First Bass

What do people want to read on a blog about being a foreigner in China?

As far as I am concerned, mainly because I am an artist and can’t understand such things, not all the rants and complaints, such as why “they” are so infuriatingly non-committal and sometimes even downright duplicitous.

Those arguments are going to rumble on forever, probably were going on when my great great uncle (for it was he) was helping to sack the Summer Palace, when King George’s representative was asked to kow-tow to the Emperor and wouldn’t.

And when that old illusion “Marco Polo” turned up, it was probably the same. “They” think differently. Not like us. Confuse us. Yes – I feel it sometimes, but I need to overlook some things to see the real picture. That is what I try to do.

So, I’ll just get on with describing a bit about our life in China, like the wonderful restaurants in Lanzhou, the concerts we give, the tours we are going to do (Paris next year!), our hols in the hills and just generally try to amuse and inform. Most of my posts are lightweight, and I make no apology for that.

What do I do? I’m a Double Bass player, trained at the British Government’s expense many years ago and still finding that the only thing I am really comfortable with is being perched on a stool wrapped round a huge instrument.

I haven’t been a professional player all my life, but I have been in bands for most of it, playing bass guitar, guitar and occasionally, much to the distress of passing dogs, singing. I now play first Bass in the Lanzhou Symphony Orchestra, and I have two others in my section, Xiao Huo and Xiao Lian. Lian has just joined from college in Haerbin, and Huo has been with the band for some years. They are both great to work with.

We are hoping for more Basses, because we really need at least six for this size of orchestra. I also have a student, Long Long, who is the most amazing jazz pianist. We were firm friends from the outset, because a jazz pianist needs a bass player like a car needs brakes. The poor man is out of action right now because he shut his left forefinger in a door on Sunday. Nngh!

Eyes stopped watering yet?. I live on the outskirts of Lanzhou in a standard issue flat on the ground floor, built about 10 years ago, with my friend Mei and sometimes a chap called Angel breezes in for a day or two. Life is pleasant but not luxurious. We have all we need. Until the next time, farewell.