Thursday 12th January, 2017                                 1535

Well the lasagne was a triumph, thank God, as was last night’s ham. Aside from the weekend in Zhangye I have done little else but cook since Alice arrived. It would be so much easier if she was like me and only ate dinner in the evening but I have to make breakfast and lunch as well. And no, I don’t trust her to cook in my kitchen!

The trip downtown was an annoyance. Over an hour each way only to be told by China Tobacco they had none of my cigars. The reality was that we made that journey ultimately just for a Japanese lunch. I had intended to go out today to try and find that China Tobacco shop near here which I spotted not long after I arrived but decided on yet more cooking. We can search for cigars tomorrow because Alice’s train leaves at 2200.

So today’s culinary delights (mainly for her) were creamy scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast, lunch was another portion of lasagne (one now in the freezer for me another day) and dinner a roast pork dinner. The bread pudding is already made and so she will have plenty to take on the train. I shall miss having her here.

I forgot to mention about going for more electricity on Tuesday. The woman is now finished as of today and won’t be working again until sometime in February. Remember I thought she had given me 1,000y worth to see me through yet my meter only showed 500y? I got Brenda to call her and arrange for another 500y. When we went she showed me her paperwork and I was not mistaken, it said 1,000y but when I asked how come the meter never showed it she didn’t understand either. She gave me another 500y and when we got home, miraculously I had a thousand more than when I left! Weird…..at least I know it will last!

I am wondering just how quiet it will get around here soon. Nobody could tell me if the stalls will close (they are damned handy for meat, fruit and veg when I don’t want to go to the supermarket), only that the buses will run throughout although they will terminate early as in Chizhou. My little beer and jing jo shop told Alice they won’t even cloe on new year’s day so at least I don’t have to stock up. Oddly, I haven’t seen much evidence of fireworks on sale but I will lay money on them being let off to welcome in the rooster.