Some time ago in the '80's when I was somewhat shapelier, I decided to go to Sydney for the weeked to meet up with some friends for a night out. The idea was to have some fun. Nothing outrageous, just a laugh and a meal.

We all decided to meet up and go to a Chinese restaurant in the Chinese Quarter. The meal was great, the whole evening relaxed and we were all having a good time. And on this occasion I happened to be wearing a black jeans and jumper. The jumper had some white chinese caligraphic writing on the chest, writing I didn't have a clue about. I could have been for all I knew, promoting a somewhat nefarious or dubious message to all and sundry.

So I decided that while I was at the restaurant I would take the opportunity to ask the very nice, young chinese waiter to translate for me. He obligingly checked the words placed front and centre on my chest, and after taking a most prolonged and serious look, pronounced that the words translated to "space between the mountains".

It wasn't until I got back to Canberra a couple of days later and was thinking about his translation that I realised that he had certainly played on my gullibilty!! " space between the mountains" indeed!

copyright: a.a.gallagher. 2008