Dreaming in the Dust

July and August are the driest and dustiest of the rain free, sunny winter months here on the Highveld of the southernmost tip of Africa. Amidst all the greys and browns that now dominate the rather drab and sleepy scenery around here, I was visited by my dear friend Marise who now lives in Mumbai. She shared many stories from her life in India and with them, she brought the promise of colour. The yellows of saffron, canaries and ochre, the reds of sumac, pink peppercorns and pomegranates, the blues of indigo and of peacocks, the greens of limes, Darjeeling tea plantations and cardamom. Perfect to get me through the last few parched weeks of winter until the first spring rains transform everything into lush emerald. So until then I'll just be here dreaming...