The two women exchanged phone numbers and promised to do lunch. In Sharon's world, a promise to do lunch was not to be taken lightly and after a lengthy phone conversation Sunday evening, she decided that Monday would be a good day to have lunch with their new found friends.

The mark of the artisan is found upon the most ancient fabrics that have come to light.

Sandbanks, marshes, forests, savages, - precious little to eat fit for a civilised man, nothing but Thames water to drink.

Hibiscus Tower was located in the northwestern corner of the present-day city of Chen-chiang on the south bank of the Yangtze. Near Chen-chiang is the Grand Canal, which then as now ran northward and, during the T’ang, formed a vital link between the Yangtze in the south and the Yellow River in the north.