Thursday 21^st December, 2017 1220

Bang goes an era. News just in is that Shenyang Steve has been booted out of Doubletree Shenyang as of tomorrow so no more Liaoning visits for me. I was only thinking the other day that he had been billeted there for an inordinately long time, five years by my reckoning.

However I am very pleased for him as his next hotel is in Kuala Lumpur. You may wonder why I am pleased – his wife and son live there, it's his hometown these days. I am already mentally planning my summer '19 holiday via Shanghai, I can spend time in Shanghai before and after KL. Every flight from here goes via Pudong anyway (and takes as long as flying from here to Heathrow!). I could even fly business class.

It has been many years since I was last in Malaysia and I never saw KL other than the airport. Hugely important is the fact I like Malaysian food. I wonder if I will finally get to experience the alleged gastronomic delights of a “steamboat”.

Ok, I need to shower soon, head off out for my medicines and some eggs and be back by three. Adriana is indeed coming this afternoon and I have cooking to do. My only concern is being able to successfully poach and debone that fish. If I can't then I shall be stymied, there are no alternatives locally. Time will tell.

Friday 22^nd 1830

Last night was eventful, that's for sure.

Adriana came around three and rather than watch as she had said, she did homework. I defrosted the huge fish and the only thing big enough to take it for poaching was the enormous wok I was given on sports day. When I tried to flake the flesh off the bones it didn't take long to discover it was boneless anyway! I fretted for nought.

The pie was a hit and miss affair, I just guessed at what herbs and seasoning to use but in fact it turned out very well indeed. Apart from the whines from the American contingent about wanting Mickey Mouse or star shaped pancakes, they went down well too. Sadly the same cannot be said of Adriana.

I actually feel incredibly sad. When she arrived she was so excited to be having dinner with Annie and Stephanie they were all she talked about. She even brought a bottle of Canadian white wine (Canadian??) of which she was undeniably proud. The wine was far too sweet and Adriana simply never stopped talking. We've all done it – had a few drinks and become a motormouth but there is a dreadful story at the back of it and one which I will not share, courtesy and decency demand it so.

When the two Americans left Adriana became a completely different person and we had a long chat. I don't think Annie and Steph will hold an episode of chatting for China against her but my guess is that she was simply too excited and too desperate to fit in that she went a long way over the top.

Once her story was told and she realised I understood, wasn't as she expected going to ask her to leave, she transformed. She is welcome to come here and stay again during the holidays.

Of course, I ended up so tired today. As always, the students on east campus never did as asked and all I have left next week are I think 8 to test on Monday morning, similar Friday morning and annoyingly, 5 on Friday afternoon. But then, barring any parties (doubtful as their other exams will start) I will be on holiday. I have to say that after this term, I feel as if I not only need it but damned well deserve it.