Sunday 8^th July, 2018 2210

Still under semi-house arrest so not much to talk of. Recovery is not as swift as it once was (in my early days I was blessed with miraculous healing powers, however age has withered them slightly!) but still I believe more rapid than may have been expected. Yet, still nowhere near as rapid as I would like. In fact it is hacking me off greatly – the only plus is that with not being able to go anywhere, I am not spending anything more than my “basic” requirements.

Ok, so most readers would take that to mean tea bags, coffee, milk, food etc. For me, yes I need a little of the aforementioned but regular air drops of pijou, jing jo, hong jo etc are mandatory, as indeed are my normal medicines (two months worth yesterday set me back 400\). Cigars are still in stock, what with the 900 I bought not long ago – very fortuitous that.

Yesterday I entrusted Alice with my bank card and pin number (tssk, tssk I hear you say) but it was raining and besides struggling to the ATM and shopping even on only one crutch, it was raining and it would have been a brolly too far. And I trust her. Anyway, the instant money leaves or enters my accout I receive a text advising me how much, the time and where. That little service costs me 2\ a month. Wish we'd had that in Chizhou, pay was often late and Kevin or I had to go and check our balances at an ATM to see if we were rich or not.

Anyway, the recuperation was at the stage whereby indoors I am now often dispensing with any walking aid, the only time I need one is when I get out of bed in the morning. I didn't feel that confident to exit my home without at least one crutch in case (and as it turned out quite wisely too) but I resolved to embark on a mission to get my daily liquids and also a load of veg and eggs. Digging out my coolbag (because it has a shoulder strap) I was dismayed to find it was nowhere big enough. Luckily I had a “bag for life” from the now-closed down Homwo homeware emporium.

Before then though, I wanted to book and prepay our hotel in Guangzhou. Having been disappointed with the Pullman (they advertise 10% discount for loyalty club members but despite joining Accor I cannot get it) I looked at the brands I know best – IHG and Hilton. Great room-only rate at Hilton but that means breakfast for two more than doubles the cost and they let themselves down very, very badly with not offering an airport shuttle. Holiday Inn, 1,000\ saving over Pullman and executive access (free wallop in the evenings!) with shuttle. No contest. Hilton really need to look at shuttles.

Of course, when I tried to book, I couldn't – whilst the hotel accepts China Unionpay the bloody website only takes Visa, Mastercard and Amex! So I had to phone the hotel. No problem, executive room booked at the pre-paid rate and yet I don't need to pay until we get there! Ok so I am a member but of course my wallet was on the desk so I could hand over my details when requested.

Of course, when I went to get my drinks my back pocket was empty. I had forgotten my wallet. Not a problem with them, they know I will be back tomorrow. But I could have cried. Instead of going to the veg stall (where I may well in fact be afforded credit but have never tried) I now had to go home, get my wallet and come back out again. Not far but I had only made it fifty yards when I came out before I really needed the crutch. The pain is now muscular, probably the three weeks of inactivity but nonetheless it is pain. I could have left it until tomorrow but I am making mince'n'tatties (well, my version, which is very tomatoey, gravyish and chilli-ish) and I didn't want to go anywhere except for jing jo tomorrow.

Go I did. Making the effort to pay the pijou place was too much and I confined myself to the veg stall. I even had an old lady clearly offering to help me carry my bag on the way back! The ignominy!

I got everything, including 15 eggs, only one of which was cracked on my return and it didn't matter as I used it for tonight's dinner.

I will be fine for my holiday – just to make sure I have now started wearing rubber sandals in the shower so I can't (hopefully) do a Neymar in the shower again.

By Christ though, the starboard universal joint knows it's been in a fight tonight.....