Saturday 8^th February, 2020 1610

The tedium continues.

Today's highlight was the outing to get spuds, apples and my daily liquids.

I keep forgetting the short cut is closed, therefore giving myself an even longer cut by having to walk back to the main gate. I also keep forgetting to put a sodding mask on and today there was no shortage of people telling me I wasn't wearing one. If only I knew how to tell them I was secretly Typhoid Mary. Oh, and that yes, I know I am not wearing one! What the hell, they are wearing theirs so I pose no threat.

They are now mob-handed on the gate and armed with digital thermometers although they left me well alone as I breezed past with a “Hello lads!” yesterday my wrist temperature at the supermarket was 34.1ºC but to be honest, whilst lower than normal body heat, I have no idea what skin temperature taken at the wrist should be, merely that I guess it should be lower.

Anyway, today the meat stall where I often buy my pork and chicken is open again and Jody seems to think things may go back to normal after tomorrow. I hope she's right, I may make another expedition to the Mall to see if I can go shopping in Metro sometime in the week. I'm not, as the Mercans would say, going stir-crazy – yet!

Roast pork dinner tonight, hence the apples for a sauce, “Broccoli and peas ok for you?”

“Yes but the broccoli was too soft last time”.

Ok I know the Chinese like their veg a bit crunchy but this is hardly a Michelin-starred place! And I don't even like broccoli!

I've been reading today on the BBC website and other places (before Uncle Mick chimes in!) about “brave” foreigners from England who have decided to stay. What the hell is brave about it? About not wanting to fly away and spend a fortnight in a Nissen hut before being released? Walking away from your job?

Well I certainly wouldn't describe myself as being particularly brave although I am no coward. Stupid sometimes to be sure, facing danger very occasionally probably because either I have no idea of the hazard or someone else not as strong is in peril. I'm not staying to be brave, I am staying because I have a job and a living which China has (albeit infuriatingly at times) been good enough to provide me with for almost a decade. I am staying because I think it would be an act of cowardice to run, particularly when I personally don't think the risk is that great and that I believe that even if I fell ill, my body has fought far greater battles than this.

I really wish there were other things to talk about other than closed businesses (even the Grand Soluxe hotel downtown was roped off yesterday) and I'm sorry if I seem to be moaning. In a normal spring festival I wouldn't be doing much anyway but that would be from choice or lack of funds or energy. It becomes annoying though that when you can't do anything even when you don't want to in any case, you can't – a bit like telling a kid not to shove puffed wheat up his nose – they will anyway!

And I need cheese.