The twittering of the birds

We have our first lesson while we're in Yangshuo. We are hanging out with Bill and some friends of his from his small tour group.

They've all had lessons provided to them by a local Chinese guy on-board a Yangtze river boat.

(The poor instructor was apparently so inundated with questions, queries and concerns from the bunch of mah jong-illiterate westerners that he broke out in a cold sweat and had to keep mopping at his brow. After two hours, play had to cease, as the toll taken on everyone was too great to continue.)

Sitting there in a West St cafe, we decide to play. Bill, Sarah and Dave will teach me (and refresh Andrew's memory).

First item of business is the shuffling of tiles. The chunky plastic rectangles clack lightly against one another.

'That's known as the twittering of the birds,' Bill announces, deadpan.

'It's NOT!' I say.

"Yes, it definitely is,' he replies.

How he knows this stuff, I can't say. But it reminds me why I like him so.