Monday 9^th September, 2019 1630

So yesterday, armed with Chinese translations on a USB I returned to the chemist. They have computers but for some inexplicable reason they couldn't plug it in and read it. So I had to go all the way back to the computer shop, get a printout and return.

Of three possibilities they had none but they did offer granules rather than pills of something called Cefaxodril. It looked similar to one of the names I had so I took a punt. I may yet end up going to a hospital.

I am now back on fish oil, having stopped some years back when the Chizhou pharmacy stopped stocking the ones I used to buy and offered hideously expensive alternatives. Next stop, maybe, the acupuncturists. Before that though, I really need someone to locate an English speaking optician who can offer varifocals or at worst, bifocals.

You know how my life here goes in cycles from ticketyboo to downright irksome? Well we just entered a phase of the latter.

Bad enough that my morning class was cancelled and I have to make it up later but this morning I received word that my afternoon class was also cancelled and needs to be made up due to military training. It seems the PLA are not run with military precision. Someone find me the General's email address!

Annoyingly I had already arranged to meet Alice to collect my shopping from Taobao (most importantly decent spuds!) and also to get her to transfer a debt repayment. I also needed to be shown again where building three is.

But when I got there I was told my timetable had changed yet again. Don't tell me I have classes tomorrow now?? Let me check.

So now I start at 0800 on Tuesdays. I can moan but not whinge as it still allows me to shop and when necessary, get electricity but there went my day off. It also didn't mean I suddenly had a gap another day, they have given me an extra class and as I am running on timetables from two different departments, it becomes very confusing.

Then Alice tried to give me forms to be completed each lesson for each class with performance marks for each student!

They were in Chinese (note I said “were”!) and apart from being utterly pointless (Alice is supposed to input them on the school system each week) I have emailed the Dean to register my opposition. Do they want to me spend half of every class going through the students, asking them to point out their Chinese name and then trying to remember if they contributed??? For me, a form too far. I am awaiting a response. Don't think they have P45s here, just the Order Of The Boot.......

Anyway, I may calm down a little when I have my salmon, mayonnaise, boiled decent potatoes and peas! I may even have sussed out where to get off the 66 bus tomorrow within my walking range of BHG.

It's a tough life if you don't weaken!