Sunday 20th August, 2017                2200

Oh boy.

Tomorrow night I will be home.

Wuhu and Hefei were always intended to be a wind-down at the end and being alone in Hefei with no visitor has meant a quiet time. I never had any intention of going out on a bang, a quiet fizzle was always going to be fine. I just hope it doesn’t end up as a damp squib tomorrow with my flight - today’s was delayed TWO hours!

Having not eaten since breakfast yesterday I was a tad peckish this morning and duly had my fill , including proper pork breakfast sausages. Breakfast ended at 1030 and despite the fact I turned in last night at 2200 and woke at 0630 I nevertheless rose at 0900, showered and took my time.

Damned odd but by the time the dinner buffet opened at 1730 I was ravenous! These days when I am starving I can normally eat a child’s portion and that was the case this evening. Well maybe just a bit more than that what with the pint of ice cream for afters!

Then it was off up to see my “date” Vera in the executive lounge. By now I had posted loads of reviews on TripAdvisor of some of the places I have stayed, others not, because they weren’t listed and to be honest, getting a place a listing is more trouble than it is worth.

Having been fed and watered, the biscuits pretending to be snacks mattered not (although TripAdvisor have been apprised) and nor did the lack of gin. I even took up my own ice bucket and lemon slices from the restaurant to save waiting while Vera phoned down for them. For that I was deemed “awesome”!

After a couple of hours drinking and chatting with Vera, she finished her admin work and I asked her if she liked Kahlua, which was on offer in the free bar. Who the hell drinks it is beyond me. No, she said, I don’t like it. Have you tried it? No.

So I took her a glass and you will guess, she liked it, as did the Japanese contingent who had been on Jim Beam. Too sticky for me.

And so my holiday comes to an end. My last sleep tonight after what for me has been an epic month. I have seen, done and visited so many cities and attractions in such a short space of time it seems as though it happened to someone else. But it didn’t. I have so many, many memories to take away. I regret not having being physically able to take on some tasks but in no way, shape or form will I ever regret any of it. When I get home I will try to calculate the total mileage I travelled without ever leaving the country.

I have to say that whilst eating my solitary dinner this evening I pondered on what I would do if I won millions. Would I take a punt on starting a business? Would I buy a seagoing yacht? No idea, it hasn’t happened and never will but you know, a life flitting from city to city and staying in nice hotels doesn’t seem that bad!

End though it must and tomorrow it is back to real life but bloody hell, the last month has been hectic, exhausting, debilitating at times, humorous, stunning, amazing, memorable, enjoyable, fascinating, educational and so many other descriptive adjectives too numerous to mention. Thank you Life for giving it to me.

I met up with Alice, Steve in Shenyang, Jens, Shona, in Shanghai Roland, Rabbit, Tutu (and oh yes, almost forgot her name!) Zhu Ana (Joanna) - what would I have done in the UK?

This was a summer to beat all summers for me.