Our guide to the ruins of the impressive old Kingdom of Polonnaruwa had already demonstrated how quick the monkeys were to spot the possibility of a quick steal.

As we visited palaces, hospitals, and temples that had been discovered in what had once been impenetrable forest, we were quite amazed - as anyone has to be when looking at structures and societies that had been built all over the world during times when cranes, planes and mechanical automation were not even a pipe dream.

At the Buddhist temples, as required, we took took off our shoes and hats before entering. Sometimes we had to go bare foot over burning rock and sand and on a couple of blessed occasions the relief of some cool dark interiors.

As I exited from one of the latter I was informed by my family that a monkey had stolen my shoe. Oh dear. But, hey I like going bare foot as you know. And anyway, it didn’t take more than a few seconds to remember that I had another pair with me on the trip, so no great harm done. It was just a shoe. My wife, far more practical than me, later told me that her first reaction was a plan to lure the monkey down, with food and try to do a swap deal.

Anyway…none of this turned out to be necessary. Our guide laughed delightedly as he revealed my shoe in his possession. It had indeed very much been monkey business - but only of the practical joke variety.

LOL, as they say.