Saturday 7th October, 2017                                 1000

Well after yesterday’s moan I called it a day at around midnight. Annoyingly I woke up at who knows what Godforsaken hour, I never hit the light on the clock to check but it was well before dawn. I was still tired but with my brain by then being highly active I struggled to drop back off. I ceased my battle for sleep just after seven.

I am somewhat remiss in my computer health regime and over a coffee I remembered I hadn’t immunised or cleaned it for some time. So I did so and, gaining impetus, once finished I decided to do something I haven’t done for probably two years - defragment.

Talk about regret starting something!

No wonder I don’t do it often, it has been gurgling away for nearly three hours and thus far is showing 2% and time remaining >1 day. I was in such a joyous mood when I started too…….

I was reading an interesting article on the BBC website concerning the upcoming congress here. A great deal of it merely reminded me of things I already knew - Xi Jinping is up for re-election after his initial 5 years and I doubt very much if bookies would even consider giving odds against his being re-elected for a second five year term. However the writer indicated there were whispers Xi may introduce something that could extend his Presidency beyond the customary two-term leadership.

That he is popular with the people is hardly disputed (except presumably by the million officials he has had stripped of office and slung in prison) although personally I am not so sure. Certainly he gets things done, albeit slowly but then in a country so vast nothing happens quickly, I don’t necessarily embrace all the policies but I wouldn’t anyway - you can’t please all of the people etc.

But given his age (64) he will be 69 when his second term comes to an end. Not being one who doesn’t value age and experience I don’t regard that as being a  minus. Bearing in mind though that politburo members are generally expected to abide by the unwritten rule to stand down at age 68 I fail to see either where the rumours are justified or indeed if true, how it could come about.

It would involve altering protocol in two major ways: firstly paving the way for a leader to serve more than twice and secondly removing the retirement age. And my guess is that the latter would surely have to apply to all party officials, opening the door for people to serve until they drop.

As I see it, the Chinese see age as an impediment - with a retirement age of 60 (although that must change) anyone over that is often viewed as a dotty old Grandpa or Grandma. Ok that is over-simplifying matters but when you consider none of the senior officials has anything other than jet black hair (aided by boot polish and dye) so as not to show any signs of old age, it’s a pretty good indicator that grey follicles are a sign of weakness or infirmity.

It will be interesting to eventually learn what is decided in congress later in the month.

And my defraggling? Even now it shows 3% and time remaining >1 day!!!!!!   Aarrgghhh!