Thursday 5^th September, 2019 0100

I know, it's late and three pints of snow, a bottle of plonk and half a litre or so of jing jo has disappeared. Fret not, I will not be posting this until after a sleep in case I say things I regret!

As much as I try to avoid politics here I have to mention Carrie Lam and the withdrawal of the extradition bill. Why only now? I fear too late now the demands have escalated and those in power sadly miscalculated, they could probably have stopped it in its tracks then. The protesters I reckon are going for broke now. Embarrassment on the eve of the 70^th birthday will not sit well. I am concerned.

And what about UK politics? God, I wish I was a political reporter in Westminster right now! Such excitement. And such reasons for the entire world to look on laughing.

Had a call from Brenda yesterday to ask me who was collecting my passport with my new residence permit on 20^th of this month. I told her Alice was. “Oh, you'd better tell her to come and get the 400¥ fee”. Why? She was given it when she made the application yet returned it because it wasn't asked for! I called Alice and asked her why on earth she had done it. Because it wasn't her money and she didn't want anyone to think she was a thief! Now she has to get it back on the 19^th to pay to get my passport back. Meanwhile, should I be apprehended by the police, I have absolutely nothing legal in China to prove my identity or right of abode! I'm sure I can handle it if it ever happens. Just send them to Alice, who has my documents!

I am still raging over the mash to mush potato season. Doesn't half limit food options unless you are Chinese. A pigging cheese and ham omelette tonight although I may make that chicken and mushroom pie tomorrow and have it with loads of other veg.

I am trying to eke my money out until the bumper (at least I hope it will be) payday on Monday. I am low on yuan and I would like to do a small shop at BHG on Friday to top up the wine stock and get some bits. That realistically leaves me with 50¥ a day, not a lot but I do have reserves of pijou and jing jo! I have money in my UK account but it peeves me when I have to pay 2.75% on foreign transactions and if I take cash it goes up to 4.75%. Oh! Use Revolut or Transferwise I hear you say! They don't operate in China. It does give me pause for thought as to what to do on retirement though – losing nigh on 5p in every pound rankles. Fine for now because I try to find websites to pay in sterling for flights, hotels etc and I lose nothing. I confess to being an idiot in the past and choosing the yuan as my currency and being charged the NSTF as a result. By chance this year I searched the same sites in sterling and they charged me in sterling! DOH!!! Ah well, three years (if it turns out to be that short) is still a long way off.

Do you know, I had every intention of picking this up again in the morning but it's long enough to post. Bear with me while I check to see if it is wise.....

Doesn't look too bad so here goes!