Friday 29th September, 2017                      1915

Annie never got taken to lodge her papers yesterday. Of all the absurd reasons, it was because the school car wasn’t available. The number 15 bus goes from this campus to the door of the PSB! Obviously Annie couldn’t do it alone but someone could have taken her.

I arranged to cook dinner for Annie last night along with Pat. However Pat also turned up with Ariel! Apparently they asked Annie to contact me to see if it was ok. She didn’t!

As it transpired, I awoke yesterday morning with a dreadful stomach ache. I was a spit off cancelling the dinner but ever the optimist, I thought later in the day I would feel better. I didn’t. Nonetheless I cooked two courses knowing nothing would pass my lips except some wine. The trio of diners though seemed to enjoy the wings and full roast pork - I even managed to turn the Godawful potatoes into half decent roasties AND produce apple sauce. Unfortunately as I felt so nauseous it never even crossed my mind to get my camera out.

So yesterday for me was a fasting day. At lunchtime today I ate half a pot noodle I bought from east campus shop, not what I class as food but I needed summat! Annie went to the PSB and now has my passport but for some reason there is a problem with her paperwork and she cannot travel outside of Lanzhou (until her passport comes back in a month using anything but a bus and of course would be unable to check into an hotel either.

Bang went my little trip. No way was I going alone to a place with no restaurants and nobody I know, on my own. I have cancelled the whole shooting match. Mercifully although I never got all my money back, I did get a fair bit. I am now resigned to remaining in this city for the holidays. On the bus home tonight I did notice a restaurant called Iron Cooking which advertised western food. I will check Google maps later and may ask Annie to dine with me to console ourselves. Lord knows there are few enough opportunities to eat western grub in this dusty place.  

Yesterday when I came back from buying ingredients for the dinner I found myself unable to open my door. With metal cages over every window the door is the only access. That lock is not old either! After half an hour of trying and cursing I finally got the key to work. Same again tonight. I hope Brenda can find someone to come this weekend and replace it because as sure as anything if I end up having to stay in an hotel because of it, the school will be paying! What if I popped out and left the oven or hob on???

As always, my life continues to proceed tranquilly with no problems along the way…….