Monday 19th September, 2016           1600

For a sort of day off this has turned out to be one that has left me plumb tuckered out.

Naturally, with not having to get up quite so early, the little boy in me stayed up just a bit later than he should, so when the alarm went I most certainly didn’t want to stir.

But stir I did. Bear in mind that I had guessed Jacob (the Peace Corps volunteer from Ohio) and I were off to apply for the foreign expert certificates and as my deadline was Friday to apply for residence and I had no conception of how long the FEC would take, no way was I holding up the process.

I was at the rendezvous spot on time (despite my watch suddenly running slow - more expense) and Jacob turned up fashionably late but armed with only a photocopy of his passport. I pointed out that perhaps the real thing would be advisable and so he left, returning some minutes later suitably equipped. We still had to wait for Brenda and her driver.

I don’t think we ended up too far from where I teach, it was certainly in the locality, and en route I discovered Brenda already had the FECs, this trip was to apply for residence. Panic over, there is no reason for it to be denied and for me at least we were in good time. Brenda did spot that my visa actually expires 25th November and queried why I had pushed her by saying 23rd of this month was the deadline? It is at this point that I have to question who is more professional - the one who does this sort of thing for a job and speaks the local language or the foreigner who makes it his business to know that the regulations state that for residency to be granted the application must be made within 30 days of entry into China?

When we were dropped off at about 1140 Jacob was going for his lunch prior to teaching his afternoon classes. I thought I would be adventurous and go and check out Wu supermarket in my constant quest to find cheese. Well the supermarket was hard enough to find, seeing as once inside the building it wasn’t signed and so I ended up taking a lift and stopping it at every floor up the to the 5th. Nothing, but I noticed there were floors marked -1 and -2. Thinking they were underground car parks I nevertheless investigated. The shop is on -1.

Utterly useless and with less products than the BHG I already use but closer (only one stop on the BRT) and more importantly, quieter so for that “normal” shop, ideal for a quick getaway from the tills.

I then did something which hitherto would have been anathema: I decided to walk back home. Not because I was feeling fit or to save myself 1y but to see if I could find a computer shop to get this blessed usb lead for backing up. Completely fruitless of course but more importantly, I made it back.

After a rest at home I pondered on whether to go to BHG today or tomorrow but as I won’t be back until sixish tomorrow, I decided to sally forth again. I had the idea of making stuffed peppers for my Tuesday dinner. Not easy without an oven but I thought I might steam them. At least I would have if the steamer parts for my very large pot were here. They appear to have been another casualty of STO deliveries. That idea quashed, I settled for hotdogs but made with the only things remotely like the buns - hamburger rolls. Needs must!

On the way back I have no idea what occurred but I alighted at the third stop, only to find it was the FOURTH! How I overshot I have no idea (I was counting stops) so maybe I had one of those mini epileptic seizures where outwardly you appear normal. Anyway, annoyed with myself, I paid another 1y to get a bus back. Except the only buses that stopped were going the wrong way. Confused, I looked at the maps on the wall and sure enough, both sides of the waiting room were for town-bound buses.

Oy! How do I go that way??

I was directed to leave but when I did I could see no other room from which to get the bus. Security kindly indicated I needed to go up and then down again and sure enough that stop (invisible from where I had been) has two sections. Naturally I had to pay yet another 1y so it’s a good job the buses are cheap. At least I only need to come home after work tomorrow.

As for the washing machine, I reckon I will end up with an extension lead to move it nearer the bathroom and extra long pipes I can connect when I want to launder. That I can live with and was already in my mind, so I need to find my tape measure and tell them what length.

Oh! I have found there is an RT Mart in Lanzhou and it doesn’t seem to be too far from where I teach so that’s item one on the agenda, finding out where Meilun dept store on Tanyan or Tantan street is. I’ll bet they have tortillas, cheese, sauces and allsorts there. It might be a 100y round taxi trip but once a month will do and anyway, deduct delivery charges for online ordering and it probably won’t cost any more - plus I can buy cheaper wine. Jacob also wants cheese so if I can con him into coming and splitting the cab fare…..