En route to a condolence visit ( having taken mum back to London at lunchtime) I drove past a secondary school outside which were stationed rows of police and police cars and a handful of chinese bystanders.

A rumour was circulating that President Ji’s wife was scheduled to visit the school.  The police weren’t saying anything!

On my return journey further police vans and press were in the street and I was taken aside by a police officer, questioned and told to move on. I agreed to cross the road but refused to “disappear”. Sadly i had to leave for grandparental school run duties before the first lady appeared ( if indeed that was who all the security was for) but i certainly felt intimidated on a quiet avenue in the area in which I used to live.