Wednesday 27^th January, 2021 1500

I neglected to mention that this time (and as far as I know it was the first time) Jody had to sign us in to the BHG Mall. I asked her why and it was because she had forgotten to take her phone and they wanted to see a green code. I'm guessing as a foreigner I'm not worth the aggravation of them trying to make me understand as I have never been asked. And anyway, the only time I carry the smartphone is when travelling or I need to stay in an hotel.

Our drainage problem seems, at least for now, appears to have disappeared. No idea what causes it but what surprised me is that although there is a manhole in a straight line from my bathroom, the one they eventually had to unblock was at 90° and twice the distance. Considering a few years back they dug up and replaced all the pipes I would have expected them to route my sewage via the shortest route but then maybe I am being too logical.

Yesterday I decided to cook something with meat in it and bugger Jody with her veggie tendencies. My onion had gone missing (and she swears it was nothing to do with her) so maybe I unwittingly dumped it. I used another the same a week ago and the leftovers really stunk the place out, I have never ever come across such smelly onions in my life. So because I had already been out and it was -10° outside, I made do with champignons, red pepper and kiddly beans. I've decided I'm not keen on cumin so will give that a miss next time but guess who absolutely loved it? So much so, she has bagged the leftovers for her dinners tonight and tomorrow. Good. I found a year-old slice of Pizza Hut stuffed crust in the freezer which will do me tonight.

The roads have now mainly been scraped clear of packed snow and ice but annoyingly there is a swathe of ice that has been left right outside the entrance to our building. With no street lighting it could be extremely treacherous for someone like me coming back at night unawares.

Next Thursday I should have been jetting off to Kunming for a fortnight in Yunnan (I think they produce pipe tobacco there) but from China Daily today it would seem cancelling said trip was probably prudent.

http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202101/27/WS6010aaa9a31024ad0baa5468.html

I know I moan a bit about the virus situation and realise that these days I am in a far better predicament than many of my readers who are under severe restrictions but I think it is safe to say that we are all probably thoroughly fed up with it. I am “trapped” in Lanzhou but can still eat out and do normal things, boring though it is. Others are not so fortunate.

And this plan to quarantine everyone who arrives in the UK for ten days in airport hotels (no choice of hotel or room) at a cost to you of £1500? A hundred and fifty quid a night??? Change your own sheets, do your own cleaning and food dumped on the deck outside the room? £150?? Guaranteed to kill all but absolutely vital travel. What is going to be left when this is “over”? Any pubs or restaurants? High street shops? Jobs? And all these adverts for paying for a holiday now and travelling any time in the next two years, how can anyone guarantee the travel firms and airlines will still be around then? It brings to mind the Stephen King-inspired film The Langoliers!

I do actually class myself right now as particularly lucky and all because I made what some (myself included) considered a rash decision a year ago. Here it is difficult to know just how bad the situation is, purely because at the very first sign of a problem the authorities now go into “whack a mole” mode but at least they don't dither or “follow the science” and perform u-turns on a daily basis.

Hey ho, it'll be over soon won't it?