Saturday 17^th November, 2018 1330

It has been a sudden chill here this week, temperatures hardly ever rising above zero. I had intended to get a haircut on Wednesday but was deterred because rare snow fell all day.

It continued all day on Thursday and made the wait for the school bus parky indeed. The thing about Lanzhou snow though is that it seldom settles, instead simply making the roads and footpaths wet.

Janet finally came to see me, having avoided me ever since the untruthfulness a couple of weeks ago. She studiously ignored my pointed comments, instead concentrating on outlining her plan for an English activity on 14^th December at which the entire sophomore year (all my students) will split into groups and put on shows which will last about five or six hours in the afternoon. It will take place in the auditorium and I need to press for the occasional break for a puff!

The week prior to that is the art week so I will have no classes and I am guessing the week of the “concert” I will be off bar the Friday of the show.

Tuesday 20^th 1540

All quiet on the eastern front.

I now have the occasional weekend flatmate, no names, no pack drill but it makes me happy.

Yesterday we were up to a full house of five diners and I made chicken a la king. I think it wasn't far off what was one of my favourites at HMS Conway. We were fed it once every four to six weeks for Sunday lunch and the dietary regime there was, looking back, dire. We were always hungry. Chips every single night for dinner, real margarine at breakfast (I actually developed a taste for margarine and orange marmalade on toast which endures to this day) and portions sufficient for me today but woefully inadequate for a growing, active lad. I thought it was a tad bland but once again it was relished by the quests and the little which was left disappeared in takeaway boxes.

And finally Alice got to cook her dessert. I was never going to even try it, I hate almonds and dessicated coconut but I am pleased to say the other four found it very much to their liking. I was so happy purely because she had waited so long to make it. Ok, so she had a little help from the sous chef!

I had intended to cure some pork and make ham for next week but two expectant voices last night enquired avidly if it meant crackling. It is apparent Americans are unfamiliar with this very English delicacy. With a 3.5kg smoked ham on order for Christmas day perhaps I shall do roast pork instead for them.

It's been a lazy day today, the shopping trip has been put back until tomorrow. Stephanie defrosted my freezer last night with the hairdryer, a burger is defrosting so fried spuds and egg with it will do me royally tonight – if I get up and go and buy the potato.

Which reminds me, my veg stall has I think thrown in the towel. Been closed for a week and whereas they had two connecting stalls one has been taken over by a fruit vendor whilst one remains shuttered. Annoying but veg and eggs are available further up the road.

With luck I have uploaded photos of new bedding and the meal Eli's host family treated me to a few weeks ago.