Monday 8^th February, 2021 1430

On Saturday Jody did agree to come to Burger King and help me shop in Metro. Burger King's motto used to be “Have It Your Way” but nobody told China! Whopper with cheese? No. Can I get a slice of cheese and put it in myself? No.

To be equitable to BK the problem was the stupid girl serving. Previously I have ordered burgers that came with bacon and I asked to substitute that for cheese without problem – who the hell likes Canadian/American bacon except for natives of those countries, who have no idea what bacon actually is?

We then encountered a strange laowei, coincidentally half Canuck-half Septic and he was, shall I say, “interesting”. We never exchanged contact details after chatting.

Then we did the shopping. I am getting peed off with this green health code mullarkey. After the time before in BHG when Jody had to sign us in, last time when I went alone I took the phone and they weren't interested when I pulled the phone out and blow me, Lanzhou Center never wanted it so bugger it, I am not lugging an enormous phone around any more for nothing.

Saturday night I was too tired to even try to watch the opening matches of the 6 nations. There was never any point in watching the France-Italy match but I thought I would watch the Calcutta Cup on catch up yesterday morning. Idiotically I opened Facebook first. Roland in Shanghai had asked if I was watching (but he posted not long into the match) and Ollivier my ex colleague and French teacher asked how I enjoyed the match. I guessed I might not enjoy watching.

But of course I have dual nationality. I may have been born in England from English parents, grandparents and all ancestors but of course having worked for a Scottish shipping company I have decided for now I am part-Scottish! Not going to dwell on it and I am not an expert but I think England escaped lightly. I just wondered why on earth they were playing a kicking game when England are renowned for brute force and ignorance. Last night I watched the Ireland-Wales fixture and the Paddies were using force and winning with a man sent off! Ok so they lost in the end but rugby union in my mind should be a brutal game, not delicate little flicks.

Last night Jody came back from her studying and told me she didn't really want to go home to her parents. I did mention this might be the case a while back but her train ticket is booked for Tuesday. She had told me she would be gone for ten days. I said she could stay here throughout but she feels obliged to pay lip service. I have a feeling she will return possibly after three or four days. We shall see.

Today I had intended to pay another visit to BHG to get yet more wine for next term's stockpile. However, whilst I had been perfectly fine when I rose for my nocturnal “bilge pumping” at maybe four, when I decided to get up at nine I found myself in trouble. A sudden attack of the dreaded gout in my right ankle. Nothing near as serious as a full-blown attack I hasten to add, but sufficient to see BHG cancelled and for now my using a crutch to move about home. Such attacks are, thankfully, rare and usually a diclofenac sees them off after three or four hours. It has now been five hours with only marginal improvement. Jody's gone for her lunch and promised to be back by 1830 for a fish finger and chips dinner and mercifully will get me my liquid supplies when she returns.

Had she not been here I would have needed crutches to get to Mr Jing Jo (although I know he would have carried the stuff to my flat for me), which since the latest Covid scare has seen the shortcut sealed off again and now involves double the distance. Bolt cutters anyone??

I am hoping by tonight I will be as mobile as I was yesterday. I really don't want to have a problem tomorrow when Brenda and the leader come calling. I can just imagine him thinking this old duffer is a liability and we need to get rid of him! I suppose I could lie and say I twisted my ankle but hopefully that won't be necessary. My experience of being fired temporarily in Chizhou over medicines taught me that the Chinese take no account of the fact you have had a condition for many years (in my case almost 36 years) and coped perfectly well 99% of the time.

At least the temperatures are becoming more friendly in daylight.