms more convivial but for some unknown reason they have her shuttling between buildings and I really didn’t know how to ask on her behalf or I would have tried to get all her classes in the same room so I am sorry Juliette (she will read this) switching classrooms in the same block can be done but when you don’t speak Chinese and two blocks are involved it is not something I could do. I am happy and somehow I have a feeling Richard will be unhappy. He has strange values and may just think my intervention was uncalled for. No matter, I am happy and anyway he is not here. I have an odd feeling that he will either come back this morning (his first class is 1330) or he will completely miss start of term. I wish I could be so cavalier.
On the bus I convinced Alice that dinner was not a problem and she agreed. She is like Anna and Joan in that she wants to try different cuisines and as I had to eat myself I thought what the hell, a frittata for one or a frittata for ten? The only difference is the number of eggs and I needed to get rid of some, in fact I bought 15 new ones in case the others had gone off. Thankfully they hadn’t so now I have loads of eggs but they are new.
Hayley never came (and she was the one that wanted a romantic story!) but Alice and Fiona did and loved both the film and food. Well I do make my frittatas a bit interesting with some chilli oil.
Joan came as the film ended and Alice excused herself. I have really missed Joan, much more than anyone else in my time here. I didn’t miss her however when she told me my internet shopping was 560y when the only things for me were a kilogramme of cheddar and a dental hygiene kit! All the rest is cat food and litter!
The dental thing? Well I am pissed off with brown teeth and for sure I could go to the dentist for scaling. I use Eucryl which helps a bit but I thought I would try a bit of DIY. My front teeth are crumbling and I am led to believe it is from years (30 now) of prescription drugs and I have no reason to disbelieve. I will try this kit (no, not whiteners, I am not stupid) and I will scrape and “erase” and if it works then all well and good. If it doesn’t then I will make a dentist do it. My smile was never pearly white but it really hacks me off that nowadays when I hear “may I make a photo with you?” I have to just smile with my mouth closed.
Tuesday, 23 February 2016
Tuesday 23rd February, 2016 0120
Ok I am getting there with the body clock thing. I am a bit tired and won’t be long before calling it a night.
Alice and Jenny came and boiled their dumplings although halfway through the gas bottle finally gave up the ghost. Since Pepsi died the gas has lasted forever seeing as I now have the cats on a biscuit-only diet. I do though keep a spare bottle so within a few minutes cooking resumed. Do I pay for a refill, that is the question even though I will be reimbursed in the summer?
If only they had sent me a message earlier, I have loads of Bolognese frozen and I could have heated that for them if I had defrosted it. Never mind, they sat through an episode of Traffic Cops (UK) and I think were amazed at the fact British police chase cars for such trivial things as being on the phone, shoplifting etc. It opened their eyes I hope as to why occasionally I do get just a tad heated here.
They asked me if I had Downton Abbey. No, never seen it, why? We can’t get series 6 in China yet and we love it. I said I thought it was on ITV and I couldn’t download it (anyway I am not interested as by all accounts it is a remake of upstairs/downstairs) but after the police thing had finished I said wait a minute and I will see if I can play it. They don’t have the secret weapon to climb the Great Firewall. It seems to be on YouTube so now I can expect I think eight visits for them to follow on from series 5.
Their presence this evening however unnerved Lottie; if she ever had nerves, she is the most awful, vindictive cat I have ever had the misfortune to encounter. Were it not for the fact Katrina my student years ago hadn’t begged me to look after her she would have been evicted long ago. She used to piss on my bed in the old flat and even now and with a fresh litter tray still pees on my bathroom floor. Thank heaven for small mercies.
Anyway all five were on top of the fridge and the two girls were giving Tigger, Pooh and Bristle attention. I walked past and got hissed at and it could only have come from one source so I I wagged my finger at Lottie. The bitch clawed my hand from nearly a foot away! Luckily no blood was drawn (nearly though) but bugger me, she got me right between the fingers where the knuckles end and it damned well hurt. If they had psycho hospitals for cats I would take her and leave her in one.
Of course, the girls wanted to leave only when I fed Mum. I explained that she might not be around given that students are coming back and food will be there for the taking but they insisted. Fine. They even asked where the bloodstains had come from and I explained.
Well Mum was only in the grass outside and came in the moment she heard me coming. She is becoming mine. They so wanted to see her yet being Chinese they shit themselves a little when she came in. I don’t think they realised she was so big. And boisterous even with a bad leg. Oh she is so lucky you feed her! No that finishes tonight with a pot full of pork and their left over dumplings, tomorrow she finds whatever she can. Neither of them dared to stroke her though and I find it sad that the Chinese are frightened of such dogs - puppies even - and although there are many feral ones (Mum is) she is the most good natured dog to everyone I have ever met. Most dogs are great with their family, not all are welcoming of outsiders but as Mum has no family she treats everyone as family, which is why if the dog catchers ever got her I would be incandescent.
Anna never came for the shower she said she wanted.
Later I sent Joan a message to wish her a safe trip back and when would I see her tomorrow. She never found cheese (no matter, I need that plus litter and cat food online anyway urgently) but she confessed to doing something stupid.
Someone taught me once:
Measure twice, cut once.
Well Joan hopefully just learnt that one. She bought her return train ticket for the 22nd . Alright, January. She found out when she got to the station and I assume she couldn’t get a refund. Naturally she had to buy a standing ticket whereas she thought she had a hard seat for the 9 hour journey. Bad enough with a hard seat but standing?
I will see her tonight.
Ok I am getting there with the body clock thing. I am a bit tired and won’t be long before calling it a night.
Alice and Jenny came and boiled their dumplings although halfway through the gas bottle finally gave up the ghost. Since Pepsi died the gas has lasted forever seeing as I now have the cats on a biscuit-only diet. I do though keep a spare bottle so within a few minutes cooking resumed. Do I pay for a refill, that is the question even though I will be reimbursed in the summer?
If only they had sent me a message earlier, I have loads of Bolognese frozen and I could have heated that for them if I had defrosted it. Never mind, they sat through an episode of Traffic Cops (UK) and I think were amazed at the fact British police chase cars for such trivial things as being on the phone, shoplifting etc. It opened their eyes I hope as to why occasionally I do get just a tad heated here.
They asked me if I had Downton Abbey. No, never seen it, why? We can’t get series 6 in China yet and we love it. I said I thought it was on ITV and I couldn’t download it (anyway I am not interested as by all accounts it is a remake of upstairs/downstairs) but after the police thing had finished I said wait a minute and I will see if I can play it. They don’t have the secret weapon to climb the Great Firewall. It seems to be on YouTube so now I can expect I think eight visits for them to follow on from series 5.
Their presence this evening however unnerved Lottie; if she ever had nerves, she is the most awful, vindictive cat I have ever had the misfortune to encounter. Were it not for the fact Katrina my student years ago hadn’t begged me to look after her she would have been evicted long ago. She used to piss on my bed in the old flat and even now and with a fresh litter tray still pees on my bathroom floor. Thank heaven for small mercies.
Anyway all five were on top of the fridge and the two girls were giving Tigger, Pooh and Bristle attention. I walked past and got hissed at and it could only have come from one source so I I wagged my finger at Lottie. The bitch clawed my hand from nearly a foot away! Luckily no blood was drawn (nearly though) but bugger me, she got me right between the fingers where the knuckles end and it damned well hurt. If they had psycho hospitals for cats I would take her and leave her in one.
Of course, the girls wanted to leave only when I fed Mum. I explained that she might not be around given that students are coming back and food will be there for the taking but they insisted. Fine. They even asked where the bloodstains had come from and I explained.
Well Mum was only in the grass outside and came in the moment she heard me coming. She is becoming mine. They so wanted to see her yet being Chinese they shit themselves a little when she came in. I don’t think they realised she was so big. And boisterous even with a bad leg. Oh she is so lucky you feed her! No that finishes tonight with a pot full of pork and their left over dumplings, tomorrow she finds whatever she can. Neither of them dared to stroke her though and I find it sad that the Chinese are frightened of such dogs - puppies even - and although there are many feral ones (Mum is) she is the most good natured dog to everyone I have ever met. Most dogs are great with their family, not all are welcoming of outsiders but as Mum has no family she treats everyone as family, which is why if the dog catchers ever got her I would be incandescent.
Anna never came for the shower she said she wanted.
Later I sent Joan a message to wish her a safe trip back and when would I see her tomorrow. She never found cheese (no matter, I need that plus litter and cat food online anyway urgently) but she confessed to doing something stupid.
Someone taught me once:
Measure twice, cut once.
Well Joan hopefully just learnt that one. She bought her return train ticket for the 22nd . Alright, January. She found out when she got to the station and I assume she couldn’t get a refund. Naturally she had to buy a standing ticket whereas she thought she had a hard seat for the 9 hour journey. Bad enough with a hard seat but standing?
I will see her tonight.
Monday, 22 February 2016
Sunday 21st February, 2016 1600
It was of course inevitable that my body clock resetting efforts wouldn’t be entirely successful and as a result, yes I did loathe the alarm when it went off.
In contrast, Anna went from the sublime to the ridiculous. From missing the bus completely the other day, this morning she sent me a text to say she was at west gate. I wasn’t even dressed. The reason she was so early?
You are not going to believe this.
She had woken at six and was in the library before seven because her friends (who are not on campus) asked her to bag seats for them. The library is of course the university library (although members of the public with a card can use it too) and as such one would assume it is run as a communal enterprise.
This is China.
Apparently if you leave a book or books on a table in front of a chair you are entitled to expect it is yours for the whole of the next term! I can see that working in western countries!! So she had taken enough books to reserve twenty seats and then gone to the bus stop. For friends who are not even here yet.
I went at the time I had decided and we went to town. Anna of course had to buy some breakfast when we got there and got herself two meat filled baozi (had I been hungry I may well have done the same as they looked delicious) and we went to the little school. Kerry, the teacher leaving, didn’t have much of a bulbous bow and I later found out she had resigned when she is still possibly only two months into her gestation. They have some incomprehensible customs to this day.
Anyway I played the picture game and play your cards right, the kids had a good time and I am quite certain the replacement teacher (Coco) had no idea what to make of it. Who knows, I may just have given her some insight into how to use games as a carrot for behaving in class and doing the work first?
Having been switched to the last lesson before lunch I felt certain that by dropping a subtle hint we would be offered a free lunch and of course I was correct. I wasn’t in the slightest bit hungry but of course Anna, being both young and a student, is in a state of perm hunger. I had a couple of bottles and a few chopticks of cabbage hotpot, forcing myself to have the latter as my fruit and veg consumption hasn’t been prodigious recently.
For the first time ever, the number seven bus wasn’t packed and we both got a seat. It was then that Anna asked if she could borrow my bike. Why? I need to go to my apartment and get more books so I can reserve more library seats. What??? Thirty minutes she said she would be. I have no idea what time zone she is in but it was closer to ninety minutes and I was desperate to go back to bed. I could have and she would have sneaked in and returned my keys but I am a pretty light sleeper normally so I knew she would disturb me.
We got home and she was desperate for the loo, having for some inexplicable reason been too shy to use the one in the restaurant before we left. Anyway, off she went snaffling up all the seats she could in the library. When she returned eventually, she complained someone had realised they were her books (they are acquaintances) and pinched two seats back. It was bizarre listening to her complain about this - if you or I went to a library, provided nobody is in the seat and there are no obvious signs you are working and have just popped to the toilet, then we would simply occupy the seat. Not here.
Then she asked me if I had been to the toilet since we got back. It might sound like an odd question but I knew instantly what had happened. She had forgotten to make sure the toilet roll holder was closed properly and the tigers had been playing, creating a snowstorm. Well I wasn’t clearing it up!
Monday 22nd 1620
Well now, who’s going from the sublime to the ridiculous this time?
By the time Anna had returned with the keys and left and whatever I was watching on the laptop had finished, it was five thirty and I was at that state where your frontal lobe starts to go numb. I set the alarm for seven and collapsed. Well I thought I’d set it for seven so when I awoke at nine I wondered how the hell I had slept through! Somehow I had set it for five thirty, the time I crashed.
Great. I had eaten a few morsels at lunchtime yet my stomach said don’t eat and of course later I was completely awake, so much so that I eventually got back to sleep at seven this morning! Even then it was fitful rest but I had set the alarm (properly this time) for ten thirty in a serious attempt at getting back on track. I wanted to go shopping to see if RT Mart had any of my wine yet and also for Mum’s last meal - after tonight she can fend for herself with student cast-offs seeing as by tomorrow night they will all be back. And hopefully I can get a haircut, I m getting perilously close to comb territory.
Anyway, Anna wanted to come shopping so I sent her a message to say I would leave home about noon. I said “about” and I would text her. That gives her anything between fifteen and twenty five minutes to leave her apartment and cross the road. What did she do? Sent me a message to say she was at the bus stop at 1205, just when I, as I was about to leave, had to answer a call of nature. Sometimes I despair.
The supermarket never had my wine again but at least they had Guinness and as I type two pork knuckles are boiling for Mum. Alice from Wuhu and her classmate are in my kitchen about to boil dumplings for their dinner, presumably because as yet the campus cafes have yet to reopen.
It was of course inevitable that my body clock resetting efforts wouldn’t be entirely successful and as a result, yes I did loathe the alarm when it went off.
In contrast, Anna went from the sublime to the ridiculous. From missing the bus completely the other day, this morning she sent me a text to say she was at west gate. I wasn’t even dressed. The reason she was so early?
You are not going to believe this.
She had woken at six and was in the library before seven because her friends (who are not on campus) asked her to bag seats for them. The library is of course the university library (although members of the public with a card can use it too) and as such one would assume it is run as a communal enterprise.
This is China.
Apparently if you leave a book or books on a table in front of a chair you are entitled to expect it is yours for the whole of the next term! I can see that working in western countries!! So she had taken enough books to reserve twenty seats and then gone to the bus stop. For friends who are not even here yet.
I went at the time I had decided and we went to town. Anna of course had to buy some breakfast when we got there and got herself two meat filled baozi (had I been hungry I may well have done the same as they looked delicious) and we went to the little school. Kerry, the teacher leaving, didn’t have much of a bulbous bow and I later found out she had resigned when she is still possibly only two months into her gestation. They have some incomprehensible customs to this day.
Anyway I played the picture game and play your cards right, the kids had a good time and I am quite certain the replacement teacher (Coco) had no idea what to make of it. Who knows, I may just have given her some insight into how to use games as a carrot for behaving in class and doing the work first?
Having been switched to the last lesson before lunch I felt certain that by dropping a subtle hint we would be offered a free lunch and of course I was correct. I wasn’t in the slightest bit hungry but of course Anna, being both young and a student, is in a state of perm hunger. I had a couple of bottles and a few chopticks of cabbage hotpot, forcing myself to have the latter as my fruit and veg consumption hasn’t been prodigious recently.
For the first time ever, the number seven bus wasn’t packed and we both got a seat. It was then that Anna asked if she could borrow my bike. Why? I need to go to my apartment and get more books so I can reserve more library seats. What??? Thirty minutes she said she would be. I have no idea what time zone she is in but it was closer to ninety minutes and I was desperate to go back to bed. I could have and she would have sneaked in and returned my keys but I am a pretty light sleeper normally so I knew she would disturb me.
We got home and she was desperate for the loo, having for some inexplicable reason been too shy to use the one in the restaurant before we left. Anyway, off she went snaffling up all the seats she could in the library. When she returned eventually, she complained someone had realised they were her books (they are acquaintances) and pinched two seats back. It was bizarre listening to her complain about this - if you or I went to a library, provided nobody is in the seat and there are no obvious signs you are working and have just popped to the toilet, then we would simply occupy the seat. Not here.
Then she asked me if I had been to the toilet since we got back. It might sound like an odd question but I knew instantly what had happened. She had forgotten to make sure the toilet roll holder was closed properly and the tigers had been playing, creating a snowstorm. Well I wasn’t clearing it up!
Monday 22nd 1620
Well now, who’s going from the sublime to the ridiculous this time?
By the time Anna had returned with the keys and left and whatever I was watching on the laptop had finished, it was five thirty and I was at that state where your frontal lobe starts to go numb. I set the alarm for seven and collapsed. Well I thought I’d set it for seven so when I awoke at nine I wondered how the hell I had slept through! Somehow I had set it for five thirty, the time I crashed.
Great. I had eaten a few morsels at lunchtime yet my stomach said don’t eat and of course later I was completely awake, so much so that I eventually got back to sleep at seven this morning! Even then it was fitful rest but I had set the alarm (properly this time) for ten thirty in a serious attempt at getting back on track. I wanted to go shopping to see if RT Mart had any of my wine yet and also for Mum’s last meal - after tonight she can fend for herself with student cast-offs seeing as by tomorrow night they will all be back. And hopefully I can get a haircut, I m getting perilously close to comb territory.
Anyway, Anna wanted to come shopping so I sent her a message to say I would leave home about noon. I said “about” and I would text her. That gives her anything between fifteen and twenty five minutes to leave her apartment and cross the road. What did she do? Sent me a message to say she was at the bus stop at 1205, just when I, as I was about to leave, had to answer a call of nature. Sometimes I despair.
The supermarket never had my wine again but at least they had Guinness and as I type two pork knuckles are boiling for Mum. Alice from Wuhu and her classmate are in my kitchen about to boil dumplings for their dinner, presumably because as yet the campus cafes have yet to reopen.
Sunday, 21 February 2016
Sunday 21st February, 2016 0130
Yes, I have to be up in seven and a half hours for my guest spot playing games master to eight kids, Anna and a new teacher fresh out of the cardboard box. What the hell, it’s only 40 minutes and as the timing has been retarded by 40 minutes so I finish at the noon lunch break, a free lunch is looking increasingly likely!
Today in an effort to get myself used to occasionally having to wake up earlier I set my alarm for ten. Certainly I woke up but didn’t get out for bed until twelve thirty. Not that I slept, mind, just kept my eyes closed and let a multitude of thoughts pass through what grey matter I have. None of it was enjoyable I can assure you.
But get up I did and then sat at the laptop after showering, waiting for a message from Kevin to let me know if we were meeting tonight. To nick a famous quote, “No such undertaking was received” and so at 1630 and deciding he was otherwise occupied, I set out for town.
I had no option if I wanted to sleep at all tonight because I had completely run out of cat food. Any cat owner reading will know that they are not the best of creatures when they are deprived of sustenance - and I have five of the bloody things.
On the way to south gate there were a few students coming back (although only a couple of dormitory blocks displayed lights tonight) and I got to town. Knowing I would be buying at least a heavy bag of Whiskas I elected to eat first and shop after.
I went to the steakhouse. Normally I stick to a steak (or in one case the fish but that was like my own failed fish and chips but with spaghetti there) but one thing has been catching my eye so I ordered it. No, not the gristle pot or the brain with rice but sea and furnace.
Trusting that “furnace” didn’t mean it was really spicy, I ordered it. I won’t again but it wasn’t too spicy, it was simply far too much to eat. The furnace was the tea light they stuck under the pot to keep it warm.
Anyway, half way through my meal Kevin texted to suggest we meet there at six. In forty minutes time. Bit late in the day to make arrangements, perhaps he is turning Chinese, and so I responded that I was already eating there. Long story short, he and Vivi came at six after I finished and I drank while they ate. We actually stayed for ages, in fact I ended up looking at my watch trying to work out if I had time to do a quick shop and then a double bus ride home. The cat food was a must.
It was probably the most meaningful conversational evening I have had in six months. You can chat with people you meet, work colleagues and the like but unless you really know them well it is just that, chat. With someone you can go ballistic with and insult them mercilessly and still be friends? Then that is a good conversation. I thoroughly enjoyed tonight and I think he did also. Vivi of course was more interested in her mobile phone and her fat face because her wisdom teeth are giving her gyp. I did at one point suggest that when she has them taken out perhaps she could donate them for Kevin to have them put in.
All in all a great evening especially as Kevin drove me back to campus. He only had to drop me outside south gate because the bike was parked inside. The guards were outside chatting when we pulled up and clearly knew the car so used the remote to open the gate for him, unnecessarily but nice that they still remember him.
Mum’s wound is still open but looking good and tonight I finally gave her half a can of wet dog food with some Pedigree biscuits. I really hope she doesn’t come to depend on me once the students are back, I really cannot fork out something of the order of 10% of my wages feeding her every night, once the kids are back she needs to forage for herself.
I am waiting for the barbers to open desperately. I am turning into my mother again.
One thing this evening though, after discussion, it was opined that if I am at least going to attempt to stay here against the ageist policy was that I should host a dinner of course with director Xu but also Prof Fang, her assistant Miss Xe, and Miss Yin. Somehow I think it will be money down the drain but at least I can say I tried. The one person who will not be invited is the new dean.
Yes, I have to be up in seven and a half hours for my guest spot playing games master to eight kids, Anna and a new teacher fresh out of the cardboard box. What the hell, it’s only 40 minutes and as the timing has been retarded by 40 minutes so I finish at the noon lunch break, a free lunch is looking increasingly likely!
Today in an effort to get myself used to occasionally having to wake up earlier I set my alarm for ten. Certainly I woke up but didn’t get out for bed until twelve thirty. Not that I slept, mind, just kept my eyes closed and let a multitude of thoughts pass through what grey matter I have. None of it was enjoyable I can assure you.
But get up I did and then sat at the laptop after showering, waiting for a message from Kevin to let me know if we were meeting tonight. To nick a famous quote, “No such undertaking was received” and so at 1630 and deciding he was otherwise occupied, I set out for town.
I had no option if I wanted to sleep at all tonight because I had completely run out of cat food. Any cat owner reading will know that they are not the best of creatures when they are deprived of sustenance - and I have five of the bloody things.
On the way to south gate there were a few students coming back (although only a couple of dormitory blocks displayed lights tonight) and I got to town. Knowing I would be buying at least a heavy bag of Whiskas I elected to eat first and shop after.
I went to the steakhouse. Normally I stick to a steak (or in one case the fish but that was like my own failed fish and chips but with spaghetti there) but one thing has been catching my eye so I ordered it. No, not the gristle pot or the brain with rice but sea and furnace.
Trusting that “furnace” didn’t mean it was really spicy, I ordered it. I won’t again but it wasn’t too spicy, it was simply far too much to eat. The furnace was the tea light they stuck under the pot to keep it warm.
Anyway, half way through my meal Kevin texted to suggest we meet there at six. In forty minutes time. Bit late in the day to make arrangements, perhaps he is turning Chinese, and so I responded that I was already eating there. Long story short, he and Vivi came at six after I finished and I drank while they ate. We actually stayed for ages, in fact I ended up looking at my watch trying to work out if I had time to do a quick shop and then a double bus ride home. The cat food was a must.
It was probably the most meaningful conversational evening I have had in six months. You can chat with people you meet, work colleagues and the like but unless you really know them well it is just that, chat. With someone you can go ballistic with and insult them mercilessly and still be friends? Then that is a good conversation. I thoroughly enjoyed tonight and I think he did also. Vivi of course was more interested in her mobile phone and her fat face because her wisdom teeth are giving her gyp. I did at one point suggest that when she has them taken out perhaps she could donate them for Kevin to have them put in.
All in all a great evening especially as Kevin drove me back to campus. He only had to drop me outside south gate because the bike was parked inside. The guards were outside chatting when we pulled up and clearly knew the car so used the remote to open the gate for him, unnecessarily but nice that they still remember him.
Mum’s wound is still open but looking good and tonight I finally gave her half a can of wet dog food with some Pedigree biscuits. I really hope she doesn’t come to depend on me once the students are back, I really cannot fork out something of the order of 10% of my wages feeding her every night, once the kids are back she needs to forage for herself.
I am waiting for the barbers to open desperately. I am turning into my mother again.
One thing this evening though, after discussion, it was opined that if I am at least going to attempt to stay here against the ageist policy was that I should host a dinner of course with director Xu but also Prof Fang, her assistant Miss Xe, and Miss Yin. Somehow I think it will be money down the drain but at least I can say I tried. The one person who will not be invited is the new dean.
Saturday, 20 February 2016
Saturday 20th February, 2016 0230
This is annoying. I really wanted to be in bed by two at the latest but I am still wide awake.
So Thursday was the little school “gathering dinner” and so no point in my going all the way to town shopping, coming back and going out again. In the morning I sent Anna a text to let her know that we would get the bus at about 1620 (the agreed rendezvous time being 1700) and that I would text her both when I left my home and when I saw the bus approaching so she knew which one to get on.
Now Anna is a disaster who doesn’t wait to happen, she just is one. She is one of those people that would miss their own wedding or even funeral. But of course the master planner had it covered. She replied “okey” sic. I duly sent the next text when I left home and the third when the bus was coming to my stop, complete with the information that it was a yellow rather than red bus.
Previously, when I rode to west gate I passed two students, one dragging a wheeled suitcase, the other carrying two baskets of strawberries. They joined me at the bus stop. I asked the one with the suitcase if she was leaving and she said yes. I commented that she was a bit late leaving seeing as the holiday started a month ago and she said she came back that day. Ah. And the dormitories aren’t open. Bad form by the school, they apparently usually post on the website the opening dates but thus far this year nothing. My guess has always been they will open for paying guests later today.
For all I knew this girl could have travelled 12 hours on trains to get here so with a little concern I asked her where she was staying that night. I have an empty bedroom and she would have been welcome to use it. I am going home she said and when asked where that was, she replied Anqing. Twenty minutes on the new trains so no real problem there and conscience salved. Where was I going? To town for dinner. Alone? No, a student will get on the bus in a little while up the road.
But this was Anna, remember?
She wasn’t at the obvious stop near where she lives so the doubts started creeping in. Ok, maybe she walked to the next stop a bit further up. No. Brilliant, the best laid plans of mice and Mainwaring.
When we got on the main road I sent her a text congratulating her on missing the bus. I received no reply so I was forced to call her. Where are you? Outside my home. I just knew this was going to happen. Well get on a bus now. I think I should stay here because I don’t know where to get off. Just get on a damned bus, the next bloody bus and I will tell you where to get off, you will now have made us late.
I arrived twenty minutes early but had to wait 25 mins at the bus stop whilst talking her in, describing the landmarks for the route so she knew exactly where to get off. We were just arriving at the school as the teachers were leaving for the restaurant. They suggested we went with them but unbeknown to Anna I know John the owner from old. Never once has he himself been on time but I like to have the moral upper ground. Thursday night was no exception. We were ten minutes late but once we got to the school he made us wait 20 minutes. Par for the course.
A five minute walk to the restaurant (he has taken me there before) and I have to admit I had a good evening, albeit I ate hardly anything, the one thing I was interested in being baozi with a meat filling yet ten were provided for a dozen people. I never got one. I was however plied with plenty of beer and it was a convivial occasion.
Then John asked if I would visit his school on Sunday. Why? Because Kerry (another one I would have married and who had the audacity to marry another) has resigned and her last day is Sunday because she is pregnant. I had suspected as much at the last meal he hosted, it was either that or she had been eating far too many dumplings. Why did he need me? Because the girl to my left was her replacement and has never ever been a teacher before and he wanted her to see how I do it for one class before Kerry takes the second as a farewell. Well I am not a teacher and I doubt I will ever believe I am one. I am simply someone who brings experience and knowledge, hopefully humour and interest as well, to the classroom and if the students want to draw on that then I have played my part. I don’t think there is such a thing as a teacher, just students who soak up what’s on offer and if they do then you have done your job.
I agreed. And no, any spies reading, I will be taking no payment whatever for this although if a free lunch is offered I will be hard pressed to refuse. I, probably rather stupidly; given her antics on the night; asked if Anna could observe, given that she wants to be a teacher if she can’t join the army and she wants to come. At least this time she may not leave her phone on silent and actually take the same bus as me. Anyway, she now knows where to go if she misses it.
When we got back (taxi) I dropped her off and went home and put some bones on to boil for Mum. I then promptly fell asleep watching a film on the laptop. When I regained consciousness and looked at the time I suddenly remembered the pork. The kitchen was filled with smoke where the pan had boiled dry and I still have the stink in my nostrils. Mum never got any food from me last night although she did eat it today shortly before I threw the pan into the bin outside - no way on earth could I shave scrubbed the black off that one!
Unbeknown to me Kevin arrived back last night and when I got up I had a message from him. We met at RT Mart this afternoon and I was pissed off because he was giving me a lift in his car and there was no wine for me to buy - I could have bought loads and put it in his boot. We went for a coffee and a catch up after and spent a couple of enjoyable hours together, something that has been distinctly missing since he left. The age gap here is, although hardly insurmountable, palpably a barrier. I feel like the pompous old git that I am (but not when in company of the same age) and the others to me are worlds apart. Nobody is to blame (except maybe me for not being a get down and boogie type) and although I have said it before I will say it again: I was very. very lucky in that in my first China teaching job I fetched up in such an anchorage. The bottom has shifted now and I find myself dragging anchor.
Anyway, it is possible that I may meet Kevin tomorrow although nothing is arranged. I am going to set the alarm because I need to keep sensible hours tomorrow in order to feel half decent for the one class on Sunday morning.
Mum, you will be pleased to know, seems to be shrugging off what is still an open wound and is now trying to jump around when she sees me (hope she doesn’t think I am going to feed her when the students return!) but of course she is not agile given her weight. The wild dogs here all seem to have stumpy forelegs for some reason. But she’ll be just fine.
Someone ripped up the lino we paid for in this building’s communal areas, that covered the stairs either between the 3rd and 4th or the 4th and 5th floors and threw it out for collection. I shouldn’t be angry as it doesn’t affect me personally but seeing as I forked out for it as well, it does. We could have paid for Axminster carpets at £500 a square metre and the other residents would have treated it the same.
Oh well, life is life and this is China and soon I will have a positive answer in order to take evasive action if required. Except now I am wondering whether to take Director Xu or Prof Fang for an informal dinner. I am now leaning toward the latter, at least I can expect to understand her and be given a degree of honesty plus maybe recommendations on what I should do. Plus I want a written reference from her.
This is annoying. I really wanted to be in bed by two at the latest but I am still wide awake.
So Thursday was the little school “gathering dinner” and so no point in my going all the way to town shopping, coming back and going out again. In the morning I sent Anna a text to let her know that we would get the bus at about 1620 (the agreed rendezvous time being 1700) and that I would text her both when I left my home and when I saw the bus approaching so she knew which one to get on.
Now Anna is a disaster who doesn’t wait to happen, she just is one. She is one of those people that would miss their own wedding or even funeral. But of course the master planner had it covered. She replied “okey” sic. I duly sent the next text when I left home and the third when the bus was coming to my stop, complete with the information that it was a yellow rather than red bus.
Previously, when I rode to west gate I passed two students, one dragging a wheeled suitcase, the other carrying two baskets of strawberries. They joined me at the bus stop. I asked the one with the suitcase if she was leaving and she said yes. I commented that she was a bit late leaving seeing as the holiday started a month ago and she said she came back that day. Ah. And the dormitories aren’t open. Bad form by the school, they apparently usually post on the website the opening dates but thus far this year nothing. My guess has always been they will open for paying guests later today.
For all I knew this girl could have travelled 12 hours on trains to get here so with a little concern I asked her where she was staying that night. I have an empty bedroom and she would have been welcome to use it. I am going home she said and when asked where that was, she replied Anqing. Twenty minutes on the new trains so no real problem there and conscience salved. Where was I going? To town for dinner. Alone? No, a student will get on the bus in a little while up the road.
But this was Anna, remember?
She wasn’t at the obvious stop near where she lives so the doubts started creeping in. Ok, maybe she walked to the next stop a bit further up. No. Brilliant, the best laid plans of mice and Mainwaring.
When we got on the main road I sent her a text congratulating her on missing the bus. I received no reply so I was forced to call her. Where are you? Outside my home. I just knew this was going to happen. Well get on a bus now. I think I should stay here because I don’t know where to get off. Just get on a damned bus, the next bloody bus and I will tell you where to get off, you will now have made us late.
I arrived twenty minutes early but had to wait 25 mins at the bus stop whilst talking her in, describing the landmarks for the route so she knew exactly where to get off. We were just arriving at the school as the teachers were leaving for the restaurant. They suggested we went with them but unbeknown to Anna I know John the owner from old. Never once has he himself been on time but I like to have the moral upper ground. Thursday night was no exception. We were ten minutes late but once we got to the school he made us wait 20 minutes. Par for the course.
A five minute walk to the restaurant (he has taken me there before) and I have to admit I had a good evening, albeit I ate hardly anything, the one thing I was interested in being baozi with a meat filling yet ten were provided for a dozen people. I never got one. I was however plied with plenty of beer and it was a convivial occasion.
Then John asked if I would visit his school on Sunday. Why? Because Kerry (another one I would have married and who had the audacity to marry another) has resigned and her last day is Sunday because she is pregnant. I had suspected as much at the last meal he hosted, it was either that or she had been eating far too many dumplings. Why did he need me? Because the girl to my left was her replacement and has never ever been a teacher before and he wanted her to see how I do it for one class before Kerry takes the second as a farewell. Well I am not a teacher and I doubt I will ever believe I am one. I am simply someone who brings experience and knowledge, hopefully humour and interest as well, to the classroom and if the students want to draw on that then I have played my part. I don’t think there is such a thing as a teacher, just students who soak up what’s on offer and if they do then you have done your job.
I agreed. And no, any spies reading, I will be taking no payment whatever for this although if a free lunch is offered I will be hard pressed to refuse. I, probably rather stupidly; given her antics on the night; asked if Anna could observe, given that she wants to be a teacher if she can’t join the army and she wants to come. At least this time she may not leave her phone on silent and actually take the same bus as me. Anyway, she now knows where to go if she misses it.
When we got back (taxi) I dropped her off and went home and put some bones on to boil for Mum. I then promptly fell asleep watching a film on the laptop. When I regained consciousness and looked at the time I suddenly remembered the pork. The kitchen was filled with smoke where the pan had boiled dry and I still have the stink in my nostrils. Mum never got any food from me last night although she did eat it today shortly before I threw the pan into the bin outside - no way on earth could I shave scrubbed the black off that one!
Unbeknown to me Kevin arrived back last night and when I got up I had a message from him. We met at RT Mart this afternoon and I was pissed off because he was giving me a lift in his car and there was no wine for me to buy - I could have bought loads and put it in his boot. We went for a coffee and a catch up after and spent a couple of enjoyable hours together, something that has been distinctly missing since he left. The age gap here is, although hardly insurmountable, palpably a barrier. I feel like the pompous old git that I am (but not when in company of the same age) and the others to me are worlds apart. Nobody is to blame (except maybe me for not being a get down and boogie type) and although I have said it before I will say it again: I was very. very lucky in that in my first China teaching job I fetched up in such an anchorage. The bottom has shifted now and I find myself dragging anchor.
Anyway, it is possible that I may meet Kevin tomorrow although nothing is arranged. I am going to set the alarm because I need to keep sensible hours tomorrow in order to feel half decent for the one class on Sunday morning.
Mum, you will be pleased to know, seems to be shrugging off what is still an open wound and is now trying to jump around when she sees me (hope she doesn’t think I am going to feed her when the students return!) but of course she is not agile given her weight. The wild dogs here all seem to have stumpy forelegs for some reason. But she’ll be just fine.
Someone ripped up the lino we paid for in this building’s communal areas, that covered the stairs either between the 3rd and 4th or the 4th and 5th floors and threw it out for collection. I shouldn’t be angry as it doesn’t affect me personally but seeing as I forked out for it as well, it does. We could have paid for Axminster carpets at £500 a square metre and the other residents would have treated it the same.
Oh well, life is life and this is China and soon I will have a positive answer in order to take evasive action if required. Except now I am wondering whether to take Director Xu or Prof Fang for an informal dinner. I am now leaning toward the latter, at least I can expect to understand her and be given a degree of honesty plus maybe recommendations on what I should do. Plus I want a written reference from her.
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Wednesday 17th February, 2016 2230
Even days mostly spent in a deserted place can throw up interesting ones.
I really pushed the corners of the envelope by staying up until six this morning. Ok I finished Hornblower and a lot more besides and considering I had intentions of eating in town, I had nothing to get up early for. It wasn’t far off one by the time I came up for air and the first thing that greeted me when I turned the phone on was a text message from John from the little school to please call him. Would I like to come to his “gathering dinner” tomorrow? Love to, I rarely eat much at these things and it always means a taxi back but it is an outing and I get as much pijou as I like. And sometimes some of the dishes are very nice and now if he spots that I like one which has been snaffled by everyone else, he often orders another platter of it.
Hot on the heels of that came another message from Anna. I knew she had arrived back in Chizhou yesterday so in the wee hours I had sent a message inviting her for dinner this evening with me in town. All sorted.
I put a load in the washing machine (now THAT I will miss if I leave) and waited an hour and a half before I could shower. The electricity supply was not so much a concern as the water pressure which today has been low. However when the laundry had finished and I was hanging it up on the balcony, who should I see outside but Mum. Limping but on four legs and blatantly not letting her injury get her down - she’s a tough old buzzard that one. I really should get a photo of her instead of just the babies she has had. Seeing her reminded me to boil her pork bones before I left, I had no idea when I would return and being able to simply just chuck it out when I got back was a good idea.
So Anna and I met up at five thirty at south gate and bussed to town. When she told me her boyfriend would be back tomorrow from Suzhou (which Suzhou I have no idea as there are two) at about midnight I asked her if she wanted to come to the school dinner. She did and so I asked John if it was ok and he agreed.
I finally remembered to buy ten disposable lighters when we got to town, the bakery wasn’t too packed (although no sodding doughnuts so I had to make do with croissants and a fruity pastry) and then we trotted off to the steakhouse for dinner. I had a steak, Anna had what; if I liked it; lamb ribs that looked lovely. She certainly enjoyed them. Supermarket for shopping and then home, except of course the uni-bound buses were packed so we cheated.
By this time it was after nine, which is quite late for China, and we settled into our seats on the empty return bus at the stop before the terminus. I think possibly three stops on when there were about ten souls aboard the bus stopped to let a woman on. Quite well dressed and at a guess I would say mid-forties. I am quite used to the Chinese being utterly glued to their mobile phones by now (a young woman was so engrossed in texting about 6 weeks ago in Nanjing that she walked into a canal/river and because she couldn’t swim she drowned, I watched the CCTV footage of her drowning) but this woman never took her eye off the phone for a second, climbing on and pausing only long enough to deposit her two coins in the payment slot. With one hand holding the phone and the other tapping the screen furiously, she was oblivious to everything.
Now these hybrid buses may start off using electric power but they do in fairness accelerate at a hell of a lick. The thinking person would ensure al least one hand was holding an upright or a strap. Not this woman. The drivers do have a care for elderly/injured/infirm people as I am aware from when I was on crutches. They always waited until I was seated.
Hilariously, she ended ended up flat on her arse. Now get this - she proceeded to haul herself up by grabbing one of the fore and aft seats near the front (still playing with her bloody phone) and when the driver realised she had fallen and braked to stop, down she went again!
The driver helped her up and was given much abuse for his trouble. From the odd translation Anna was able to offer the woman was threatening to ring the bus company and have him sacked and calling him an idiot. I think I could have guessed what was being said anyway. The driver apparently kept apologising but the woman was having none of it.
Meanwhile of course, the bus was stationary. The Chinese famously not being complainers until such time as something snaps inside, sat mute, watching. Unbeknown to me, Anna had looked at the time this occurred because she had to get home seeing as a housemate had forgotten their key.
The furore went on and on and on, all the while I was getting more and more angry myself. I asked Anna if any of the other passengers would say something to the woman so we could resume our journey and the reply was “No, of course, not, they are Chinese.” Telling her that I wasn’t Chinese, I proceeded to tell this woman who had merely only had her pride hurt to shut the hell up, sit down and let us carry on. Amazed at my effrontery, she turned to see who had the audacity to shout at her and of course saw a red-faced corpulent Englishman sitting at the rear of the bus. She started chopsing back at me and I cut her short, pulling my phone out and indicating how idiotic she was not to have stopped using the phone until she was seated and that it was her and not the driver’s fault.
I could feel Anna literally shrinking beside me but for God’s sake, it was now already eight minutes and we hadn’t moved. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the next bus after us had overtaken. At this point a Chinese man of about my years also chipped in, presumably emboldened by the fact that I would be blamed for everything anyway. Finally the bitch took her seat but right behind the driver so she could continue her diatribe. Were I he I would have chucked her off the bus after refunding her fare and if I ever saw her hailing my bus alone at a bus stop, drive straight on by. She delayed everyone by ten minutes.
From what Anna told me she then started arguing with the driver about the foreigner and the driver (not one I see often to be fair) apparently told her that the foreigner saw things more fairly than she (correct) and she then proceeded to accuse him of disrespecting Chinese people! This idiotic harridan finally got off three stops later once she had finished her tirade along with the gentleman who had also spoken out. As he got off he gave me a broad grin but she alighted from the front door, no way was she going to come back my way! I swear she got off to wait for another 29 bus!
I joked to Anna that maybe she was the new dean of the foreign language department……..
So you see, a book COULD be written purely on experiences on public transport. and I thought it was going to be just another day.
Even days mostly spent in a deserted place can throw up interesting ones.
I really pushed the corners of the envelope by staying up until six this morning. Ok I finished Hornblower and a lot more besides and considering I had intentions of eating in town, I had nothing to get up early for. It wasn’t far off one by the time I came up for air and the first thing that greeted me when I turned the phone on was a text message from John from the little school to please call him. Would I like to come to his “gathering dinner” tomorrow? Love to, I rarely eat much at these things and it always means a taxi back but it is an outing and I get as much pijou as I like. And sometimes some of the dishes are very nice and now if he spots that I like one which has been snaffled by everyone else, he often orders another platter of it.
Hot on the heels of that came another message from Anna. I knew she had arrived back in Chizhou yesterday so in the wee hours I had sent a message inviting her for dinner this evening with me in town. All sorted.
I put a load in the washing machine (now THAT I will miss if I leave) and waited an hour and a half before I could shower. The electricity supply was not so much a concern as the water pressure which today has been low. However when the laundry had finished and I was hanging it up on the balcony, who should I see outside but Mum. Limping but on four legs and blatantly not letting her injury get her down - she’s a tough old buzzard that one. I really should get a photo of her instead of just the babies she has had. Seeing her reminded me to boil her pork bones before I left, I had no idea when I would return and being able to simply just chuck it out when I got back was a good idea.
So Anna and I met up at five thirty at south gate and bussed to town. When she told me her boyfriend would be back tomorrow from Suzhou (which Suzhou I have no idea as there are two) at about midnight I asked her if she wanted to come to the school dinner. She did and so I asked John if it was ok and he agreed.
I finally remembered to buy ten disposable lighters when we got to town, the bakery wasn’t too packed (although no sodding doughnuts so I had to make do with croissants and a fruity pastry) and then we trotted off to the steakhouse for dinner. I had a steak, Anna had what; if I liked it; lamb ribs that looked lovely. She certainly enjoyed them. Supermarket for shopping and then home, except of course the uni-bound buses were packed so we cheated.
By this time it was after nine, which is quite late for China, and we settled into our seats on the empty return bus at the stop before the terminus. I think possibly three stops on when there were about ten souls aboard the bus stopped to let a woman on. Quite well dressed and at a guess I would say mid-forties. I am quite used to the Chinese being utterly glued to their mobile phones by now (a young woman was so engrossed in texting about 6 weeks ago in Nanjing that she walked into a canal/river and because she couldn’t swim she drowned, I watched the CCTV footage of her drowning) but this woman never took her eye off the phone for a second, climbing on and pausing only long enough to deposit her two coins in the payment slot. With one hand holding the phone and the other tapping the screen furiously, she was oblivious to everything.
Now these hybrid buses may start off using electric power but they do in fairness accelerate at a hell of a lick. The thinking person would ensure al least one hand was holding an upright or a strap. Not this woman. The drivers do have a care for elderly/injured/infirm people as I am aware from when I was on crutches. They always waited until I was seated.
Hilariously, she ended ended up flat on her arse. Now get this - she proceeded to haul herself up by grabbing one of the fore and aft seats near the front (still playing with her bloody phone) and when the driver realised she had fallen and braked to stop, down she went again!
The driver helped her up and was given much abuse for his trouble. From the odd translation Anna was able to offer the woman was threatening to ring the bus company and have him sacked and calling him an idiot. I think I could have guessed what was being said anyway. The driver apparently kept apologising but the woman was having none of it.
Meanwhile of course, the bus was stationary. The Chinese famously not being complainers until such time as something snaps inside, sat mute, watching. Unbeknown to me, Anna had looked at the time this occurred because she had to get home seeing as a housemate had forgotten their key.
The furore went on and on and on, all the while I was getting more and more angry myself. I asked Anna if any of the other passengers would say something to the woman so we could resume our journey and the reply was “No, of course, not, they are Chinese.” Telling her that I wasn’t Chinese, I proceeded to tell this woman who had merely only had her pride hurt to shut the hell up, sit down and let us carry on. Amazed at my effrontery, she turned to see who had the audacity to shout at her and of course saw a red-faced corpulent Englishman sitting at the rear of the bus. She started chopsing back at me and I cut her short, pulling my phone out and indicating how idiotic she was not to have stopped using the phone until she was seated and that it was her and not the driver’s fault.
I could feel Anna literally shrinking beside me but for God’s sake, it was now already eight minutes and we hadn’t moved. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the next bus after us had overtaken. At this point a Chinese man of about my years also chipped in, presumably emboldened by the fact that I would be blamed for everything anyway. Finally the bitch took her seat but right behind the driver so she could continue her diatribe. Were I he I would have chucked her off the bus after refunding her fare and if I ever saw her hailing my bus alone at a bus stop, drive straight on by. She delayed everyone by ten minutes.
From what Anna told me she then started arguing with the driver about the foreigner and the driver (not one I see often to be fair) apparently told her that the foreigner saw things more fairly than she (correct) and she then proceeded to accuse him of disrespecting Chinese people! This idiotic harridan finally got off three stops later once she had finished her tirade along with the gentleman who had also spoken out. As he got off he gave me a broad grin but she alighted from the front door, no way was she going to come back my way! I swear she got off to wait for another 29 bus!
I joked to Anna that maybe she was the new dean of the foreign language department……..
So you see, a book COULD be written purely on experiences on public transport. and I thought it was going to be just another day.
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
Monday 15th February, 2016 1845
A week tomorrow all the students are supposed to be here so I guess at the weekend the influx will start. Lessons recommence a week on Thursday.
Of late, being in complete solitude apart from my shopping trips, I have on occasion become uncharacteristically depressed about what the future may hold for me. Annoyingly I am having bad dreams and on waking I find myself lying in bed fretting over how to pass the next six years happily and comfortably before retirement becomes possible.
I try to tell myself that originally I only came here with the intention of staying a year but of course after so long it has become home. With a campus full of people and work to do I am quite sure I will feel more cheerful, plus I can determine for sure if there is any chance of staying and if not, start my job search. It doesn’t help that I get the impression Joan is pushing me away somewhat, my assumption is it is to make any departure of mine less painful for her. I must ask her when she comes back.
I was having a trawl through job websites earlier, plenty of highly paid positions in private schools (no thanks, they pay well but expect up to 40 hours a week plus a couple of pounds of flesh) but I want to stick to public universities or colleges. There would appear to be openings in Nanning but the packages are not attractive - less of a salary than I get now or if not, less fringe benefits. If I must leave I really don’t want to go further north to even colder climes but it may well be that I have to take whatever I can get, the age thing will probably dictate my movements.
I went for a quick shop today and when I boarded the bus at south gate there were half a dozen elderly people already on it. As it has been quite chilly today I wasn’t best pleased when an old boy opposite me opened a window fully and rendered the bus cold. They do that here, for some reason they love freezing their nuts off. It was only a few minutes later that I realised why he had done it.
Someone had vomited copiously on the floor under his seat and left it there. It was too much to have been a child and the thing that struck me most is that where the culprit must have been sitting they were at arm’s reach from the drivers waste bucket. Some people just don’t care.
Considering it is Monday and the holiday week is over, I was surprised to find the town very busy on a weekday, so much so that I had to take a double bus back. I wonder when these people actually work sometimes.
Tuesday 16th 1835
I found Hornblower on YouTube last night and became completely engrossed. I thought I had seen all the episodes but I hadn’t and thankfully those I have I couldn’t remember! And so it was that after watching six ninety minute episodes back to back I hit the hay at five!
I had planned on simply staying on campus or in the environs and tackling the arduous task of sweeping the flat and changing the cat litter. By the time I finally worked up the momentum to actually do something, I had decided I would after all go shopping and maybe eat in town.
When I opened the door to place the bag of used litter in the alley outside preparatory to my leaving after a shower, the door (which opens outwards) met brief resistance. Mum had been laying up against it. She has never done that before and it hasn’t been that cold today so I didn’t think she was trying to get the escaping warm air.
I thought no more of it, showered and got ready. When I left I took my rubbish and saw Mum uncharacteristically still up on our floor, this time prone outside the flat next to Richard’s. I bent down and ruffled her fur, noting either someone had left or she had found an “Eccles cake” with a meaty interior for her but which she didn’t seem keen on eating. Don’t worry, I told her, I will bring something back for you.
Going downstairs I never noticed anything but when I got to the bottom I wondered who had spilt loads of blobs of red paint on the floor. But they weren’t blobs - they were bloody paw prints! I quickly got rid of my rubbish and went back up to see Mum, wondering what on earth she had done to herself. Then I saw the blood on the stairs as well. I did think she was less than enthusiastic when I had come out initially and now I knew why. It was difficult however to gauge what injury she had, for she had her front right paw bent under. I could though see exposed bone above the leg joint.
As good natured as she is I was wary of trying to move her leg to get a closer look in case I hurt her and she bit me. I don’t think she would but I didn’t want to test it. For all I knew she had broken it. Outside I followed the trail of blood but even at the end of it I could see nothing that could have injured her. I am positive it wasn’t inflicted by another dog, for starters most of them have left and even before she was more than a match for them all.
So I got on the bus and sat pensively all the way. I don’t want her to die, lose her leg or be permanently maimed and shamefully, even though I could probably get the vet to come to campus and collect her for treatment and pay for it, because of my own concerns over the coming summer I couldn’t afford to “waste” what could run into thousands of yuan because I will need it myself if the end is truly nigh here. I know she’s not my responsibility but ever since I broke open the shutter to reunite her with her pups we have been as good friends as if she was my own. I felt very low and very guilty.
Eating out was kicked into the undergrowth and I did the quickest shop possible, luckily the buses today weren’t as crowded. When I got home she was still in the same position but she had moved her paw enough for me to get a better view. Somehow she has I think got her foot caught or maybe trapped in a drain grid, pulled away violently and ripped skin and pelt away, leaving a nasty and obviously painful wound.
It will heal though.
She is even now venturing outside, albeit on three legs. So I cooked her a really large, meaty bit of pig and when I went down to take it to her I called her in. Stone me if a young Chinese woman didn’t also appear from another building with a big bowl of rice, veg and some sort of meat! At least I can be safe in the knowledge I am not the only one feeding her during the holidays and given the reputation people here have for mistreating animals it is always a joy for me to see them carrying out random acts of kindness to our furry guests.
My guess is Mum will be on all fours by the time term starts. I really hope so.
A week tomorrow all the students are supposed to be here so I guess at the weekend the influx will start. Lessons recommence a week on Thursday.
Of late, being in complete solitude apart from my shopping trips, I have on occasion become uncharacteristically depressed about what the future may hold for me. Annoyingly I am having bad dreams and on waking I find myself lying in bed fretting over how to pass the next six years happily and comfortably before retirement becomes possible.
I try to tell myself that originally I only came here with the intention of staying a year but of course after so long it has become home. With a campus full of people and work to do I am quite sure I will feel more cheerful, plus I can determine for sure if there is any chance of staying and if not, start my job search. It doesn’t help that I get the impression Joan is pushing me away somewhat, my assumption is it is to make any departure of mine less painful for her. I must ask her when she comes back.
I was having a trawl through job websites earlier, plenty of highly paid positions in private schools (no thanks, they pay well but expect up to 40 hours a week plus a couple of pounds of flesh) but I want to stick to public universities or colleges. There would appear to be openings in Nanning but the packages are not attractive - less of a salary than I get now or if not, less fringe benefits. If I must leave I really don’t want to go further north to even colder climes but it may well be that I have to take whatever I can get, the age thing will probably dictate my movements.
I went for a quick shop today and when I boarded the bus at south gate there were half a dozen elderly people already on it. As it has been quite chilly today I wasn’t best pleased when an old boy opposite me opened a window fully and rendered the bus cold. They do that here, for some reason they love freezing their nuts off. It was only a few minutes later that I realised why he had done it.
Someone had vomited copiously on the floor under his seat and left it there. It was too much to have been a child and the thing that struck me most is that where the culprit must have been sitting they were at arm’s reach from the drivers waste bucket. Some people just don’t care.
Considering it is Monday and the holiday week is over, I was surprised to find the town very busy on a weekday, so much so that I had to take a double bus back. I wonder when these people actually work sometimes.
Tuesday 16th 1835
I found Hornblower on YouTube last night and became completely engrossed. I thought I had seen all the episodes but I hadn’t and thankfully those I have I couldn’t remember! And so it was that after watching six ninety minute episodes back to back I hit the hay at five!
I had planned on simply staying on campus or in the environs and tackling the arduous task of sweeping the flat and changing the cat litter. By the time I finally worked up the momentum to actually do something, I had decided I would after all go shopping and maybe eat in town.
When I opened the door to place the bag of used litter in the alley outside preparatory to my leaving after a shower, the door (which opens outwards) met brief resistance. Mum had been laying up against it. She has never done that before and it hasn’t been that cold today so I didn’t think she was trying to get the escaping warm air.
I thought no more of it, showered and got ready. When I left I took my rubbish and saw Mum uncharacteristically still up on our floor, this time prone outside the flat next to Richard’s. I bent down and ruffled her fur, noting either someone had left or she had found an “Eccles cake” with a meaty interior for her but which she didn’t seem keen on eating. Don’t worry, I told her, I will bring something back for you.
Going downstairs I never noticed anything but when I got to the bottom I wondered who had spilt loads of blobs of red paint on the floor. But they weren’t blobs - they were bloody paw prints! I quickly got rid of my rubbish and went back up to see Mum, wondering what on earth she had done to herself. Then I saw the blood on the stairs as well. I did think she was less than enthusiastic when I had come out initially and now I knew why. It was difficult however to gauge what injury she had, for she had her front right paw bent under. I could though see exposed bone above the leg joint.
As good natured as she is I was wary of trying to move her leg to get a closer look in case I hurt her and she bit me. I don’t think she would but I didn’t want to test it. For all I knew she had broken it. Outside I followed the trail of blood but even at the end of it I could see nothing that could have injured her. I am positive it wasn’t inflicted by another dog, for starters most of them have left and even before she was more than a match for them all.
So I got on the bus and sat pensively all the way. I don’t want her to die, lose her leg or be permanently maimed and shamefully, even though I could probably get the vet to come to campus and collect her for treatment and pay for it, because of my own concerns over the coming summer I couldn’t afford to “waste” what could run into thousands of yuan because I will need it myself if the end is truly nigh here. I know she’s not my responsibility but ever since I broke open the shutter to reunite her with her pups we have been as good friends as if she was my own. I felt very low and very guilty.
Eating out was kicked into the undergrowth and I did the quickest shop possible, luckily the buses today weren’t as crowded. When I got home she was still in the same position but she had moved her paw enough for me to get a better view. Somehow she has I think got her foot caught or maybe trapped in a drain grid, pulled away violently and ripped skin and pelt away, leaving a nasty and obviously painful wound.
It will heal though.
She is even now venturing outside, albeit on three legs. So I cooked her a really large, meaty bit of pig and when I went down to take it to her I called her in. Stone me if a young Chinese woman didn’t also appear from another building with a big bowl of rice, veg and some sort of meat! At least I can be safe in the knowledge I am not the only one feeding her during the holidays and given the reputation people here have for mistreating animals it is always a joy for me to see them carrying out random acts of kindness to our furry guests.
My guess is Mum will be on all fours by the time term starts. I really hope so.
Saturday, 13 February 2016
Saturday 13th February, 2016 1910
You just KNEW it was going to happen, didn’t you?
For the fifth year in succession I got caught.
Feeling extremely lazy, in fact inexcusably so seeing as I have frozen meals and still two gigantic Papa John’s pizzas in my freezer, I decided not only to go shopping (nothing wrong with that) but to do so relatively late (definitely wrong) in order to have an Angus (Trading Standards would have a field day with that one) steak dinner into the bargain.
Now actually the steak was decent considering it was from a perfectly circular cow and given that the weather has now turned wet and cool again, it was a pleasure to while away ninety minutes on my own whilst dining. Naturally I would have preferred to have Joan with me but nonetheless the experience was enhanced by the fact the fuyuans now recognise me.
As I emerged it was apparent it had been raining again but had by that time had stopped but rain is merely an inconvenience when walking in town as opposed to an outright annoyance when riding. Into RT Mart to buy staples (wine. Jing jo and Guinness) and because I knew I would be too knackered by the time I got back to boil some pork for Mum, a whole ready cooked duck. I thought the price was 23.8y for half a kilo but only on my return did I realise it was for what was on offer. She had better eat it because at that price, were I to repeat it every night, I would be spending 20% of my earnings each month on her! Come to think of it, for half that I could coax her inside and make her my pet and feed her. Too big to ride the bike with me though. Whilst in there I was accosted by a woman with her son. I didn’t know her from Eve but I recognised the boy, he is the lad that has been at the summer charity mountain school every year I have been there and Jesus, has he shot up faster than bamboo! He has to be over six feet now and as teenagers often are, he was mortified by his mother’s ambush at the meat counter. It saddened me to think that I may never go and play games at that school again. I dread the phine call from them this summer when I may have to refuse them.
Anyway, now that all my hip flasks have either been ditched because they sprung leaks or in the case of the final one, the pin holding the levered screw top perished, I have been searching online for “man sized” replacements. I have found an 8oz one for a very good price and may well buy it when Joan is here to be able to shop online for me. However for a couple of weeks I have been glancing at the Zippo shop right at the foot of the escalator as you exit RT. You just know everything they sell is going to be expensive but bolstered by alcohol I decided to ask to see a hip flask I had seen in their display case. Not leather-bound but it simply stood out for its size. As it happens it is a 7oz one.
I was right about the expensive part. It was 168y but fool that I am, having asked for it to be taken out and viewed, I bought it.
So I just made my outing expensive. Little was I to know it was to become a trifle more so.
As I sat in the bus shelter surrounded by hordes of locals it finally dawned on me that at six o’clock there were going to be no more buses. I did actually laugh out loud at the fact that yet again I had been stuffed, just when I thought I had mastered the art of spring festival travel. The locals gave me odd looks until I gaily told them “mayo buses!” and then consternation consumed them. We had all been waiting at least ten minutes and not a one had passed by going north or south.
The battle for taxis was now on. Personally I toyed with the idea of just going to a bar and having a drink, after all, if I had to pay for a taxi I may as well make the most of it, right?
That was until a group of people (two women and a man my age plus a late teens boy) approached me and started talking in Mandarin. I had no idea what they were saying to me until I picked up “laoshe” and “Chizhou xue yuan”. they clearly knew who I was and where I was going. My detective skills suggested to me that they wanted to share a cab and I was right although I had no idea from whence they knew me, I assumed perhaps from my bus trips.
So we procured a taxi, I sat in the front and the four of them in the back. Illegal of course but this is China. Millionaire that I’m not, I asked the price. Normally 30y but of course in spring festival it goes up to 40y. Riding solo I would have paid thirty in any case so I told the others that’s what I would pay and they could cover the shortfall. Agreed. They all got off about half a mile from the school and I am still none the wiser as to how I know them because I don’t recognise any of them from the local shops or restaurants. Who knows, maybe they saw me on TV?
Talking of the buses, my fame knows no bounds it seems. For the last few months I have had the drivers honk and wave at me as they go past the college when I am waiting for a bus going the other way - even when they have seen me out and about on the bike - but today when I got to town and was crossing at the “pelican” (not really one because they will still run you down even on a green man) I heard a tooting of a horn.
Well, nobody ever pays attention to car/bus/truck horns in China because they simply mean nothing - take away all noise making capabilities from vehicles here and people would be incapable of driving.
This one was so insistent though, and of course being British, I turned to look. It was a 29 bus saying hello! God knows what the other pedestrians thought when they heard and saw a laowei and a bus driver hailing each other but that, my readers, is why many of the drivers endeavour to stop theirs so the doors are right in front of me when there’s a queue. Even in China they clearly appreciate a ni hao as you board and a xi xie when you leave. It is a lesson in life we should all remember, including me.
You just KNEW it was going to happen, didn’t you?
For the fifth year in succession I got caught.
Feeling extremely lazy, in fact inexcusably so seeing as I have frozen meals and still two gigantic Papa John’s pizzas in my freezer, I decided not only to go shopping (nothing wrong with that) but to do so relatively late (definitely wrong) in order to have an Angus (Trading Standards would have a field day with that one) steak dinner into the bargain.
Now actually the steak was decent considering it was from a perfectly circular cow and given that the weather has now turned wet and cool again, it was a pleasure to while away ninety minutes on my own whilst dining. Naturally I would have preferred to have Joan with me but nonetheless the experience was enhanced by the fact the fuyuans now recognise me.
As I emerged it was apparent it had been raining again but had by that time had stopped but rain is merely an inconvenience when walking in town as opposed to an outright annoyance when riding. Into RT Mart to buy staples (wine. Jing jo and Guinness) and because I knew I would be too knackered by the time I got back to boil some pork for Mum, a whole ready cooked duck. I thought the price was 23.8y for half a kilo but only on my return did I realise it was for what was on offer. She had better eat it because at that price, were I to repeat it every night, I would be spending 20% of my earnings each month on her! Come to think of it, for half that I could coax her inside and make her my pet and feed her. Too big to ride the bike with me though. Whilst in there I was accosted by a woman with her son. I didn’t know her from Eve but I recognised the boy, he is the lad that has been at the summer charity mountain school every year I have been there and Jesus, has he shot up faster than bamboo! He has to be over six feet now and as teenagers often are, he was mortified by his mother’s ambush at the meat counter. It saddened me to think that I may never go and play games at that school again. I dread the phine call from them this summer when I may have to refuse them.
Anyway, now that all my hip flasks have either been ditched because they sprung leaks or in the case of the final one, the pin holding the levered screw top perished, I have been searching online for “man sized” replacements. I have found an 8oz one for a very good price and may well buy it when Joan is here to be able to shop online for me. However for a couple of weeks I have been glancing at the Zippo shop right at the foot of the escalator as you exit RT. You just know everything they sell is going to be expensive but bolstered by alcohol I decided to ask to see a hip flask I had seen in their display case. Not leather-bound but it simply stood out for its size. As it happens it is a 7oz one.
I was right about the expensive part. It was 168y but fool that I am, having asked for it to be taken out and viewed, I bought it.
So I just made my outing expensive. Little was I to know it was to become a trifle more so.
As I sat in the bus shelter surrounded by hordes of locals it finally dawned on me that at six o’clock there were going to be no more buses. I did actually laugh out loud at the fact that yet again I had been stuffed, just when I thought I had mastered the art of spring festival travel. The locals gave me odd looks until I gaily told them “mayo buses!” and then consternation consumed them. We had all been waiting at least ten minutes and not a one had passed by going north or south.
The battle for taxis was now on. Personally I toyed with the idea of just going to a bar and having a drink, after all, if I had to pay for a taxi I may as well make the most of it, right?
That was until a group of people (two women and a man my age plus a late teens boy) approached me and started talking in Mandarin. I had no idea what they were saying to me until I picked up “laoshe” and “Chizhou xue yuan”. they clearly knew who I was and where I was going. My detective skills suggested to me that they wanted to share a cab and I was right although I had no idea from whence they knew me, I assumed perhaps from my bus trips.
So we procured a taxi, I sat in the front and the four of them in the back. Illegal of course but this is China. Millionaire that I’m not, I asked the price. Normally 30y but of course in spring festival it goes up to 40y. Riding solo I would have paid thirty in any case so I told the others that’s what I would pay and they could cover the shortfall. Agreed. They all got off about half a mile from the school and I am still none the wiser as to how I know them because I don’t recognise any of them from the local shops or restaurants. Who knows, maybe they saw me on TV?
Talking of the buses, my fame knows no bounds it seems. For the last few months I have had the drivers honk and wave at me as they go past the college when I am waiting for a bus going the other way - even when they have seen me out and about on the bike - but today when I got to town and was crossing at the “pelican” (not really one because they will still run you down even on a green man) I heard a tooting of a horn.
Well, nobody ever pays attention to car/bus/truck horns in China because they simply mean nothing - take away all noise making capabilities from vehicles here and people would be incapable of driving.
This one was so insistent though, and of course being British, I turned to look. It was a 29 bus saying hello! God knows what the other pedestrians thought when they heard and saw a laowei and a bus driver hailing each other but that, my readers, is why many of the drivers endeavour to stop theirs so the doors are right in front of me when there’s a queue. Even in China they clearly appreciate a ni hao as you board and a xi xie when you leave. It is a lesson in life we should all remember, including me.
Friday, 12 February 2016
Friday 12th February, 2016 1700
Two days of doing nothing bar a daily shopping trip. My, how life must be when you are retired!
At least now the supermarket have replenished my wine and Guinness supplies, although I must confess I was becoming rather fond of the weissbier. Doing my mental arithmetic, at 10y a can and double in both size and ABV it is not that much more expensive than the cheap cans I normally buy (but can’t because they haven’t got any at the moment) and are far more enjoyable, even if they do pack a decent punch. I tend to use the cheap Snow stuff for slaking a thirst. The trouble is, when you put four large cans, two bottles of wine and a bottle of jing jo into your shopping, when you are taking the bus it’s quite a heavy load to bear. When the weather steadies down to be warmer again I may have to pluck up the courage to use the bike for these runs again, I can take so much more and a cab costs 30y.
These past two days the weather has been great, pleasantly warm in the 20s although at some point before I got up today (at noon!) it had been raining with more expected tonight and tomorrow. The scaremongers at the local met office have revised their Mystic Meg impressions, now they are merely saying it will be cold but not freezing over the next few days. Although I have come to abhor the cold since I came here, it is the rain I really hate and then chiefly because it is a royal pain when you are riding a scooter.
Mum is now expectantly awaiting my return each afternoon because naturally she is expecting some food from me. Yesterday she even came up the stairs. She has never done that to my knowledge in any building, albeit she stayed at the top of the stairs so her escape route was open, not because of me, I hasten to add. I splashed out a bit on her today, instead of skin and bones I bought skin and meat at double the price. I know she’s not my responsibility but I have known her longer than I have any other dog in my life now. Still, in two weeks the students will be back and she can forage for her own tucker. The mystery of her disappearing pups is solved though, I am almost certain they have migrated to the library area near south gate, for yesterday Mum ran all the way down after my bike to keep me company and it was there that two of them came rushing from the undergrowth to join the chase. Quite where they are finding their food is still a mystery to me, unless of course the guards are bunging them some. They often do.
So with just a fortnight to go, at some point I need to address the revamping of my CV and also prepare my class attendance book before we start. Other than that I guess life will be pretty undramatic for the foreseeable future (but then this is ME we are talking about) and the most exciting thing I can envisage is another possible pizza run before term starts.
Talking of which, it took me three years to steel myself to take a train in China (aside from the Maglev in Shanghai but that’s a different breed of fish) because I had visions of the Indian method with pushers and people riding on top of the carriage. With hindsight of course that was arrant nonsense but CCTV news showing trains full to bursting and tales of travellers standing for 24 hours on trains to get home for spring festival did nothing to allay my aversion.
Then of course I ended up taking my first train (not in spring festival) with a ticket for a “hard seat”. There is no way I would buy a standing ticket unless I was absolutely desperate and it was a journey of twenty minutes or less. Now these seats are not particularly comfortable but I have endured an eight hour trip on a couple of occasions. They can be as boring as hell or if you are lucky to have fellow travellers with two packs of cards you can while away the time by playing Do Di Ju, which I love. On the whole, provided there are not hundreds of standing passengers clogging up the walkways the trips are passable, plus as they are slow trains, you can smoke between carriages.
Since the new fast trains appeared I am a convert! Even second class (I still haven’t mastered the art of asking for a first class seat) is really comfy. For me the bugbear is no smoking but I get over that by leaping out at each stop to grab a few puffs before reboarding. The ride is smooth, the carriages clean and the speeds reach up to 126 mph. When I read about a Suffolk-London season ticket commuter who was reduced to sitting in a cleaning cupboard every day on his way home from work (after paying £6,000/60,000y a year) I realised that would never happen here. As far as I know there is no such thing yet as a season ticket but if there were I would bet a pound to a pinch his ticket would be for the same seat number every time he took a train.
There is one thing I would like to do at least once though. The idea of taking even a soft sleeper train is off-putting because even with two of you travelling together there will still be two strangers in the berth and for some inexplicable reason there are no privacy curtains on the bunks. Sod that. But there are certain trains that have luxury sleeper compartments for two with their own private bathroom. Now THAT would be ok. If only they didn’t cost three times as much as it does to fly!
Two days of doing nothing bar a daily shopping trip. My, how life must be when you are retired!
At least now the supermarket have replenished my wine and Guinness supplies, although I must confess I was becoming rather fond of the weissbier. Doing my mental arithmetic, at 10y a can and double in both size and ABV it is not that much more expensive than the cheap cans I normally buy (but can’t because they haven’t got any at the moment) and are far more enjoyable, even if they do pack a decent punch. I tend to use the cheap Snow stuff for slaking a thirst. The trouble is, when you put four large cans, two bottles of wine and a bottle of jing jo into your shopping, when you are taking the bus it’s quite a heavy load to bear. When the weather steadies down to be warmer again I may have to pluck up the courage to use the bike for these runs again, I can take so much more and a cab costs 30y.
These past two days the weather has been great, pleasantly warm in the 20s although at some point before I got up today (at noon!) it had been raining with more expected tonight and tomorrow. The scaremongers at the local met office have revised their Mystic Meg impressions, now they are merely saying it will be cold but not freezing over the next few days. Although I have come to abhor the cold since I came here, it is the rain I really hate and then chiefly because it is a royal pain when you are riding a scooter.
Mum is now expectantly awaiting my return each afternoon because naturally she is expecting some food from me. Yesterday she even came up the stairs. She has never done that to my knowledge in any building, albeit she stayed at the top of the stairs so her escape route was open, not because of me, I hasten to add. I splashed out a bit on her today, instead of skin and bones I bought skin and meat at double the price. I know she’s not my responsibility but I have known her longer than I have any other dog in my life now. Still, in two weeks the students will be back and she can forage for her own tucker. The mystery of her disappearing pups is solved though, I am almost certain they have migrated to the library area near south gate, for yesterday Mum ran all the way down after my bike to keep me company and it was there that two of them came rushing from the undergrowth to join the chase. Quite where they are finding their food is still a mystery to me, unless of course the guards are bunging them some. They often do.
So with just a fortnight to go, at some point I need to address the revamping of my CV and also prepare my class attendance book before we start. Other than that I guess life will be pretty undramatic for the foreseeable future (but then this is ME we are talking about) and the most exciting thing I can envisage is another possible pizza run before term starts.
Talking of which, it took me three years to steel myself to take a train in China (aside from the Maglev in Shanghai but that’s a different breed of fish) because I had visions of the Indian method with pushers and people riding on top of the carriage. With hindsight of course that was arrant nonsense but CCTV news showing trains full to bursting and tales of travellers standing for 24 hours on trains to get home for spring festival did nothing to allay my aversion.
Then of course I ended up taking my first train (not in spring festival) with a ticket for a “hard seat”. There is no way I would buy a standing ticket unless I was absolutely desperate and it was a journey of twenty minutes or less. Now these seats are not particularly comfortable but I have endured an eight hour trip on a couple of occasions. They can be as boring as hell or if you are lucky to have fellow travellers with two packs of cards you can while away the time by playing Do Di Ju, which I love. On the whole, provided there are not hundreds of standing passengers clogging up the walkways the trips are passable, plus as they are slow trains, you can smoke between carriages.
Since the new fast trains appeared I am a convert! Even second class (I still haven’t mastered the art of asking for a first class seat) is really comfy. For me the bugbear is no smoking but I get over that by leaping out at each stop to grab a few puffs before reboarding. The ride is smooth, the carriages clean and the speeds reach up to 126 mph. When I read about a Suffolk-London season ticket commuter who was reduced to sitting in a cleaning cupboard every day on his way home from work (after paying £6,000/60,000y a year) I realised that would never happen here. As far as I know there is no such thing yet as a season ticket but if there were I would bet a pound to a pinch his ticket would be for the same seat number every time he took a train.
There is one thing I would like to do at least once though. The idea of taking even a soft sleeper train is off-putting because even with two of you travelling together there will still be two strangers in the berth and for some inexplicable reason there are no privacy curtains on the bunks. Sod that. But there are certain trains that have luxury sleeper compartments for two with their own private bathroom. Now THAT would be ok. If only they didn’t cost three times as much as it does to fly!
Wednesday, 10 February 2016
Tuesday 9th February, 2016 1315
Oh boy, that’s certainly one way of adjusting the body clock! I struggled to stay awake until midnight.
So I set my alarm reasonably early for a shopping trip. Assuming the buses finish early this week I didn’t want to get caught out and stung by a taxi to get back. Travelling by bus both ways was bliss, no problems with getting a seat either way although I did see one outbound vehicle that was full on the ride in. On the way in the thought occurred to me that seeing as they ran on new years day for the first time, just maybe we have a full service anyway. I may take a ride later this evening to south gate to check it out, if I am right then I can go to town for dinners if I want. With nobody else to cater for my indolence knows no bounds!
I went into the bakery to buy some goodies but left empty handed, not a doughnut nor anything else that I like in sight, just “cake burgers” and sweet hotdogs. Fine for Asian tastes but not this one, who on earth wants the equivalent to a Cumberland sausage in a hot cross bun??? RT Mart wasn’t busy either, pity they hadn’t restocked after the pestilence destroyed their stock of my wine. They did however have three cans of Guinness so it wasn’t a complete waste of time, plus of course I bought more pork knuckles for Mum. But it got me out of the house.
The weather today is absolutely gorgeous, nudging twenty and although I needed my coat when I left, by the time I returned a light jacket would have been ample even when riding the bike. In true loony weather fashion such as we get here, I see they are predicting rain from Thursday to Sunday with a steady decline (again) in temperatures, culminating in a daytime high of zero on Sunday! How the hell can you drop twenty degrees in five days when you aren’t moving??
The washing machine has been busy since I got back yesterday. All my clothes and the towels were washed yesterday and today is the turn of Joan’s lower quilt, tomorrow is my bedding, which I must admit is long overdue. I would do it today but I don’t really have hanging space (I don’t use the outside racks in case the wind carries the washing away) but that’s down to pure laziness on my part. I don’t put my shirts in the wardrobes in the cattery because it is easier just to grab them off the hangers on the balcony in the mornings.
I am seriously considering a pizza trip to Tongling tomorrow. Yes, purely for pizza but if I go I will make it worthwhile by buying two of their biggest for freezing. I can realistically get five or six days worth of dinners from that, plus I can have a little’un while I am there. This time though I may take a bottle of wine with me (must remember to take a corkscrew) because the first time I went they didn’t even have beer. If it works out fine then it could be something I do next term once a month. The advent of the fast trains has certainly opened up a host of new possibilities.
Wednesday 10th 1800
Fish and chips comprised dinner last night, thank heavens for proper malt vinegar from Taobao.
I was naughty and never went to bed until after four but then I had nothing to get up early for. Needless to say I never got anywhere near eight hours rest even though I managed to keep Tigger out of the bedroom.
I did though awake with a feeling. You know the feeling where you know you should be watching the pennies and it could become very important in months to come, yet you have still decided you are going to do something costly? Yes, that’s the one,. I was going for pizza. I justified it on the basis that I am on holiday and I would also end up bringing back multiple meals (In this case I think seven) with me. I was going to Tongling.
Now, this was a simple pizza run consisting of a short bike ride to the train station, a 20 min train and then a ten minute bus ride at the end. And come back. What could possibly happen?
Except this is Captain Calamity here. It was never thus before I came to China but by God I think it’s trying to tell me something.
I set out in glorious sunshine (the train display later told me it was 27C outside - and they say freezing on Friday???) and parked the bike at the train station. So far so good. First I had to buy a ticket but having looked online I knew there were plenty of seats available both ways. I started walking towards the ticket office when from behind me came either “Steve” or that thing they sometimes use to say yes, “Su Dee Wu” or something like that. I ignored the first but not the second and turned back to see who had called me,
I recognised the chap but for a moment couldn’t place where from. Then it hit me. This was the archetypal bad boy I have been actively avoiding for five years. This is the lad I had never seen sober and who also freely smoked fags on the 29 bus - in rural China that’s as bad as bad boys get. Whenever he saw me he would always acknowledge me and I would return the salute, praying he wouldn’t come and join my company, which in fairness he hasn’t done for years.
But now, stood before me, was the bad boy either impersonating one or actually being a policeman! Oh yes, his current duties are train station stop and search and seeing as I saw him again when I got back I reckon it’s his proper job. Fair play to a lad who really had no prospects aside from labouring when I first met him and I wish him well.
Then bugger me, when I got into the station and up to the 2nd floor, had a swift smoke (had to be quick as my train was leaving soon) and went to go through the gate I noticed a new concession, a shop flogging drinks, books, snacks etc and behind the counter was a familiar face. At first I thought it was one of my old students but then the penny dropped. She used to work in MeiLLe café on campus and was Kevin’s favourite. I had no time other than to acknowledge that I had seen her before I had to hurry through the gate.
There may be a lot of things about China that are not right but certainly the high speed trains don’t figure in that equation. They are run with teutonic efficiency and timing and if you aren’t on board by the departure time then tough. These trains really do put the UK rail network to shame, if only they could introduce the old style dining cars (and the same food) we used to have in the 60s and 70s then everything would be perfect. In fact I would never fly.
I have no idea where Amy got the idea the 2 and 21 buses both went to where I wanted to go because I never saw a 21 the entire time I was there but the 2 got me right where I wanted to be, Papa John’s. I didn’t bother with Tesco after the last time. Anyway Joan is getting me cheddar.
Trying to order three huge pizzas with two of them undercooked proved a task too far even with a waitress who spoke English so I settled for three fully cooked ones. It won’t harm them because I must say the inner crust when eating in the restaurant itself does seem a trifle doughy and further reheating eradicates that. Two young couples sat opposite me and their faces when just one monster pizza was set before me were a treat to behold. I felt compelled to use body language to inform them that no, I wasn’t eating all of it, I would be taking some away.
Two glasses of red wine later I left with my doggy bag, or to be more accurate, doggy sack. Jesus, two and a half of their big pizzas weigh a ton. Bus back to the station and then go and buy a ticket. The place was familiar, I have been to Tongling often enough to recognise it but still I had to look to see where to get my ticket - they are normally not inside the terminals for the obvious reason you have to show said ticket to get in. Ah! There we go! A huge sign with loads of Chinese but in large English “SELL TICKET”.
I queued like a good boy and in true western fashion made a couple of pushers-in get to the back of the queue. This was familiar territory indeed, I even remembered the ramp and platform the staff use to get into the office and on which I rested my pizzas. Finally I was served. I handed over my passport and 20y (the train ticket is 18.5y) and I was somewhat taken aback by the fact the woman not only never looked at my passport but also never gave me any change, not only that, the ticket was four times bigger than usual.
I confess that I am not the quickest of thinkers on my feet, especially after a few libations, and often need between five minutes and an hour to work out what I should have said in a confrontation I wasn’t expecting. It took until my pizzas emerged the other side of the security scanner to twig what had happened. I had just bought a bloody bus ticket! Shit.
Ok, so it would take ninety instead of twenty minutes to get back and both the train and bus stations are adjacent so what the hell? Until I discovered the next bus to Chizhou was not for another hour! Right, that’s it! I went back to get my money refunded, thankfully those I kicked to the back of the queue had since departed and I went upstairs where you buy the train tickets. I got a ticket which gave me nine minutes before departure. Hells bells! I got to the platform as it pulled in - they only stop for three minutes.
And now I am home cooking some meat for Mum. My chest freezer is unbelievably not big enough to take the pizza boxes horizontally and I have had to empty all the gel packs and old frozen bagels from the small freezer to take the overspill - one good thing to come of it is that I discovered a meat pie I never knew I still had - and now I know I badly need to defrost the chest freezer if I am going to do another pizza run, which I surely will but hopefully with Joan next time.
And now at 1840 I feel absolutely exhausted so the bedding waits once again. Maybe tomorrow if I can manage an uneventful trip to RT Mart. I’m not quite sure what I would have to blog and moan about if everything went right all the time!
Oh boy, that’s certainly one way of adjusting the body clock! I struggled to stay awake until midnight.
So I set my alarm reasonably early for a shopping trip. Assuming the buses finish early this week I didn’t want to get caught out and stung by a taxi to get back. Travelling by bus both ways was bliss, no problems with getting a seat either way although I did see one outbound vehicle that was full on the ride in. On the way in the thought occurred to me that seeing as they ran on new years day for the first time, just maybe we have a full service anyway. I may take a ride later this evening to south gate to check it out, if I am right then I can go to town for dinners if I want. With nobody else to cater for my indolence knows no bounds!
I went into the bakery to buy some goodies but left empty handed, not a doughnut nor anything else that I like in sight, just “cake burgers” and sweet hotdogs. Fine for Asian tastes but not this one, who on earth wants the equivalent to a Cumberland sausage in a hot cross bun??? RT Mart wasn’t busy either, pity they hadn’t restocked after the pestilence destroyed their stock of my wine. They did however have three cans of Guinness so it wasn’t a complete waste of time, plus of course I bought more pork knuckles for Mum. But it got me out of the house.
The weather today is absolutely gorgeous, nudging twenty and although I needed my coat when I left, by the time I returned a light jacket would have been ample even when riding the bike. In true loony weather fashion such as we get here, I see they are predicting rain from Thursday to Sunday with a steady decline (again) in temperatures, culminating in a daytime high of zero on Sunday! How the hell can you drop twenty degrees in five days when you aren’t moving??
The washing machine has been busy since I got back yesterday. All my clothes and the towels were washed yesterday and today is the turn of Joan’s lower quilt, tomorrow is my bedding, which I must admit is long overdue. I would do it today but I don’t really have hanging space (I don’t use the outside racks in case the wind carries the washing away) but that’s down to pure laziness on my part. I don’t put my shirts in the wardrobes in the cattery because it is easier just to grab them off the hangers on the balcony in the mornings.
I am seriously considering a pizza trip to Tongling tomorrow. Yes, purely for pizza but if I go I will make it worthwhile by buying two of their biggest for freezing. I can realistically get five or six days worth of dinners from that, plus I can have a little’un while I am there. This time though I may take a bottle of wine with me (must remember to take a corkscrew) because the first time I went they didn’t even have beer. If it works out fine then it could be something I do next term once a month. The advent of the fast trains has certainly opened up a host of new possibilities.
Wednesday 10th 1800
Fish and chips comprised dinner last night, thank heavens for proper malt vinegar from Taobao.
I was naughty and never went to bed until after four but then I had nothing to get up early for. Needless to say I never got anywhere near eight hours rest even though I managed to keep Tigger out of the bedroom.
I did though awake with a feeling. You know the feeling where you know you should be watching the pennies and it could become very important in months to come, yet you have still decided you are going to do something costly? Yes, that’s the one,. I was going for pizza. I justified it on the basis that I am on holiday and I would also end up bringing back multiple meals (In this case I think seven) with me. I was going to Tongling.
Now, this was a simple pizza run consisting of a short bike ride to the train station, a 20 min train and then a ten minute bus ride at the end. And come back. What could possibly happen?
Except this is Captain Calamity here. It was never thus before I came to China but by God I think it’s trying to tell me something.
I set out in glorious sunshine (the train display later told me it was 27C outside - and they say freezing on Friday???) and parked the bike at the train station. So far so good. First I had to buy a ticket but having looked online I knew there were plenty of seats available both ways. I started walking towards the ticket office when from behind me came either “Steve” or that thing they sometimes use to say yes, “Su Dee Wu” or something like that. I ignored the first but not the second and turned back to see who had called me,
I recognised the chap but for a moment couldn’t place where from. Then it hit me. This was the archetypal bad boy I have been actively avoiding for five years. This is the lad I had never seen sober and who also freely smoked fags on the 29 bus - in rural China that’s as bad as bad boys get. Whenever he saw me he would always acknowledge me and I would return the salute, praying he wouldn’t come and join my company, which in fairness he hasn’t done for years.
But now, stood before me, was the bad boy either impersonating one or actually being a policeman! Oh yes, his current duties are train station stop and search and seeing as I saw him again when I got back I reckon it’s his proper job. Fair play to a lad who really had no prospects aside from labouring when I first met him and I wish him well.
Then bugger me, when I got into the station and up to the 2nd floor, had a swift smoke (had to be quick as my train was leaving soon) and went to go through the gate I noticed a new concession, a shop flogging drinks, books, snacks etc and behind the counter was a familiar face. At first I thought it was one of my old students but then the penny dropped. She used to work in MeiLLe café on campus and was Kevin’s favourite. I had no time other than to acknowledge that I had seen her before I had to hurry through the gate.
There may be a lot of things about China that are not right but certainly the high speed trains don’t figure in that equation. They are run with teutonic efficiency and timing and if you aren’t on board by the departure time then tough. These trains really do put the UK rail network to shame, if only they could introduce the old style dining cars (and the same food) we used to have in the 60s and 70s then everything would be perfect. In fact I would never fly.
I have no idea where Amy got the idea the 2 and 21 buses both went to where I wanted to go because I never saw a 21 the entire time I was there but the 2 got me right where I wanted to be, Papa John’s. I didn’t bother with Tesco after the last time. Anyway Joan is getting me cheddar.
Trying to order three huge pizzas with two of them undercooked proved a task too far even with a waitress who spoke English so I settled for three fully cooked ones. It won’t harm them because I must say the inner crust when eating in the restaurant itself does seem a trifle doughy and further reheating eradicates that. Two young couples sat opposite me and their faces when just one monster pizza was set before me were a treat to behold. I felt compelled to use body language to inform them that no, I wasn’t eating all of it, I would be taking some away.
Two glasses of red wine later I left with my doggy bag, or to be more accurate, doggy sack. Jesus, two and a half of their big pizzas weigh a ton. Bus back to the station and then go and buy a ticket. The place was familiar, I have been to Tongling often enough to recognise it but still I had to look to see where to get my ticket - they are normally not inside the terminals for the obvious reason you have to show said ticket to get in. Ah! There we go! A huge sign with loads of Chinese but in large English “SELL TICKET”.
I queued like a good boy and in true western fashion made a couple of pushers-in get to the back of the queue. This was familiar territory indeed, I even remembered the ramp and platform the staff use to get into the office and on which I rested my pizzas. Finally I was served. I handed over my passport and 20y (the train ticket is 18.5y) and I was somewhat taken aback by the fact the woman not only never looked at my passport but also never gave me any change, not only that, the ticket was four times bigger than usual.
I confess that I am not the quickest of thinkers on my feet, especially after a few libations, and often need between five minutes and an hour to work out what I should have said in a confrontation I wasn’t expecting. It took until my pizzas emerged the other side of the security scanner to twig what had happened. I had just bought a bloody bus ticket! Shit.
Ok, so it would take ninety instead of twenty minutes to get back and both the train and bus stations are adjacent so what the hell? Until I discovered the next bus to Chizhou was not for another hour! Right, that’s it! I went back to get my money refunded, thankfully those I kicked to the back of the queue had since departed and I went upstairs where you buy the train tickets. I got a ticket which gave me nine minutes before departure. Hells bells! I got to the platform as it pulled in - they only stop for three minutes.
And now I am home cooking some meat for Mum. My chest freezer is unbelievably not big enough to take the pizza boxes horizontally and I have had to empty all the gel packs and old frozen bagels from the small freezer to take the overspill - one good thing to come of it is that I discovered a meat pie I never knew I still had - and now I know I badly need to defrost the chest freezer if I am going to do another pizza run, which I surely will but hopefully with Joan next time.
And now at 1840 I feel absolutely exhausted so the bedding waits once again. Maybe tomorrow if I can manage an uneventful trip to RT Mart. I’m not quite sure what I would have to blog and moan about if everything went right all the time!
Monday, 8 February 2016
Chinese New Year’s Day 2016 1415
I went downstairs and outside at ten to midnight. I was a little disappointed to see that all the businesses opposite the hotel patently had nobody living above them, as was the case in Tongling two years ago when the owners came down and detonated explosives on the road outside their shops. Hence, the only fireworks visible were the approximately 120 rockets the hotel had placed at each entrance, so about 360 in total plus enormous ten foot lengths of bangers. Equally disappointing was the proximity of tall buildings which meant I would not get a shot of the city skyline itself, which from the college is too far away (without really expensive camera equipment) to photograph. At midnight the entire city erupts with aerial light and I would dearly love to grab a magnificent snap of that but it was not to be.
Nonetheless at about five to midnight some people behind the surrounding buildings either had inaccurate watches or simply couldn’t contain their joy, the “war” started. Unlike Tongling when I was in such close proximity to the ordnance that I was showered with shards of red paper, ash and blinded by smoke I was nevertheless treated to a deafening orgy of blinding flashes and thunderous bangs. I was grinning from ear to ear as I reminisced on bonfire nights when I was about seven or eight in the UK. Sparkler in one hand, sausage in a roll in the other, I would revel in the rockets, roman candles, catherine wheels (you don’t see them here) and bangers.
Puzzlingly, I was the only guest who had actually gone outside to witness it (although at about 0010 plenty of them returned in cars or on foot, so heaven only knows where they had been) so it was just me and the guards. I didn’t care, I am a monkey and it’s my year and finally I was (sort of) in Chizhou for the fireworks instead of sitting in deathly quiet on my tod at home. I wouldn’t even have been able to have a drink with Andrei and Juliette at midnight had I wanted.
When I had left for the hotel I noticed their moped had disappeared and assumed they had gone shopping. A text from Andrei wishing me happy new year after I posted last night revealed all - they were at the time waiting to board their flight to Bangkok! I had no idea.
When the explosions had diminished a trifle I went back to my room, having interrupted watching a nail-biting Ireland v Wales game (the most exciting of the three I have seen so far) and fully expected to be able to turn in at about 0300 in peace. My habits of late would ensure I wasn’t ready to sleep until then or even later so I was hardly bothered. Once the match was over I watched YouTube films, the western channels on TV showing such delights as Honey I Shrunk The Kids, real mind-stretching viewing for my pleasure!
By three there was still no sign of the fireworks stopping completely (I am sure it’s a competition to see who can keep everyone awake ALL night!) so I resigned myself to calling it a day at four. At about ten past three my phone rang. Who on earth was calling me at that unearthly hour?? +33? Brain now fully awake, for a second I searched my memory, where was +33? France!!!
Yes, it was Ollivier! They had been celebrating Chinese new year in Marseille seeing as Coco is Chinese and the two sons are, as one of my students innocently and highly inappropriately put it, hybrids. I spoke briefly to Ollivier, Coco and Ollivier’s parents (I reckon I would get on better with the parents!) and they all exhorted me to visit them in France. One day, once my job is sorted and I have enough cash, I may well just do that, I am guessing I could seriously damage my liver over the course of a few days with them.
Anyway, even though I hit the sack at four-thirty (bitterly ruing not taking earplugs) with a second pillow covering my head, the fireworks continued, in fact they were still being let off when I left this afternoon. I set my alarm for noon. Check-out time is almost universally twelve but when I booked on Ctrip it stated 1400 and by God I was going to use that! When I did check out at 1330 I complained that the hotel was noisy. The receptionists faces were pictures! Until that is, they realised I was joking. There’s not a hotel on the planet that can screen that sort of noise.
And so it was back to normal life and in a way, thankfully, a considerably quieter one. But on my ride home I was stunned by yet another first - the buses were running for the first time ever on new year’s day! If only I had known I may well have stayed in the city proper but then again for more money and I do like Dong Rong, I wish I had known of it much earlier.
So you have plenty of photos to look at, many of which I deleted due to blurring and I do have a slight regret that I don’t have hideously expensive gear to produce better quality images but you will get the general idea from them.
This post is also a milestone. As far as I can tell (remember my hard drive blew up and I lost a lot of data) this is blog number 1,000. I have been blogging hard of late to make it fall on an important day and I did it!
I never envisaged five and a half years ago still teaching, still being in China and even more amazingly, still at the same university. Whatever happens to me this summer, nothing and nobody can take away my memories of those years.
I went downstairs and outside at ten to midnight. I was a little disappointed to see that all the businesses opposite the hotel patently had nobody living above them, as was the case in Tongling two years ago when the owners came down and detonated explosives on the road outside their shops. Hence, the only fireworks visible were the approximately 120 rockets the hotel had placed at each entrance, so about 360 in total plus enormous ten foot lengths of bangers. Equally disappointing was the proximity of tall buildings which meant I would not get a shot of the city skyline itself, which from the college is too far away (without really expensive camera equipment) to photograph. At midnight the entire city erupts with aerial light and I would dearly love to grab a magnificent snap of that but it was not to be.
Nonetheless at about five to midnight some people behind the surrounding buildings either had inaccurate watches or simply couldn’t contain their joy, the “war” started. Unlike Tongling when I was in such close proximity to the ordnance that I was showered with shards of red paper, ash and blinded by smoke I was nevertheless treated to a deafening orgy of blinding flashes and thunderous bangs. I was grinning from ear to ear as I reminisced on bonfire nights when I was about seven or eight in the UK. Sparkler in one hand, sausage in a roll in the other, I would revel in the rockets, roman candles, catherine wheels (you don’t see them here) and bangers.
Puzzlingly, I was the only guest who had actually gone outside to witness it (although at about 0010 plenty of them returned in cars or on foot, so heaven only knows where they had been) so it was just me and the guards. I didn’t care, I am a monkey and it’s my year and finally I was (sort of) in Chizhou for the fireworks instead of sitting in deathly quiet on my tod at home. I wouldn’t even have been able to have a drink with Andrei and Juliette at midnight had I wanted.
When I had left for the hotel I noticed their moped had disappeared and assumed they had gone shopping. A text from Andrei wishing me happy new year after I posted last night revealed all - they were at the time waiting to board their flight to Bangkok! I had no idea.
When the explosions had diminished a trifle I went back to my room, having interrupted watching a nail-biting Ireland v Wales game (the most exciting of the three I have seen so far) and fully expected to be able to turn in at about 0300 in peace. My habits of late would ensure I wasn’t ready to sleep until then or even later so I was hardly bothered. Once the match was over I watched YouTube films, the western channels on TV showing such delights as Honey I Shrunk The Kids, real mind-stretching viewing for my pleasure!
By three there was still no sign of the fireworks stopping completely (I am sure it’s a competition to see who can keep everyone awake ALL night!) so I resigned myself to calling it a day at four. At about ten past three my phone rang. Who on earth was calling me at that unearthly hour?? +33? Brain now fully awake, for a second I searched my memory, where was +33? France!!!
Yes, it was Ollivier! They had been celebrating Chinese new year in Marseille seeing as Coco is Chinese and the two sons are, as one of my students innocently and highly inappropriately put it, hybrids. I spoke briefly to Ollivier, Coco and Ollivier’s parents (I reckon I would get on better with the parents!) and they all exhorted me to visit them in France. One day, once my job is sorted and I have enough cash, I may well just do that, I am guessing I could seriously damage my liver over the course of a few days with them.
Anyway, even though I hit the sack at four-thirty (bitterly ruing not taking earplugs) with a second pillow covering my head, the fireworks continued, in fact they were still being let off when I left this afternoon. I set my alarm for noon. Check-out time is almost universally twelve but when I booked on Ctrip it stated 1400 and by God I was going to use that! When I did check out at 1330 I complained that the hotel was noisy. The receptionists faces were pictures! Until that is, they realised I was joking. There’s not a hotel on the planet that can screen that sort of noise.
And so it was back to normal life and in a way, thankfully, a considerably quieter one. But on my ride home I was stunned by yet another first - the buses were running for the first time ever on new year’s day! If only I had known I may well have stayed in the city proper but then again for more money and I do like Dong Rong, I wish I had known of it much earlier.
So you have plenty of photos to look at, many of which I deleted due to blurring and I do have a slight regret that I don’t have hideously expensive gear to produce better quality images but you will get the general idea from them.
This post is also a milestone. As far as I can tell (remember my hard drive blew up and I lost a lot of data) this is blog number 1,000. I have been blogging hard of late to make it fall on an important day and I did it!
I never envisaged five and a half years ago still teaching, still being in China and even more amazingly, still at the same university. Whatever happens to me this summer, nothing and nobody can take away my memories of those years.
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