Wednesday 29th March, 2017               1200

Why is it that sleeping problems only manifest themselves when you have to get up early the next morning? Worse, when you do drop off you keep waking up at regular intervals and then the brain can’t relax for thinking about how long it is before the alarm goes off?
Sunday was one such occasion and doubtless tomorrow night will be more of the same. Still, my full day on Monday wasn’t as much of a tribulation as I thought it would be.

Yesterday I only went out in the early evening for a curry but during the day Janet responded to my query as to weekend working when the Shenyang Sect are due to arrive. Despite what others have said, she thinks we may be working on the Saturday, something which would scupper the entire visit. Helpfully, she suggested I could ask to take a day’s leave but I declined as it is not the way I do things. Whilst I realise that this will put the students out as well I suggested I could make up classes the weekend before or better still, maybe do the morning classes on one of my off weekdays and the afternoon one another weekday. That might be better for the students too, for they would have fewer classes on their make up Saturday. Nothing is known for sure yet as by Chinese standards it is far too distant for anyone to have decided - in fact she also thinks I may have to work this Saturday because we have Monday off for Qing Ming and I still await confirmation a mere three days away from the event!

I actually went to bed at a respectable hour last night and awoke at nine-thirty. No sooner had I sat down with a mug of coffee than there was a loud hammering on my door. Dressed merely in shirt and boxers I answered it to see two workmen who it transpired had arrived unannounced to replace my door handle and lock. They hadn’t even advised Brenda so she could warn me to have a shower  before they came.

Since I have lived here my front (not that there is a back) door has only ever closed using the key because for some reason it was sans latch. Damned annoying having to lock the door when you are just going ten yards to put your rubbish out. And this is what amuses me about workmen here, they removed the old assembly and then informed me they were going to go and get/buy a new one! Why couldn’t they have brought a new one with them, all the locks are the same!?

Two hours later and I can now close my door without locking it if I choose and once inside I can lock it without needing to use the key, I simply pull the handle up and the deadlock springs into action. All I need to do now is go and get a spare key cut as they only left me one.

However, all this threw my plans into complete disarray. I had intended to go food shopping and be back before now so I could bake an apple pie but I have lost the will now. I will still shop but probably go out for noodles tonight for dinner. I might do the pie tomorrow instead. I want to take some to work for the secretaries and this time I will ask them to give a slab to the dean. A bit of buttering up when you are waiting to see if you are invited to renew your contract never went amiss!