Like many
institutions here, the Baiyin Cinema always brings to mind the phrase
"couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery". I tried,
unsuccessfully, five times to see Iron Man, each time being given
information by the desk that turned out to be totally wrong. Finally
saw that on the sixth try when my girlfriend went with me. Even then
it was touch and go as we were told that they didn't have enough
customers to show the film and we had to wait for a few more to turn
up.
In the
case of Oz The Great And Powerful they weren't even able to pin the
showings down to a date, let alone a time.
Tonight
we'd planned to see the X-Men, but on arriving at the cinema ten
minutes before the advertised time of 8:50 for the English showing we
were told that for reasons unknown they had decided to switch the
English and Chinese showings so that, should we care to see it in
English we would need to wait for three hours. That would mean
getting home from the cinema some time after 2:30 in the morning, not
sensible when we both have to work in the morning.
Tomorrow's
times are switched back, but clash with my work. Saturday's times are
no good for Teresa and they couldn't tell us whether there will be
any English showings at all on Sunday.
At a loss
for what to do we considered our options. Neither of us can drink at
the moment so bars were out. We had already eaten so dinner was out.
My gout is flaring up so going for a walk was out. We tried the
coffee shop but the smokers in there made it like walking into a
thick fog which I really hate, so that was out. Teresa is staying at
her mother's apartment tonight so going to hers and watching TV was
out.
I know
when I'm beaten. We called it a night. She's at her mothers and I'm
back at mine.
Sometimes
China can be incredibly frustrating.
