Friday 2^nd February, 2018 2200

The assignation with Joan in Xian finally took place.

Travelling independently, we had timed (well I had anyway) to arriving within twenty minutes of each other in Xian north. It was so good to see her again – well, what little of her I could see because she was wearing a doctor's mask.

As the taxi fare crept ever higher I began to think perhaps I should have chosen an hotel a touch nearer but it was too late then. As it was we arrived so late by the time I made the executive lounge for a drink they were officially closing in ten minutes.

However, when I tried to access the hotel wifi I couldn't connect. I have had this problem with many Chinese hotels but with my ancient English laptop. This one is Chinese and new. Why me?

Asking for help afforded an extension on drinking time as various people were called and failed to connect me. So it wasn't my fault that everyone else had no problem, I just had to be Bill Gates to know what to do. In the end the GM tried and failed and then called his IT manager at home, live-streaming my screen to him and taking instructions over the phone. Very late indeed, success. I would not have bothered had I the ability to plug in the direct cable in our room but this laptop is too thin for a socket of that size, although I now learn there are adapters available.

Anyway, the poor girl (Selina) who was off duty at ten, stayed until after midnight because of this and the fact two Shanghai businessmen and I were chatting.

Allegedly Joan, who had gone to bed the moment I went for a drink, had a bad night's sleep. She says I snored and never stopped. I never heard a thing.

I think I got five hours sleep because I set my alarm early enough to get up, shower and have breakfast. Before eating I took my pills plus one for arthritis as a pre-emptive measure, I knew we would be walking and I really wanted to go and see the terracotta warriors with her rather than leave her to do it alone. I am paying for it now although I know had I not taken the tablet I would have been crawling out of there. Even she could hardly walk at the end. It didn't help that I took us to the exit going in and gave us a long detour to find the entrance. I think she was impressed though.

When we did leave the plan was to go to The Cyclist restaurant but we were both so exhausted I gave her the choice of dining there or in the hotel. No, she wanted The Cyclist. Two buses and about two hours. Sorry but I really couldn't handle any more. We took a taxi. He went off-meter for 20\ more than the metered rate but it guaranteed traffic jams didn't count (and there were a few) and he also gave a tour guide commentary. That was great for Joan because it was in Chinese, useless for me.

The Cyclist again was a delightfully quirky place, we had pate, snails (remind me never to order escargot in cheese ever again), I had salmon fillet and she, pork ribs. The only disappointment was the thing I had been looking forward to all day – no Guinness. Not a big problem, the chap had a comprehensive offering of many beers I have both heard of and not.

Back in the hotel I cajoled Joan into coming to the executive lounge for at least half an hour. She acquiesced but when she went down to take a shower at 2140 she implored me to let the poor girl Selina leave on time seeing as we were the only ones there. I always intended to after last night and I duly drained my last glass on the dot.

So in the morning it will be 0800 alarm, shower, breakfast and leave at ten, the station is not exactly close and our train leaves around midday.

The bad news is that Joan cannot be certain about coming to the UK and has again declined the chance. I am disappointed, I would lie if I said I was not. Now I need to ask Alice. If she cannot, Joanna. If I run out of girls then the probability is I shall not go to the UK in the summer. The likelihood is that I will try and find somewhere I haven't been and go there alone. Time will tell.