Monday 5^th October 2020 1400

Bit annoyed that it is apparent both McDonald's and Burger King have permanently shut up shop in Lanzhou West train station. How can you not get customers in a busy train station??

But this is China, where they absolutely adore KFC. I don't. I ended up having some dreadful chickeny thing in Dicos (nothing at all on offer with eggs for breakfast) and chicken is really the last thing I ever want to contemplate for breakfast or on a pizza except when it's a curry and chips.

But eat that crap I did because I was hungry and Mars bars are not to be seen.

On the train I had a kid in the aisle opposite. Brat was screaming and bawling. Now I am not cruel to children, well no more than the next person who doesn't have any and hates them. Do you know that being old and foreign in China is actually a huge plus? Forget about the extra help from cabbies, bellhops and the like, it's the absolute BEST for shutting up screaming kids. Worked with that one.

So now I am in the Xining Sotitel alone for two nights.

I got through all the checks with my Lanzhou health code so I am clear and dry because I will have the Lanzhou one on return. My smoking room has no ashtray so stuff it, I am using the bin and a coffee saucer.

Xining is like many cities the world over – ugly. As you approach all you can see are white and beige high-rise blocks that look like they were made from the Lego of my youth.

Why did I come?

For breakfast.