The day started with a hearty breakfast and several coffee’s to get me through the day. I went downstairs just before 10.30 to get the bus to the airport, the snow had finally stopped. A black Mercedes pulled up and the driver asked me if I was waiting for a car and I said “no”. He went into the hotel to look for his pick up and returned empty handed about 5 mins later. He said to me that he would take me to the airport for the same price as the bus, now how could I refuse. I got into the back seat and “James” drove me to the airport. A right cockney geezer who was well pissed off that his fare had not turned up, 2nd time this week you know and the hotel charges him a quid for each pickup.

I gave him a £2 as a wee tip, that cheered him up, “God bless you son” he says.

Off to check in with Virginatlantic, although we were going no where near the Atlantic.

Check in was painless and so was the wait for the flight. I went for a whisky tasting but decided not to buy. More coffee and then onto the gate. The plane today is a Dreamliner and a very nice plane it was. I was in a middle aisle seat, which I wasn’t too pleased about, mind you I never noticed until I was about to board.

Opposite there was a young family and I thought that was just marvellous, unfortunately they got moved up to the front for a more comfortable seat and so I jumped across the window seat before it got cold. 3 seats to myself on an eleven hour flight.

On the Dreamliner the window shades are automatic, you have a button to press which allow you to control the amount of light coming in and when it’s time to switch off the cabin lights, all the shades turn black. Now isn’t technology a wonderful thing?

The food on this flight was delicious. I had the vegetarian Shepherds Pie and for breakfast Blueberry Waffles, all really really good and two bottles of wine was had at dinner to help me sleep, but I did not.

I watched two movies, The Shape of Water and Three Billboards. Two good movies but very different. For the last hour of the flight I listened to Black Sabbath.

Arrived in Pudong on time and then started the journey to Suzhou, first by bus and then high speed train and then Metro and then finally my hotel for a few days till I sort out my accommodation. By about 4pm local time I’m well knackered and so it was time for lights out until the morning.