Sunday 4^th November, 2018 1400

Great. For a week we've had Beijing stamping all over our connections, the provider had begun developing a solution and at least we could connect to HK, LA or Tokyo, albeit with frequent disconnections. I even managed by dint of perseverance to connect briefly to the UK sometimes, long enough to download BBC programmes.

Then this morning we lost all internet entirely. They only fixed it recently after a burnt out cable left us up a gum tree for three days. Maybe they will fix it later, maybe not but it is damned irritating, especially when it is quite cold and one is loth to go out and find somewhere with wifi to sit online with speeds even slower than dialup.

Still, with nothing to watch I have washed all the dishes and even broken my habit of not going supermarket shopping at weekends. I now have everything I need for Marlow Monday and so I will have the entire day to rustle up a chilli, rice and garlic bread followed by that old failsafe, apple pie and ice cream. And whilst the supermarket was crowded, at least my wine lady was there.

Now I have most of them trained the drill is that I get my fruit and vegetables weighed then catch the wine girls' eyes, hold up one finger for one case, two for two etc and then I carry on shopping while they get my stuff and wait for me to come back when I'm finished. Whichever girl serves me, they need to bring the shelf bar code with me so they can ensure I get six bottles but am only charged for three. And they pack my bags.

Well, they don't want to spend thirty minutes queueing with my shopping so they bypass the queue, go down the wrong side of it straight to the cashier and the next thing you know, midway through scanning another customer's shop they abort and do mine instead! I used to go crimson with embarrassment (if they did it to me I would be furious!) but now I simply apologise to those who were usurped, shrug and point at the staff member so they get the daggers! Being China, they simply take it in their stride.

Tomorrow neither Eli and Annie are coming. Last week's singing competition is supposed to be taking place and no matter what happens I shall be telling them I will not welcome surprise late entries for dinner. Alice and Steph are coming and I thought it was about time to invite Brenda, after all, it never hurts to bank a little guang-xi.

This evening Eli's host family are feting me for dinner at a restaurant not far from here. According to Eli he has been dying to go there (but on a Peace Corps stipend it would probably cost a month's pay just to feed two) and has told me it looks “hip”, whatever the hell that means. I would like to be able to say there will be photos to show you but I have stopped using my camera lately. With my being unable to activate Windows the facility to upload to my laptop has disappeared. Kevin was going to take control remotely and see if he could fix the problem but then Beijing pounced so that is on hold.

Oh, and another benefit to the new Friday arrangement where I finish at noon is that I no longer need to worry about preparing a lunchbox. It only ever consists of sausage rolls, roast chicken legs or a baguette filled with tuna or cheese. In the UK I could simply buy sliced bread and make any variety of sandwich I like – paste, ham, cheese, you name it, or maybe buy a pastie or some sushi. Here it's either baguette or I have to make my own bread and because I work all day Thursday it needs to be two days ahead. Home made doesn't stay fresh that long.

Nearly forgot. Last week I happened to notice in the rice and raisin section that they sold loose kidney beans! Normally I spend 20¥ on a couple of cans and so today I got the same quantity for 4¥!! Before you all rush to try to prevent me inflicting gastroenteritis on my guests, yes I did remember. They are soaking in water right now and will be for over 24 hours.

I wonder if I will get to post this after dinner. I can but hope.