Monday 10^th December, 2018 2020

Ok, so tonight we had cheesy Captain's pie which was actually damned good, so good that four people ate the lot. And I don't eat that much. Stephanie was absent, having taken to her bed in pain. She visited Tianshui at the weekend and met with a mishap.

Nobody knows exactly what happened (including her because she was pissed at the time) but I gather she is now sporting stitches in her thumb.

Anyway, after trying to slice my own thumb off last night, I enlisted Alice's help tonight in the furtherance of her cooking lessons. She also got to make English Shrove Tuesday pancakes for dessert. If she perseveres, one day she may be able to prepare a meal without my guidance and when that day comes I will be monumentally delighted. Then I can teach her how to wash up afterwards.

Eli had to take a powder early due to having a class – one that he takes rather than delivers – but not before devouring two pancakes. And the first one is always shit. No idea why but it seems to be the universal opinion. Maybe Mum used to dump the first one on pancake day. Or maybe she gave it to me!

I now find myself in the position of having Annie and Alice coming at 1700 tomorrow to use my equipment to make “snickerdoodle” or “doodlesnicker” cookies to give to students. No idea what they are, merely that my ingredient cupboard will be sorely depleted and I will probably be expected to produce some form of dinner to boot.

Trust me, I need to do a supermarket shop, chemist run for my monthly drugs, get some laundry done and clean up after tonight so if I do make something it will be as simple as mince and potatoes! I made it Marlow Monday so that Tuesday and Wednesday I could relax. Ho hum. Only three weeks of term left.....

Kevin contracted pneumonia a month or so ago. He seemed to think it was the cold weather (I did in fact set him right as to it being unrelated to cold weather) in Huangshan. Being further south the temperatures are between seven and ten degrees higher than here ( lately our highs have been -4C) he still loathes even the short, warmer winters and is once again thinking of relocating to his villa in the Philippines next summer. He says 9 years in China is enough.

Well I have spent eight years here and if I am honest, three years where I am now is enough but that's because I am saddled with non-English students. Yes, it IS frustrating. Yes, it IS soul-destroying. But the sinecure is light on workload and to be honest I simply need three and a half years' more gainful employment before I can be financially free and plan my golden years. Whether to simply retire, go into business with Joan or whatever has yet to be decided but I will not be tied to a pay cheque then.

I think I am undergoing “brown-out” now. Not because of China but because I am teaching students far below my level. Loyalty has always been my downfall yet now the two-day working week is most suitable! Do I really want to move schools or even campuses? Take on a heavier workload for the same money? Maybe even a different curriculum? Or do I want the challenge of students who are actually studying English?

I know. It sounds like moaning but it's not. I'm not rummaging in bins for food and I am warm at night. Like everything in life, it could be better. The Peace Corps contingent have the students I want but five day weeks and such things as literature and writing classes. Sod that. I think I shall ride my own particular horse to the finish line unless it throws me first. THEN if I can find another position I will be aiming for the highest salary on offer.