The Oriental Experience

 

All was peace in the HPO

For staff and the clients alike

Then at half-past four, through the main front door                                                        

Came a Chinaman wheeling a bike.

 

He shunned the end where the pensions pay

And the queue for the Royal Mail

He visibly shrank from the Savings Bank

And made straight for my parcel scale.

 

He hoisted his bike to the counter-top                                                                             

With a smile like the crescent moon

On the label-tie it said Shanghai

Or it may have been Kowloon.

 

In panic I stretched a trembling hand                                                                         

And brushed the bike aside

Told Fu Manchu, what he wished to do

Was not in the PO guide.

 

I explained at length that we did not send                                                                     

Bicycles overseas

He shouted a lot, and his parting shot                                                                           

Was an oath in Cantonese.

 

The customer is always right

We've said it all along

But on this day, I have to say

 

The customer was Wong. ...............................

 

Despite the awful pun at the end I can assure you that this is a true story!                          

 

 Stan G4ITM