Yesterday I checked out of the hotel and Molly came with Jane to take me to the airport. First though there had to be a final visit to the office and of course the girls needed their lunch. Molly’s husband also turned up, very handy for lifting my suitcase when we did get to the airport. It felt like 35kg to me but in reality was 10kg less than that. Must have been the heat.
I’m not sure who paid for what but it had been my intention to pay for the lunches seeing as I was saving the cost of a taxi to the terminal, however when I went to pay the café owners told Molly I owed nothing. As it was my last day they wanted it to be free. I almost cracked.
It was a roasting hot day and I was glad of gaining the cool inside the airport. Sadly, no sooner had I bought a couple of cans and a bottle of water, something urgent came up and my companions had to leave to return to the city. I suspect really they didn’t want to linger for the farewell. Once they had gone I drank my beers, stood outside and had what I thought was my last smoke until Shanghai and then went through security. There they relieved me of a lighter I had deliberately kept in my hand luggage in order to demonstrate to them that I had emptied it of gas and that it was in no way dangerous. They took it away regardless. Not that I ever used it but it was a gift from a student a couple of years ago so I was less than happy. Had I known I would have given it away.
I was pleased to find that since my last time at the airport there is now a smoking room so I was able to puff away in departures right up until the flight boarded. As I settled into my first class seat the hostess offered me the choice of water or juice and advised that as it was only a short flight there would be no meal service. You have got wine though? I didn’t pay for first class to drink juice? They had wine, a rather decent Chilean as it happens. I didn’t get it until twenty minutes into the flight because we experienced heavy and sustained turbulence, probably caused by the hot atmosphere swirling about.
On arrival at Hongqiao, Joanna texted to say she was caught in traffic. No problem, I managed to buy a lighter from an airport police officer and went outside for a smoke. Joanna and her two friends Lucy and Miranda (at least I think it’s Miranda, I kept forgetting it last night) arrived just as I finished.
The flight from Chizhou is at the worst possible time, rush hour in Shanghai and it took forever to get to Pudong and my home until Tuesday lunchtime, Green Court serviced apartments. If you visit Pudong and can afford it, it certainly is worth considering. I have a living room, bedroom, walk in wardrobe, bathroom, kitchen and balcony. And the kitchen is equipped with everything you need if you want to cook! My only minor gripe is that although the aircon is fine it doesn’t get quite cold enough to be able to sleep comfortably under the bedcovers at night.
We all went to The Big Bamboo last night for dinner, I am paying for the victualling as Joanna forked out for the hotel. I contented myself with a hot dog that I had fantasised about all day, the other three polished off a pizza and a huge platter of nachos in short order and then it was solid pool playing. My prowess on the pool table is not unlike Norah Batty’s stockings, one day I am up, a wizard, the next I am down, a joke. Last night was the latter and Joanna absolutely slaughtered me.
At the end, it having been a long and hectic (and emotional of course) day, I was whacked. Not long after midnight I settled down on a western type mattress for what I hoped would be a good night’s sleep. It was not to be. I must have woken half a dozen times, doubtless due to the uncertainty ahead of me.
Breakfast is on offer (Chinese or western) but you have to go for a walk to a restaurant about 100 yards away. I didn’t fancy it this morning but I must try and make the effort tomorrow.
However. Earlier I booked my flight. I leave here Tuesday afternoon from PVG to Lanzhou, flying first class with Air China. I am getting fond of fist class seats lately! I am told I will definitely be working there but my campus apartment is currently inaccessible because the departing teacher still has the key and is still abroad! They have offered me a foreign student’s apartment with shower, aircon etc in the interim but as the ex teacher is supposed to be coming back soon I have indicated I can stay for a while in a hotel near the school until he/she has moved out and it has been cleaned (ready for me to dirty it again!). Once they get back to me with the length of time involved I can book the requisitely priced hotel option
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