Finally managed to meet Sissi in the station, we must have walked passed each other and then I read more into the message she sent and I went the wrong way. I have to remind myself that English is not her first language and don’t read the message as Gospel.

It was great to see her after four years although I think she has been left with a few scars, and I’m talking about the Covid. It seems that the 23rd of December last year is etched into the psyche, the day China opened up once more after three very long years.

Mind you Suzhou was busy today which I didn’t expect as there seems to be a lot of doom and gloom on the media concerning China’s economy.

We talked about everything and anything and we had lunch and then I got my new sim card and thankfully the VPN kicked in when I connected through Thailand, got to love Thailand!

I’m staying in a newly renovated apartment in the old town, you would never guess what was lying behind the door of this old block. Passing through a rabbit warren just to get here, then a small vege garden and then through a kitchen to turn left up the narrow steep stairs to finally arrive at a shiny new door that you open with an app on your phone 😄

The apartment is pretty but not practical. The bed is on a mezzanine and going to the loo in the wee hours of the morning is an adventure indeed. However I should only be here for about a week before going to a more conventional place.