Around the home, the wind and the birds whistle. Sunbeams, filtered by trees, limbo across the lacquered wooden floor.

Some nights, danger lurks. Bandits. Gunshots in the wee hours of the morning. A thief sneaks into a neighbour’s home.

Despite the fears, mother and daughter create a haven.

The mother is wise, kind to one and all. Yet she shoots words so sharp, she quells the petty thief and his foul-mouthed girlfriend into submission. The daughter wallows in self-deprecation. The two engage in power struggles over pepper-sauce, wild flowers, the killing of a fly and other such drama.

Through the keen observations of these two, and their interaction with others, the culture of the well-to-do and poor is revealed. Nature takes on a personality of its own, is discussed like beloved (and some mad) relatives.

The book, a collection of conversations, stories, quips and musings, highlights hope, grief, beauty and humour in a 3rd world setting. It is, in essence, an irrepressible celebration of home.