Friday 27^th November, 2020 1800

Another week over. Yesterday morning I was waiting for a taxi and some woman appeared from nowhere and in true Chinese fashion, nabbed the very next cab. I hate that, especially as I do the British thing when others are waiting and take my turn. No such courtesy here unless there is a taxi rank and a queue. Even then people attempt to circumvent it.

However, a couple of minutes later an SUV, a Trumpchi (what an awful name for a car, so much more now!) pulled up alongside me and tooted. Thinking it was someone looking to make a few bob as an unlicensed cab, I just wanted him to bugger off. But he persisted and lowered the window. Lo and behold, the driver was Mr Jing Jo! He had a stop to make at a shop somewhere I have never been but I had plenty of time and so wasn't worried. However, he completely lost me as to my bearings and ended up near the wrong gate and on the wrong side of the road. I had to cross the road, clamber over an ( admittedly low)central fence and then take a long walk to get to class. I arrived with just five minutes to spare when normally I have twenty and enough time for a leisurely smoke. But at least it was free and it was good of him to offer.

All the cashpoints on campus have been out for a couple of days and I had visions of the situation continuing for a month as it did before but thankfully tonight they are working again. I usually withdraw ¥1,000 at a time, which most times lasts me between a week and ten days, tonight it was tempting to take out a lot more but seeing as I will probably be forking out at least ¥2,300 next weekend for cigars (or 6,000 if she can get them)I thought better of it.

Spring festival has slightly changed. Alice was moaning about the cost of flights to get from Guangzhou to here so I looked at the cost of my flying to Kunming to meet her there. I was going to spend ¥2,400 on a train compartment so anything less than that would be fine. I was surprised to find that a business seat with China Eastern, whether in the next ten days or in February, can be had for ¥1176 so that's a plan. I just await her decision on which day. I don't want to spend an additional day alone in Kunming because being a tourist trap the hotels are exorbitantly priced. But yes, if I am honest, although a train compartment to ourselves might have been a bit of an experience (and you can smoke) a couple of hours in the air is better. Not sure what tier Boris has put us in though!

Joanna is released from “prison” tomorrow. She told me she will be going for a hotpot for her first freedom meal. I suggested she see if she can get a steamboat, a seafood version peculiar to there. She also said that Kuala Lumpur is not safe and she won't be going out often. I confess that surprised me. My past (admittedly historic) experience of Malaysia is of a very safe place. But then I am a bloke, not a young woman.

She sent me a picture of her prison lunch today. It came airline-style with three compartments. One had broccoli (yuk), the second might have been dessert but I couldn't tell and the third was the main. Funnily enough it looked not unlike spaghetti bolognese but must have been a Malay variant. At least she said it tasted ok.

 

Tuesday 24^th November, 2020 1930

So my three-day weekends seem to have developed into 72 hours of doing sod all. Funnily enough, this time I actually had some energy but lethargy prevailed. I will have to break the cycle soon though, not only will there need to be a teabag run soon (Jody uses far more than me) but in two weeks I will finally exhaust that stock of 4,000 cigars I had a long time ago. So far my China Tobacco contact has located 2,300 and I have asked her to get 6,000 – a year's supply. I very much doubt she will be able to but I can hope.

Mondays are becoming McDonald's days. Not because I particularly like them because I don't but along with Thursdays they seem to be days when taxis are scarce so if I have to walk all the way to get one I may as well pay 1¥ to take a bus to get a Big Mac and then get a cab from there home afterwards.

Last Monday I saw a heavy-set chap wearing a mask, same hair colour as mine, dragging what I can only describe as cabin baggage, come into McD when I was eating. The “western” radar was on full alert – heightened these days given the dearth of kindred spirits – but he disappeared from view completely (I was facing away from the counter but looking in the windows for reflections).

Last night he came in again while I was eating. Never acknowledged me, nothing. I thought “Oh here we go again, the usual, foreigners in Lanzhou ignore each other”. This time I clocked where he sat to eat and as I happened to be damned near finished, once I had and was about to leave, I went over to him and said hello.

There began what could be the start of a good friendship.

His name is Jason, 56 years old and originally from Guildford. Moved around a lot as a kid as his old man was in the RN, married to a Chinese woman and now with an 8 year old daughter. I know very little more but it was good to speak to another Englishman seeing as the only time these days I get the chance is summer in Shanghai. I reckon Mondays will be McDonald's every week because he is always there, his wife is out on Mondays. If Christmas dinner collapses with the girls, this may also rescue it. I am not particularly bothered, it's just another day and it's a long way to go when I will probably have a burger anyway but some company would be nice. It does get a tad lonely here being the only westerner.

 

Friday 20^th November, 2020 1840

I can't help but feel sorry for Joanna and think that were I in her place I would need to be hospitalised! Either that or I would go berserk.

She and her colleagues are being fed three meals a day (left outside their room doors) along with three bottles of water (no idea what size) and other items they order, presumably at their own expense, are brought between 1500and 1700 daily.

Smokes are not allowed – presumably a non-smoking hotel but people have been known to poke their heads out of the windows – but even worse, no alcohol!!!

Now let it be said that Joanna is not a drinker by any means. Sure, she had the odd tequila sunrise or two of an evening when we were on holiday in summer but she is one of the very few young ladies I have ever met in China who smokes. She probably smokes sparingly normally but in our hotel rooms she puffed away quite often. She tells me she is fine “in prison” and yes she will come out ok. But me? Hell, I take a container of snuff with me on a two-hour flight!

As for the alcohol ban, how can they expect someone who has drunk regularly for nigh on half a century to just go without? Being honest, I couldn't. I would kick off and probably end up in a real prison unless I could get myself sent back from whence I had come. I understood perfectly when I read the news some months ago about returnees to the UK in quarantine going mad and demanding pizza and wine. Lock me in an hotel room with smokes (even if I brought them with me) and deliver me food I can eat and enough booze and I will be a model inmate. Treat me like a criminal and I am liable to become one,

It was flipping freezing when I went to the jing jo shop earlier, a sudden and dramatic drop from the last few days. Jody came in an hour ago and informed me it was snowing, which came as no big surprise.

Christmas dinner is now in jeopardy.

After first indicating she would be happy to come (and me also inviting the beautiful Maggie to join us) she has now decided she has a test on boxing day and so needs to study all Christmas night. Maggie is married with a young child and so I harbour some doubt as to whether she will come for a “romantic meal for two” - reputations in China mean a lot and can be destroyed in minutes. Maggie's going to try to cajole Jody into coming but if she fails it may well be beans on toast for me. I will not want to cook on a Friday, Thursdays leave me drained.

Of course, I am observing from afar the fiasco in Britain where five days of Christmas may cost 25 days of further lockdown. China locked down on 23^rd January, two days before new year and the day before the big celebrations. Everyone did as they were told and cancelled family gatherings and meals – and their new year is far bigger than our Christmas. Now look at the situation here and in Europe with the refuseniks. Life will never get back to normal at this rate because any vaccine won't keep up with mutations. Imagine a UK with no pubs or restaurants? Sorry, as much as I like Boris, he dithered and blew it.

But enough of that. Anyone actually going abroad for the festive break??

 

Tuesday 17^th November, 2020 1930

So, just found out my finish date this term is 8^th January which means my last class before doing the exams will be Christmas Eve. Whilst at times it has seemed slow the reality is that this term is going somewhat rapidly.

I now have a powerful little torch. I bought it in the knowledge that leaving school would by now – and has – become sheathed in darkness. It is very bright when it is focused on the narrowest setting so I have found another use for it. Highlighting students playing with their phones in class! And by God it's effective!

I don't know the reason but lately leaving main campus I have had no problem getting a taxi. In fact yesterday when I decided to walk to the 18 bus to go to McDonald's I could easily have hailed four. Long may it continue.

Talking of McDonald's, not that hitherto I was a regular although now feeding myself at night presents a problem I am going once a week, normally if it isn't breakfast (who doesn't like a cheese and egg McMuffin?) I stick to a Big Mac but last night I noticed the guest dish was the double burger with German sausage so I had that. I'd forgotten it is devoid of any vegetation! Filled a hole though and I wish I could just buy a pack of those sausages frozen from them.

I suppose I could buy a load from Jinkou online but I always spend 500¥ to get free delivery. No problem if they ever had beef and chicken pies in stock but nothing for years and £55 of sausages is a lot of Toad in the Hole!

Joanna is now in “prison” in Kuala Lumpur. She flew on Sunday and her entire party consisting of her colleagues were then placed in quarantine for 14 days. Could be worse I suppose, they have been billeted in the Hilton Garden Inn and presumably the company is picking up the tab. That is costing a fortune along with the relocation and I am wondering if her firm is American. That would explain it, given the worsening of relations since Trump started alienating the world.

I just sit here hoping things don't deteriorate with the UK!

 

Friday 13^th November, 2020 2000

Only just realised the date! Not for any other reason other than that Thursday knocked me for six again but I haven't set foot outside.

I did have a visit today from Brenda and the vice-director of foreign affairs. The reason for the visit was to ensure all my equipment the school supplies is in working order. For that read basically fridge/freezer and washing machine. I have never even plugged in the TV all the time I've been here so no idea if it works. I did find the call somewhat pointless, given that were there any problems I would lose no time letting them know. I did benefit however from a new packet of masks and the promise they would buy me a new coat stand. The current one you may recall was shortened by a couple of feet, meaning wet laundry on the lower rungs usually hits the ground.

Alice (Wuhu) wants to go to Yunnan province in spring festival so I may well depart from my usual behaviour and go with her. She wants to see Kunming (as do I), Dali and Lijiang. Kunming is known as the city of eternal spring, the other two appear to have some sights, the latter being very close to the Tibetan plateau.

Alice expressed concern that I might get altitude sickness in Lijiang but, having never thought about it before, I started looking up elevations. Kunming and Dali are about 7,000 feet and Lijiang is 8,000 feet. Then I checked Lanzhou and to my surprise discovered here we are 5,000 feet above sea level anyway – no wonder the Yellow River flows so fast!

The trouble is, flying will be prohibitively expensive as always in spring festival and the train takes 24 hours. That wouldn't be so bad but it leaves and arrives around midnight! I've told her if we go we will pay for four bunks so as to have a soft sleeper compartment to ourselves. There will be a flurry of sandwich and sausage roll making just before we go! I ain't eating pot noodles or the muck they peddle on the train. And a load of films downloaded. We shall see.

 

Tuesday 10^th November, 2020 2025

At least this weekend I summoned the energy to shop, albeit on Saturday as I was wiped out again on Friday. Ok, admittedly it was after taking Adriana for dinner near BHG but still.....

I'm not sure whose turn it was to pay (I reckon hers) but I picked up the tab. I expected her to go home as I went to buy my wine and some butter but no, she wanted to come to “help”. By help she meant pay for two bottles of wine and some sweets for her. Cheeky bitch. Fair enough, dinner only cost ¥100 and I shall make her pay when it's her turn.

Yesterday evening no taxis so I had to walk to the car park. Even using my torch there was one occasion where one foot went into a depression and I nearly toppled. It's bloody ridiculous but sadly I cannot do anything about it. I will take a tumble again I am sure.

Anyway, to my surprise there were two 18 buses waiting so I decided to take one to McDonald's again to have dinner. Although I know I shall do so again, I think it's the worst McD's I have ever visited. My Big Mac came out too quickly (not as if they were in rush hour) and the fries were basically a mix of hot ones and stone cold ones. I am sure I am getting lunchtime leftovers.

Today I got a taxi to work. Well I do that every day now to avoid walking far. Hopped in the back and the young lady driver of about 25 years asked in Chinese where I was going. Well I always have my laptop case with my books and my shoulder bag so I said wait a second, I need to show you my piece of paper.

Got my wallet out, produced the note with the address in Chinese and showed her. She had no idea where main campus was (by now I could probably show her six different routes) so she stopped alongside another taxi and asked through the windows how to get there. The older guy in the other taxi did a good job as we did get there. However, no sooner did we pull away from the other taxi than mine pulled over. I thought she was searching satnav for the directions but no, she was trying to get both of us into “selfies”!!! I had to pose for four or five 0f these before she drove on. No idea if she is married or lives with Mum and Dad but I can imagine when she got home the conversation would go “You wouldn't believe who I had in the back of my cab today!”

 

Friday 6^th November, 2020 1845

It's been a week since the last entry. Fatigue is the culprit. Getting home at 1930 four nights a week doesn't help and Thursdays are a killer. Last week and today I just didn't have the energy to go to BHG for my shopping. In fact, last week I arranged to meet up with Jody after my classes on Monday so she could help me to buy three boxes of wine. That should be enough to see me only needing to buy one box per week until the spring holidays.

The USB has been performing in an exemplary manner since I sussed out the problem but the internet has not. Last Friday (I forgot to mention) I had no internet all day and waited for it to come back. Until 1730 when I texted Brenda to ask if it was going to be fixed at all that day. Apparently there had been nothing wrong with it!

She got Mr Wang to come. It needed him to change my password to a stronger one and voila! It worked again. On Thursday I take my laptop to campus to use at lunch and I couldn't log in there all of a sudden. This time it seemed everyone was locked out and being asked for a stronger password. Nobody I know yet has resolved it but I am hoping next Thursday Jody can get the IT guy to come and fix me up. How am I supposed to read Chinese computer errors?

In my final class of the week early Thursday evenings, as of last week I gained a new student who switched majors. The first class she attended she expressed her fear regarding my carrying a knife, something I always do unless flying, obviously. I have carried one almost continuously for half a century (HMS Conway drummed into us a good seaman always carries a knife) and in that time the only person I have ever injured has been myself!

Yesterday she seemed not only to have conquered her fear but she wouldn't shut up! Don't get me wrong, she will likely be my top student this term for her sheer enthusiasm and if all the others had just 10% of it I would be in heaven. I felt bad when I had to tell her she couldn't volunteer for absolutely every reading when I asked as I have to give others a chance. Not bad for a late arrival?

I hit it lucky all this week with taxis back from campus. Previously I have usually had to walk a fair distance to where they park up but not this week, and indeed on Monday two fellow teachers saw Jody and offered to give us a lift to the taxi place. If only it was ever thus.

And breaking news literally just in. Joanna leaves with her company for Kuala Lumpur next Sunday. I have very mixed emotions. On one hand I am delighted for her and on the other, devastated that it is possible I won't be able to see her next summer.