Sunday 7^th March, 2021 1630

Fuming.

I won't say “incandescent” because I am gearing up for war. With the school.

You guys love it when I have a problem, don't you????

On Friday I was sent a provisional timetable for the translation and Chinese teaching departments. I was told the final timetable would be with me today. With only two days to effect changes (Chinese teachers had their tentative schedules two bloody months ago so I am utterly convinced they really did forget about me), I expressed dismay that it was the polar opposite of last term where I had all classes bar one on the first (ground) floor – now it is suggested all bar one are on the 3^rd floor. However, apart from that, three days a week I had 0800 starts but either finished at ten or noon. I can handle that, it's when they give you late ones followed by earlies that are the killers.

So today I received the “final” timetable. It was bad enough before but now I nearly choked. One change. Just the one. Whereas before I was down to teach from 0800-1200 on Tuesdays I am now rostered to teach 0800-1000 and then 1640-1830!!!! A seven hour lunch break or another 30¥ on taxis to come home for a few hours. Fine if I lived on main campus but I don't. I live a long way away. I ain't doing it. I have indicated as such to the relevant department along with why I don't like coming off the ground floor. It's not going up, that just takes time and rests these days so I leave more time to do it but coming down. I am terrified of losing my footing. They are concrete. I almost fell twice last term on the way down and I only had one class a week.

About eight years ago I tripped on stairs, thankfully carpeted, and when Kevin came to see if I was OK I said to him that Chinese stairs would be the death of me. I really don't want to be proved correct on that.

I also don't want to reinforce the label I probably already have, that of “troublemaker”. I am giving every opportunity to the departments. I have told the English department that I would actually like to see my timetable and the other departments that yes, if necessary I will do their third floor (God help Dean Bitch if she dares to complain seeing as she can spy next to her office) but the 7 hour lunch break is a no-no.

I await replies angrily and a draft email to the Foreign Affairs Dept awaits if necessary. I don't think I will jeopardise my last year next academic year (doubt they will get anyone else) but as long as I will be signing a new contract I will insist on having a ground floor clause inserted.

One of my readers suggested a while ago perhaps I should get a walking stick. Well the fact is, I don't need one. A Zimmer frame maybe for the times I will fall but a stick no. And anyway how do I carry my teacher case, stick AND shopping all at once? But if I had one, would they still put me on the 3^rd floor? The entire school knows full well I am the “Father Of The House” and yet regrettably some seem to think I am 34 and not 64.

I never envisaged a time, nor wanted a time, when not only did I not want to play the age card but was worried about doing so. I now find myself in such a position.

BREAKING:

Not possible to change the 3^rd floor. What a surprise because I was a shoe-in after they forgot me. “Let's wait to see what the English dept say before we try to solve the lunch break problem”.