Friday 7^th August, 2020 1800 Chizhou

The hotel breakfast was as expected for me, cornflakes or nothing, so I chose nothing. Joanna of course had sort of chow mien with a hard fried egg and a plate of fruit. Then it was disaster time – a text from Anhui saying I couldn't get a green code as my name didn't match my passport. Sorted by my suggestion to perhaps put surname first followed by Christian names. Bingo -green code and good to go.

Didi car to Hongqiao. I wasn't going to faff about taking the shuttle to Pudong and then the inter-airport bus. So far so good. Bleeding miles as always to VIP1 lounge, no wine but at least cold beer and some decent braised chicken and mushrooms with steamed rice and some curried potatoes. Grumbled about not being able to connect to the wifi but no matter, soon it was time to trek even more miles to the boarding gate.

To find the flight was delayed.

Supposed to take off at 1255 , now not expected to even land to get us until 1345. Where's the nearest smoking room? Gate 42. Miles back from whence we came and this time the moving walkways were going the wrong way – not that it stopped Joanna from attempting to get on one before I informed her!

The smoking room was downstairs outside, stinking hot, but when we came up again we spotted the lounge we had left was straight up the escalators. Back in there for a couple more beers, some cake and get connected to the wifi.

When we finally took to the air I think the pilot gave it some welly, no sooner had I been served my warm lager than someone else came to collect it back! Only a 300ml can but I only got chance to drink half. I really should have taken Joanna's suggestion and taken the train.

Chizhou airport is a lovely little provincial airport. Our two suitcases made history for me by hers arriving first on the belt immediately followed by mine.

Then there were the formalities to escape the airport with no less than six security & police wanting to know everything and completely unable to speak English. Joanna!!!! While she was dealing with the crap, I asked a female employee if it was possible to buy a lighter in the airport?

I think China is the only country in the world to take every lighter or match from you before you fly and for years I have said they should periodically gather up the surrendered ones and take them to arrivals so people flying in can take one. Well, bless her, this young lady did precisely that and got me one abandoned by a hapless departee.

And unlike four years ago when it was my home, they now have a taxi rank which was a relief. Very little seems to have changed, perhaps unsurprising given the amount of progress I saw during my time here. Only so much developing you can do.

Anyway, in under an hour Helen (I used to test her kids from her little school once each summer) is coming to treat us to a hotpot. Tomorrow I am expected at Molly's home, her parents and family want to see me – I gave a speech at her wedding and they haven't seen me since – Joanna is going to see a friend I don't know and in the evening we will all meet for some sort of food.

This holiday lark is tiring......