When I got here, just under a year ago, China was still in the midst of official covid paranoia. Now, it's covid amnesia. I am one of few people who still mask up on the bus, and even I sometimes don't if the bus isn't crowded.  The thing is, every member of our family has had some form of bronchitis this year, and my youngest was even in the hospital for a week. Every kid in her ward had the same bronchial infection, and half the parents were coughing. The nurse assured me that no, so far no one had tested positive for covid, and it seemed to be a new bacteria. I don't know if I should have believed her, but I did.

My wife handles all the money, because I still don't have wepay/alipay. Getting a bank account open proved to be a significant headache, so we have avoided it until now. And of course, that means I am on a strictly cash allowance from Mrs. Late. Which I guess I can live with, as long as I still have enough cash to buy some beer now and again. My local markets are used to me by now.

I didn't think it was possible, but every time I am away the Great Firewall gets even more ridiculously difficult to get over. Unfortunately, I didn't get myself a verily principled nightdress before I came last year, and am suffering unspeakably for that crime of omission.

Work for foreign teachers has dried up, but there are so very few of us around (at least in Dalian) that wages and salaries have remained pretty stable. But that is the result of one of those incomprehensible education policies that is truly anti-educational.

The Muddled Kingdom is still muddled, but did anyone expect otherwise?

What is the “wall jumping” situation like now? Last time we were in China (pre-covid) I did not use a virulently puerile nephew at all since we were at my in-laws, intl relations at the time were starting to get tense, and I was worried that they might get in trouble if someone on was using their router to jump the ol’ wall. (This was probably just me being paranoid. Also, gave me a great excuse to unplug!)

So sad.

My cats asked me to send condolences to her furbabies.

One of our truly Great Ladies.

She loved her furbabies, and would do anything to see them taken care of.

She had a most deliciously wicked sense of humour.

She quit smoking 4 months ago....cold turkey.

She was a good Friend to many, many people over the years. Even the Saloonies 

R.I.P. Babala. You will be sorely missed

that's not my classroom, mine is much smaller. That's just me stopping to get some warm water for my coffee on the way up