Sunday 18^th February, 2018 1315

Just ten days holiday left but it is a form of limbo. Nothing to do (or at least nobody to do it with) and a desire not to spend too much given my hope of having some form of expensive holiday come summer.

Since midnight on Thursday I have been no further than the jing jo shop. I awoke inordinately early on Saturday morning, ridiculously so. I have no idea what time as I remained in darkness in bed vainly trying to drop off again, I was still tired. It really is pointless sometimes and when I capitulated I was amazed to see it was barely 0400.

As I sat drinking a coffee at 0430 I was given the sad news that my sister had succumbed to the brain tumour she had been fighting with such bravery for nearly a year after being given a mere three months. People always trot out such platitudes as courage, bravely fought etc but often it is the case they have no choice other than to accept their lot and get on with it. I do not say this to be unkind, I do so because I am certain were it to happen to me I would not be particularly brave. Angry, definitely – I would rage against what I would see as injustice (although many may secretly feel otherwise). Scared? Absolutely. Some however display incredible dignity and never burden others. I have known a handful and she numbers among them.

There was also a post on Facebook by Steph. Remember my comment regarding mindset about spending two years in China? She basically confirmed my thoughts when she stated she needed to go back home for a visit to get her through the rest of her time here. I completely understand. When I came here I had the benefit of having seen many countries and whilst enjoying (or not) their local cuisine and culture I always had the comfort of my vessel, shipmates and western eating to return to. Unless they are independently well-off, the Peace Corps volunteers cannot afford to buy ovens, pot and pans or foreign ingredients with which to cook for themselves the foods they yearn for. They are lumbered with eating like the locals.

Unless they come to mine!

It got me to thinking of the western grub available in Lanzhou or at least, what I have found so far, which is not a lot.

KFC (there's one in every city in China) and McDonald's. Neither what one would call food but handy at a pinch.

Buddy's. Ok if you want a real steak at a hideous price and the chips are decent. Everything else they serve I am sure they buy from a supermarket freezer. Pizza Hut. There are two and in 18 months I have been to each once. Quite simply, they are not good, I make better pizza.

Subway. That place will definitely be getting more of my custom provided they don't keep running out of bread! Maybe this evening.....

I cannot count Japanese food as western, as good as it is for a change, it ain't western!

I therefore consider myself fortunate in both being able to afford the necessary to produce what I like to eat and also my limited ability to actually create it. China has certainly proved that necessity is the Mother of invention in my case and thank heavens for internet recipes!

So the Dragon returns tonight and Annie sometime tomorrow. No idea what time Annie gets back but Steph managed to book both outward and inward flights to ensure both times she was outside public transport times! With taxis inflating prices to 300\ she may decide to stay in the hotel she used on departure and taking a train or bus in the morning, that would probably work out at what a cab should cost, 200\.

Here's a photo of my Chinese New Year dinner. It couldn't have been any further removed from what my neighbours will have been eating! Hardly gourmet but by God I enjoyed it – and yes, the cheese sauce was my first effort at making from scratch.