Sunday 2^nd May, 2021 1630

We got up early to take showers before the water was turned off for the day (it's back on now) and at 0845 took a taxi to a Starbucks that turned out not to be that far from main campus.

Coffee is Jody's thing, me? I am quite happy with a mug of Nescafe instant every second morning. But she promised they do breakfast. Having only ever been to Starbucks once in my life before (with Wuhu Alice I think but I can't remember which city), I was sceptical. I did though buy us a pannini on that occasion.

Well they do indeed offer breakfast but not as we know it! However, that's not to say I am complaining. I did have a coffee (GOD they are HOT!) plus something most odd, a circular croissant sliced and with an egg, cheese and “bacon” filling. It was actually quite nice. I followed that with a scone, again not as we know it, very dry and sans any butter, jam or cream. If I ever go again I will give that a miss and have a muffin.

They had two outside tables with chairs and I wanted to smoke but there were five old people occupying them. I moaned to Jody and she said that as they weren't actually eating or drinking anything, the staff would move them. I felt a little guilty that we had squashed them onto one table but I did thank them for moving. Seems they just go there to gossip and watch the world go by without ever buying anything. Bit cheeky.

I think today is the hottest day of the year so far at about 24°C and when we finished and waited for a taxi I felt decidedly woozy, ditto when we waited outside BHG after getting my shopping. I think five years in Lanzhou has started converting me into a Mongol or an Inuit. And still my flat is cold! I have had to turn the heater on now.

As long as I feel ok, the lunch with Adriana and her tutee is on tomorrow. She wanted to go to Charlie's Burger but as tomorrow is supposed to be chilly (and it's a 40¥ taxi ride each way for me) there was no way. I will never tackle their precipitous stairs again and after Christmas Day having my nuts frozen sitting on one of the only downstairs tables, I won't be going there again unless the weather is nice and warm. Chinese people seem singularly incapable of closing doors after them.

So we are going to Lanzhou Center (no, they spell it the Mercan way, it's not me deserting English) where apparently there are other restaurants besides McDonald's and Burger King. Adriana seems to know them so maybe Japanese or Korean for lunch, possibly western depending on what's on offer. So that's Monday's food sorted.

Looks like we have another sandstorm that has just arrived.

Tuesday I am unsure whether to make a load of sausage rolls for campus lunches. If my pork leg is successful on Wednesday I can bake bread and make sandwiches. It would be nice to simply stroll into Tesco and buy a pasty or a cheese and onion slice!