When people are very immersed in their subject, sometimes the humour of it escapes them. Here’s an email I got on a mailing list that I belong to:

Dear xxx

Thanks The cat was spotted on a garden plant of Mussanda at the rest house in Miao,Arunachal Pradesh

The “cat” in question is actually a caterpillar…but the mention of a cat from a place called Miao set me laughing when the mail was quite a serious one! :)))

I never knew that there WAS a place called Miao…I can just imagine myself going to the travel agent, and him saying, “Where do you want to go?” and I reply “Miao”, and he says, “When you finish your animal impersonations, will you tell me where you want to go?”….