Maggie had a better day yesterday: she spoke to some people who were nice (of course!), got her laptop working, was set up with catch-up Mandarin sessions so she won’t be quite so lost in the lessons, and was offered an advanced maths programme. Jenny learnt to write two Chinese characters and had a swimming assessment after school so she is signed up for lessons starting next weekend.

I remain entirely bamboozled by the sports. I think getting to grips with that alone could prove to be a full-time occupation. T and M would like to swim but probably not at 5.45 am several times a week. T would like to do athletics but – surely I have misunderstood – even cross-country doesn’t seem to be offered before senior school unless you are picked for a special team; to be picked for the special team you have to get on to the elite football squad. That can’t be right, can it.

Cameron went to his other office yesterday where it sounds like he was welcomed with open arms and great joy. And I had more than one conversation with people I am not related to! First at the senior school ‘new parents’ coffee morning (honestly I am awash with coffee) where I met Maggie’s head of year, was taken aback by all the talk of tutoring, and wondered why the senior management is all so obsessed with footwear. (The head has warned *us parents* on at least three separate occasions that when we attend next week’s ‘meet the teachers’ session we should wear sensible shoes. And the deputy has a little speech he makes about new term new shoes.) Then in the afternoon a couple of mums very kindly took me out for coffee and silly questions.

In between, I visited the house we plan to move in to, for mental furnishing purposes. Then I made (asked nicely) the relocation agent who had taken me there show me how to manage in a post office. So glad I did because I would never in a million years have done that on my own, but next time I probably can. March up to the lady at the desk; wave the letter at her saying ying guo (England) and make her write the characters on the envelope for me; give her money; wait for stamps. I was charmed by the little pot of glue and paintbrush that was necessary to stick the stamps on, and I now know which postbox to put it in. It remains to be seen whether it arrives and how long it takes.

This morning, I waved them all off at 730 (this will be better when we live closer to the school!) and then sort of flagged. I did go to the gym but I mostly sat on my bum refreshing Facebook, until I decided that Would Not Do and, still not quite ready to go back to work, took myself out for a walk. I walked neither far nor fast, given that it is still very steamy and 33 degrees, but on Nicole’s advice I headed in a different direction from normal (normal!) and found Taipingqiao lake. Pond. A slow circuit took me past the rolls royce dealer, the lamborghini dealer and (hooray!) Toni and Guy, before I scuttled in to lovely cool Starbucks, where I am now.

Later I must source swimming hats, whizz around the supermarket – still not tempted by the live frogs, fat and succulent as they no doubt are – meet another mum for another coffee then somehow simultaneously attend an information thing about all the after-school activities and also maybe take T and M to try out for the swim squad. If they want to and we are prepared to make that commitment. I don’t know what to do for the best.