The Humour Club discussion

Hi
'Turning Left Around the World' goes live on Monday 24th September.
I thought you might like this extract...

Before we left on our journey I was given some beads by a Spanish friend who said they would help us on our way. Despite the vaguely bohemian appearance I wore them on my wrist from the start of our travels, but last night they broke.

As we wandered the streets in search of what Helene calls a “rustic breakfast” we were approached by a one legged monk.
‘Look,’ I said, ‘l think he wants to give me those beads.’ What he waved in the air looked identical to the ones gifted by my Spanish friend. This was divine intervention surely.
‘I’m not sure he’s giving anything,’ Helene replied as he hopped over, orange robes billowing behind him and gesticulating wildly with the string of beads and a holy book of some kind. Not only was our bald monk short of one vital limb, but he also appeared to be dumb.
‘He’s not dumb, David, he’s taken a vow of silence,’ Helene rebuked.

Waving beads and bible in his crutched hand he raised his other palm with fingers spread. Not quite sure what this meant I gave him a “high five”.
‘What on earth are you doing David?’ screamed Helene, ‘you don’t high five a Buddhist monk!’ As his holy book slapped the floor I bent to retrieve it for him, but he took this as another gesture entirely and placed his hand on my head and wailed something unintelligible. This really wasn’t going well.
‘I think he wants five dollars for the beads,’ Helene said, interpreting the high five gesture.

Having replaced the book in the old man’s hand, he shuffled through the first few pages and showed me the inscription within. Far from being a life enhancing Buddhist proverb or reflective Confucianism adage it read “Special Today. Beads + Blessing $50”
Fifty dollars! For fifty dollars I would expect at least a divine benediction.
I mimed a polite yet firm refusal, still confused over the vow of silence, and walked briskly away. He didn’t seem to take no for an answer but I’m not negotiating over the price of a prayer.

A minute or so later we were continuing our rustic breakfast research when Helene looked over her shoulder.
‘David, we’re being chased by a one legged monk, do something.’
Where’s a hop-on, hop-off bus when you need one? Sprang to mind.

'Turning Left Around the World is available on Amazon

Sounds good so far David. Bless you

Thank you Marcel...
I really enjoyed writing it - it had me laughing out loud with some of our exploits and in tears trying to do justice to the killing fields of Phnom Penh
Regards
David