Saturday 12th August, 2017                   1500

Yesterday late morning I paid a visit to City Shop to see what I could buy from the west. I found about half of the items on my shopping list, strolled down to Big Bamboo for a swift couple of pints of the black stuff then returned to the spit and sawdust place for some better-priced beers.

Roland had said to meet at Big Bamboo at 1830 but possibly he would be slightly delayed, he would be there at the latest by 1900. I arrived at 1825and refused all offers of a food menu as I was waiting for a friend. As time passed, the staff kept asking where my friend was. “He texted to say he was leaving the office at 1905 so he should be here very soon,” I told them. I never had an imaginary friend as a child yet by the time Roland finally rolled up at 2030 the staff must surely have been thinking I was Billy No Mates who pretended to know people.

I’m not sure quite how much we made up for lost drinking time because whilst waiting I had taken advantage of Happy Hour and was on my fourth Guinness when he arrived. More glasses of crude oil were obtained and at one point we moved on to Magners cider. I don’t think I look too pie-eyed in the photographs taken after midnight! There was one waitress I remembered from last year - they don’t seem to last long there - mainly due to her beautiful smile. At that time of night/morning, service was slackening off so she came and chatted at times with us. I look forward to seeing her again this evening, albeit briefly as we are going to somewhere that serves up British pub grub, which sounds rather tempting.

I still can’t eat great amounts but last night managed a couple of stuffed potato skins and some chicken “tenders” (strips of chicken breadcrumbed and deep fried). I invited the three ex students to join us tonight but only Rabbit is coming. Tutu’s “college” at work is ill so she is covering her evening classes (but hopes to meet before I leave on Wednesday) and Rinka has to go with her husband to hospital. I seem to remember she had the same problem once last summer so either she married a sickly child or she just doesn’t want to come. She only has to say.

I am absolutely exhausted today, the hotel is typically cheap Chinese - quiet at night but noisy from about 0730 onwards with either guests letting kids run amok in the corridors or cleaning staff bellowing from each end at one another. Needless to say I never slept as long as I would have wished.

I enquired at the desk earlier about laundry. According to the internet they send it to an outside laundry but the reality is that there is one 500 yards away and turn right. Great. With an abundance of shirts now and enough trousers to last until Lanzhou, I merely need boxers and socks washing. I may take a walk tomorrow or perhaps Monday.

Roland should pick me up in his car in half an hour to take me to another City Shop, one I went to the first time I came. There I may be able to obtain the rest of my shopping list. Then off to meet Rabbit at Big Bamboo.