Saturday 30^th January, 2021 1445

Nothing to do with China but I believe the link below is to a programme which features my hometown. Sadly if you are non-UK resident and have no VPN it is unavailable. I haven't seen it yet but that's because I swear when the students go home they turn the internet down. It has taken me ages to watch the new series of The Bay and now I em expecting to take a week to watch the new Marcella.

https://www.my5.tv/the-thames-with-tony-robinson/season-3/episode-4

Wuhu Alice has come up trumps again on the Taobao front. I was panicking because I was down to my last bottle of Lingham's and nowhere could I find any more for sale – not even for the link she found it on last time. She couldn't find it either but after what I imagine was a couple of days' dedicated searching she eventually located it. I ordered six bottles (which should last me about a year now the Americans aren't here to gobble it up) and then I promptly cancelled her return flight from Nanjing to Guangzhou. Incidentally, Annie (currently locked down in Los Angeles) told me she saw it in a local shop, recognised it and bought a bottle for herself. She was a piglet for the stuff.

No, I wasn't being horrible to Alice. She stipulated mid-afternoon (which to be honest is when I prefer my flights provided I don't arrive at the destination too late) and of course it's expensive. I had paid 860¥ (nearly £100) for a one-way flight in economy. Given that I normally pay £150 to Shanghai to sit up front, it was excessive. Now with Beijing endeavouring to reduce the biggest mass human migration on the planet by as much as possible – offering incentives to migrant workers to stay put and not see their families etc but sod all for me! - the no cancellation fee rule on cancelled flights is back. If only I had waited I could have avoided my own 59¥ penalty but that's the way it goes.

I then booked her on the same flight (still expensive compared to morning flights) for 450¥ and so ended up owing her 300¥, said debt I am happy to say I have discharged.

In a few days Jody says she will go to her family for the festival. I have again joked she will return after one day but I have been toying with idea of having a couple of nights in the Crowne Plaza on new years eve and new years day. With my new status as a Platinum Ambassador (yet to be tested) I should get free breakfast and a free upgrade so I could book the next one below Club (free booze at night) and in theory be bumped up. If not, a penalty bonus of 10,000 points paid into my account. It's irksome that the nearest IHG to Pudong is a cheapo Express. I probably won't action my thoughts and will simply stay here for the celebrations, which will, if the last couple of years are anything to go by, consist of a few neighbours letting off a few fireworks. Yet again the square has not been adorned – this time it should have been oxen. Anyway, I would just be spending money needlessly because I am bored.

Jody is really making the most of the chilli! She is having it for the fourth consecutive night for her dinner. Damned annoying for two reasons: firstly I fancied a Burger King and shopping in Metro today and secondly because I want the pot back! It's the one I use to cure my ham. I have bigger ones of course but I know the dosages for that one. And I would actually like to give her a lump of the pink stuff to take to her family, assuming she stays longer than a few hours.