This will not be posted today or probably even tomorrow. Our GM returned home and took refuge in his room last night, having managed to sneak past me when I smoked a final cigar before turning in. Alice had been showering so she never saw him but at least I didn’t need to concern myself that he was still alive.
Yet again I was awake at 0530 and again I ended up getting out of bed at 0630. Flipping heck, the staff are perhaps trying a little too hard to please because we are with the boss. I ordered two sunny side up eggs at breakfast and went to make myself a slice of toast while they were cooking. Toast done, I went to collect my eggs and add to the plate a couple of bangers and maybe a grilled tomato. No, eggs were gone, ditto sausages because the young lady remembered from yesterday - they were already on the table! She even knew to make a decent English pot of tea. lovely service indeed but not something I am used to.
The nuclear fart incident, although not quite forgotten, had faded somewhat and the plan was to go to Shona and Jens for a lamb roast. I hate lamb. I had however volunteered to make the roast potatoes. That entailed nothing more than waiting for Shona to peel the potatoes (Chinese potato peelers are weird!), cutting them, parboiling and then whacking them in the oven for others to turn at intervals.
Previously I went to Wuai market, the largest in northeast China (with Alice) because I knew I could find shirts that fit. I did and now have four new ones - there was for once a choice of loud colours and Alice bargained the price down to 100y for the lot. I am pondering on going back for more before we leave! She stayed on and came back later toting a backpack and various other things such as pencil case - all in the Spiderman theme. Not for her, her 7 year old cousin.
After lunch though we had had tequila but not in the traditional manner. No, it was a Big Sexy. Know what it is? Neither did I. No salt or lemon or indeed beer chasers. A most odd combination of putting Tabasco on your hand, licking it, downing a shot of tequila and then chasing it with a shot of freshly squeezed orange. Alice, basically a non-drinker, partook and I thought she should also have it the traditional way and fair play, she joined in.
Forget the food, it was a lovely afternoon, after which we went to M Café where I was desperate to repay financially some of the hospitality that had been shown to us thus far. Finally the long-heralded rain arrived. There is something really nice about sitting out in the rain on a warm night under a large umbrella and drinking beer. The problem is that I am currently on Shenyang time. At this time of night I actually want to go to bed! It’s too early. Yes we need to be up early by my standards but not THAT early.
Alice and I are going to Dandong tomorrow morning. An hour and a half on the fast train, it is the closest place to North Korea. I shall say nothing further until after we have been and I post the next entry.
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