Wednesday 9^th January, 2019 1930

Janet texted me earlier with my tentative teaching rota for next term. Wednesdays 1430 to I think 1830 (periods 7 and 8 are unknown territory for me) and Fridays 1020-1620. She said I would miss the school bus on Fridays and what did I think?

Well seeing as it leaves at 1700 it was apparent to me that I would in fact miss the bus on Wednesdays and that if I didn't wish to wake at 0500 (I won't!) then I will need to make my own way on Friday mornings. So for 4¥ a week (about 45p) no more crack of dawn alarms. I think I can handle that.

I then realised it seemed I would only have four classes rather than five, which puzzled me somewhat. I was then informed that instead of having the sophomores I had last term, I will have freshmen next term.

Bear in mind what I was told at Christmas about someone remarking this was my last year, suddenly now instead of having the students I was told I was getting I was now to teach the September 2018 intake, perhaps it is understandable that the“last year”comment took on a sinister connotation.

I sent a text saying I had the impression I was getting fired in summer. “No” came back the answer. I said I had heard a whisper to that effect and was told “We need you”. Quite what for is beyond me and although one can never be certain you are being told the truth here, I drew some comfort from that. I also pointed out Janet would not have heard the rumour because it came from the main campus. At least if the director makes moves in that direction, provided I want to stay (and let's face it, at my age I really would rather stay put even if the job is less than perfect) I reckon I have people to fight my corner if it happens.

Face it, two afternoons a week for a full-time salary and the holidays teachers get in China? And autonomy over my work? The only drawback is the extremely low level of English in the students and a sense of isolation with the staff because they are no better! I can handle that. I've been at sea! And in China long enough to cope.

Perhaps unwisely but because Mr Jing Jo kept asking me when I was going to buy more cigars, yesterday instead of taking 500 off his hands I took a thousand. I had taken pains to inform him that I would buy 500 a month before he invested in a colossal number. I had abided by that. But then, if I am ultimately staying I need him to perhaps order in bulk for me because after all, I am the only person in a population of 4.5 million who actually likes the bloody things.

As a result there are currently 2,000 cigars in boxes of a hundred, stacked on my windowsill – four month's supply. When I take the final remnants next month (eight hundred I think or thereabouts) I will have enough to last until September when the new academic year begins. It would be an envious position to be in if at that time I had enough money to buy a further year's supply but that won't happen.

Apart from the above there is little of note happening (I did manage to get some pork baozi for my dinner from around the corner tonight, surprisingly good) and I am basically relaxing and waiting for two weeks time when we go to Chengdu in Sichuan. The big news from there will be that I never ate the local cuisine – I haven't stopped farting or doing number twos since Alice made me beef up that curry!