Friday 28^th December, 2018 2330

Ok, ok, so I was down. I never said I was out though, did I? I've been there before a few times, if battle is to commence I will decide when it does and it will be in April, four months away. I may win or I may lose but I will employ the biggest guns I can on my side.

I have no idea why I even want to try to fight, it's not as if I enjoy teaching adults who can't really grasp what I am saying but they tell me the students see me almost as a “deity” and they dare not speak in class. Well that's patent rot because if I am a God then when I plead with them to be active, surely in my “temple” they should supplicate and do so, right?

But I have an attachment. And also a pathological dislike of some bastard who has no idea what I do having control over whether I stay or not. That should only ever be in the remit of people who know my work or indeed me.

Stay tuned folks.

My God. This morning I dressed up a little bit more after yesterday's cold but from the relative warmth of home and with it still being dark outside I had no inkling we had had overnight the worst snow I have seen here in three winters.

Nothing in the way of drifts, probably half an inch. It's too cold at night to snow much (-17C) but hell it was freezing! And even the main roads were snowy so of course the bus was late and we were late getting to school. Janet called me at eight asking where I was because students were queueing outside my office waiting for their exams. The bus was still a mile away.

Considering she must have known there was snow and traffic would be held up I was not slow to point this out but had I not had to sit in the danger seat up front I may have have sleepily asked “what time is it?” before saying I was still in bed.

The danger seat is precisely that with Schumacker driving. Even he had to moderate his speed this morning but not enough to prevent me only being able to unclench my buttocks and stomach once we arrived. Given the increased braking distances I felt twenty feet between us and the vehicle in front when everyone was stopping and he wasn't was to say the least, insufficient.

So anyway, I got through the day, exams finished and I am now on my holidays until maybe mid-February.

Janet told me there was a big meeting of teachers this afternoon and I was dismayed. I didn't want to take public buses because I had my shoulder bag, my laptop and this time another bag with the fan heater. No point leaving it idle in my office for six weeks when I may need it here, especially when Alice comes to stay.

The “big” meeting ended at three and the school bus left with one passenger – me!

Friday night and snowy roads notwithstanding, we got back and I was home before six. I think many people avoided driving (they are crap as it is when the weather is fine) so all was well.

Annie was starving so came to bring me a gift from Dean Delia on Peili campus (I gave her a gift from Paris) of a two-piece Chinese cutlery set which was nice of her and Annie had yet more of my Christmas ham and cheese. She really knows how to manipulate me. I'm not doing a Marlow Monday this coming week but now because she is off to Guilin on Friday I feel I have to at least invite her (and Alice) to some simple fare Wednesday and Thursday. Probably spaghetti bolognese and I thought poached cod, dauphinoise and steamed veg. They can bugger off if they think I am cooking dessert!

Alice is going home tomorrow until Tuesday too. She will take exams after returning and once finished she will live here until we go to Chengdu. That I am really anticipating.

Life is still a wonderful thing. The elephant has been brushed aside for a few months. He may return and you will know when but he is in for a scrap!