Monday 16^th April, 2018 1515

Yesterday I did go on the hunt for rhubarb. I was doubly annoyed because not only was there no sign of tonight's dessert but I got confused in thinking there was a China tobacco around the corner from the buses. That is in fact at the main train station. Having left the market empty handed, I went wandering in search of something to smoke, I had a mere 24 hours' supply left. Eventually I did find a CT shop and bought different cheroots, still double my price but this time two thirds the size.

I have found a website operating out of this city where you can order cigars. The trouble is, they normally deal with products from Havana and the like so it might be laughable for me to ask for what are probably the sweepings from the factory floor. I may well do so though and if they can oblige then I will quite happily order 2,000 of them to make it worth their while. They wouldn't even need to deliver.

When I got back last night I bought apples and a load of mulberries. Dessert is in the fridge and simply needs baking. The enchiladas are a simple case of filling, rolling and putting on trays – probably the easiest meal for four I have cooked in many a long month.

Except tonight it is not four but five. I have invited Andy, my new cleaner.

Now I admit to making the assumption that suddenly I had a male char because he was perhaps from a poor family and didn't receive much by way of pocket money. Perhaps I should have considered the actual reason he wants to do it, you may think it is obvious but in a land where cleaning is very much for the girls, it never crossed my mind.

When he arrived I came straight out and asked. He replied that he had asked Alice (she is mentoring him) how to improve his English and the crafty mare suggested this! I took it easy on him (as I do with all of them) in that the floors, in particular the kitchen floor, were particularly woeful. I told him this week just do those, next week the floors will be easy and we can do something else such as kitchen counters, the week after the furniture etc. I am sure in a few weeks he will be able to pocket 50\ for half an hour's work each week.

He also made a point of telling me that Alice had told him about all the “delicious” food I make so I felt it would be churlish not to invite him this evening. It won't happen every week but this time it is a simple matter to make a little extra. Just so long as there are a couple of enchiladas left for my dinner after work tomorrow!

The temperature is once again in the ascendant. Shirtsleeves in fact. Perfect for tomorrow's premature shopping trip to stock up for Adriana on Saturday and next Monday's do, which will be curry and apple pie and macaroni and maybe rice pudding. The American contingent for some reason go bonkers over “mac and cheese” as they term it.