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Hello All,

Last week was boring at work. So boring that I had to engage in some work unrelated activities. I won't mention them here. Who knows who might be reading. So on Thursday I was armed to the teeth preparing for another dose of boredom, (don't get me wrong, I had work to do but nothing challenging for the week, just regular updates and stuff I could do in my sleep).

A single phone call I was very tempted not to pick saved me. I was nominated to attend a conference. Yay! The conference was wonderful, highly motivating and oh so interesting. Plenty movers and shakers of the profession, networking opportunities, fabulous food and an outlet to showcase the pencil skirts, shift dresses and heels! Two whole days of fantastic fun (read combining work with great opportunities).

Reconnected with classmates, made new contacts, a renewed vigour and passion to reach my goals and what do you get? A very motivated individual.

In my usual internet prowls, discovered ASOS now delivers to Nigeria at no extra cost! Yup you read that right. Now you can cut those extra delivery costs. The best part is that you use your regular ATM card. The website says its for a limited time only sha. But until then, the bliss of direct delivery!

On to other things, I have two scenarios that I need your views on, how soon is too soon to visit a friend that just got married?

Second one is, I recently discovered a friend's husband is cheating, married less than two years, in my mind, I don't think its my place to tell her, I have in fact resolved not to. Nevertheless its very painful to watch. I see the love rat every other day with his paramour. He is yet to catch me sha and I know its only a matter of time. What would you do?

Its Monday, payday today, Yay! I like this time of the month I can't lie. Have a blissful week people.

Oleku!

Y'all know the song in my title, the only word for my weekend is that. For the uninitiated, google 'Iceprince' go on, google is your friend and no one is looking :D

Omotee's wedding was funtastic! I mean that literally! I left Lagos at 6.00am having previously arranged with my cousin to meet up so he could drive. We picked up my brother on the way and what did we have? Yes, a 6 hr road trip! I lurve those. Been of the same mind and genes, we love long drives (read traffic-free smooth express ways) and stopping to buy any and everything that catches our fancy! I so blame our Grandfather for this (story for another day).

So there were the usual bottle-necks along the road. The former second toll-gate that has degenerated to a trailer park, the Moniya-Ojoo and Iwo road traffic in Ibadan. But past all these, it was smooth sailing. Even the hair raising over taking of massive trucks and trailers on the single carriage way from Oyo-Ogbomosho didn't lessen the fun.

On a side note, people cushioned by ignorance and false safety that live mostly in affluent areas in Nigeria and argue fervently that Nigeria is not a 'third world country' or in the throes of abject poverty should take a trip outside their comfort zone and see how the other parts of the country really are.

Back to the gist, got to Ilorin and and went straight to my family friend's house. We were all attending the wedding, parents inclusive. Omotee was radiant and very excited and I was moved to sniffles when I went to say goodbye. There was also a very emotional part during the thank you address (I hate the phrase 'vote of thanks' thingy!) delivered by the Groom, it was so touching, we were wiping our faces, the Groom's father, the Bride and of course the Groom! At that point, if ever there was a shadow of doubt in me (there never was) that my friend was in good hands, it simply vamoosed.

The journey back was even more interesting we practically floored the accelerator, I have pictures! It was pure undiluted madness! Frequent stops along the way to take pictures on the road side was even more fun than I thought. We had mini-hiccups on the way but that is one trip that was well worth the effort. There is one more wedding to go on Saturday and that will conclude the back-to-back wedding attendance series of mine that started in June. I want my solo weekends back!

On a very unrelated note; I found myself attending this all-important meeting yesterday, as the parties were having their intense discussion, I had this evil thought of breaking wind, not the silent odious one that stinks like a sewer but the very loud butt cracking type that stops conversations and stinks like a sewer! The type that got people labelled with horrible nicknames throughout primary school. In my head it was all so funny, I had to hold my breath rigidly to keep from acting out my ridiculous fantasy. I wonder what the client would have done and the counter-parties. It's all just so funny to me.

Back to reality, I have unrelenting incessant headaches torturing my working hours! I think its the glare of the computer, I spend too many hours in this chair staring at the screen and my social after-work-hours life is in shambles. In total rebellion, I am blogging at work and dedicating the next consecutive hours to Marian Keyes. Hopefully the powers that be will not need my input on anything for the rest of the day (solemn prayer).

Until next time, Enjoy the rest of the week!

Hello... Goodbye

I don not feel exactly bad that it has been eons since I last put up a post. It used to bug me in the early days, but I have since let go of that guilt! Not to say I haven't missed all you wonderful people, I have but events in my life have overtaken the need to blog.

My wonderful beautiful friend Omotee is tying the knot in a few weeks! Need I say that I am ready to rock that party! I am so glad and happy for her. She deserves all these good things. Some of us know her journey to finding love and to be here when it has happened is just amazing!

My last post highlighted my jobless status. I accepted an offer two months after that. I can't say I love my job but there is a satisfaction in having a place to go in the morning and receiving that bank alert at the end of the month that your salary has been paid :D

The job is stressful walahi! I leave home everyday at 6.30am. Get to work 7.30-7.45, on hellish days at past eight! Blame VI traffic. Utterly annoying. Then I close anytime between 8 and 9pm! I swear I have seen red. There were days I would be on my way out, actually driving home when the dreaded call would come that I should come back because there is an urgent mail yet to be sent or replied! Some of my colleagues sleep over on occasion. I have said I wouldn't complain about the job so I will stop here before I have a full rant!

On a personal note, I am in a very happy place, not to say I don't have my low moments buy hey that's just life. I am good and making the best of what I have.
I have missed this space. I hope I will have the urge to blog again soon. This was totally spontaneous! I laugh at my colleagues when all they want to do is blog, well been there, done that.

I have weddings from next weekend till the end of July! Talk about Gbese and stress. My weekends have been over-crowded of late and I know there is no rest until the very last weekend in July if nothing comes up. I am so looking forward to a weekend that will be spent doing nothing but staying in bed. I am so going to plan it. I will load up on fruits, juice, maybe a bottle of vodka and some cheese and crackers! I will not drive and will definitely switch off my phones. I hope I can achieve this solo weekend thing.

Forgive the lack of structure, I think I will adopt it as my new style. Have a blissful week everyone.

XOXO

The grass isn't always greener

Thank you all for your comments on my last post.
I was in Ghana over the weekend for a wedding. I was very excited about that trip because I am jobless, single and love to travel :D.
So, we took off early landed in Accra and headed to our destination. Forget all the Nigerian Banks advert about their 'Visa' cards and 'Mastercard' working everywhere! Shame really. Thank God I had Naira and Dollar back up. It would have been a major disaster. And Airtel does not work! All that story about wider coverage and One network across Africa is hogwash. Apparently, you have to set up the roaming service before you leave your country.

The wedding itself was very simple and lovely. The bride's mother puts the crown on her daughter's head. There is no traditional ceremony. It was we the Nigerians that had the gele etc. Everyone else was simply dressed, we stuck out like a sore thumb! But it was fun.

We managed some shopping, plenty in fact, cosmetics is much cheaper. Went clubbing on Saturday night, not the nest night to do that as the club night is Friday but it was ok. We went to about 4 before landing at Aphrodisiac. No cameras allowed. I love the decor, spacious dance floors, beautiful pin dot lights and we saw Majid Michel.
There is a club called Papazz where the decor is all about Moet & Chandon.

My friend and I call Ghana, 'Booty Central'. There is booty everywhere and they show it, as in. Tight short gowns with slits everywhere! I say that literally.

I say the grass isn't greener because I hear a lot of complaint about Lagos traffic etc. Forget it. Traffic in Ghana is also bad, this is my second trip. Almost missed my return flight because of it. Every city has traffic, lots of it, just go out at rush hour!

Have a nice week.

Honestly

I believe half of the problems in world would be solved if only people respected other people's beliefs.

I am a Muslim and I love practising my religion. If I had a penny for everytime people tell me 'but you don't look like a Muslim' I would be very rich by now. Which gets me wondering what exactly Muslims look like.

I have had people ask me why I am a Muslim! I have absolutely nothing against other religions. I think it's interesting the different forms of faith and communication with a Supreme Being.

My Grandma is an Anglican and her parents were too but she married a Muslim and she still remains an Anglican. To my knowledge my Grandpa never had a problem with it till his dying day. I guess I understand why when some ladies get married, they take up their husband's religion.

I understand that for unity and the children's sake, it is better to have a common religion but what I don't like is the expectation from people that because you married outside your religion, you must adopt your husband's religion even when you don't believe in it.

I know it would be difficult for me to change my religion for someone, very hard indeed. All my boyfriends have been Christians and I don't have any problems with it. I fell in love with the person not his faith. My family don't have issues either as happiness and compatibility is what matters.

I have had people inviting me to church over and over again but when I deign to ask them to come for an Islamic program, they act like you just hit them with something foul! I also remember a fasting period when a former colleague asked me why I was observing the fast and I responded that it was part of my religion and also good for the body, she looked at me with disdain and did that thing with the nose.

I have nothing against other religions and I respect other people's faith but I am not going to accept anyone speaking/acting towards me as if I were not a person simply because we don't practice the same faith. If we all treated others the way we would like to be treated, there would be peaceful co-existence.

I have this friend who was brought up a Muslim, both parents have performed the Hajj but she changed her religion and no one said anything. Her parents never hassled her, they respected her faith and the fact that she has one.

You certainly don't have to like/understand/believe in the tenets of other people's religion but respect it. If I have one more person preaching to me to convert, I might start screaming and never stop. Your religion won't take you to heaven (if you believe it exists) but it is your action and deeds that will determine whether you get to the pearly gates. Live and let live.

Idle hands

Forgive the randomness.
I am currently looking for a job (with a torch light I might add!) So I have a lot of time on my hands. I read a lot of things but lately, I noticed that a lot of people have different names for copulation. The interesting ones I have found include:

Playing the pokey table
Laying the Pipe and eating the Goodie box (Sounds icky)
Settling in the lady caves ( This is not funny stricto sensu but I can't stop laughing)

On to other things, I remember a time when make up regime consisted of dusting powder on the hands, rub said hands together and wipe over the face until well blended. I say this because I had to get ready for a party recently and I had 25 mins to take a shower get my face on and be ready!

I wondered how I was going to get it done within the time but I did. I went back to the old routine. Of course the finishing touches were done in the car. Which brought to fore the necessity of wearing make-up at all. Women Palava

I have been wondering lately, can men and women 'just be friends' without any strings? I have tried for years to reach a medium and even argued fervently in times past that it is possible but I can't help but conclude that it is very RARE. One party always want something more. In cases where they don't, if an opportunity ever presents itself, one party will try to take advantage of the other. Can anyone prove otherwise? I have had to prune down my friends list because of this. I can't give what I do not have.

Is anyone excited over Christmas? I am not and I just want the season to be over. The anxieties over the festivities is too much and the evil boys/girls are out en masse all because they want to have money for Christmas. Too many snatched cars, people getting killed etc it is just too close for comfort and I go out now ONLY if it is absolutely necessary. I don't even do the casual 'meet up for drinks' anymore. I sorely miss that.

I pray 2011 brings more good tidings. By the way, my graduation went very well. I had a great time with my parents and I left just a day before the snow started! That was coup for me. :D Have a great week people

This country of mine!

Hope everyone is doing great. My internet or my computer has been misbehaving, I could read post but was unable to leave comments. I discovered it was my computer, I have deleted all my cookies but yet to check the result, I am back on my old lappy.

I went to Cotonou last Saturday. Nigerian immigration officials are some of the most corrupt people ever! I was watching this freaking eejit demand for 9k to stamp our 'virgin' passports! Our crime? We wanted to do the right thing by stamping when we could have walked past the border gates simply or taken the car and paid 500naira! We wanted to take car. The virgin part was that we had never taken that route!

We were so miffed, I was dangerously quiet and my sister let it rip! They were so galled they went the 'we are not your mate route' and can you speak to your husband like that? My sister God bless that girl, promptly replied that if they had treated her like their daughter, she would have spoken to them like her father! EOD (End of Discussion) We finally got out of there, parked our car and hired a vehicle to take us there. We went through Ogun state, the state of our borders is laughable!

We left home at 5.30 in the morning, our drive to Otta-Idiroko-Igolo was pleasurable until we met those froggy looking immigration men. It is such a shame. They had this ridiculous pot bellies and I was very ashamed to share citizenship with these people.

The trip was fun and the journey back was terrible. Traffic on that Otta road was appalling! We got to the border at 4.30 and from Otta to the toll gate we spent 4hrs! Gbenga Daniel or whoever takes over from him needs to do something. We got back to my sister's house. Her husband drove, I was so tired, I was tempted to crash in their house! But I had to drive back home, Thank God I got home safely, my Dad waited up as usual. That is a road trip we will not be repeating in a while.

Next week is my graduation. Should be fun. So I ordered new boots for myself and Mumsie from ebay only to have my account blocked! I accessed my account from Nigeria! I was so miffed. After about 6hrs on their help line verifying my account etc I got the issue resolved. Nigeria needs a miracle seriously!

I will miss Sallah second time in a row. Not happy about it but grad preps have been in the works for ages. It's a shame they coincided. The funny thing is my parents are coming too and they will miss Sallah for the first time ever! The running joke in the house is that they should call all their regular guests that they won't be coming this year. I can imagine the number of people that throng our house in Ibadan for the festivities, the disappointment chei!

I wish NLC had not called off the strike. I want to see what the current President can do :D. Have a great weekend everyone.