Sunday, 2 January

Military Attaché Guo reported to me that the night before last he went to see the Swedish Minister, Assarson, and conveyed my regards to him. Also he told him why I couldn’t go and say goodbye to him. Assarson was so grateful that he almost cried. He is very erudite and his virtue is excellent. It isn’t easy to find people like him in the Diplomatic Corps. But it is a pity that his fate is bad.

In the evening, I couldn’t sleep. I dreamt that I had a date with a certain one. We had not seen each other for a long time and we were hesitant. When I woke up I couldn’t sleep again until 5.00 in the morning. I smiled at myself that I had reached fifty and was so childish. Is it possible that as I have had so many good dreams recently that bad dreams will follow? That is nothing better than love, and this is what I treasure most. I thought it was better to let the dream continue.