Wednesday 5^th February, 2020 1830

So the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with impeccable timing, has now advised all Brits in China to run away. Now that shedloads of countries are closing their borders to anyone who has been to China, airlines stopped flying and cruise ships bypassing the ports and thousands of trains cancelled! Not that it affects me, I said a while ago I was staying put. For my Conway readers, of course it's a case of QYLMBS! Mind you, it IS all becoming a trifle tedious.

Wuhu Alice some time ago booked a flight back to school in Guangzhou and of course when the schools delayed this term she had to cancel it. Not a problem, all cancellation fees had been waived on the orders of Beijing – trains, planes, hotels etc were instructed to give full refunds.

Silly moo then booked another flight for the 14^th of this month and I promptly informed her she would end up having to cancel that one too. But no, she missed the warm weather. She didn't believe me when I said the school wouldn't let her stay in her dorm. Until today, when she had to (as I predicted) cancel the latest ticket because the school website has stated any students returning before 24^th will be punished. That date may patently be rolled back even further depending on developments. At the moment, Jody tells me our school is broadcasting 1^st March. I think that may also be a little on the optimistic side. I'd hazard a guess at mid-March at the earliest. I may be wrong.

Last night I made that roast chicken dinner. Jody is the sparsest Chinese eater I've ever met. Ok, she loves her veg and so she ate all the vegetables and left the chicken quarter. I for once did myself proud and emptied my plate, a rare occurrence. Today was going to be cheeseburgers but no, she just wanted to eat the chicken. I had boiled eggs with bread and butter. Well, easy and quick to make and she tells me she is “sort of allergic” to eggs and dairy – although she drinks yoghurt which the last time I looked was dairy. Gave me a chance to have something eggy though!

My waking hours these days consist of five minutes going to the shop, occasional laundry, washing up and cooking, with the bulk of the time sitting on my derriere watching the laptop. I can't even get ahead on next term with my attendance book because not only do I not have a timetable but I have no idea which classes and what subjects I will teach. And even if I wanted to, how the hell do you teach oral English to 35 students on Skype at once???

And I really wish I could talk about something else here other than the bubonic plague. Maybe I should amuse myself by buying one of those electric thermometer gadgets, a white suit and stand outside testing anyone who passes by.......