Oh joy! Tian Tian and Yuang Guang are here! Of course, they are Edinburgh Zoo's pair of giant pandas, just arrived on 'loan' from China. Why the punctuation, you wonder? Well, 'loan' isn't exactly the word that seems appropriate to me, unless it makes you think of the phrase 'loan shark'. When you lend something to your friend, do you charge for the privilege? I thought not. Edinburgh is paying £636,000 per year for ten years for the 'loan' of the pandas. I'd suggest 'rent' is a better word.
Meanwhile, Big Eck is in China, thanking them for the 'gift' of the pandas. With Christmas fast approaching, that's given me an idea. "There you go son, Happy Xmas. Now, that'll be £50 please." Can't hang around. I'm off to the late night store for lots of Xmas 'gifts'. This time next year, Rodney, we'll be millionaires.
