Sunday 1^st September, 2019 1830

On Friday I visited main campus for the purpose of getting Alice to show me where buildings three and five were. I knew four from when I was teaching on all the campuses. Five is around the corner from four but three is a bit further and I am not sure I will find it unaided next Monday when I start back. Either way, as my classrooms have not been altered I still have the 3^rd floor 3^rd building to 6^th floor 5^th building to manage on Thursdays in twenty minutes, together with getting myself a flask of tea and having a smoke. I did warn them I was 63 and not 36. Ball is in their court but if they dare to moan! Because I will be late every time.

Alice also had my latest packet of mint seeds. The last lot were all dead on arrival. These came in a tiny plastic bag and looked like specks of dirt! No chance of spacing them, it was as much as I could do to flick the bag and try to get them out onto the dirt. Let's hope they actually grow – the plant pot gets fuller by the attempt as every time I have to put more earth on to bury them.

Today I finally had my ears lowered. I was prevented from doing so before as the UTI flared up again and left me needing a pee every two minutes. In fact when I went to main campus I was desperate when I got there, went a few times before coming back (had to go behind a van before I got a bus!) and only just made it home before I would have had an accident. That put paid to any thoughts of a haircut even though it's across the road from the bus stop.

Mr Barber took great delight in telling his new assistant and the other (female) customer that I would be leaving as a Buddhist monk, miming hands clasped to the front. I responded by afterwards leaving with hands clasped, head slightly bent and chanting gibberish. They seemed to find it amusing.

So then I thought that as I'd already come a third of the way, I'd go to Wu Mart to try and get some decent bacon. I never thought in a million years I would be calling American streaky rubbish decent but the alternative lately is even more dreadful. I think there's a province-wide shortage because all they could offer was a single pack of the terrible stuff. It is astonishing that with half the world pig population in the hands of Chinese farmers that they don't produce bacon in their own country! I must have a go at making my own, if only I can find a butcher to do the right cut for back bacon. And buy a slicer.

So as not to entirely waste my efforts, I went to a bakery and bought a couple of cream filled croissants, then went to Dicos for a chicken curry, hardly haute cuisine but it saved me cooking when I have next to nothing in the fridge.

On the way back the sun was in my eyes so at the crossing I was unable to make out the red/green man sign. I know I need to get varifocals very soon but I am not blind yet. Everyone started walking and so I followed suit.

I found myself trying to cross a six-lane highway with cars hurtling at me from both directions!

As you can see, I survived!