Laszlo, what are you doing?

Just got to the bit in ‘They Were Counted’ where you want to reach into the pages and strangle Laszlo. I won’t say why as I don’t want to spoil it. But — WHY, Laszlo, WHY?

Ikats

I bought an ikat-style silk scarf exactly like this one in Khiva in Uzbekistan for I think $12. In a moment of idle browsing I discovered it on the interweb for $32.99, which is good for a silk scarf, but it really makes me wish I’d filled an entire suitcase with the beautiful things… Ikats

Count Banffy himself

Amazon has both the new and the old Arcadia prints, although it seems a little confused about who wrote the book. The new version is apparently by Banffy (author) and Miklos (author). See here. Ha! I made a link. I wasn’t sure if I could do that. While I’m at it, I found the picture

Balint Abady’s number one fan

While I was doing my M.A. I had reading lists as long as my arm and leg put together, and didn’t have any time for pleasure-reading. That’s not to say I didn’t read for pleasure, but when I did I did it fast and guiltily, like somebody’s husband in a knocking-shop. Now I’ve finished I

Bukhara

Five things I learned in Uzbekistan

The photo used in the header was taken by me in Uzbekistan (more precisely, Tashkent), where I was at the time, but where I no longer am because I’m back in London. Five things I learned: 1) holidays are often too short 2) young Englishmen with big Jesus-beards and artistically arranged keffiyehs – the sort