Tuesday 27^th March, 2018 1300

I don't know if my thyroid is malfunctioning but by God I was tired all day yesterday! I was glad dinner was postponed because I struggled to stay awake after 1800. In fact I ended up going to bed at the unearthly hour of 2030. I do long for the days of youth when I could sleep right through instead of waking several times though.

As for making plans in China, anyone thinking of coming to live and work here, beware! Matters not whether said plans are made with natives or Americans, they have to be regarded as fluid.

Remember all the faffing yesterday with tonight's dinner? First it was okay with everyone then Annie remembered two important things she had on – after saying yes? Five minutes after her last morning class finished today I had an email. Could she still come to dinner because the student dinner was off as they now had to attend a school meeting instead!

Of course, I have plenty of everything so she can come but it's a good job they weren't dishes where I have to buy individual portions such as steak. Actually I am delighted she won't miss it because if I get it right it will be good.

Juggling using the oven is causing problems though. The ham has been boiled and is now baking, having had the fat scored and a sugar & mustard mix rubbed in. Back in a minute, I need to now pour honey over it seeing as it has been roasting for an hour already.

(Five minutes later)

Maybe not! The sugar melted and is swimming around the bottom of the foil!

Once it is baked fully I can take a shower, wash some pots and go out to get a fresh pineapple to make a sauce. Last night I noticed they have skinned them on the market so my job will be easier.

I have to say I was concerned when I got out of bed because for the first time in a few months I found I had an arthritic attack. This time it was affecting my right ribcage, not a serious problem, but also it was rendering my right hand useless. The wonders of modern medicine came to the fore. A pack of 12x100mg diclofenac here costs a mere 4\ and I took one, safe in the knowledge that it would work, albeit four hours later! The restaurant will open this evening.

I note this morning that the international press is abuzz with rumours that Kim Jong Fatty III is suspected to have taken a train to Beijing. I checked China Daily and strangely there is no mention. To be honest, I hope he is here. What with the porn star president's inflammation of tensions since he took office and Beijing's increasingly cooling relations with Pyongyang, it would be nice if finally sense and calm are being restored.

Well, hopefully tonight's ham is now done, rather proud of how it looks and now I pray it tastes as good as it looks! Odd to think that a week ago it was a slab of pork on a market stall!