Saturday the trek to Nanjing like every year since 2007. On occasion I've arrived at NKG on New Years eve but never missed this short tradition. And this with no Chinese roots or cultural affinity.

Small talk, eating, baijiu, watching the Beijing spectacle on telly, halting attempts at mahjong against the assembled pros and of course the inevitable fireworks at any time of day.

Oh, and the only cigarettes I smoke every year...