New Year’s Eve 2016 1400
I am laziness personified.
I am currently working up enough enthusiasm to actually go out shopping. Yesterday I never even cooked, instead I went to the street stalls and bought a fried roll. I was actually after a pancake but I guess they are mainly for breakfasts as I saw nobody making them.
I hadn’t tried one before and was given the option of having the roll put into the oil or simply warmed above the shoreline. Having no idea I simply shrugged my shoulders and the vendor decided to whack it into the oil. Next time I will choose the other option. Considering they managed to stuff an egg, chicken, potato slices, mushrooms and something else I was assured wasn’t tofu into it, I had a veritable whopper to take home and eat, and for the princely sum of 7.5y. You wouldn’t want to make that sort of thing your staple diet unless you have pipe cleaners on hand for your arteries though.
It turns out that Rico is now in Shanghai so my chance of a free meal tonight has disappeared. As a consequence (and not for any particular reason) I have all but decided to stay in tonight and cook myself a roast something. Probably wise, because I reckon the buses will be rammed tonight. Tomorrow I really must have a crack at cleaning the floor……..or maybe Monday……
As 2016 draws to an end I am sure many people will be reflecting on the past 366 days and the happenings in their life so I decided to take a look back on my own year.
January: The disappointment of cancelling a big trip to Shenyang and the Harbin ice festival. This was replaced by trips to Nanjing and Wuhu.
February: Subjected myself to a solo Chinese new year and a sleepless night at Don Rong hotel, Chizhou
March and April: Started the unwelcome task of trying to find another job.
May: School concert and a round of graduation parties to attend. Speech time at Molly’s wedding.
June and July: The job search continued with many disappointments and the spectre of having to find another country to work in loomed.
August: Capitulated and took a job in Lanzhou which I initially turned down. Then the farce of leaving Chizhou and my friends for a visit to Shanghai and thence flying to Lanzhou, only to be told days later I needed to go to Hong Kong for a work permit.
September: Started the new job and realised my task was all but hopeless. Already thoughts of trying to find another job after my contract was completed were forming.
October and November: Started to feel a little more at home, decided to make my thoughts known to the school on the way forward.
December: Santa time and also the news my little campus are not releasing me into the big ponds of the other campuses. Bodes well, I wait to see if they will implement any of my ideas and also whether I will get my course books. Thoughts now turning to possibly staying on for another year if they want me. I’m worth keeping if only for a guaranteed Santa each year!
The above doesn’t really convey adequately what a tumultuous year it has been for me but it was every bit as fraught as the year I left the UK to come to China. 2017 will I hope be sprinkled with much happier occasions. At least I never broke any bones this year!
All that remains is for me to wish all my readers a very happy New Year. I hope you all enjoy health and happiness throughout the coming 365 days and that each and every one of you tries at least one thing that’s new to you.
Keep safe and keep on buggering on, as someone once said!!
Friday, 30 December 2016
Friday 30th December, 2016 1715
Well, the intended shopping trip went by the board today. One of my biggest strengths and also one of my biggest weaknesses is probably being impulsive.
I have been just that today. Armed with monies sent to me by relatives for Christmas (even though without a new card I can’t actually get it right now - oh, how I long for the days when I used to open birthday or Christmas cards and find a ten shilling note inside!) I decided I would kill two birds with one stone.
There’s somewhere I want to visit and of course I have to fete Alice otherwise all she’ll see are the supermarket and my place! As far as I know Alice has never flown so it may well be three birds. Next Friday we are going here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfgOUFwtxxk
I have booked and paid for flights to and from (it worked out just 70y more than train tickets but the flight is an hour in comparison to 3 hours on the high speed train) and a deluxe room for two nights in an hotel which has been highly rated online. Total cost so far is just under 1,000y (or around £100). Add in probably 200y maximum for ancillary travel costs, hinting that Alice should pay for dinners in Zhangye (breakfasts are included in the room price) and that’s more or less the cost of a trip I wanted to make anyway but which will be much more fun (and I won’t spend as much time sitting in the bar moaning about having to walk) because I will have company.
I am keeping it a secret from her. Well, not the fact we are going away but the destination and our means of travel. I can keep the latter secret until we have to go and buy train tickets to the airport and the former obviously only until check in. At last, something I can really look forward to here. I have felt all term that I was just marking time.
There is now however (remember, it’s ME involved!) in that Ctrip just called. The hotel is unsure whether they have the authority to register foreign guests. They are checking with the hotel now, armed now with the information I supplied that the first two reviews on their site appear in fact to be from foreigners and also that if it helps they can put Alice as the primary guest. If not then I will find another hotel, albeit it will be more expensive. If Hilton or Holiday Inn were there I would book like a shot but no such luck.
1830
No idea who wrote the reviews in English for the hotel but I have been refused the room. It makes me angry given that I am using the English site for foreigners, the hotel should not even be listed - a fact I pointed out and I will hopefully see it removed in short order. This happened once before, in Nanjing I believe.
So I looked at other hotels on offer. Breakfast is a must, not for me especially when I know it’s going to be Chinese but Alice will 100% want one. Also, being a creature of comfort, I need an airport pickup service to save farting about with rip off taxis or bus trips with a three mile hike at the end. That somewhat limits the number of hotels to choose from. I have now been even more impulsive and plumped for a deluxe suite (twin beds) costing twice as much but the bill is still under 1,500y. Alice is definitely paying for the bloody dinners!
I may break the habit of a lifetime for that price and swallow some steamed dumplings for my early morning meal.
Well, the intended shopping trip went by the board today. One of my biggest strengths and also one of my biggest weaknesses is probably being impulsive.
I have been just that today. Armed with monies sent to me by relatives for Christmas (even though without a new card I can’t actually get it right now - oh, how I long for the days when I used to open birthday or Christmas cards and find a ten shilling note inside!) I decided I would kill two birds with one stone.
There’s somewhere I want to visit and of course I have to fete Alice otherwise all she’ll see are the supermarket and my place! As far as I know Alice has never flown so it may well be three birds. Next Friday we are going here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfgOUFwtxxk
I have booked and paid for flights to and from (it worked out just 70y more than train tickets but the flight is an hour in comparison to 3 hours on the high speed train) and a deluxe room for two nights in an hotel which has been highly rated online. Total cost so far is just under 1,000y (or around £100). Add in probably 200y maximum for ancillary travel costs, hinting that Alice should pay for dinners in Zhangye (breakfasts are included in the room price) and that’s more or less the cost of a trip I wanted to make anyway but which will be much more fun (and I won’t spend as much time sitting in the bar moaning about having to walk) because I will have company.
I am keeping it a secret from her. Well, not the fact we are going away but the destination and our means of travel. I can keep the latter secret until we have to go and buy train tickets to the airport and the former obviously only until check in. At last, something I can really look forward to here. I have felt all term that I was just marking time.
There is now however (remember, it’s ME involved!) in that Ctrip just called. The hotel is unsure whether they have the authority to register foreign guests. They are checking with the hotel now, armed now with the information I supplied that the first two reviews on their site appear in fact to be from foreigners and also that if it helps they can put Alice as the primary guest. If not then I will find another hotel, albeit it will be more expensive. If Hilton or Holiday Inn were there I would book like a shot but no such luck.
1830
No idea who wrote the reviews in English for the hotel but I have been refused the room. It makes me angry given that I am using the English site for foreigners, the hotel should not even be listed - a fact I pointed out and I will hopefully see it removed in short order. This happened once before, in Nanjing I believe.
So I looked at other hotels on offer. Breakfast is a must, not for me especially when I know it’s going to be Chinese but Alice will 100% want one. Also, being a creature of comfort, I need an airport pickup service to save farting about with rip off taxis or bus trips with a three mile hike at the end. That somewhat limits the number of hotels to choose from. I have now been even more impulsive and plumped for a deluxe suite (twin beds) costing twice as much but the bill is still under 1,500y. Alice is definitely paying for the bloody dinners!
I may break the habit of a lifetime for that price and swallow some steamed dumplings for my early morning meal.
Thursday 29th December, 2016 2300
An eventful day in many respects.
After I posted my entry yesterday I had some great and (I hate to admit it) exciting news. I had sent Alice from Wuhu a text grandly informing her that she wouldn’t visit me this holiday. I was absolutely certain because I had checked the trains and there were no tickets available to here after next week and flights from Hefei had shot up from 350y to over 1,000y. Of course she wasn’t coming!
I never figured that she could come sooner, in fact she has booked a ticket for Monday and arrives Tuesday night at 2118hrs - she even managed to get a sleeper - I was concerned she was crazy enough to book a hard seat for the 28 hour trip. I wouldn’t even consider the journey in a soft sleeper let alone a seat, maybe an individual or double cabin but not with strangers. So terrific, I will have some decent English speaking company for nearly two weeks as her return ticket is on the 14th.
Of course that also presents problems. The worst is that I need to scrub and clean the floors after the party. Suzy and Sheila don’t seem too keen. The second is sleeping arrangements. I don’t have that much bedding but a sleeping bag was placed on order from Taobao which I pray will arrive by Tuesday. Then of course she will want to see Lanzhou. Well, I don’t KNOW Lanzhou yet! Thankfully I believe Suzy and Sheila will assist by taking her off my hands from time to time to show her the sights. But I will have friendly company for eleven days so this holiday will in part be one hell of a lot better than envisaged. And I have to cook lasagne for her. She said she loves my lasagne.
It’s funny how different girls love different dishes you make. With Joanna it was chilli, Joan it was Bolognese (or as she termed it, Italy Noodles), another couple it was my chilli frittatas etc. A least I will have a purpose to cook other than to fill my own belly. I’m even scratching in my brain as to what to feed her when she gets here seeing as it will not be before 2230 but I can probably make homemade hamburgers or something simple.
So I went to class happy today and became even happier to discover Monday is a holiday for new year. Bit cheeky of the Chinese to celebrate two new years considering I never got Christmas or Boxing Day as a holiday but I will take a free day regardless. I’m just glad I found out before getting up at five on Monday, waiting for the bus and finding out then.
I also suggested to the class that if they didn’t want to go Japanese next Thursday, I would be ok with them going to the all you can eat pizza/buffet place. ANYTHING but a bloody hotpot will do! I also checked if it would be ok for me to take Alice on the school bus as a guest visitor to my class and of course attendee at the party. It’s all set.
I came home and tried to grab an hour’s nap but it was one of those you get when you are tired yet know you mustn’t oversleep and you have things whizzing around in your brain. I mean, what would they have thought if I never turned up?
You don’t sleep, you only think you do.
Then I had a brainstorm. The shower. Maybe if I increased the water flow the temperature problem might be cured? Turned the shower on and watched the temperature in the kitchen on the display climb from the preset 42C to 55C and then cut out with an overheat error. Ok, disconnected the shower head and took a pin to the outlet holes, increasing them in size. Suddenly the problem was solved - in fact now I will need to increase the temperature setting!
At 1700 “our leader” (well that’s what Janet said, although in Chinese universities there are more Chiefs than Indians because everyone seems to be a leader of something except me) came to collect me. It took an hour, traffic being bad again. And the 1y bus fare seems not to be the reason, I never knew that when pollution was bad Lanzhou is like Beijing and restricts car number plate use to odd numbers one day and even the next. That explains why it was bliss before and hell now.
Instead of being taken to the show I was taken to dinner with people I had never met although some were faculty. There were two very elderly people (parents of the leader) and a chap I was told to call “Egg” because his head looked like one. Ok I can go along with that of course but I then had to nickname myself watermelon to put him at ease.
A nice, if rather hurried in view of the travelling time, meal it was. They even gave me white wine (French variety) and although few things were to my taste I had never seen most of them before. My favourite was a dish that looked as though it could be thinly sliced pork but wasn’t. It could equally have been abalone and if it were I would have been ecstatic but it wasn’t. It was a form of mushroom which I have to say was bloody lovely. Too soon it was time for “the leader” to take me to the show, leaving the others behind to continue scoffing and chatting, although not before giving me a full glass of wine and then after saying “you must go” telling me I must finish it quickly! I complied. If anyone thereafter complained I stank of booze I could blame “the leader” - and did!
The show this time was great. I have no grounds for complaining that it was all in Chinese because unlike Chizhou, I am not teaching English students. But there were a variety of acts, not just dancing. A really good piano concerto, comedy I never understood and a girl who I pray never becomes a teacher. She sang four songs on the trot and I was spellbound. Aside from professionals I have never heard such a voice and I am no expert but she could make fame and fortune because she also has stage presence.
And of course somewhere in the middle of all this was Santa.
When you go on stage you need to do this, this and that. Sorry, excuse me, I am a professional, I know what to do. Oh ok. We will bring gifts for you to give the students. Fine, do I throw them from the stage? No, leave the stage and distribute them.
Are you SURE?
Why do you ask? Well we tried that once in Chizhou and the freshmen nearly crushed me to death just to get a 2y stuffed toy. Oh no, our students - even the boy students - are very polite. Ok, if you’re sure.
One minute into the leaving the stage experiment, Presidential Bodyguards rescued me and took me back up to the stage. I couldn’t resist saying “I told you so”.
Then I was given my gift. Remember all I asked for from the kindergarten was an omelette pan but was given a heavy casserole dish? The former is probably 100y but my gift more likely 200y. What did the school give me? The news that they want me to teach on east campus again next term (which meant more than any gift really) and also……wait for it….no omelette pan. But 300y worth.
See the photo of my new bread machine.
The school car brought me back home. Traffic was still bad even at 2130 and I had time to reflect. I seem to have been accepted with some gusto at east campus and I am looking forward to new students, they obviously like me or my gift would have been a plastic flower, yet I found my mind wandering back to Chizhou, to Joan, Yvonne, Joanna and the many hundreds who have touched my life. It was bittersweet and I couldn’t balance the happy with the melancholic as we edged our way through the interminable queues.
The city was lit up, as were all the bridges with coloured lights, some flashing, some not.
Then as we crossed the Yellow River I spotted in the distance something atop a mountain I have never noticed before. A Buddhist temple illuminated that could have been the one so close to Chizhou university that on countless occasions I took students on my bike at night to see and photograph.
Your imagination will do the rest.
An eventful day in many respects.
After I posted my entry yesterday I had some great and (I hate to admit it) exciting news. I had sent Alice from Wuhu a text grandly informing her that she wouldn’t visit me this holiday. I was absolutely certain because I had checked the trains and there were no tickets available to here after next week and flights from Hefei had shot up from 350y to over 1,000y. Of course she wasn’t coming!
I never figured that she could come sooner, in fact she has booked a ticket for Monday and arrives Tuesday night at 2118hrs - she even managed to get a sleeper - I was concerned she was crazy enough to book a hard seat for the 28 hour trip. I wouldn’t even consider the journey in a soft sleeper let alone a seat, maybe an individual or double cabin but not with strangers. So terrific, I will have some decent English speaking company for nearly two weeks as her return ticket is on the 14th.
Of course that also presents problems. The worst is that I need to scrub and clean the floors after the party. Suzy and Sheila don’t seem too keen. The second is sleeping arrangements. I don’t have that much bedding but a sleeping bag was placed on order from Taobao which I pray will arrive by Tuesday. Then of course she will want to see Lanzhou. Well, I don’t KNOW Lanzhou yet! Thankfully I believe Suzy and Sheila will assist by taking her off my hands from time to time to show her the sights. But I will have friendly company for eleven days so this holiday will in part be one hell of a lot better than envisaged. And I have to cook lasagne for her. She said she loves my lasagne.
It’s funny how different girls love different dishes you make. With Joanna it was chilli, Joan it was Bolognese (or as she termed it, Italy Noodles), another couple it was my chilli frittatas etc. A least I will have a purpose to cook other than to fill my own belly. I’m even scratching in my brain as to what to feed her when she gets here seeing as it will not be before 2230 but I can probably make homemade hamburgers or something simple.
So I went to class happy today and became even happier to discover Monday is a holiday for new year. Bit cheeky of the Chinese to celebrate two new years considering I never got Christmas or Boxing Day as a holiday but I will take a free day regardless. I’m just glad I found out before getting up at five on Monday, waiting for the bus and finding out then.
I also suggested to the class that if they didn’t want to go Japanese next Thursday, I would be ok with them going to the all you can eat pizza/buffet place. ANYTHING but a bloody hotpot will do! I also checked if it would be ok for me to take Alice on the school bus as a guest visitor to my class and of course attendee at the party. It’s all set.
I came home and tried to grab an hour’s nap but it was one of those you get when you are tired yet know you mustn’t oversleep and you have things whizzing around in your brain. I mean, what would they have thought if I never turned up?
You don’t sleep, you only think you do.
Then I had a brainstorm. The shower. Maybe if I increased the water flow the temperature problem might be cured? Turned the shower on and watched the temperature in the kitchen on the display climb from the preset 42C to 55C and then cut out with an overheat error. Ok, disconnected the shower head and took a pin to the outlet holes, increasing them in size. Suddenly the problem was solved - in fact now I will need to increase the temperature setting!
At 1700 “our leader” (well that’s what Janet said, although in Chinese universities there are more Chiefs than Indians because everyone seems to be a leader of something except me) came to collect me. It took an hour, traffic being bad again. And the 1y bus fare seems not to be the reason, I never knew that when pollution was bad Lanzhou is like Beijing and restricts car number plate use to odd numbers one day and even the next. That explains why it was bliss before and hell now.
Instead of being taken to the show I was taken to dinner with people I had never met although some were faculty. There were two very elderly people (parents of the leader) and a chap I was told to call “Egg” because his head looked like one. Ok I can go along with that of course but I then had to nickname myself watermelon to put him at ease.
A nice, if rather hurried in view of the travelling time, meal it was. They even gave me white wine (French variety) and although few things were to my taste I had never seen most of them before. My favourite was a dish that looked as though it could be thinly sliced pork but wasn’t. It could equally have been abalone and if it were I would have been ecstatic but it wasn’t. It was a form of mushroom which I have to say was bloody lovely. Too soon it was time for “the leader” to take me to the show, leaving the others behind to continue scoffing and chatting, although not before giving me a full glass of wine and then after saying “you must go” telling me I must finish it quickly! I complied. If anyone thereafter complained I stank of booze I could blame “the leader” - and did!
The show this time was great. I have no grounds for complaining that it was all in Chinese because unlike Chizhou, I am not teaching English students. But there were a variety of acts, not just dancing. A really good piano concerto, comedy I never understood and a girl who I pray never becomes a teacher. She sang four songs on the trot and I was spellbound. Aside from professionals I have never heard such a voice and I am no expert but she could make fame and fortune because she also has stage presence.
And of course somewhere in the middle of all this was Santa.
When you go on stage you need to do this, this and that. Sorry, excuse me, I am a professional, I know what to do. Oh ok. We will bring gifts for you to give the students. Fine, do I throw them from the stage? No, leave the stage and distribute them.
Are you SURE?
Why do you ask? Well we tried that once in Chizhou and the freshmen nearly crushed me to death just to get a 2y stuffed toy. Oh no, our students - even the boy students - are very polite. Ok, if you’re sure.
One minute into the leaving the stage experiment, Presidential Bodyguards rescued me and took me back up to the stage. I couldn’t resist saying “I told you so”.
Then I was given my gift. Remember all I asked for from the kindergarten was an omelette pan but was given a heavy casserole dish? The former is probably 100y but my gift more likely 200y. What did the school give me? The news that they want me to teach on east campus again next term (which meant more than any gift really) and also……wait for it….no omelette pan. But 300y worth.
See the photo of my new bread machine.
The school car brought me back home. Traffic was still bad even at 2130 and I had time to reflect. I seem to have been accepted with some gusto at east campus and I am looking forward to new students, they obviously like me or my gift would have been a plastic flower, yet I found my mind wandering back to Chizhou, to Joan, Yvonne, Joanna and the many hundreds who have touched my life. It was bittersweet and I couldn’t balance the happy with the melancholic as we edged our way through the interminable queues.
The city was lit up, as were all the bridges with coloured lights, some flashing, some not.
Then as we crossed the Yellow River I spotted in the distance something atop a mountain I have never noticed before. A Buddhist temple illuminated that could have been the one so close to Chizhou university that on countless occasions I took students on my bike at night to see and photograph.
Your imagination will do the rest.
Wednesday, 28 December 2016
Wednesday 28th December, 2016 1415
Last night I sent an email to Brenda. For a few days now my shower has alternated between inflicting second degree burns one minute and cryogenically freezing me the next once the water heater overheats and trips out.
It probably just needs a new thermostat but the last thing I need is for it to pack up completely in the holidays when there will be nobody here to repair it. I haven’t forgotten the fortnight in Chizhou when I had to boil water on the hob and wash on the toilet with a bucket. She said she would call me today.
Talking of Chizhou, I saw on their website that they held a forum for foreign teachers. Thinking perhaps they had invited a horde of laowei from all over the province, I opened the article. I couldn’t help laughing when I read that it was actually for the only two foreign teachers they have! They could probably have fitted the minutes on the back of a fag packet.
Yesterday afternoon after my class finished, Janet and another Chinese teacher came to my office. The other teacher is often on the bus with me but speaks no English beyond hello and thank you. They had come to invite me to a joint Christmas and New Year party/show. It starts at 1900 tomorrow above the campus canteen. What about the one you said about on Saturday night? I never got an answer to that, therefore I assume I was misinformed yet again. Also, they want me to play Santa. Wait a minute, you said they weren’t interested? Again I received no answer! They are though going to try and find me a non-stick omelette pan by way of a gift - no idea what I will actually end up with.
They suggested I hung around campus after my class in the morning. Er, no thanks. I finish at 1140 and the bus home leaves at noon. I will come home and rest, then take public transport back to school later. They are going to find out if the school car is free to collect me but they warned me that we now have to pay for the public buses, as if 1y a journey was a huge imposition.
Well on the bus home it certainly seemed as if 1y makes a hell of a difference. The traffic was suddenly appalling, so much so that it took over an hour even with Lewis Hamilton at the wheel. I couldn’t believe such a pittance of a cost could suddenly see everyone take to their cars again.
Just as I got home Rico texted to ask if I wanted to go to dinner with him. There was no way I was going all the way back to east campus again. I suggested if he was free on Saturday we can go to Buddy’s, at a mere two stops away on the BRT I was thinking of my own convenience. And hopefully Guinness.
No call yet from Brenda, she’ll probably suggest maintenance can come tomorrow when I am busy. Friday will be fine, I have decided I will not go through the charade of going to school, waiting for an empty classroom then travelling all the way back home after a waste of three hours. Ditto next Friday.
Last night I sent an email to Brenda. For a few days now my shower has alternated between inflicting second degree burns one minute and cryogenically freezing me the next once the water heater overheats and trips out.
It probably just needs a new thermostat but the last thing I need is for it to pack up completely in the holidays when there will be nobody here to repair it. I haven’t forgotten the fortnight in Chizhou when I had to boil water on the hob and wash on the toilet with a bucket. She said she would call me today.
Talking of Chizhou, I saw on their website that they held a forum for foreign teachers. Thinking perhaps they had invited a horde of laowei from all over the province, I opened the article. I couldn’t help laughing when I read that it was actually for the only two foreign teachers they have! They could probably have fitted the minutes on the back of a fag packet.
Yesterday afternoon after my class finished, Janet and another Chinese teacher came to my office. The other teacher is often on the bus with me but speaks no English beyond hello and thank you. They had come to invite me to a joint Christmas and New Year party/show. It starts at 1900 tomorrow above the campus canteen. What about the one you said about on Saturday night? I never got an answer to that, therefore I assume I was misinformed yet again. Also, they want me to play Santa. Wait a minute, you said they weren’t interested? Again I received no answer! They are though going to try and find me a non-stick omelette pan by way of a gift - no idea what I will actually end up with.
They suggested I hung around campus after my class in the morning. Er, no thanks. I finish at 1140 and the bus home leaves at noon. I will come home and rest, then take public transport back to school later. They are going to find out if the school car is free to collect me but they warned me that we now have to pay for the public buses, as if 1y a journey was a huge imposition.
Well on the bus home it certainly seemed as if 1y makes a hell of a difference. The traffic was suddenly appalling, so much so that it took over an hour even with Lewis Hamilton at the wheel. I couldn’t believe such a pittance of a cost could suddenly see everyone take to their cars again.
Just as I got home Rico texted to ask if I wanted to go to dinner with him. There was no way I was going all the way back to east campus again. I suggested if he was free on Saturday we can go to Buddy’s, at a mere two stops away on the BRT I was thinking of my own convenience. And hopefully Guinness.
No call yet from Brenda, she’ll probably suggest maintenance can come tomorrow when I am busy. Friday will be fine, I have decided I will not go through the charade of going to school, waiting for an empty classroom then travelling all the way back home after a waste of three hours. Ditto next Friday.
Monday, 26 December 2016
Boxing Day 2016 1310
Quick pitstop before nipping out for my shopping. Sadly on Mondays of late I seem to be the only one on the bus coming home so his last stop is my campus. Otherwise I would try to get him to drop me at the supermarket. He thinks he is being helpful by dropping me off within a hundred yards of home - if only he knew!
Last night turned out to be exactly what I expected. I met Dean and the “young lady” Eva at Homwo. Eva is actually a neighbour of mine and teaches art on Peili campus, I did ask if she was Dean’s mistress but they both denied it. Well they would!
In the end I said we should go to Buddy’s which was just as well. As we passed Pizza Hut there were people queuing on the stairs and downstairs. Probably would have meant a two hour wait for a table had we gone there. As it was, Buddy’s was also full but the James Bond luck kicked in as we arrived, for a group vacated their table at that moment.
I had my steak which I have to say was just so-so. If that was Australian beef then someone should tell them to breed cattle with less gristle. Eva had a hotdog, aside from the sauce wiggled all over the top (meaning a plastic glove was necessary to avoid getting covered in ketchup) it looked great and I found myself wishing perhaps I had ordered one. I will again in the future but instruct them to make it so I don’t need a glove!
The best part was that they had one can of Guinness! Well, second best bit, the best was that Dean paid the bill. I told them to get more Guinness in because I may go there on new year’s eve. Actually that means I have to go there now in case they do get more in.
I thought we would go our separate ways after dinner but Dean had other ideas. We went to a bar very close to where I bought my last pair of shoes.
On the walk there in the freezing cold we passed someone on the pavement selling puppies. I’d had a few sherbets and it was a close call. Two of the puppies looked as if they were no more than 6 weeks old. So sad. But no, I never bought any, although that may change. I do find myself missing having a mutt for company.
Ok, he paid for dinner, it was only right I paid for drinks. Spying a bottle of Gordons, I enquired about tonic water. Silly question. So I popped out to BHG to try and buy some. Also silly. I ended up buying 4/5th of a bottle of black rum. No Coke either so we drank it neat but at least I got to take half a bottle home with me.
In the cab home I ended up taking a call from Mulan. She seems to be trying to make amends for whatever ideas she put into her boyfriends head about me forcing her to do things. One day maybe I will learn what on earth was going on but this time she wanted me to speak to one of her young students who she has problems controlling. No idea if I did any good.
I slept through my alarm this morning. In fact as it goes off every 10 minutes I slept through it five times! Eventually, believe it or not, my little Dalvey travel alarm woke me up! Jesus, did I regret not taking the opportunity of having today off!
It’s over now and I have afternoon classes tomorrow so all will once again be well with my world.
Time to shop now. Grand ideas of making a pork and mushroom pie for my dinner - I would hate to waste the pork I never used for the party.
Quick pitstop before nipping out for my shopping. Sadly on Mondays of late I seem to be the only one on the bus coming home so his last stop is my campus. Otherwise I would try to get him to drop me at the supermarket. He thinks he is being helpful by dropping me off within a hundred yards of home - if only he knew!
Last night turned out to be exactly what I expected. I met Dean and the “young lady” Eva at Homwo. Eva is actually a neighbour of mine and teaches art on Peili campus, I did ask if she was Dean’s mistress but they both denied it. Well they would!
In the end I said we should go to Buddy’s which was just as well. As we passed Pizza Hut there were people queuing on the stairs and downstairs. Probably would have meant a two hour wait for a table had we gone there. As it was, Buddy’s was also full but the James Bond luck kicked in as we arrived, for a group vacated their table at that moment.
I had my steak which I have to say was just so-so. If that was Australian beef then someone should tell them to breed cattle with less gristle. Eva had a hotdog, aside from the sauce wiggled all over the top (meaning a plastic glove was necessary to avoid getting covered in ketchup) it looked great and I found myself wishing perhaps I had ordered one. I will again in the future but instruct them to make it so I don’t need a glove!
The best part was that they had one can of Guinness! Well, second best bit, the best was that Dean paid the bill. I told them to get more Guinness in because I may go there on new year’s eve. Actually that means I have to go there now in case they do get more in.
I thought we would go our separate ways after dinner but Dean had other ideas. We went to a bar very close to where I bought my last pair of shoes.
On the walk there in the freezing cold we passed someone on the pavement selling puppies. I’d had a few sherbets and it was a close call. Two of the puppies looked as if they were no more than 6 weeks old. So sad. But no, I never bought any, although that may change. I do find myself missing having a mutt for company.
Ok, he paid for dinner, it was only right I paid for drinks. Spying a bottle of Gordons, I enquired about tonic water. Silly question. So I popped out to BHG to try and buy some. Also silly. I ended up buying 4/5th of a bottle of black rum. No Coke either so we drank it neat but at least I got to take half a bottle home with me.
In the cab home I ended up taking a call from Mulan. She seems to be trying to make amends for whatever ideas she put into her boyfriends head about me forcing her to do things. One day maybe I will learn what on earth was going on but this time she wanted me to speak to one of her young students who she has problems controlling. No idea if I did any good.
I slept through my alarm this morning. In fact as it goes off every 10 minutes I slept through it five times! Eventually, believe it or not, my little Dalvey travel alarm woke me up! Jesus, did I regret not taking the opportunity of having today off!
It’s over now and I have afternoon classes tomorrow so all will once again be well with my world.
Time to shop now. Grand ideas of making a pork and mushroom pie for my dinner - I would hate to waste the pork I never used for the party.
Sunday, 25 December 2016
Still Christmas Day, 2016 1500
Oh, the youth of today. And probably the same can be said of the youth of yesterday.
No call from Rico despite my sending a message saying it was fine if he didn’t want to “play” today, I would go on my own for my Christmas dinner. After all, his Mum lives miles away near east campus so I don’t blame him but an answer would have been nice. Having said that, for all I know his other party went on until dawn and he could well still be asleep!
I then watched Len Goodman’s farewell programme on iPlayer whilst mulling over where to actually eat today. Buddy’s? Pizza Hut? I still don’t know.
But then I had a text from Dean, the IT teacher who begged off coming last night because his kid had a cold. It is obvious English innuendo was lost on him last night because what I sent him, had I received it, would have earnt me at the very least ostracisation, possibly a sore nose. Nope, apparently I was “so understanding”!
Not only that, my dinner has now been delayed until 1800, somewhat later than I had hoped (mainly because of the 0500 reveille in the morning), because he wishes to join me so we are friends again. Interestingly, he is bringing a young lady along too. I say “interestingly” because he is married, however by young he may mean YOUNG. I shall see later. With both eateries 100 feet apart, we can decide which to patronise when we get there. I am leaning towards Buddy’s - more expensive but at least their steaks appear to be real instead of the perfectly formed reconstituted ones at Pizza Hut. We shall see.
I awoke this morning to the aftermath of the party. Not a scrap of food left of course but bucket loads of dirty crockery and cutlery plus pots and pans. I ignored the lot until half an hour ago when I decided to wash half of it and tackle the rest tomorrow!
I also looked at Rico’s gift of wine to me. I refused it last night in preference to my cheapo stuff which I know I can drink. Nothing worse than someone giving you wine and it being awful, especially as I would tell them what I thought of it. But no, this cost a pretty penny - it’s in a box, is merlot (I’ve never had a bad merlot) and my guess is it was upwards of 150y. It will indeed be consumed, on new year’s eve to see in 2017. Can’t think of anywhere here where I can go and party until after midnight that day!
Good job it’s Monday tomorrow which means the weekly shop, after last night there is hardly any food left here - still plenty of sausages in the freezer though!
Do you know what I would really like for my Christmas dinner? Goose with roast potatoes done in the fat. Not a sprout in sight but lashings of stuffing and chipolatas, fresh garden peas and baked parsnips. Christmas pud to follow with brandy butter (made with more brandy than butter!) and then a comprehensive cheeseboard and a bottle of Dows to wash it down. No problem sleeping after that!
I daydream. The reality will probably be a steak and a couple of beers, although if they have wine I think today I should splash out and spend some of my Christmas money from my sister and Mum. If only I could get at it! The debit card’s in the post!
Enjoy stuffing yourselves later, at least I don’t have to behave myself or bear the indignity of falling asleep in a chair and having kids jumping all over me wanting to play charades!
Ahhhh! Christmas!! Don’t you just love it!!!!
Oh, the youth of today. And probably the same can be said of the youth of yesterday.
No call from Rico despite my sending a message saying it was fine if he didn’t want to “play” today, I would go on my own for my Christmas dinner. After all, his Mum lives miles away near east campus so I don’t blame him but an answer would have been nice. Having said that, for all I know his other party went on until dawn and he could well still be asleep!
I then watched Len Goodman’s farewell programme on iPlayer whilst mulling over where to actually eat today. Buddy’s? Pizza Hut? I still don’t know.
But then I had a text from Dean, the IT teacher who begged off coming last night because his kid had a cold. It is obvious English innuendo was lost on him last night because what I sent him, had I received it, would have earnt me at the very least ostracisation, possibly a sore nose. Nope, apparently I was “so understanding”!
Not only that, my dinner has now been delayed until 1800, somewhat later than I had hoped (mainly because of the 0500 reveille in the morning), because he wishes to join me so we are friends again. Interestingly, he is bringing a young lady along too. I say “interestingly” because he is married, however by young he may mean YOUNG. I shall see later. With both eateries 100 feet apart, we can decide which to patronise when we get there. I am leaning towards Buddy’s - more expensive but at least their steaks appear to be real instead of the perfectly formed reconstituted ones at Pizza Hut. We shall see.
I awoke this morning to the aftermath of the party. Not a scrap of food left of course but bucket loads of dirty crockery and cutlery plus pots and pans. I ignored the lot until half an hour ago when I decided to wash half of it and tackle the rest tomorrow!
I also looked at Rico’s gift of wine to me. I refused it last night in preference to my cheapo stuff which I know I can drink. Nothing worse than someone giving you wine and it being awful, especially as I would tell them what I thought of it. But no, this cost a pretty penny - it’s in a box, is merlot (I’ve never had a bad merlot) and my guess is it was upwards of 150y. It will indeed be consumed, on new year’s eve to see in 2017. Can’t think of anywhere here where I can go and party until after midnight that day!
Good job it’s Monday tomorrow which means the weekly shop, after last night there is hardly any food left here - still plenty of sausages in the freezer though!
Do you know what I would really like for my Christmas dinner? Goose with roast potatoes done in the fat. Not a sprout in sight but lashings of stuffing and chipolatas, fresh garden peas and baked parsnips. Christmas pud to follow with brandy butter (made with more brandy than butter!) and then a comprehensive cheeseboard and a bottle of Dows to wash it down. No problem sleeping after that!
I daydream. The reality will probably be a steak and a couple of beers, although if they have wine I think today I should splash out and spend some of my Christmas money from my sister and Mum. If only I could get at it! The debit card’s in the post!
Enjoy stuffing yourselves later, at least I don’t have to behave myself or bear the indignity of falling asleep in a chair and having kids jumping all over me wanting to play charades!
Ahhhh! Christmas!! Don’t you just love it!!!!
Christmas Day 2016 0100
Well the cooking, fretting and partying is long over here. Sad news received at the finish but here is not the place to either air or dwell on it.
The party could not have been any more similar to one of my classes. A stomach ache, wisdom tooth (where the hell Chinese students get so many of those is a mystery) and even a teacher cried off because his son had a cold.
I have probably offended people tonight with my replies and I couldn’t care less. I prefer the truth and a son with a cold and a wife at home to care for him is not in my book a valid excuse.
I did think at first we were to be but five because only four came. Ok, what the hell, if that’s it then we can have a small party. Of course, having not only blogged about the food but the numbers, disappointing, yet it was not to be allowed to get in the way of a good evening. From the ashes very often rise great occasions.
In the end others turned up very late indeed but they were most welcome. I was getting rather miffed that they weren’t eating much (for sure they ate before they came) but they loved the satay sauce. Quite why is beyond me for it was made without coconut milk. But they liked it.
To my delight at some point a group (by now I had ten guests) disappeared to go and buy playing cards so we could have two games of Do Di Jou (Landlord and Farmer). I haven’t played that in two years and I love it so I was extremely pleased even if I think I ended up losing 5y at the end. I blame that on Lanzhou having completely different rules to those in Chizhou - which of course worked against me.
Whilst playing it gladdened my heart to see the other table deciding it was time to demolish the drumsticks and some of my apple pie. I had been pissed off with nobody eating anything hitherto.
Of course the party had to end early, they all had to get back to their dorms miles away but they asked me what food would be put out for the wild dogs. I said everything. Sometimes I can be incredibly stupid because that signalled a rush on plastic bags so that absolutely EVERYTHING would be taken away! And I mean EVERYTHING! I have eaten nothing in two days and I have been left with half a cabbage. They even took the satay sauce.
So yes, foodwise what I initially thought was a failure would seem to have been a success. Albeit late in the day. As for those who cried off with excuses - they think I am stupid enough to actually believe? Well………….
Anyway Rico has agreed to fete me for my Christmas Dinner later this afternoon. No idea if he will come good on that but if he doesn’t I will sort myself. If he does though it will cost Mum 200y that’s for sure.
All the worry over cooking plenty of western food? I could probably have produced a huge stew and two apple pies but who’s to know?
Well the cooking, fretting and partying is long over here. Sad news received at the finish but here is not the place to either air or dwell on it.
The party could not have been any more similar to one of my classes. A stomach ache, wisdom tooth (where the hell Chinese students get so many of those is a mystery) and even a teacher cried off because his son had a cold.
I have probably offended people tonight with my replies and I couldn’t care less. I prefer the truth and a son with a cold and a wife at home to care for him is not in my book a valid excuse.
I did think at first we were to be but five because only four came. Ok, what the hell, if that’s it then we can have a small party. Of course, having not only blogged about the food but the numbers, disappointing, yet it was not to be allowed to get in the way of a good evening. From the ashes very often rise great occasions.
In the end others turned up very late indeed but they were most welcome. I was getting rather miffed that they weren’t eating much (for sure they ate before they came) but they loved the satay sauce. Quite why is beyond me for it was made without coconut milk. But they liked it.
To my delight at some point a group (by now I had ten guests) disappeared to go and buy playing cards so we could have two games of Do Di Jou (Landlord and Farmer). I haven’t played that in two years and I love it so I was extremely pleased even if I think I ended up losing 5y at the end. I blame that on Lanzhou having completely different rules to those in Chizhou - which of course worked against me.
Whilst playing it gladdened my heart to see the other table deciding it was time to demolish the drumsticks and some of my apple pie. I had been pissed off with nobody eating anything hitherto.
Of course the party had to end early, they all had to get back to their dorms miles away but they asked me what food would be put out for the wild dogs. I said everything. Sometimes I can be incredibly stupid because that signalled a rush on plastic bags so that absolutely EVERYTHING would be taken away! And I mean EVERYTHING! I have eaten nothing in two days and I have been left with half a cabbage. They even took the satay sauce.
So yes, foodwise what I initially thought was a failure would seem to have been a success. Albeit late in the day. As for those who cried off with excuses - they think I am stupid enough to actually believe? Well………….
Anyway Rico has agreed to fete me for my Christmas Dinner later this afternoon. No idea if he will come good on that but if he doesn’t I will sort myself. If he does though it will cost Mum 200y that’s for sure.
All the worry over cooking plenty of western food? I could probably have produced a huge stew and two apple pies but who’s to know?
Saturday, 24 December 2016
Christmas Eve, 2016 1210
I reckon I should have done more for the party last night. So far today all I have done is get a loaf on the go in the machine! Mind you, I am odd that way. I either make things a day or two early or leave it so I become frenetic in the kitchen. This is going to be one of the frenetic occasions. I shall shower soon, pop out to buy the vegetables I need and then go mad. One disadvantage here is that if I encounter catastrophe I can’t ring for a takeaway delivery………
It certainly won’t be a white Christmas here but then again it won’t be stormy - as parts of the UK apparently are at present. Cold certainly, the temperature is hovering around the zero mark and my electric meter is flashing away furiously as I maintain a very pleasant warmth indoors.
Yesterday Janet suggested I get a dog for a pet. I’d love to but that would condemn me once again to a life where I couldn’t leave home for more than six hours. A python would be ideal, you only feed them once a month.
I attach a photo of my gift from yesterday, it is much heavier than it looks.
Of necessity this is a short entry. As people the world over are struggling with wrapping paper or frantically racing around trying to find the last jar of brandy butter for ten miles, by all means spare a thought for the nurses, doctors, firemen and policemen who must work tomorrow. But please don’t forget the innumerable others who will also be working - sailors, pilots, the armed forces - most of whom will be far from home. Also the people keeping the water, gas and electricity flowing to your homes so you can roast the perfect turkey for your dinner tomorrow. The roadside repair men who will get you going if your car breaks down on the way to Mum’s for your festive feast. Yes, there are so many others who will be working besides the ones everyone remembers.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my loyal readers a Very Merry Christmas. No matter where you are in the world, whether it be turkey, ham, beef or goose, may your table be bountiful and your day joyous. Enjoy, and bless you all.
I reckon I should have done more for the party last night. So far today all I have done is get a loaf on the go in the machine! Mind you, I am odd that way. I either make things a day or two early or leave it so I become frenetic in the kitchen. This is going to be one of the frenetic occasions. I shall shower soon, pop out to buy the vegetables I need and then go mad. One disadvantage here is that if I encounter catastrophe I can’t ring for a takeaway delivery………
It certainly won’t be a white Christmas here but then again it won’t be stormy - as parts of the UK apparently are at present. Cold certainly, the temperature is hovering around the zero mark and my electric meter is flashing away furiously as I maintain a very pleasant warmth indoors.
Yesterday Janet suggested I get a dog for a pet. I’d love to but that would condemn me once again to a life where I couldn’t leave home for more than six hours. A python would be ideal, you only feed them once a month.
I attach a photo of my gift from yesterday, it is much heavier than it looks.
Of necessity this is a short entry. As people the world over are struggling with wrapping paper or frantically racing around trying to find the last jar of brandy butter for ten miles, by all means spare a thought for the nurses, doctors, firemen and policemen who must work tomorrow. But please don’t forget the innumerable others who will also be working - sailors, pilots, the armed forces - most of whom will be far from home. Also the people keeping the water, gas and electricity flowing to your homes so you can roast the perfect turkey for your dinner tomorrow. The roadside repair men who will get you going if your car breaks down on the way to Mum’s for your festive feast. Yes, there are so many others who will be working besides the ones everyone remembers.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my loyal readers a Very Merry Christmas. No matter where you are in the world, whether it be turkey, ham, beef or goose, may your table be bountiful and your day joyous. Enjoy, and bless you all.
Friday, 23 December 2016
Friday 23rd December, 2016 1840
So yesterday was spent teaching, followed by cooking a roast chicken dinner for Suzy and Sophie by way of thanks for doing the cleaning. Sheila cried off as she was ill. She must have been because she missed class and she doesn’t do that.
I also managed to find time to boil and roast the ham so that was one less job and now the surfaces and floors are nicely clean, all ready for being dirtied tomorrow night. Quite how many will in fact come I know not, I reckon some of the students may stay away out of embarrassment over their woeful attendance in the classroom. Their problem, not mine, but woe betide them if they don’t turn up for their exam a week on Tuesday because I am damned if I am going to go to campus specially for anyone who can’t be bothered and a week Thursday is party time for the last ever class get together.
Two of us enjoyed our dinner (I even splashed out and used my last packet of Paxo!) but Sophie is weird. She left most of the chicken (Suzy took that home for her cat) and seemed to mainly like the peas and carrots, although she did aver that she liked the gravy best of all. Most odd, particularly as she has already said she is “busy” tomorrow night and can’t come. My guess is she believes it will be a largely carnivorous affair (it will be!) but there will be freshly baked bread, salad and potatoes as well.
And so this afternoon it was time for Santa to come out of mothballs for his annual outing. It was a bit of a hike from campus, I would guess around a mile, but I’ll tell you what - that was one very nice kindergarten. About 150 ankle biters spread over three floors, Lord knows how many teachers, well furnished and spotlessly clean. Those whose shoes might damage the flooring were required to wear plastic bags over them. I escaped such a fate as my soles are soft but even so I would have refused - Santa NEVER wears blue bags on his feet!
In all, Janet and I (she is in one of the pictures taken outside the premises) were there for 90 minutes and I must say I rather enjoyed it. I even think some of the kids believed I was really Father Christmas. There were others though who insisted on trying to test to see whether my beard was real, ditto my stomach. The latter they were welcome to prod as much as they liked but seeing as I had bought a new beard for the occasion I didn’t want the illusion spoilt.
As for my gift? Well I got neither an omelette pan nor cake tin. What I was given was a pot probably best suited for casseroles or slow cooking. Christ knows how much it cost but it’s really heavy and is best described as the Chinese equivalent of a non-stick Le Creuset. Good quality cookware for sure. Be a shame to actually use it!
I’m not actually sure if I will get to eat today, for I am currently in the process of roasting fourteen drumsticks (two lots with an oven the size of mine) and the bread machine is making (hopefully successfully) a loaf which will finish around 2100. I shall make another in the morning before tackling the chilli, satay, bangers, salad, spuds etc. I have a feeling there will be a lot left over but I would rather that than see it all disappear, knowing people could have eaten more.
Last night I said to Suzy I was going to take the mobile phones off everyone who came in order that they would have no choice but to actually speak to each other instead of instant messaging or playing games. I thought it a marvellous idea until she said:
“How will they be able to take photographs?”
Ah. Good point. Drat!!!!
So yesterday was spent teaching, followed by cooking a roast chicken dinner for Suzy and Sophie by way of thanks for doing the cleaning. Sheila cried off as she was ill. She must have been because she missed class and she doesn’t do that.
I also managed to find time to boil and roast the ham so that was one less job and now the surfaces and floors are nicely clean, all ready for being dirtied tomorrow night. Quite how many will in fact come I know not, I reckon some of the students may stay away out of embarrassment over their woeful attendance in the classroom. Their problem, not mine, but woe betide them if they don’t turn up for their exam a week on Tuesday because I am damned if I am going to go to campus specially for anyone who can’t be bothered and a week Thursday is party time for the last ever class get together.
Two of us enjoyed our dinner (I even splashed out and used my last packet of Paxo!) but Sophie is weird. She left most of the chicken (Suzy took that home for her cat) and seemed to mainly like the peas and carrots, although she did aver that she liked the gravy best of all. Most odd, particularly as she has already said she is “busy” tomorrow night and can’t come. My guess is she believes it will be a largely carnivorous affair (it will be!) but there will be freshly baked bread, salad and potatoes as well.
And so this afternoon it was time for Santa to come out of mothballs for his annual outing. It was a bit of a hike from campus, I would guess around a mile, but I’ll tell you what - that was one very nice kindergarten. About 150 ankle biters spread over three floors, Lord knows how many teachers, well furnished and spotlessly clean. Those whose shoes might damage the flooring were required to wear plastic bags over them. I escaped such a fate as my soles are soft but even so I would have refused - Santa NEVER wears blue bags on his feet!
In all, Janet and I (she is in one of the pictures taken outside the premises) were there for 90 minutes and I must say I rather enjoyed it. I even think some of the kids believed I was really Father Christmas. There were others though who insisted on trying to test to see whether my beard was real, ditto my stomach. The latter they were welcome to prod as much as they liked but seeing as I had bought a new beard for the occasion I didn’t want the illusion spoilt.
As for my gift? Well I got neither an omelette pan nor cake tin. What I was given was a pot probably best suited for casseroles or slow cooking. Christ knows how much it cost but it’s really heavy and is best described as the Chinese equivalent of a non-stick Le Creuset. Good quality cookware for sure. Be a shame to actually use it!
I’m not actually sure if I will get to eat today, for I am currently in the process of roasting fourteen drumsticks (two lots with an oven the size of mine) and the bread machine is making (hopefully successfully) a loaf which will finish around 2100. I shall make another in the morning before tackling the chilli, satay, bangers, salad, spuds etc. I have a feeling there will be a lot left over but I would rather that than see it all disappear, knowing people could have eaten more.
Last night I said to Suzy I was going to take the mobile phones off everyone who came in order that they would have no choice but to actually speak to each other instead of instant messaging or playing games. I thought it a marvellous idea until she said:
“How will they be able to take photographs?”
Ah. Good point. Drat!!!!
