Saturday 1^st February, 2020 1700

Well I still have my house guest. I'm guessing my cooking is the reason, last night's pizza was pronounced much better than Pizza Hut but that's hardly much of an accolade, theirs are awful. Tonight was going to be a beef stew but will now be a pork one because what I thought was a lump of cow in the freezer (I could have sworn I had beef, maybe I'll find it another day!) was in fact pork. No matter, I still have no Oxo or Bisto and am awaiting courier delivery so had it been beef I was going to try using Bovril instead. Hopefully I will make something tasty anyway.

I went out earlier for my usual booze plus more veg for the stew. Nothing remarkable about that except just around the corner from me (found out from Jody yesterday, I had no idea) is the CDC – Centre for Disease Control! Handy should I succumb, I suppose. Anyway, in a most bizarre scene, they have set up a table outside draped with the Chinese flag, piled with giveaway leaflets and manned by a chap wearing the full hazmat gear! Given that this is in a market street that by Chinese standards is all but deserted, it seemed incongruous to say the least. If I go out again to get veg tomorrow I will take my camera!

This morning an old friend from my hometown (well actually not a friend of mine but my sister's, he's younger than me) who lives in Perth, WA, entreated me to leave and go and stay in his home, which was a sincere and very kind offer. Not one I shall take up because I am lying in the bed I made, so to speak and I have no intention of skinning out. Also, it would have enormous ramifications because it would mean quitting my job and at nearly four years past the Chinese retirement age it could well happen that I found myself unable to get another job or indeed a work visa. Once you pass the age of sixty it is a case of remaining in-country and you have a chance, as indeed I have proved.

Oh, I don't think I have mentioned this. The Chinese teachers have to report in every morning before 1000 on a WeChat group (similar to Facebook) to say they are still alive! Asked what would happen if she doesn't, she replied she would be put on a list and reported to the medical authorities as being possibly infected!

Well for her that is a problem, she sleeps most of the day! Mind you, nobody has asked me to report in on a daily basis (not that I'm on WeChat anyway) but if they did I'd be damned if I'd be tied to a 1000 deadline. Not that I often stay in bed after that but I'm not in prison. Mind you, Jody was concerned I was infected this morning because I had coughed a lot in the night. Did I have a fever? No I do not. I am forced to smoke cigars I don't particularly want and there is a thing called a smoker's cough.

1750

STOP PRESS

I am now informed that Lanzhou is now itself in lockdown following six new cases today – nobody allowed in or out! I wonder if my Bisto will ever get here now.....

Don't panic, Mr Mainwaring!!!!