Reading Amitava Ghosh

Just took up River of Smoke - Amitava Ghosh's newest book. He's got cooking, he's got gardens and a sort of horticultural whudunnit plus a made up language! what more could one ask for !? ANd I forgot, if that were not enough there's painting too!
Made me go and check out the Opium wars in China and also birds nest trade in Nicobar Islands
He's trying to make a point of course on where free trade takes us Check out his site here
River of Smoke

Also worth looking at is his Celestial Chrestomathy

Starting Up

So here I am!

Have a great bouquet of lilies on my table, wish the ones in the pots on the terrace would look as good! Been a desultory summer. Hardly any additions to the plants,weather's been chancy. Bounty from a friend's garden - converted to pickles and chutneys

Leaving you with an image of part of the bouquet of lilies