Dear Reader, there are currently two books in my bag. The two books are very different but I am enjoying both of them very much. The first one is ‘The Tears of the Giraffe’ by Alexander McCall Smith and the second is ‘Nightingale Wood’ by Stella Gibbons. I read them whimsically, one chapter of one book followed by a chapter of the other, so that in the course of one day I am traveling to both the dry scrubland of Botswana dotted with the occasional thorn tree and also to a dark leafy copse in the English countryside, where nightingales sing and the stars shine brightly in the night sky.

More later about these treasures… but for now let me leave you with these excerpts.

Contemplations of Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors regarding the behaviour of his two young apprentices- “The problem, of course, was that they were barely nineteen. At this age, all young men are immortal and imagine that they will live forever. They’ll find out, thought Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni grimly. They’ll discover that they’re just like the rest of us…”- Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith.

Mr. Wither to his younger daughter Tina- ” Miles better? How can you feel miles better? ” loudly demanded Mr. Wither, putting down the Morning Post and staring severely at his younger daughter. “A mile is a measure of length. It cannot be used to describe a condition of the human body. You can be much better, or considerably better, or noticeably better. You cannot be miles better, because such a thing is impossible.”- Nightingale Wood by Stella Gibbons.