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.