Friday 4^th December, 2020 1900

What in Gods name kind of a world do I now live in?

Last night I spent 45 minutes watching Trump's latest squealing and bleating with no evidence and then today I learn his team are now asserting North Korea shipped loads of ballots into the east coast to Maine aboard vessels to swing the election. And of course, the DPRK is free to send its ships to the states any time.

Then I read that suddenly business travellers who will earn the UK money are now exempt from quarantine but the Man on the Clapham Omnibus who just sunbathed for a week in Falaraki needs to isolate for a fortnight. Money apparently keeps the Covid at bay. I somehow think Joe Public is going to rebel sooner rather than later over these arbitrary and nonsensical rulings – and I would not blame them.

As for here, somewhat disconcertingly, a guard at BHG indicated I should be wearing a mask, something I have not needed to do for quite some time now. I had one in my pocket but I ignored him as there were others naked-faced. I have heard nothing about a C19 resurgence here and to be honest, if we had tiers, Lanzhou would be in Tier 0. Sure, the cabbies all wear masks and many bus drivers demand you do but that's it. And hell, four days a week I am mixing with, I don't know, maybe 8,000 students on main campus and am in close proximity to about 300 of them. Fifty people in BHG are small fry.

I had intended to do both BHG and China Tobacco today but that Thursday Tailgate caught me, it took an effort just to do my shop. And when I did, Christ was it cold! I'll go to get my 2,370 cigars they have amassed tomorrow (can't last until next weekend) but one thing I really need is my extremely short haircut. I am now scared to do it but it has to be addressed soon. If these temperatures remain as they are then I am going to look a proper Charlie out and about for a week wearing my Cossack fur hat until I get used to it.

I shall be happy when this term is over so I can eat normally. I don't eat much but getting home so late it's too late to cook. I bought a small chicken today which is defrosting so tomorrow the plan is a roast. On Sunday I need to sort out my next month of Thursday lunches on campus and I can't decide whether to finally make that cheese and onion pie or plump for scotch eggs instead. I have everything for both except onions. Right now if where I lived had a place selling proper hot dogs and hamburgers I would probably be eating them six nights a week.

BUT! Amid the sea of potatoes that turn to mulch the moment you boil them at this time of year, today I found three packs of two decent sized quality spuds in BHG so snapped them up. At 30p a potato they weren't cheap but by hell they will be worth it! If it's just me, that will do me half a dozen meals.

Once again I am rambling and I still have two days off before facing the next week of what may or may not be purgatory, so enough!