Wednesday 14^th August, 2019 1230

Our last full day here. The week (and the money!) has disappeared far too rapidly, possibly swifter for Alice than for me. Aside from two forays searching for western food shopping I have done bugger all except go out drinking and eating minuscule portions of dinner in the evenings. She on the other hand has left after breakfast every day, armed with her sightseeing plan for the day, not to reappear until there was a chance of being fed. I do envy her youth, energy and enthusiasm and it is wonderful to see how much experience her first time in Shanghai has given her.

The Japanese place was sparsely populated, no idea why as the typhoon had gone. We never got off to an auspicious start when the first thing we ordered - sushi – was off as they had run out of rice. In China??!!! Rather than decamping we persevered and ultimately were rewarded with a not too shabby meal. And the bill was a lot less than Zizzi.....

Monday I went to City Shop. I have been to it quite a few times over the years but this time all I came away with was two packets of Jacob's cream crackers (I don't care what anyone says, Carr's water biscuits are not a patch) and four bags of Doritos, which oddly don't feature large in Lanzhou. I went up to the second floor after finding next to nothing of interest on the first and it was derelict! After whingeing about it to Roland he kindly directed me to Times supermarket, from whence we have just returned. Yes, Alice actually came, she is done with schlepping all over the city and has simply gone out now to find a quiet park to sit and read her book – until din-dins time anyway.

In the evening we made a return visit to Bollywood. Last year I left a tainted review because they substituted my prawn and mushrooms for mutton and the owner was exceptionally keen to ensure I was delighted with the experience this time. And I was, so he gets his gold star back.

Now, considering I don't eat enough to keep a cat alive, you may be forgiven for thinking I don't care where I eat but if I'm not going to have much then I want it to be what I want and of good quality. My problem is I tend to be a creature of habit in Shanghai, going to the same places every summer with an occasional change as suggested by Roland and always excellent venues, it must be said. So last night I suggested for a change we all go to a place I found online called Bali Bistro. Allegedly the only Indonesian restaurant in Shanghai (but Roland informed me there was another not too far away from them!) which nobody had been to before. I screwed up somewhere because it was my turn to foot the victualling bill (Roland and I alternate between one paying for dinner, the other the pre and post prandial libations) and somehow I had arranged the largest number of diners! Seven of us in total, Roland and son (I call him TJ), Alice, Joanna, Me and Tutu with her fiance. I emptied the room safe in preparation.

Nothing to write home about, some of the stuff (such as the BOGOF fried half chicken) didn't go down well but the satay was a hit, as it appeared was the fall-apart beef and the nasi goreng. Disappointing to order chardonnay and have it turn up lukewarm so we had to wait until the ice bucket worked its magic. At the end the bill was colossal but thankfully still some way short of the one Roland got stiffed with. To date I think in six days we have spent the entire GDP of the Turks & Caicos Islands in restaurants alone, forget the bars!

In Times supermarket, again loads of wonderful stuff but next to nothing that was on my shopping list! HP sauce was all I ticked off on that score but I did buy salami and pepperoni and tortillas so I reckon Alice will be treated to some meat feast pizzas next term. Haven't made any in a while and they are certainly better than any I have ever had in China. And I will not be feeding the five thousand any more either.

Joanna is doing me proud this visit too, she is also coming tonight, which means she will have come six out of seven nights. As she lives miles away and works even further (other side of the Yangtse) once again for our last supper we will take a taxi to nearer her so she can get there at a reasonable time. We have no plans on where to eat, indeed it may end up being huge burgers. Hope they have kiddie ones for me!