Monday 13^th April, 2020 2200

I was lambasted on Facebook a few days ago for posting what was admittedly something designed to provoke a reaction. As a social experiment it was interesting. In the new “woke” society, apparently I was being insensitive. Forget about the point I was making, don't even think about figuring it out, simply automatically take umbrage. No matter what you say these days, no matter how kind, someone somewhere will be offended. I am offended daily as are most of you but like you, I do only rarely admit to it. This world - well the western, so called developed bit of it – is becoming intolerable. You can't call someone a fat bastard any more! It offends fatties. So by rights I should have been offended my entire life..... ah well.

I now see proof of something someone posted on FB regarding black Africans being turfed out of their homes in Guangzhou a few days back and subsequently read in China Daily that all foreigners are treated equally as well as Chinese citizens. If the Shanghaist is posting this

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fshanghaiist.com%2F2020%2F04%2F13%2Feven-mcdonalds-is-now-turning-away-black-customers-in-guangzhou%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3GrDztpNLMzgikO-H92knsqDs__du-xkIt0o7uZf6XTnHDucAC9clUZEA&h=AT1LJ6GDDJE-8EgIZw8IMUoBVSfRrWhvM5SOJZ1XhXq0xdNl4Vhjc3XYmlpEJq7DuI_qkAgIu26BnRo3KCVc1R4cCj6ClN4OVytY-qyTXBclRP6RfoeusAxmPiTvlbOAiII

and I see the same on the BBC website then I tend to believe. Utterly disgraceful to be sure but then is that any worse than the thugs in the UK taking it out on east Asians earlier? Who is to judge?

And then we come to the latest virus figures which affect everyone. I have always defended China against anything I thought unjust or untrue. I am no expert in everything sino-related of course and can only relate to what I see or don't see.

I find the recently reported figures for new cases and deaths in China somewhat questionable. To be sure, where I am we have been relatively unscathed but the reports of TCM achieving what amounts to miracles definitely smacks of porkies to me. I am no fan of TCM, as far as I can see all it does is make you want to vomit when you drink it and on the very odd occasion I have been given it, nothing by way of an alleviation of the condition has occurred. All it did was lighten my wallet.

But anyway, I rejoice in never having to suffer the restrictions that have been imposed elsewhere. Yes I moaned about everywhere being closed but never once was I prevented from leaving home – not that there was anywhere to go bar the supermarket! I'm not a virologist but I'm not an idiot. I knew it would migrate but never to the extent it has. And do you know, I'm not sure closing borders would have done any good regardless of whenever that happened.

Anyway, enough of the virus, I have been trying not to talk about it.

No official news for me yet that I will not be in a classroom this term but I will force their hand this week. I cannot think of a way to stop the oral classes cheating so I will ask if the school will be happy for me to “guess” their marks for the final exam. That would send a shiver down some spines, to be sure!

One of today's classes emailed me and said their teacher (as if they only have one but the monitor meant their form teacher) had set them homework (HOMEWORK??? It's ALL homework!) and could they send mine tomorrow. Having only just cleared last week's I said it was fine but would they please tell their teacher to have a care for the foreign bugger. In light of this I will be emailing all the deans to educate their teachers that this term my marks can decide whether students graduate or not. I am long since tired of Chinese teachers of English thinking they take precedence over someone who actually speaks the lingo perfectly. I am not second class.

Oh dear, this turned into a bit of a rant and yes it was. I am working every single day the best I can and I see or hear of others doing next to nothing. That's fine. They have their Masters degrees and can do as they please. This person who cannot possibly be a teacher because he has no degree but has masqueraded as one for a decade actually does the work. I am earning my money this term.

Ok so on to brighter things. Or maybe not!

Summer holiday ain't going to happen and anyway I would be shit-scared I wouldn't be let back in if I went anywhere else.

But just maybe I can holiday in China. Again.

If Joanna is still up for it – no guarantee – then I thought perhaps offering a choice of a night or two in Yancheng followed by a five day Yangtse cruise and a couple of days in Chongqing OR a few nights in Guilin, a few in Nanning and a day trip to Yangmei. I may be dreaming though.

Wherever you are, obey the guidance please. I did. I have a cough but that's from having the time to smoke too many cigars! Keep safe!