After the nightmare of my visaster/surprise return to the UK, I am finally back in Beijing.
It’s been a rather tumultuous ordeal, finishing with a delicious 30 hour return to Beijing, courtesy of bureaucratic airlines (and my haemorrhaging bank account). My itinerary was Manchester to Dubai, Dubai to Hong Kong, 5 hours in Hong Kong and finally a flight from Hong Kong up to the Jing.
It was actually quite entertaining watching the British-ness of the passengers peter out as I got ever closer to my destination. It began when I went to stretch my legs on the flight from Dubai to Hong Kong. I looked across and in the aisle opposite me was a hunched over middle aged woman fervently rocking around in a circular motion with her hands on her knees.
As I looked down the next thing I saw was somebody curled up in a ball on the floor, using her seat as a pillow.
Then, one second after the wheels of the plane touched down in Beijing I heard the sounds of mobile phones starting up, seatbelts being unclasped and almost simultaneously everybody stood up. I looked across at the air hostess who completely ignored it. I guess she was wise to the fact that you can’t stop a river with one pair of hands.
“Welcome back to Beijing” I thought to myself, and even though I was the tiredest man, it still made me smile.
Greg's China 
I’m happy you made it “home” at last. So, how is the new home Siren had to find all on her own. Let’s hope you’ve used up all of your bad luck for the year too!
Thanks, Mae. Let’s hope so – it’s been a pretty shocking run!
The new place is nice! We’re still sorting stuff out and the landlord has some things to take away, but it’s a great place, and I think Siren did an amazing job moving all of our stuff in and sorting it all out by herself.
Glad you made it back! Let me know if you’d like to participate in the Race, if you have stories you’d like to share on my podium. You could promote your blog that way.
HW
Thanks. You’re not as glad as I am, I’ll tell you that much!
I’ll check it out now, appreciate the invite.
Wow – all’s well that ends well, I suppose. Love the image of the British-ness petering out!