Thursday 11^th June, 2020 1800

Anyone got any spare energy to send me? That damned bird is driving me up the wall. I thought I had foiled it by using an earplug last night but at five o'clock it still woke me – I could still hear it. As a result I am out on my feet all day every day of late. It's bad enough that I can't walk particularly far without the added burden of sleep deprivation. The owner probably likes getting up at a sparrow's fart but I don't. Bet they go to bed at eight.

This morning was the first of the written exams.

I'm pretty certain I have a disaster on my hands. I never marked any per se but what I saw when they handed in their papers didn't fill me with any confidence. It's going to present me with a quandary if most of them fail. It may therefore be my first and last foray into written tests!

I did finish early though and took a taxi all the way across town, across the river. The taxi dropped me off in the right place but I thought he dropped me at the 15 bus stop, which is where I know how to get to the restaurant from. Except the subway was closed and I found myself crossing the road, walking for ages and when I got to a large bus station I knew I was in trouble. I searched and searched but everything had changed and I went in three lifts to the 7^th floors but two were hotel corridors and one a beauty parlour.

In the end Adriana had to come and get me and take me back to where I had been taken in the first place. Had I taken the two buses from main campus I think not only would I have found the place (in fact I know I would have) but I reckon it would have been quicker – and cheaper. At least we had a nice Japanese meal. Annoyingly, even though the weather is hot (up to 30ºC some days) they had no cold beers so it was a case of requesting a container of ice. I have no idea what Lanzhou has against cold lager in summer!

So tomorrow just the one class for straightforward oral testing with the bonus of a student with exactly the same Chinese name as Lanzhou Alice coming to take a few photos. I suppose she's in media studies and wants Grandpa Steve (yes, infuriatingly it appears that is how I am referred to throughout the university, probably by the teachers too by virtue of being Father Of The House) to be her project. I've told her she can take her pictures only if the students are willing.

Then Monday lunch she wants to come and do a filmed interview. I suppose I'd better wear one of my better shirts for that. I don't particularly like doing these things any more but I hate letting students down (and I am the only foreigner) and at least she can't follow me around outside as they're not allowed off campus.

I will be most relieved when this term is over for me, all the written tests are marked and I have nothing to do again.

I think my new contract will be signed next week. Brenda says she has applied for a small pay rise for me which of course will be welcome even though I never actually asked for one. To be honest, I will be happy just to get two more years employment. The way my pins are heading I don't think I will be able to work beyond that anyway!