Friday 2^nd March, 2018 1930 Lantern Festival, last day of spring festival

Am I glad it's Friday evening!

That was hard going and I can only hope it gets easier as I get back in the swing. Absolutely knackered for three solid days.

Ok, so every class had the activity and I am guessing Brownie points for teacher but gruelling it certainly was. Today I had the unwanted ultra-long lunch break and was looking forward to the only “good” thing – a sausage and egg McMuffin with hash browns and a McCafe.

As I stood queueing in McD's at 1000 it was with dismay that I observed staff swivelling the menu boards to show the daytime menu. I knew it meant they had run out of bloody muffins but nonetheless waited just to make sure. “No breakfasts?”

“No breakfasts.” I was disgusted, it is not as if the place doesn't do steady trade so there is no excuse for not keeping enough stock.

I walked out. The last thing I wanted at 1000 was a Big Mac and Coke, especially as the one I did have for my lunch on Wednesday came in a stale burger bun. Burger buns don't go stale the same way as bread does, they go dry and crumbly and are awful.

At that time of the morning there aren't many eateries open, least of all for breakfast. I toyed with the idea of going to the fast food mall which opens around that time but with limited dishes cooked by then. But I remembered the hole in the wall that sold baozi and decided today was as good an opportunity to try it out as any.

So I went there, was shown the size of them and, pinching the flesh on my forearm, indicated I would like three of them (cost 4.5\ for three) with a meat filling. I toddled off with my little bag and started to eat one. The filling was possibly carrot. Not particularly nice but I ate it. The other two had fillings I can only describe as being boiled grass. Revolting. I shan't be going there again, which is a crying shame because had I been given pork and sesame fillings I would have been a repeat customer because the steamed bun itself was wonderfully light and fluffy. Shame about the stuffing.

I almost managed to fall asleep in my office, maybe I did for a moment or two but no more. God I was tired. And my last class of the week was particularly hard work even when it came to the activity, until at least they grasped the idea.

Classes over for the week I went to sit down in my office and watch Masterchef. Janet arrived, gabbling away on her phone. She was speaking to the school driver, who was informing her there were traffic jams and he would be late. Great, all I needed. It also seemed I was the only passenger, everyone else had the good fortune to have finished at lunchtime, including the Dean.

In the event he was only five minutes late but there were three accidents on the way home which delayed my return somewhat. I wasn't cooking, no way. I went for sweet pork seeing as they are open again and their lengthy closure I can only assume was down to a very long holiday.

As I was leaving, Janet said when east campus are asked about renewing my contract, would I again write the letter for her to translate. “Sure” I said, “and it will be SOME letter!”

So tonight it is just TV and wine and no alarm set for the morning. I am going nowhere further tomorrow than the jing jo shop and meat and veg stalls for my dinner! I don't even have to stay up late for the rugby until next weekend. And perversely, it is getting more pleasant temperature-wise here whilst in contrast all I read on the BBC is “The Beast From The East” and how a few inches of snow has paralysed the UK!