Saturday 15^th September, 2018 1630

Good Lord, I didn't realise it had been almost a week since my last post.

It has though been both a busy week and not a particularly happy one, sad to say. You know when you don't feel too great? Nothing serious, just a “yuk” kind of feeling? Well I've had that until today, added to yet another tooth abscess which although still swollen I have now subjugated the pain from and in fact today haven't needed any painkillers.

I went to school for teachers day. It was as I feared equally as dire as last year's bongo drum activity but what the hell. There was Chinese chanting (at my age I can repeat once and instantly forget so repetitions tend to be miming) and we all had to do the catwalk.

The main activity struck me with terror. Terror because without doubt I was going to have to refuse to participate. Bless them, whether due to my bulk or hopefully my age and mobility problem, they excused me anyway. It was four people standing on a piece of paper for ten seconds. Then the paper was folded in half and the exercise repeated. And again, and again. Our team actually won after a suggestion from me that the strongest girl put the lightest on her shoulders to make extra room. Age and degeneration certainly hit home when I realised that three decades ago I could have comfortably had a girl on my shoulders and lifted one on each arm, meaning only two feet needed to be on the paper. The reality is our strength fails with age and at that time merely walking was still a painful activity for me.

However, I did get a rather twee gift, a step up from last year's umbrella (but which will never be used by me!) - a little case with a three-serving Chinese teaset. Now remember Janet cajoled me into giving up my free time to attend? Guess who wasn't there? Yep. Janet. Later she complained her set was missing the serving board because she was late! I texted back to say she wasn't late, she was absent and it served her right!

On Tuesday we had our meal of macaroni au gratin followed by apple crumble and custard. I met Eli for the first time, a slightly younger version of Darriush. A very astute young man it has to be said, who very quickly sussed that I like nothing better than to be controversial to engender debate. I just wish it worked as well as that in my classes.

He suffers from Mortuusequusphobia, which for the unenlightened is a phobia or dislike of tomatoes. When I make macaroni I put breadcrumbs and sliced tomatoes on top. He removed his immediately. I have had to tell Annie that whilst he is more than welcome to come to our dinners I will not subject everyone else to a tomato-sterile diet. I mean come on, bolognese, chilli, curry etc – try and think of dishes I can cook here with the facilities available and half of them would be off the menu! Apparently he is quite happy to come and not eat. I probably speak for nearly everyone when I say I would not be happy. He's lucky, next week I thought I might do a roast pork, we haven't had that for a while.

Thursday had me doing the hypochondriac thing (we all do it, don't we!) and searching the internet because still the stroll to Pizza Hut for my breakfast was agony, muscular not skeletal. Many results obtained gave me a few months left to live at best so I did what I am good at, ignored the fact anything was wrong.

My second week of classes went a little better than expected, there were some who actually spoke in class and to me rather than their neighbours. Admittedly I did my best to shrug off the mobility issues a little and roam the classroom on occasion. If I can keep up my end then this term may well be moderately successful.

Today the workmen were supposed to come to put my bathroom tiles and panelling back at 0900. Eventually (this is China) I emailed Brenda. Not that I had anything pressing to do but I didn't want to shower and make the place wet before they came. At 1130 they turned up and actually made a good job of the tiles, even going off to buy a new one to replace the one they broke months ago. The panelling was obviously the remit of another team, for allegedly I need to get up early tomorrow to await their ministrations. At least then just maybe all the weird creepy-crawlies that currently have free access to my home may be impeded in their quest to annoy me.

Today I went out to buy some new speakers for my laptop. The “old” ones (6 months) had a volume control problem so I thought I'd get them and have a sweet pork now the restaurant has re-opened. Got new speakers then went for dinner. Except the sweet pork place has gone! No pictures of what food they do, different people. Damn. Cancelled that idea and seeing as my barber seems also to have shut up shop and done a bunk, I decided to try the barbers in the square.

They were empty so I was served immediately. What did I want? The usual, a quarter of an inch all over. The girl showed me an attachment for a number three and I said “ee” (one). At that, she decided the clippers alone were what she needed. Well, within seconds I knew I had done something dreadful. I think my haircut took all of three minutes (I was out of the door within five) and I am pretty sure the next closest haircut I could have had would be shaven.

Yep, with my white hair I now look completely bald. But do you know what? I'm going back there again! I like it! The old seafaring expression that the only difference between a good haircut and a bad one is a fortnight is going to be put to the test. And the saving on shampoo???

Oh, and my jaunt today? I may not have been a whippet but for the first time in months it was pain free. It will not be long before I am back to moaning about arthritis again. I never thought I would say I would be happy to be in that situation!