The good news is that we are back from Tiananmen Square and P is still a free man. 👏👏👏😀😀😀.

We must have had to have our passport checked about 15 times . Security is like nowhere I’ve ever been (including Belfast in the 70’s). And you defo can’t ignore the hundreds of cameras watching 👀 you. Obvs the one person who did was P who, with a bit if ADHD kicking in, decided to follow the guard marching across the parade area in lock step (

see him in action on https://www.instagram.com/pam_patrick_peking2paris?igsh=OWtmYXh0ZGFwOWNr&utm_source=qr)

Not his wisest prank and I did think we ran close to me having to both drive and navigate the rally. Given todays news that the UK have expelled Chinese spies, I would say diplomatic synapses are taught. Do we really need Britain’s current representative in the form of my lunatic husband frog marching about their haloed ground ? Just supposing they had arrested him? Can you imagine the diplomatic fallout out. At least they wouldn’t think he was a spy. No country on the planet would employ a lunatic as a spy . Would they ??. Anyhow, I spoilt his moment by making him stop, so he came up with another game … seeing how many check points he could evade . 5 at final count, which tbh was impressive, although he was covered by me being a model tourist and complying with all demands

Tian’anmen Square is an awesome place . Everything built on a grand scale to inspire might . Naturally everything was immaculate . I added this rather boring picture just so that you can try and find even an itsy bit of rubbish . Chinese just don’t drop rubbish. They have a natural respect for their place. And just in case someone does inadvertently drop something there is the man in the cart darting about

There was one weird moment when I tried to ask a policeman for directions . All of them have been very helpful to the old lady so far, but this guy pointedly turned his back on me. Which is when I read in bold letters on the back of his shirt WAR TRAINING. I mean hardly anyone speaks English, so why would you print it in English? Which war is he training for? I was mildly chilled by this encounter. He certainly didn’t share his nations care for old ladies

The rest of the day was spent in awe of the many beautiful modern buildings and the sheer scale of achievement over the past 30 years. Old Beijing has gone and new Beijing is truly a place for tomorrows world, ordered, controlled and equipped to lead

Meanwhile, the very bad news.After whizzing around in taxis for 2days, now that I’m Uber Chic, I’ve seen nothing but a hideous 4 lane spaghetti of expressways. That song from Katie Melua is out of date. The 5 million bicycles have been traded in for 5 million German/Japanese/Teslas/ Rolls Royce cars and one Ferrari and one Range Rover (hasn’t moved since we got here so P assumes broken down) .

Someone mentioned a few weeks ago that Beijing has 5 ring roads. Ha ha ha, very funny, trying to frighten me🤣🤣🤣. He wasn’t . It’s horrifically true . I’ve looked at the map …rather belatedly😫😫😫

There is now nearly no chance that we will even get to the start line . I’ve considered booking one of my taxis to lead us out of the city sneakily . I feel physically sick thinking about it . We’d start now but can’t get the car until Friday. Honestly, Beijing makes the M25 look like a quiet country lane

The only compensation is that I don’t have to look out for potholes, and most of the cars aren’t stolen and all central reservations (hundreds of miles of them) are a riot of planted rose bushes

I hear the Arora will be at its finest tonight

😭😭😭😭the Navigator