Saturday 2^nd December, 2017 0030

So much for not cooking tonight!

A text from Annie saying that after all, they were happy to come for dinner tonight. For that, interpret please feed us! I cannot blame them, the money they get is the equivalent of eight pounds per day. My cigars are two, jing jo and beer for home are seven so those alone would leave me as a skeleton! I have no idea how the Peace Corps con people to volunteer but I really must ask!!

With bugger all here to actually make a meal it was thinking cap time. I really didn't want to produce time-consuming stuff so it had to be easy food but what? Well the simplest I could think of and where I could buy ingredients locally (and by locally I mean around the corner) was frittata although with no bacon it was going to be veggie.

Do you know, if I served up dogshit omelette those two gannets would polish it off. I need to buy industrial sized dishes with which to cook. I am now getting a complex because I cook enough for six people and I eat a tiny portion and yet the whole lot disappears.

Ok, it is wonderful to cook and see it appreciated but it rather does rock one on ones feet when the plates are cleaned, because you believe you never made enough. Tonight I don't care, it wasn't planned and anyway it was a disaster.

Once I had decided what to make, I thought it best to wash the dishes from Tuesday. No water!

Marvellous. I waited. And I waited. In the end I went out unshowered. You don't need water for a frittata thank God. I prepared it for the oven, all the while hoping and praying to not only get a shower but also wash the dishes. My prayers went unheeded, reinforcing my belief there is no God.

There was however in my home sufficient clean dishes and cutlery to be able to serve food even if the glasses were used and from Tuesday night but at least we knew whose was whose.

Bugger me if the water didn't come on just after we age the main course. Leave the girls talking while they waited for the ice cream to soften a tad, wash everything. The last thing I need on Sunday is to return with a restaurant portion of dirty dishes! And pointless showering now when I shall do so soon when I wake up.

Ok so Donald Sutherland (aka Tim) just got back from Beijing and has cried off for the Indian meal. No problem, however he has offered us breakfast at his home half a mile from the hotel.

For the night, I am paying 1,007y for the biggest suite in the place and they advertise western food. I would like my money's worth! Cheeky I know but I have asked if his wife would be equally happy to lay on a light lunch after we check out. I do want to see him again, he is a very pleasant and affable chap and I am quite happy to roll up with whatever beverages they want.

I should be shocked at how my best laid plans always go awry but these days I am poleaxed when they actually do go to plan!

Whatever happens, I would please ask my religious readers to pray for me. I am taking two complete and utter lunatics on a trip and worse, sleeping in the same suite with them. Thankfully they will be scanned for weapons before we board the train.