Due to the fact Joanna could only rustle up one “new” friend (Sophia) last night, they arrived far too late to even consider going bowling. Not that I particularly wanted to, I just thought the girls would enjoy it.
Instead, now that I had found out I was staying just around the corner from my favourite Shanghai haunts, we took a walk and discussed dinner en route. I suggested my original idea of tapas, the girls had never tried, and so we went to Las Tapas.
For a place that is purely a restaurant as opposed to a bar serving food, it was doing good trade. Sadly it is non smoking but nipping outside periodically was no real hardship. I was surprised at the breadth of dishes on offer and reckon you could go months before trying everything out. On the night I ordered garlic bread, baked goat’s cheese, prawns and suckling pig. I enjoyed it but the girls were clearly not impressed. Not enough spice is my guess. At least they tried, and they did get a nice dessert. I toyed with the idea of splashing out on half a dozen fresh Normandy oysters but at 180y I resisted, much as I love them.
Joanna wanted to go back to my place for a rest and then go to the Big Bamboo to play pool. I knew once I was back “home” I wouldn’t want to go out again so prevailed upon her to put her lethargy aside. After all, it was self inflicted, she and her housemates having drunk huge quantities of wine at home after she left me the night before.
At the Big Bamboo I am pleased to say my pool game was markedly improved. Being a sports bar, the big TV screens started showing the game between Bournemouth and Manchester United. My only interest in it was my astonishment at learning Bournemouth were in the premier league.
Shortly after the game kicked off two drunken, loud English louts came in. They made me cringe and I felt embarrassed to be English. I made a point of explaining to Joanna that this type of person was the reason why in class when students asserted English people were all gentlemen, I said they weren’t. Nothing could have illustrated the point better than after each goal one of them getting up, running to the TV and shouting “Get f******g IN THERE!!” Why management never asked them to either pipe down or better still leave, is beyond me.
At one point a character called Hussain from Dubai (who is here overseeing parts being manufactured for his employer there) who is in Shanghai until February decided he wanted to play with us. I ended up staying two pints of black stuff longer than intended. Had I known we would be late going out I would have had a siesta but such is life and I am no longer endowed with my stamina of old.
I turned in at midnight secure in the knowledge I would be up in time to try breakfast. I was. Far too early. I gave in, got up and showered. At nine I felt sufficiently peckish to take a stroll to East-West armed with my menu and breakfast voucher. Breakfast was a disappointment. All I got was toast, fried eggs and some “ham” from a perfectly oval pig. It wouldn’t have been so bad had the bread not tasted like cake, as Chinese bread so often does. If I make it tomorrow I will opt for bacon and bagel with my eggs! The tea was ok though.
Having seen the prices for the hotel doing laundry (£3 for washing a T shirt????) I resolved that no matter what, I was going to find a shop which sold laundry detergent. The waitress told me Carrefour was five minutes walk up the road. Five for her maybe but fifteen for me. By the time I got there I was done in. In fact I wanted to find someone to push my shopping trolley while I sat in it like a child. I got washing powder, wine, jing jo and treated myself to four cans of Guinness for tomorrow before I leave. The latter are in the fridge. The washing machine is hi-tech touch control and although I got it turned on and set for the correct wash, it defeated me for twenty minutes whilst I tried to get the damned thing to actually go.
I think it also tumble dries and if so then I may well clean what I am wearing today as well before I leave. Ten yuan cost for what the hotel would expect 300y for. And there will be plenty of powder left over.
Roland will make it back at some point this evening, whether early enough to join us for dinner or not remains to be seen. Having eaten this morning I will be fine waiting and I am definitely having a snooze this afternoon once the room is made up. Tonight we will be joined by another of my old students, Savannah.
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