THIS MISADVENTURE CALLED LIFE World Tales of Trial and Tribulation from East to West by Michael A. Ashton. Turner Maxwell Books Free Publishing Free Books Free Literature Free Writers Turner Maxwell Books are an independent co-operative of new writers, committed to publishing inspirational literature. Turner Maxwell Books has over one hundred writers, producing original stories not seen in any other bookshop, Turner Maxwell Books has established itself as a successful and viable publisher. This achievement lies in its innovative and daring approach to establish a shorter supply chain that is simply focused on the requirements of the reader. All aboard for Morea, Rarotonga, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Pattaya, Bangkok, Singapore, Nairobi, Malindi, Rome, Munich, London, Swindon, Rhondda, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. About the Author:Michael A. Ashton was born of English and Welsh parents but has spent most of his adult life outside the United Kingdom as a British expatriate and has traveled the world extensively. He was educated at Ferndale Grammar School and London University to become a surveyor and then later a university lecturer and journalist. He lives in Hong Kong where he is based between regular travels to his roots in the United Kingdom, and also to Canada, the USA, and mainland China. He is author of “Not for the Squeamish” and its sequel “Not for the Nervous”. CONTENTS LATE ENTRANCE SOUTH SEAS ESCAPE A QUESTION OF IMPORTANCE REPATRIATION AT THE RACES CHURCH OUTING THE CONTRACT WALKING THE HYPOTENUSE PATTAYA RETREAT EGO CHOIR ROMAN HOLIDAY MALINDI MEMORY FLIGHT TO HOTEL CHINA CRUISE ON THE ISAR. INTERRUPTION IN L.A. A TASTE OF THE BIG APPLE Published by Turner Maxwell Books First published 2008. Copyright © Michael A. Ashton 2008 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in a retrieval system in any form or by any means without permission in writing by Turner Maxwell Books. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which this is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. The purchase of this book is a private sale between the reader and the publisher; at no stage will indemnity be claimed against the publisher. The moral right of the author has been asserted. This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental and may be more the work of your own imagination. Why not write a book yourself? Turner Maxwell Books are an alternative co-operative of new writers, working towards publishing inspirational literature. Printed and bound in the United Kingdom for Turner Maxwell Books.

THIS MISADVENTURE CALLED LIFE

World Tales of Trial and Tribulation from East to West

by

Michael A. Ashton

CONTENTS

LATE ENTRANCE

SOUTH SEAS ESCAPE

A QUESTION OF IMPORTANCE

REPATRIATION AT THE RACES

CHURCH OUTING

THE CONTRACT

WALKING THE HYPOTENUSE

PATTAYA RETREAT

EGO

CHOIR

ROMAN HOLIDAY

MALINDI MEMORY

FLIGHT TO HOTEL CHINA

CRUISE ON THE ISAR.

INTERRUPTION IN L.A.

A TASTE OF THE BIG APPLE

Preface to LATE ENTRANCE

    It was a typical summer day in the city; outside hot and sweltering everywhere in the former colony of the British Crown. But through the street markets of Mong Kok district in Kowloon, it was acutely uncomfortable to those abroad because of their strangulated progress through narrow streets cluttered with vendors’ stalls and throngs of shoppers. Anyone braving the conditions to pick up street bargains suffered each long minute in the hot air, so trapped by old, ugly, run-down, and sun-baked buildings that rose high all about, that there was not the faintest breath of breeze to admit relief.
    Down one of these streets Tina, a smartly dressed Chinese woman, entered the “Yau Yee” (“Friendship”) restaurant for her afternoon shift of duty, and instantly exchanged the stifling heat without for the luxurious cool from the full-powered air conditioners within. Just a dozen or so customers were dining at the moment, for the surge of lunch time custom had receded, and it would remain this quiet until around four o’clock when teenagers off from school would arrive. But you never knew for sure. Groups from all walks of life might descend upon you at any time, for aside from its location being convenient for catching the transient trade of passing shoppers, tourists bargain-hunting the markets sometimes among them, the restaurant, though only a middle-of-the-road quality, all-day eatery, was appealing because of its unpretentious wide ranging menu of good oriental and occidental dishes which were cheap, comfortable, tasty, and generally quickly served; certainly excellent value for what one paid.
    The establishment was based on the western model of set meals of three or four courses with choice ingeniously permutated and with a nominal specialty of food from the Malaysian archipelago. Although the place was down quite a narrow side street well off the wider thoroughfares, it still remained a good catchment point, for here after all was Hong Kong’s Mong Kok, at one time the most densely populated square mile of real estate on earth, with its market labyrinth of streets renowned as a Mecca for budget-shopping adventurers. Besides, if you gave good food and service, Paul the boss had once confided to Tina, word got out and people didn’t just happen upon you, they planned it, however out-of -the-way your location.
    This unlikely place of work of hers was so small and compact, of one floor café dimensions, that at first Tina wondered whether she would stick it, and when fifty or more people packed in at mid-day and evening meals, it was a noisy claustrophobic hustle and bustle that could overwhelm one. But she had got through that first week and from there on, notwithstanding the frequent babble of movement and noise all about, her spot at the tiny cashier’s nook became a little island of peace for her, a shelter from life’s disappointments. It was not an unduly taxing job, just one that took up time she had precious little use for, and it provided an income supplementing the interest on her tidy sum of savings, which helped secure her private life in a middle-class apartment on the beautifully sited island location of Ma Wan. Her home was the only life she had to speak of, giving her the treasure of quiet and secluded anonymity, a sea view from both living room and bedroom, and on good days, fresh bracing air that was so much cleaner than the bad spells of atmospheric pollution that struck Hong Kong from mainland China and which aggravated the already poor air quality of urban areas like this workplace of hers, Mong Kok.
    Only two waitresses were serving in this quiet afternoon spell, whilst two others were occupying the empty and least popular table booth at the back of the restaurant, next to the kitchen doors. The latter pair was slowly preparing table dressings in this desultory quiet time - napkins, cruet sets, toothpick containers, etc., in readiness for the heavy evening custom. Tina quickly exchanged “Lei Ho”s (“how are you?”), with them all. Mei Ling, the morning cashier, was all smiles with her relief arriving a good ten minutes early as was Tina’s better than punctual way, for Tina could not wait to get to work and please Paul.
    “Is Paul here?” Tina asked matter-of-factly, her tone consciously disguising an interest deeper than she’d have others suspect.

.....

Published by Turner Maxwell Books

First published 2008.
Copyright © Michael A. Ashton 2008

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in a retrieval system in any form or by any means without permission in writing by Turner Maxwell Books.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which this is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

The purchase of this book is a private sale between the reader and the publisher; at no stage will indemnity be claimed against the publisher. The moral right of the author has been asserted.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental and may be more the work of your own imagination. Why not write a book yourself? Turner Maxwell Books are an alternative co-operative of new writers, working towards publishing inspirational literature.

Printed and bound in the United Kingdom for Turner Maxwell Books.