Sunday 9^th May, 2021 2140

Many thanks to those readers who sent birthday salutations. I would love to lie and say it was a rip-roaring knees up but it was the complete opposite. Bloody Jody was teaching primary school kids so my hoped-for Japanese lunch was off (no point going alone and I'm not Chinese so I don't invite people at the last minute because they will know they were an afterthought).

No, today was a day of nothing. What did I do? I went out and withdrew ¥5,000 from the hole in the wall, went to the jing jo shop and then bought a pineapple and honeydew melon from the fruit stall. That's it. Oh, except I got a winning rip top from one of my beer cans. No idea what I have won but probably just a free can of booze instead of the ¥2,888 top prize. If I can remember to take it to the shop tomorrow I will find out.

I was reading the BBC website and a report that said grandparents were “allowed” to hug their grandkids on May 17^th. Allowed? When in the history of England have they ever been prohibited before??? I have to say, if I was back in Blighty I'd have been going bonkers about all the restrictions. The lockdowns didn't do anything because idiots broke the rules, that I understand but some of the “rules” have just been plain barmy. And all those ads on ITV about “Oh, that makes seven so I must uninvite one” for an outside drink in a pub beer garden? And here's me pissed off with being asked to wear a mask in supermarkets and on public transport! That's it, nothing else. And yes, I hate the damned things and wear mine under my nose (and if I can get away with it, under my chin).

I have had enough of the overreaction to the pandemic, as I am sure have many of you reading this but the odd thing is, it was first discovered here but really, since March last year life has more or less been business as usual. Apart from those sodding awful masks. Everyone's a doctor now.

Poor old Kevin still can't get back to his home in Argao, Philippines, even to quarantine because the embassy isn't issuing visas and they are having a torrid time of it. His ex colleagues who also made the mistake of travelling in the last spring festival, are stuck in their home countries too. One of them is in Northumberland and believe it or not he is still teaching online! Still getting paid but get this - he can't access his Chinese bank account in the UK so his parents are subbing him. I suggested to Kevin that given the circumstances I couldn't see any reason the school could not use BACS to pay into his UK account. Sometimes stupidity leaves me speechless.

Me? Well it's the 10^th tomorrow and the alleged meeting about retaining me was supposed to take place this month. As I don't believe any such meeting is to take place and it is purely Chinese mind games, tomorrow I will push. If indeed they want me to go (and it won't be because of the student appraisals of me, that I guarantee) then I need to make plans. Equally if I am staying then I have a mega holiday to plan!

Wish me luck!