Thursday 2^nd July. 2020 1310

Wonderful! HMRC owe me £150!

That's from April last year when the MN pension stopped paying me because I never told them I was alive. Never received any documents or info so never knew I had to send proof of life every November. By the time I called to ask what the problem was it was too late to be paid in March so I started the tax year with three months payments at once. I admit I thought they owed me a hundred so the extra nifty is most welcome. I have a funny feeling until they reallocate my tax codes, when I get increases next year and the state pension the year after, I will be “saving” with HMG between refunds.

Still sweating on the holiday plans (and still waiting for Jody to sort out that phone) but whereas Jody was going to go to Chengdu while I was away, I have now I think persuaded her to come to Shanghai for my five days there instead. The room's paid for so it's not costing me anything and she will buy her own flights. She can do what the hell she wants in the day and hopefully join us in the evenings for dinner. And she doesn't drink so she's cheap to run. She doesn't eat much either, come to think of it.

I got refused entry by the gatebot this morning. Jody and I took a taxi in together and the bot let her in without demur then swore at me in Chinese. She thought it might have been the sunshine but it's under cover! The left-hand bot let me in. Bloody stupid system if you ask me. There was a student trying to get in here a couple of days ago and it wouldn't let her in either. I beckoned her, showed my face and got her in, much to her relief. It's half-hearted high-tech and a waste of money. I mean really – the bloody thing lets you in when you are wearing a mask and the next it refuses a full face??? Anyway, I'm going to start pulling the barrier back on the shortcut to the jing jo shop, I've seen plenty of people doing it now, why should I walk the long way every time?

I was really pissed off this morning. Showed a video to the first class on one of the old computers and the next class also had an old computer. The first computer had to all intents and purposes, allowed me to safely eject my USB. Except it had erased all my films! After I take a nap I now have to format the stick and reload everything yet again. The only sure solution is to get the school to put all my classes in one trustworthy room or I need to lug my laptop with me even when I only have one class.

Anyway, last teaching day for me tomorrow then I suppose I need to address marking and student grades. Doubt I will finish it all before Alice arrives on Monday but bugger the school, it's their fault for misinforming me as to when I finished. They can whistle.

I did my good deed for the month as I was leaving BHG with my shopping. A young guy, probably a student, was refused entry for not having a mask. The same guard had insisted I pulled mine right up over my nose (I either use them as a chinstrap or just wear below my nostrils, I hate the things) which was pointless because as soon as I was in I pulled it down again. Anyway, the lad turned to leave and I remembered I had a spare mask in my shoulder bag so I called him back and gave him it. “Xi Xie – welcome to China” he said. I've only been here a decade.