HX Report
Irishman in the Middle East
Photo 28/30: Procrastination
The Idea
Have decided to post a photo per day for 30 days, each based on a word or theme. Feel free to offer a word or theme challenge to MB in the comment box below.
Photo 28/30
Thanks to MK for the nasty ‘procrastination’ challenge. MB had to think about it for a few moments but then thought of the story of the Indian lady he witnessed one night trying to buy some jewelry at the Global Village souk in Dubai.
MB called out to visit his Yemeni jewelry maker friends at the market and was sitting amongst them sipping some tea they had acquired for their Irish friend MB. Just then an Indian lady happened by and began to haggle for a particular piece she fancied.
And what a haggler she was. She had every trick in the book, and many that were not. Seemed like she invented the word ‘procrastination’ as she played out her act over 30 or more minutes. The Yemeni trader was beaten down to a price that would give him a return of peanuts. But still she kept up the act. Pretending to leave, then returning. Asking her husband ridiculous questions about the price to which he replied to her liking every time. A real Mutt & Jeff act. Finally, when it seemed she must buy the piece, she announced that she could not afford such a highly priced item and departed. If MB was the trader, MB might have been highly tempted to strangle the woman with one of the nearby necklaces. But the trader smiled calmly and wished her well, familiar as he was with such buyers.
MB does not know the final outcome. Maybe she returned later to continue the battle. Maybe next day. Or maybe not at all.
MB focused on the hands of the lady with his camera lens, as she handled some jewelry and continued to machine gun MBs trader friend with her vociferous demands.
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