After she took her retirement she decided that she would become a voluntary teacher in India.
She brings to the page her experiences as a volunteer teacher in parts of rural India and also on the streets of Kolkata.
She takes her readers on an amazing journey from a small shop in the town of Jaisalmer in the desert region of north-west India, and where the shopkeeper gave her a philosophical fillip and a new take on the rest of her life. And, incidentally, inspired the title of the book.
She learned why there are so many vegetarian restaurants in Kerela, was moved by the plight of the disabled beggars who live in the shadow of the Taj Mahal, marvelled at the chaos that is rush hour in big Indian cities, visited poor people in not only the cities and towns but also the rural areas, too.
She learned that even the poor were more than willing to work, turning their hands to anything they could do, selling trinkets, postcards or cleaning shoes.
She also noted that amidst the great poverty there also exists great wealth, too, hovels where the poor lived and opulent palatial accommodations for the wealthy and the very rich.
And she met children who were eager to learn to improve themselves.
The book is well-written an illustrated with line drawn maps and some extremely good colour photographs.
It's a wonderful book which I can highly recommend.
It's published by Matador at £12.00.
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