Monday 11^th February, 2019 1700

Friday's meal was well received, unbelievably Jody thought I actually made the the fish fingers! And no, I never lie about my cooking, if it was bought I say so, hell, I make enough of my own food to more than impress the natives.

The chip maker needs to be replaced, where the pans parted company one evening and one dropped to the floor, ever since it hasn't closed properly, resulting in a higher temperature than wanted and burnt chips. Mind you, I am sure I saw oven chips in Metro!

My weekend was solitary, with little in the way of culinary delights seeing as 95% of the local stalls seem to be holidaying and the only thing I can get is fruit at the moment. They never closed the last two years.

I did I think get to the bottom of The Missing Pigs though. Despite half the world's porcine population being in the hands of Chinese farmers, the Chinese view pigs as stupid and lazy. Quite why that should preclude a display is beyond me. That's one reason given and the second one is what I suspected – the Muslim community. That one makes me angry. Not because I begrudge them their religion but because, rare for China, it looks as if they have bent for a religion not their own. Goodness only knows how many mosques there are in the city (I pass three just en route to east campus, including a big one) yet from what I can glean there is only one church in the city. Not that I need one, you understand.

At lunchtime I had another two hours with Colt, who patently did bugger all of the homework I gave him when he was home at new year and I wonder just how badly he wants to study abroad. He has ten days until his retake and I have the awful feeling he will be the first person I fail to get to improve their marks. You can lead a horse etc.......

I decided when we finished at 1500 to go to BHG for my weekly essentials and I walked! It was only one and a bit stops on the BRT but it is the furthest I have perambulated for a long time. No hip complaints, just leg muscles, so I suppose that's a good sign. Since I bought the new trainers the cracked heels have shown marked improvement, I reckon I need to buy new ones twice a year. Funny how it only happens in winter though!

Anyway, I never bought much, just a box of plonk, some “popcorn prawns” (no idea how to cook them but I am hoping in the oven is fine), some cod fillets (very expensive), milk and spuds. We are in the transition here regarding Murphys, they are half dreadful and half decent. Four potatoes involved me spending five minutes inspecting the pile and finding ones that were not indelibly scarred. When I think of how easy it is to buy King Edwards, new potatoes, whites etc in the UK it makes me want to weep!

So now that's done, the way is clear for another expedition to Metro tomorrow. BHG was quiet today so with luck it will be the same there. Then I can have a serious look at what's on offer without being jostled. The danger is of course that I will be tempted to spend hideous amounts but I suppose as long as I will actually use my purchases, it will not be wasted.

The last few days I have become increasingly frustrated. Getting connected to the UK is all but impossible, meaning for one that I am missing the 6 nations – you can't even listen to 5 Live abroad any more. I hardly watch sport but what I do follow are the 6 Nations, rugby and football world cups. That's it. And of course I like to watch UK telly. It's infuriating when I complain to have some customer service agents gaily inform me that I can easily connect to Tokyo, Hong Kong or Los Angeles. I know that but I am only interested in UK locations – the others won't access Uk TV! Oh, and after using them for eight years, I still get wet behind the ears kids telling me to do all the things I know I need to before contacting them with a complaint.

Such are the tribulations sent to torture expats in China!