Monday 22^nd June, 2020 1800

Just home after a hard day's work doing nothing more arduous than showing films in protest at the “extra” two weeks. Both classes were treated to Turner & Hooch and they absolutely loved it. My favourite bit is when Hooch farts in the station.

When I got back I had no energy to even think of cooking so on the bus I mentally tossed a coin between chow mien at the noodle bar or a quickie hotpot and the hotpot won. And now I was informed they also do me fan which is handy seeing as I usually confine myself to meat only with a few mushrooms.

And a few minutes ago, finally an email with next year's contract for me to check and give the go-ahead. Everything exactly as it has been for four years but with one rather pleasing exception.

An unsolicited 7.7% pay rise. I am delighted.

It would seem that ever so occasionally loyalty does pay off in China. It never did in Chizhou but for all its faults I have had some form of increase every year in Lanzhou. It won't make me rich but it will precisely cover my cigar bill every month! Or more than cover the taxis I have started taking of late. The legs just don't want to work on the way to work so I've been taking a cab in and a bus back. The fare is hardly exorbitant at around £1.50 a pop but given that the bus costs 12p there is indeed a significant difference.

And the Dragon Boat holiday? Good job I asked my students about it today. I did so to see whether they thought it was bonkers too and found out that it's not four days, it's Thur/Fri/Sat and do Friday's class this Sunday! And they think it's barmy as well as they will just stay in their dorms.

And not so much a moan as a chuckle, when I was walking to the bus after school something happened. The road they demolished last year has long since had solid metal fencing erected while new buildings are going up, probably they will still be being built long after I leave. So there's no footpath. In the night there was rain although it stopped by the time I went to school and with it being warmish I wore short sleeves.

Given the amount of trucks that bring cement or take away earth that continually come and go that road has plenty of soil on it. Today there were puddles of mud so I walked further out in the road than usual. I don't mind walking on dirt but not in mud.

These days I no longer walk at 5mph (or even 3mph for that matter) and there was a rather impatient car driver who came up behind me and insistently tooted his horn for me to get aside. An ambulance on blues and twos I would have moved but some arsehole in an SUV? He tooted and tooted until my patience wore thin so I stopped, turned around, looked at him and pointed to the mud slurry. I then shook my head, turned and carried on walking, maybe subconsciously a trifle slower. No more tooting. I'm not sure it was the shock of someone actually doing that or the fact it was an aged laowei who did it! If it wouldn't be an extra weight to carry I'd get a walking stick to brandish!

Getting old's a shit but there are a few advantages......