Saturday 10^th November, 2018 1045

Those kidney beans quadrupled in size after a twenty-four hour soaking! As a result I ended up with huge amounts to freeze for another day.

Well, I would have if, even after being simmered in the chilli for two hours, the beans hadn't still been crunchy! None of the sites I had visited regarding how to deal with the beans had given any insight and the following day I did deeper research, suspecting perhaps the beans should be boiled before cooking with them. I was right. Apparently tomatoes prevent the beans from softening and indeed I should have boiled them solo until they went soft. I live and learn and look forward to the next time, when I hope to have a bean-heavy, less crunchy dish!

Following last Thursday's rant over the classroom I was given (Janet is staying resolutely away from me at present), this week I had 101 and 315. with a 4.5 hour lunch break this was no problem and in the morning break I got a student to take my laptop to my office – I was going for breakfast and taking my overcoat for dry cleaning after morning class.

Yesterday it was 315 all the way and because I would be going home at noon I never bothered taking lunch or the laptop. Before the first lesson the monitor of the afternoon class came to see me. They wanted me to teach them in the afternoon! Argh! I could not, would not argue with the request. They are entitled to the lesson (and hell, the fact they even want it is a miracle!). They themselves had decided that indeed, I was right when I said the room was too small for two classes. C'est la vie. At least next week I will know to have a lunchbox ready and the laptop to amuse me at lunch. I just wish they had told me this on Thursday.

Today I shall buy another set of bedding, having given an old mismatched set to Stephanie on Monday. I have sent my Christmas shopping list to Alice and am dreading the total cost. The smoked ham alone is nearly 600¥ and then there are crackers, Christmas pud, brandy and of course, I have treated myself to a bottle of port!

Speaking of food, again it will be just the three of us on Monday, Annie and Eli have had better offers from colleagues. Cheaper for me but I feel desperately sorry for Alice. She had been so excited that she was going to make her “special” dessert with my help, her hopes were dashed when it had to be postponed to this week and now it has to wait yet again. To make her feel better and because she has this Monday afternoon off, I have told her she can make the entire meal. I will not touch a thing, simply give her instructions. It has to be easy so it will be cottage pie followed by bread pudding and whipped cream. She can't go wrong!

That of course means yet again a weekend shop, I have had to alter my own menu.

Getting ACE inhibitors yesterday (unusually I ran out) in a strange pharmacy was a bit of an ordeal. They couldn't understand the English name of the drug even though it is on the packaging in both that and Chinese. Trying to get them to take me to the section where blood pressure medicines are merely had them trying to sell me sphygmomanometers! Eventually I waved them away and scoured the myriad of shelves until I spotted my needs. I knew I should have taken the little leaflet inside the box with me!