Thanks to the wonderful work by Miss Vivian Gou, the BA representative on the ground at Beijing Capital International Airport, not only was I spared another 3 nights of using the airport as an hotel but she also upgraded me from ‘cattle’ class. You’ll have to buy the book if you want the full story but, (more…)

飞机场 Take II
It’s 8.40p.m. and in a little over three hours my resident status will be void. There is a grace period but I’m safe in the airport.
I’ve checked my bags into left luggage for the next 24 hours. With the possibility of my being here for 4 days, there is no rush to explore. It’s not like it is my first time here! First job is to find a comfortable place to get my head down. Near McDonalds on the second floor is the quietest but there is no internet connection. (more…)

I’m writing this from Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, China. I should, at this exact minute be somewhere over the English Channel and set for a final approach to London’s Heathrow airport. Why aren’t I? FOG! Fog, fog and more fog.

Below was a running account I kept but before you get to that, let me fill you in on from when I woke up.

That’s a little misleading, actually. I didn’t manage to get any sleep last night. Nevertheless, at 0320 I took a shower, Doudou (who slept soundly by all accounts) made some coffee and (more…)

他妈的! I’ve been watching the Renminbi / Pound rate exchange over the the past 48 hours and I’m convinced the markets must know about my impending departure. The rate has gone from 10.58 to 11.15. Naturally, I’m not happy.

Adding into the equation that I must also pay commission on the transaction it leaves a rather nasty taste in my mouth. Thankfully I have a bloke on the ‘outside’ who trades currency. He works for the ICBC and buys the money, as a banker, from the Bank of China. They charge +2 points but he only charges +1 point.