BBC News reporter Rebecca Kesby in Beijing
We've heard so much in the run up to the Beijing Olympics about how journalists in China will be allowed greater access for the duration of the games, greater freedom of movement. But for me, just getting in and out of my hotel room is becoming a logistical nightmare.
A guard like this has to set Rebecca right
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You kind of expect airport style security checks in hotel lobbies these days, the staff try and make these as painless as possible but it does take time, (especially when you're lugging around broadcasting equipment with suspicious wires sticking out all over the place) - I don't have the official accreditation that my colleagues Mark and James enjoy.
No bright yellow tag around my neck to wave at the many (many) volunteers and hotel staff waiting for the opportunity to direct you somewhere with a charming smile.
But until now I've managed to convince them that I AM a journalist and that my bag IS just full of recording equipment, scraps of notes and mobile phones.
The past few hours though has seen a change. There are three lifts in my hotel in different wings of the building and the stairs are "for staff only".
But now lift A will only go to floors 7,8 and 10 (that's for people with yellow tags ONLY). Lift B goes only to floor 11 (I've no idea what is up there) and lift C will only go to floors 3 and 4 (my floor). The stairs remember are out of bounds to all non staff - not even a yellow tag of accreditation would get you access down there.
This means that to get to breakfast - which is on floor 2 (no lift access whatsoever) I have to go from the 4th floor, right down to the lobby in lift C only, across the lobby past many (many) relentlessly smiley volunteers, up the escalator 2 flights to the breakfast room by which time one is pretty hungry.
Last night in frustration at waiting for ages at lift C (having accidently tried lift A across in the other wing of the hotel and being taken straight to floor 7, only for people with yellow tags) I threw caution to the wind and found the "staff only" stair case.
By the time I got to level 2 a security guard was upon me ushering firmly - yet with a smile - back to the lobby to start again waiting for lift C and lift C ONLY. Freedom of movement for journalists?!
