Sunday 13th March, 2016                   0330

Yes again it’s late but of course you all knew I would be staying up late to watch England win the 6 Nations. Admittedly it was a stuttering feed because of course when I need it to be fast the sodding internet here slows to a crawl.

Earlier though I had taken Alice (Joan was busy teaching and then studying) to town to make up a foursome for a steak dinner with Kevin and Vivi.  Initially (and before we arrived) Vivi had decided she wanted a change of venue because she wanted either fish or a hotpot. When we arrived I said to Kevin that I had gotten Alice all fired up for the lamb on the bone. Personally I think hotpots are boring and I am not a great fish eater and anyway where we were they do fish and hotpots. We stayed.

Vivi had her tripe hotpot (God the things people eat here!), Alice her lamb, Kevin a T-bone and me an Angus steak that never even saw Glasgow in its life. However, a decent meal and a nice catch up with Kevin. It was notable that the two westerners at the table never once touched their mobile phones, instead chatting because it was a social occasion, whilst the Chinese contingent were messaging and lord only knows what. Dinners with Chinese seem to be affairs where the food comes, gets eaten and nobody speaks because they are too busy on social media.

Anyway, at the end I went up to settle the bill.

A most odd thing happened.

I had remembered I had a plastic discount card for 20 yuan from the last time so dug it out of my wallet card slot on the bus in order to put it in front of the money so I wouldn't forget to use it.

When I looked at it the value was 10 yuan. I showed it to the Alice and remarked that I was sure it had been 20. Ah well, 10 is better than nothing.

When we finished the meal (Kevin and I always pay for half each) I produced the discount card and to my astonishment, where on the bus it had said 10, this time it said 20!
After I had paid and gone back to the table I related this. Not unsurprisingly Kevin accused me of being doolally but when I asked my witness (Alice) how much it had said on the card when I showed her on the bus she confirmed it said 10.
Did I have more than one card she asked? No that was the first time I have spent over 200 yuan there to be given one - check my wallet.

Because we spent over 200y again they gave me the same card back for re-use. It said 20y when I put it in my wallet tonight and now I am wondering what it will say when I next take it out.

I KNEW it was 20y because I haven't lost my marbles and I commented on the value the last time I had dinner with Kevin and his lady friend and was given the damned thing.
To this though I have a witness who has neither been certified insane, does not suffer from Alzheimers and was wearing her glasses when I showed her.
As the Mercans would say, it's the damnedest thang.

Actually, it’s bloody weird.