Bugs and Tests, Birds and Lizards.

September 13th This morning we were due a test but we were also due a meeting with Dr. Mă so we headed off to the hospital first. Our first ‘obstacle’ came when we couldn’t go through the nearest road entrance, something to do with road works, so had to work an additional one kilometre to the other entrance. There we faced our second obstacle. Despite being within normal testing ranges (three days) the hospital has different rules, we had to have been tested within 48 hours, they would not let us in. To save time we thought we would try and get tested at the town square, it is very near the hospital. However, at twenty to nine there were no testing personnel available and the queues were very long.

Back to our usual testing place we went.

We then had to wait until the tests were analysed and our phone info changed. This is what it looked like at twenty past nine, note the 72 hours.

The 72 didn’t change to 24 until after dinner so no hospital visit today. Dr. Mă said that he could see us on Thursday and that it would be better if we had a test tomorrow making us well within the 48 hour limit.

How did we spend the rest of our morning, buying chocolate cake and watching the workers. The ones we were watching were the six legged king, here are the first two.

They were followed by a solo strongman. He was going so fast that I just could not get him in the centre of the frame.

And finally, the rest of the gang bringing home the largest prize of all.

All of these ants were in close proximity to each other, all were headed in the same direction, do you think it was the queen’s birthday or were they also celebrating harvest festival?

Let’s finish off with a couple of four legged friends, two rather handsome bunnies.

I was on kitchen duty again but forgot to take any photos for you. Baked potatoes, done in the microwave, steamed broccoli, done in the microwave, and fried chicken breast. This was the first time I had tried to fry something with a coating, similar to batter but spicier. It was not half bad, as we like to say. I certainly learned for next time. Surprisingly, even the baked potatoes met my approval, I prefer them oven done with a thick crispy skin usually.

September 14^th Another test morning! To make sure we are within the limits to see Dr. Mă tomorrow we went and had ourselves tested again today. That meant standing in yet another queue; thankfully it was not a long one.

Percy took this, unfortunately Huan’s lizard was in hiding today. We got her though!

Looking for a canine friend we discovered he wasn’t there today, his Mum had left him at home. However, the shop feline was there and after a miaow from me deigned to come out and say hello. However, it wasn’t impressed about being picked up!

I did a little better with flowers today, still fully on auto.

The last two are a bamboo grove on the way to the riverside and then the stairs to the less scenic side where we do not often walk.

Today’s walk also had a purpose; one of my many medications was due to run out today, so we went searching for one box. It took visits to nearly every pharmacy along our route before we eventually found a ‘made in China’ box. The foreign made tablets were much too expensive.

September 15^th A happy hospital day was what we had planned for today. At least we were forewarned about which route to take and how recently we had to have been Covid tested. Our first health scan was at the hospital entrance gate.

On our way to the main door we saw the full extent of why we had to take a long detour.

Getting into the main building required a different section of the health code, not so easy to find on my phone because I am classed as a ‘family member’. Inside we paid our doctor’s fee and set off upstairs to his surgery. There we were met by another ‘let us see your phone’ station which, eventually, with the production of the receipt from downstairs, we managed to get through. Here is the good doctor checking my blood pressure.

Next I was in an office, lying flat on my back, with mushrooms growing out of my chest. Well, I suppose you could call it an EKG.

The next part is was my least favourite, here I am queuing up.

The worst part!

Huan tried to take a photo of me carrying three month’s worth of medication; she missed my head and got too many other people in. Using MS Paint 3D I managed to make this.

All testing finished it was home for lunch. The EKG result was almost instantaneous and we left the hospital with it. The blood tests were available after three in the afternoon; we went later to avoid the rain. Getting the results is easy; you just use a machine with your own barcode.

Getting through all the health barriers was much quicker and easier in the afternoon and in short order we presented ourselves back at Dr. Mă’s surgery. Most of my results are fine; there is still the occasional oddity, but nothing to be really done about them. I did have to try and override Huan at times, “Yes, he does like sweet things, like chocolate cake”. I had to point out that each cake is shared between us 66% for HM and 33% for me, and it is eaten over four days! The good thing, as far as I am concerned, is I now have three months before my next round of tests.

September 16^th Percy wanted to go out and play again today so we agreed and headed off downriver towards the mansions on the hill.

I tried getting close to the smaller subjects again.

Neither of us slept well last night so the stairs were taken quite slowly. There’s Huan, in the distance, on her way up. She was too tired to take one of me behind her!

This is the back entrance to the mansions on the hill. You might be able to see that there is no one to check your health code here, there is on the gate at the other side. However, we were heading up the little trail on the left of the gate.

Reaching the other side, and the irrigation canal, it was interesting to see how the direction you are facing changes the colours of what you are seeing. Check the water in both views.

I hadn’t planned on any panoramas today, stitched or otherwise, but seeing the little terraced allotments and how the photos looked at home I stitched them together.

Sometimes I miss the fact that we can’t just walk off anywhere we like now and I have to consider the fact that I have a stent fitted. This is a place we may well have explored some time in the future, despite the fact we would probably have ended up being leeched. It goes down, through all that undergrowth, to the riverside.

Let’s have some ducks shall we, they appear to be waiting for something. Of course, it could well be the RSM at the other side of the road.

And here’s another exploratory trail, out of bounds for the moment. We might still try this one though when the ground has dried up a little. This one heads upwards, but taking it easy, we should be OK and it would be hard to get lost here.

More bugs, this is a handsome chappy.

Now how do you feel about egg plants? Maybe you would prefer some aubergine? On the other hand you could be partial so a bit of brinjal. We quite like a bit of 茄子 (qiézi) now and then. They are of course, all the same. Did you know they grow from a little yellow flower?

Today was definitely a good day for bugs; here are a couple more for you. Just check the ‘grin’ of the first one.

This is the spot where Huan and went our separate ways. She refused to go the way I suggested as she didn’t want to get her shoes dirty! I do try and explain sometimes that shoes are to keep our feet clean and are allowed to get dirty. I guess she had the last laugh when I had to scrub mine in the shower after we got home.

Huan going the other way had to pass by one of the boarding schools; there are quite a lot in China. Some are weekly boarders and some are term time boarders. Here. It was obviously a back to school day and the children were being checked for their health status and tested on the way in. It all looked very efficient.

Shortly after this we met up again and strolled home together. Just to make sure you saw enough bugs today, we managed to find three more as we were almost home. I couldn’t enlarge the snaps much more but you can see enough. The middle one looks like something from Star Wars.

September 17^th Test 22 this morning, at least it is the last one for this week! The queue was fine, not too long a wait at all. It was long enough for me to use Percy and snap Huan’s favourite lizard. I had fun chasing it around the tree! It definitely knows I am there in the second pic.

The tea shops were in full swing along the riverside so we had high hopes for the market. Sadly, our hopes were dashed. The road in front of the Fodelai hotel was open again though so I could pop through and chat to some doggy friends.

We did find another little lizard, a different family to the previous one. The poor thing was trying to get up the small wall at the side of the pavement and was terrified running backwards and forwards. We did try to help but eventually decided it would be better on its own.

We carried on, through the bap market, where, to our surprise we found two baps. Two is not lot but it is better than nothing. Baps, along with duck and salad veggies for dinner in hand, we had a slow walk home. Percy liked this view as we arrived.

September 18^th Time for a Sunday Sandal Stroll, not quite what the leader of the government wanted. Her preference was to take a clockwise walk around Feicui Park, which to be honest, I wouldn’t have minded either. However, my shoes were still wet! Our stroll just took us on a regular round the riverside route instead. We spotted an old lady taking photos of some yellow flowers but Huan said they weren’t as nice as these!

Further on we spotted a very sad looking caterpillar. Initially Huan thought they were its own eggs on the outside, which didn’t make a lot of sense to me. I thought it was dead but it wasn’t, it was just extremely lethargic. Google helped me; it was lethargic because something had laid eggs in its flesh, possible a parasitoid wasp. This page, while it may not be 100% the same, will give you an idea - https://drkrishi.com/lappet-moth-2/ P.S. Spot the red ant waiting hungrily for the end to come.

We tried birds again, some easier than others.

It was a busy day for wildlife today; here is the first of the lizards.

From little critters to larger ones, Huan thought the first cow was getting ready to take a run at me. I think she’s seen too many movies; it was actually just chewing the grass.

There was a fourth cow but that one looked a little grumpier so I steered clear of it. Instead I waited a while before I decided to get a little fruity!

The last lizard of the day tried to get away up the tree, but Percy, with his fully articulating screen was able to compensate for my lack of vision.

Now we show you many cars, of the ICE and the EV variety but not too many bikes. However, seeing a ‘famous name’ and called ‘Ninja’ to boot, I thought it deserved including. Because of my age I am not allowed anything over 50cc, just as well as the Ninja would probably hurt me!

September 19^th AM shopping and PM rain stopped play, again! Instead let me tell you about #1 son and his Mum. They queued for eleven and a half hours to witness Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II lying in state in Westminster Hall. Here are just a few of the photos my son took.

I can’t tell you just how proud of him I felt when he sent these photos. I had no idea he would be going to pay his respects, nor that his Mum would be going too. Being so far removed from the UK at this time, you tend to miss not only people, places and things but sentiments too. I can tell you that today I am a very happy man!

Also, thanks to the Royal Family YouTube channel, I was able to watch the state funeral live, from beginning to end. I don’t know about the other broadcasters, but the Royal Family channel had no running commentary to distract you, very good indeed. On that note it is once again goodbye from me and goodbye from my C-in-C, we will be back in a week, see you then.