Quote Originally Posted by Englishman2010 View Post
the guilty
... that's ME - - or, I should say, WAS me back in November/December 2005!

Having been given an expensive camcorder as a 60th birthday present from my daughter & son-in-law the previous year, I'd been looking forward to taking it with me on a fortnight's trip (with a 4-day*Yangtse River Cruise - from Yichang to Chonqing - through the Quatang, Wuxia and Xiling Gorges en route - thrown in) down the eastern mainland of China. All went well ... and - as a novice - I was feeling pretty chuffed at managing to capture some fairly stunning shots within Beijing itself [our starting point] along with such world-renowned ancient relics as the 'Great Wall', plus the cities of Xian (incorporating Li Shan Mountain - site of the famous 'Terracotta Army') and contrasting Shanghai with its enormous skyscrapers and bustling nightlife ...

... then - DISASTER struck! And it occurred during the course of the *aforementioned cruise - or, more accurately, as myself and a few valiant others from our party of 40 like-minded souls were returning to the vessel following an arduous climb of 600 steps to the so-called 'Ghost City' - when three of us stopped to admire ... try-on ... and buy one each from a range of beautiful kimono-style dressing gowns on display in a small store we'd come across on the way down again. Sadly, it was only after we'd re-boarded our ship that I realised - to my horror - I'd inadvertently "parted company" with my camcorder (which I had lugged around with me everywhere hitherto!) when removing my anorak to try on my purchase. Grrr ... !

So ... a salutory lesson learnt the hard way! But made even worse by the fact that I'm normally very careful with my belongings - mine AND other peoples' !!! Thankfully, some of the good folk I'd become friendly with, kindly sent me copies of THEIR photos and video casettes ... although, admittedly, one doesn't really derive the same sense of satisfaction that one would've felt HAD one had taken them oneself.