Rewi Alley/George Hogg Trip Day 3 17^th July, 2017

Day 2 was thankfully peaceful. I spent all morning in my room and was invited to lunch with most of the gang. Young Shirley meantime was lapping it up at Disney Shanghai. We have now been joined by two students from Beijing Bailie university (another of Alley's schools) , Cherry and Tyrone.

Lunch was a simple affair in the hotel but I managed to eat what for me was a considerable amount. Nothing was spicy and I particularly liked the pork and peppers, pork and onions, aubergine dishes plus the egg and tomato. There was no beer on offer so afterwards I took a wander outside into the oven that Shanghai is these days and found the nearest cafe that sold cold bottles. Unbelievably I had stumbled across the cheapest ale so far in Shanghai at 5 yuan per bottle. I spent a pleasant, if somewhat warm, despite the a/c being on, hour making a start on Rewi Alley's autobiography.

I have no idea what everyone else did in the evening but having established that I was not required for the greeting contingent at Pudong airport first thing this morning, I duly set off alone to meet Roland, Tutu and Angel, his ayi. It would be nice to to actually have a decent meal and indeed I was looking forward to a curry. My expectations were however, dashed upon the rocky shores of hope. The chef at Bollywood had very different ideas as to precisely how spicy (or not) a bhoona should be. What should really have been a wimp's curry in fact saw tears streaming down my face.

As always though, when you are having fun the time simply flies. It was very late indeed before I gained the sanctuary of my room and it felt as though my head had been on the pillow for ten minutes before I was phoned at 0830. We were going to be off on our travels a lot earlier than I suspected! The itinerary said 1210 but we were there well before. I managed to introduce myself to our Kiwi guests as they ate “lunch” at 1000hrs!!!

A coach had been laid on and we drove to one of Rewi Alleys former homes (from 1932 to 1937 if memory serves) located in Yuyuan. As always, visiting somewhere where a person now deceased but about whom I am now slowly learning made such an impact in China, gave the same feeling I had when I walked around Lord's MCC past all the famous cricketers over the years, touring the SS Queen Mary where world leaders in WW2 travelled and discussed battle plans – the hairs on the nape of my neck stood up. You could sense the history. Innocuous though the house was, it is nonetheless heavily connected to my career of teaching in China and if only, if only, I could have such an effect as he did.

Afterwards we visited Hongkou fire station where Alley was for a time a fireman. I am finding out that this chap had even more jobs than I have had! We were treated to various speeches, a display of entering a tower block with hoses and a military-style operation complete with ladders. London could have used these lads at Grenfell. I did something similar on a firefighting course four decades ago – I cannot do it now!

The firemen treated us to dinner in the station canteen. Standard Chinese fare and of course some of our antipodean guests were somewhat unsure, a natural reaction when you discover Chinese food in China is in fact nothing like your local takeaway! They now fully understand why I cook for myself most nights!

Having been feted by the pride of China's oldest working fire station it was time to take our leave and the coach (thankfully well air-conditioned to cushion against the oppressive humidity) transported us to the Bund and Shiliupu docks where we spent an hour. That stretch of the Yangtse seemed to be busier than the Singapore Straits. I have a new Mother – Leanne seems to think I am ten years old and when I am lost will cry. Her concern is touching but a sailor always finds his ship even when he is lost.

Finally, we headed back to the hotel. I was parched so went to the cafe for a very swift two bottles of bin pijou before retiring to my room to complete this entry. The coach driver and tour guide (the latter never shut up on the mike but only ever spoke Chinese – memo to school, when you have Kiwi visitors have an English version too!) came in for their supper. I am rather hoping they will be taking us to Hangkou tomorrow afternoon after our morning trip downtown.

So I shall not get a full 8 hours sleep tonight, maybe after I post this I will manage seven. I have a sneaky feeling that with the programme we have been set, I will be at the end like an extra from the cast of The Walking Dead.

But so far our adventure has been great. The Lanzhou, Shandan and Beijing students are terrific, the faculty as always caring and kind and the New Zealanders were certainly very well picked by their schools. Onwards and upwards!