Sunday night wasn’t quite as early as I’d expected. We did though solve the mystery of the “overcharging”. BOGOF only applies to Stella Artois, other beers merely have a slight reduction in price.
It was though, quiet. Just Roland, Angel (his forthcoming ayee) and myself. We dined at the Big Bamboo where I excelled by actually eating all of my dish of tacos. Afterwards we went off to the Blue Marlin for some live music, getting rained on in the process. I got about 10 mins of music as I went on a rather fruitless search for a cashpoint I could actually obtain money from.
Yesterday afternoon I took my washing and went in search of a laundrette. Considering the old man was sound asleep behind locked doors and with curtains drawn, it is perhaps unsurprising that I had difficulty in finding it. A local kindly roused the old boy and blearily he worked out that 2 shirts, 5 boxers and 4 pairs of socks would cost 74y. He then pointed to the calendar to indicate they would be ready Wednesday. Err, no, I will be in Wuhu then! The old bugger had nothing else to do so I persuaded him to just wash and dry them quickly - for a price. It was now 90y.
With time to kill, I found a café that served my favourite tea - beer flavour. Delighted to find somewhere I could smoke, I duly lit up and was promptly admonished by the owner. I apologised but pointed out there was no “no smoking” sign and an ashtray on another table with ash and a fag butt in it. I think many others may have drawn the same conclusion I did! Nonetheless, I was relegated to outside when I wanted a puff.
In response to my jibe about the ashtrays, they clearly thought I had a point and threw them in the bin! I protested and asked if I could take them home to Lanzhou. I now have two ashtrays in my suitcase.
Notwithstanding, I spent a pleasant couple of hours there and even ended up “talking” with a chap who had served time in the Chinese coastguard and for some reason had been to London, Rotterdam and Hamburg with them.
Laundry collected, it was time to rendezvous in Big Bamboo again. Roland brought TJ, Angel came later, as did Tutu and even later the moment I wait all year for, Joanna and her boyfriend arrived. I have come to terms with the fact that I am silly old dreamer, and yes, when it happens I shall be proud to go to her/their wedding and also make a speech. And of course, continue to dream………
Joanna and I spent half an hour having a much-needed private chat, by which time the others had voted to dine at Bollywood. Curry it was to be. Quite apart from Roland vastly over-ordering, it was a damned fine dinner. Afterwards it was back to Bamboo and pool, at which I was spectacularly appalling. People peeled away, leaving just Joanna and Sean. In a perfectly parsimonious situation, I showed great largesse in inviting Jill and Lucy the waitresses to join us in having a shot apiece.
And then it was time for bed, said Zebedee………….
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