Friday 6th May, 2016                     1900

I set the alarm for noon. No reason to get up earlier and I always find sleep and booze to be the best cures for a cold or mild illness. It seems to have worked a bit at least.

Of course I had forgotten about Shadow (yes, silly I know but I gave her a name, normally that means you keep them) and when I remembered, I spotted her sleeping on top of my trainers and socks. I couldn’t smell anything so I assumed she hadn’t taken a dump, although there was a lake at the foot of my bed which I never noticed until it was too late. Good job I use rubber sandals. I had allowed her into the bedroom because between her and the cats making a din I was never going to get any sleep otherwise.

She followed me to the bathroom and was thirsty so I turned the shower on for a second. I had to repeat this thrice as she licked all the water off the tiles. While I was actually taking a shower she started to cry - not because she was getting wet, although she could probably do with one and also flea treatment, but because (at least I hoped) she wanted to go outside.

Once I finished I opened the door and sure enough, off she trotted downstairs. I am glad because I won’t get attached and for sure were I staying I would have kept her, she was adorable. I haven’t seen her since although I did hear her yap a couple of hours ago but I don’t know where she was. For all I know she belongs to a Chinese teacher. I still have the problem of four cats who are obstinately refusing to do a bunk though.

It may come to the point where, once the current batch of food is exhausted, I stop feeding them. That will force them to search elsewhere with luck. It’s hardly cold now, I was sweating on the bus to town this afternoon and so it is the ideal time for them to strike out on their own. It will also save me money.

When I was waiting for the bus at 1330 Dumpling and a classmate approached me, having come from the business street. It wasn’t unreasonable for me to think they were also waiting for the bus and they very kindly stood close and sheltered me from the sun with their joint umbrella. When the bus did arrive they cleared off, presumably to go to class!

Dumpling will be rewarded tomorrow evening though. I have two thick pork chops, she will have her first ever roast potatoes and for the veg I chose carrots (safe) and what I hope are runner beans. I would have bought peas in pods but couldn’t countenance shelling huge amounts just to get a few peas. At least not when I am going to attempt to make apple sauce for the first time. It looks easy, I hope it is.

I am getting frustrated with the recruitment agencies at the moment. I know it is more problematic to find fossils teaching posts here but equally I know it is not impossible, they simply have to try a bit harder. I had to teach one how to suck eggs a couple of hours ago by proving to him there are plenty of other old foreign teachers still working in China - including sending him the China Daily link for a 66 year old Yank in Beijing.

In the meantime, Captain Will Wood (currently in Budapest for some reason, normally in Kiwi) put me on to a maritime university in Guangzhou he has worked at in the past in an advisory capacity. I have emailed them and would love the chance to be around future seafarers even if I have forgotten most of what I knew now!

For now though, an English type breakfast will be dinner for me soon. The tomatoes have been grilling for an hour so it’s time to get the rest on.