Monday 11th April, 2016             0325

Yes, another late one but considering my only class today starts at 1600 who gives a hoot

The weekend was pretty tame, I didn’t even go shopping on Saturday but I did cook two trays of macaroni cheese in the evening. I seem to be feeding Dumpling every time she cleans (costing as much again as I pay her!) but here when you find someone who likes to experiment with western food and just happens to be attractive then in my case I like to cook. The second tray went to Richard, Andrei and Juliette. No idea if they enjoyed it and I couldn’t care less if they didn’t because Dumpling and I did! My only regret was that I never had any of the really strong cheddar RT Mart used to do and which would have given it more of a cheesy boot up the backside. Instead I used an entire pack of Edam with some Anchor cheddar on top. I had it again seven hours ago for my dinner and there’s enough for another serving in the freezer.

My shopping bill on Taobao was very pleasantly surprising, Joan texted me last night with the bill - 530y. Whilst I shouldn’t really be splurging like this given my situation, I still have to eat and egg fried rice and chow mien every night are not the way I want to live. I do make dishes from local ingredients that don’t cost fortunes and of course I use imported herbs and spices  but occasionally I weaken, as with the pork sausages. I justify it by reminding myself that bangers, mash and beans in Shanghai for one costs 160y and I can do it for about 50y. In fact if Dumpling wants. I will be using the last of my old sausages (not good, thick skins and skinny sausages and from an online shop that previously supplied juicy fat ones) to make use of before the arrival of the Wall’s.

Anyway, bless her cotton socks (which are currently atop my washing machine having dried out after being washed Saturday night) Joan used her own money to pay for my shopping. As I am in saving mode I did tell her not order it before my payday but she did so anyway and I love her for that. The thing she may find stupid is that I have more than enough to pay for it but psychologically it needs to come out of April’s salary and what I saved last month is sacrosanct.

Today I did do a quick shopping trip - well “quick” is two hours or so, given it’s at least an hour round trip on the bus and more if like me you want to guarantee a seat. I shall have ham, egg and chips tomorrow  - no way did I make so much ham at great expense only to end up not using it.

I am - and you may find this incredible given the fact that finding another job is my number one priority - currently wracking my brains for a third communal game for this coming Friday’s English Corner. I have two but I need one that involves a lot of people and it has to be one I haven’t already used this year. I’ve done eggs, balloons, oranges, apples - you name it. Quite why I am giving a student activity preference over my own future career, I can’t answer but it’s not the students who want me gone, now is it?

Anthony came this evening. He had a credit card statement for Kevin (or Cavin as he put it!) and of course we chatted. He commented on how every time he visited I offered him a beer, wine, brandy or whatever I have and I said it was simply hospitality. It reminded me of a Chief Officer whose cabin I went to once having never met him before (ex submarine commander in WW2) who, with enormous plums in his mouth said,  dreadfully sorry but all I can offer you is dry sherry. The sherry was great as it happens and he was left with none by the time I departed!

Anyway Anthony will doubtless soon be reading this blog as he will join one of my Yahoo groups on pain of death if he reveals the content to the school leadership. If I am going to be sacked I would rather it be on good terms and not before the end of the contract!

Anyway his advice was that if I got an offer of another job I should take it. Oddly enough that’s precisely my plan. I just need a decent offer and not one that puts me in the same position as a prisoner.