Wednesday 22^nd April, 2020 2155

I've had enough of this.

Not the lockdown, we don't really have one now. Not even really the working from home bit.

Maybe I am fed up with my own work ethos.

Today I cleared my “To Be Done” inbox completely. Started watching Crossing Lines series one and emails started coming in. Students who had received no marks for completely sending the wrong homework, could I have a look at their new work? Ok, I'm not made of stone. But bugger it, it can wait. Right now I am scared to look at that folder. There was only one class yesterday but I think by now there are four classes plus pleadings piled up!

Even if I work flat out all day I can only do three classes and to be honest I am suffering fade-out, after two I have no appetite.

And talking of appetite, I haven't cooked a proper meal for a fortnight. Toasted sandwiches and crappy cheap hotpots from around the corner that make me fart all day are not what I need.

The problem here is I am not Chinese enough. A Chinese teacher would do what they could and leave the rest for another day. As for me, it plays on my mind even though I know I can never clear it. I flaming dream about homework now!

Well, at least soon we have the Labour day holiday. No idea whether it will work or not but I am going to ask my classes to do the assignments set for after it over the holiday. I will work during the holiday because I am taking the following weekend off. That way I may just get a free weekend after the holiday.

The Alice from here and I will be having a luxury weekend away from Friday 8^th until Sunday afternoon. I know I said I might not but I really do need a break, even if I end up doing a bit of work. We have a suite paid for and my promised free upgrade to breakfasts (so I can have English style ones!) and free evening drinks has materialised courtesy of Nancy Liu. Said upgrade because of the problem we had in October when the government commandeered the hotel and ruined my plans, meaning we went to see the pandas in Chengdu instead. It's a great hotel (Sofitel) and I really need a break. I doubt I would need to in the UK, I would just be piling on the cholesterol with Indian, Chinese and fish and chip deliveries but no such luxury here. Sod it, including train tickets it's ¥1200 plus our dinners. They have a Brazil BBQ place that just stuffs you with meat (Alice will be in heaven) and on the 9^th next door there is a western restaurant I have yet to try.

I really need to go and buy some summer trousers though even though it's still cold here. I keep looking at my bank balance and wondering how my savings got so low. Then I remember I just spent ¥3000 on cigars!

Plenty of readers will not have the same freedoms I have right now and believe me, I along with 1.4 billion others were there before you so we know what it is like. It won't last forever. We will all emerge, not necessarily better or wiser but we will emerge. Some countries are tackling this better than others but who am I to comment?

Looking forward to your next holiday abroad? Plan for 2021!

And I am desperately seeking a backscratcher now I broke my old one....