Tuesday 22^nd June, 2021 1845

Why, oh why do things have to get so complicated? Shifting like sand dunes all the time?

First of all I was told the term was not now finishing 24^th July as they insisted but a week earlier on the 17^th. I told them so but nobody listened! At least this time I had notice so there will be no mad scramble to do the exams.

Then Brenda asked me when I was going to the little local police station to sort out “houku” with my new passport. I was going to go this past weekend but she said the police wouldn't be happy and a weekday would be better – patently if I want to do some robberies I need to confine myself to Saturdays and Sundays! So I'm going tomorrow before I start school.

She brought me the paperwork and due to the fact I happened to have my passports with me, she copied them for both me and her. Then she asked when I was going to the PSB to get my residence permit transferred because she didn't want me to be fined 500¥ a day.

I informed her the ten days were already up on Sunday. The passport was issued on the 10^th and I received it Friday 18^th! Panicked, she proceeded to call the PSB to explain the situation. As it stands at present, Gov UK is spinning a load of bull because the PSB said just do what we've always done and travel with both passports!

Then another spanner in the works. To renew my permit for September I need to apply about two weeks previous to expiry. Annoying to say the least because I am stuffed either way. I apply at the end of July just before I set off and accordingly next year it will expire in July (and I travel on a scrap of paper) or I cut short my sojourn in Shanghai. Maybe. I could reduce my planned Shanghainese blowout from 14 to 10 days and maybe get away with it if I apply the day after I return. I will get Brenda to check for me.

The holidays I have had screwed up these past two years and still it's happening! It could have been worse if I had also been visiting Joan but we agreed to cancel the idea after she took a new job and wasn't going to have more than a day or two to spare. Instead we decided to finally, hopefully, make that trip to the Harbin ice city in spring festival that her dean stuffed up for us years ago.

It's not just Boris buggering up travel plans.........