Life is Not a Dress Rehearsal

I was tidying up today and I came across a bunch of old pictures I had kept aside to be organised later. These pictures dated back to when my first son was born - over a decade ago

Needless to say, I got distracted and I started going through all the pictures - Before I knew it, I was weeping silently.

I wept because I realised one thing - IT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN EASY..... BUT IT HAS BEEN.

Let me explain....:

There have been times when the kids have needed something and we have not been sure if we would be able to deliver. Such challenges could have distracted us from doing the right thing. However, by the grace of God, with good health and hard work, we delivered. It was not easy.....but it came to be.

There have been times when there have been so many commitments. Such challenges could have distracted one from the dreams one had for our home. However, with perseverance and God's blessings, we have delivered. It was not easy but it came to be

There have been times when ill-health have shaken the foundation we sought to build..We felt besieged and afraid as were almost distracted from our personal and professional dreams. However, with prayers and support from close ones, we recovered. It was not easy but it came to be

How easy is it to throw your hands up in the air and give up on life, friends, family and dreams? So easy....but we don't because we have hope that things will get better. The irony of life is that even when we are at death's door...we are still works in progress....still seeking perfection. WE ALL HANG ON TO HOPE !

Yes, as I looked at my kid's old pictures, I shed tears because it would have been so easy to have overlooked key milestones and said 'It doesn't matter'. However, when I look back, I now see that every struggle, sacrifice and effort was worth it. How can I tell?.............because I cannot go back in time and change anything.


One quote that I love is Rose Tremain's "Life is not a dress rehearsal." Whatever is worth doing - is worth doing well.

The video below is one of my all time favourites - 'REM's 'Everybody Hurts'. If you are hurting right now, please hang on. If someone you know is hurting...please help them hang on.....Hang on to life and hope !

Have a blessed week
xoxoxoxoxo

In My Bag

Sis Yemmie  tagged me in a bag meme. This involves taking a picture of my bag and all its contents.

This woman sef. I just thank my lucky stars that I have a designer bag or I would have died from shame. LOL

Anyway, here is a picture of my bag and all its valuable contents:

As you can see, this designer bag is a 'Buzz Lightyear' bag from the film 'Toy Story  3'

The contents:

(1) Disposable Spoon and Fork

(2) Drinking Straw

(3) Bottle Opener

(4) Serviette

(5) Toothpick

These items are in my bag because I like food and I aim to be always prepared - just in case I 'jam' free food.

LOL....Just kidding guys, That's my son's school lunch bag !

Here is a pic of my real bag:

The contents:

(Left to Right)

- Large Notebook: I use this for work-related stuff i.e. jotting down tasks, key info at work. I know a lot of people like using Windows Outlook to record tasks but I'm not a fan - because I like writing a daily list of work tasks and then smugly striking off whatever I've done. I also dont like the constant reminders you get from Outlook. It can be distracting when you are in the middle of something else.

- Smaller Notebook: I use this for personal notes i.e. ideas for research, this blog or poetry drafts

- Sunglasses:  As soon as I see a single ray of sunshine I put them on. LOL. Na one life oh....you have to rock that swagga.....any way, any day !

- Wallet: Loads of stuff in here...Old reciepts, Bank cards, Store cards ....little cash

- Novel: Adam Hochschild's 'King Leopold's Ghost' is about the exploitation of the Congo Free State between 1885 - 1908. It explores the atrocities committed by European colonial rulers in Africa. It is not an easy read at all. However, I am a firm believer in knowing more about the past because it often affects the present. As Bob Marley sang in Buffalo Soldier:

         ''If you know your history,
          Then you would know where you coming from,
          Then you wouldn't have to ask me,
          Who the 'eck do I think I am'' 

- Hand Cream 

- Hand Sanitizer:  This is an atiseptic alcohol rub - that I use when I am out and about in town. Particularly if I've been on public transport/ have used public bathrooms

- Red USB: For work stuff

- Black USB: For Personal Stuff

-  Pens 

- Pocket Tissues

- Packs of Dried Mango and Plaintain Chips:  I always have some nibbles in my bag because I often dont have time for breakfast and I want to avoid buying junk

- Bottle of Water:  I try to have some water on me because you can never tell when you will be stuck on a train mid-journey

- Phone 

- Keys 

- Comb 

- Oyster Card:  For travelling around London

- Trident Chewing Gum: For freshening my breath

- Make up Bag 

- Umbrella: In the UK, rain is never far away

Well, I dont know what my bag says about me. What do you think??

I'm now tagging the following people:

Ibhade
Ope Adebayo
Lady Ngo

Angel's Beauty
Enybee

Doyin

Kitkat

Ms Buki

Ginger

Prism

PET

9ja Foodie

Mimi B

Pretty Lashes

Nenyewa

Chizzy K 
Chizzy D

Tamuno

Vyvyka

Blessing

Unveiling Gold

If I failed to tag you please forgive me......However, do let me know what you think my bag says about me !

Have a fab weekend

xoxoxooxoxox

Celebrating Food

When I was growing up, I hated cooking because it was sooo tedious.

Every time I was told the cook, I knew that the whole process would be bogged down by unnecessary stress. Either one had to contend with erratic power supply (meaning blending cooking ingredients by hand) OR one had to deal with scarcity of cooking gas (meaning one had to use the kerosene stove) OR one had to go through the laborious process of boiling meat, chopping vegetables, washing beans, peeling yam, chopping vicious onions, chopping hot pepper (ata rodo) while trying to avoid the Major General (my mum) who was quick to point out any culinary mistakes.

Woe betide you if my mum was cooking and you were somewhere else ..mmm...Who born monkey ! She was constantly reminding me that I had to learn how to cook OR ELSE...........LOL

Needless to say, I avoided cooking whenever I could. I was relieved when I left for university as this meant that chore was now done with. However, after graduating from uni, moving to Lagos and living alone in my own little flat; I began to appreciate cooking as a skill. Maybe this was because it was done on my own terms and at my own pace. I could cook whatever I liked, whenever I felt like and however I felt like doing so. I then began to realise that being able to cook not only saved you money, it also meant you were in control of the quality of what went into your mouth - and body. It also meant that you could bring people together.

Food has a special significance for me. If a friend is celebrating, mourning, happy, sad, excited, overwhelmed......my first instinct is to make something nice and take it round to them. Food brings people together. Indeed, a clear sign that a stranger has been accepted is when his/her neighbours invite him/her round for a meal. Again, a giving person is more likely to share a meal with you or even share a recipe with you.

 I now love cooking and despite our differences, I always give kudos to my mum for teaching us how to cook. Not only cook ...but cook well. Since I started blogging, I have come across several fantastic food bloggers - all on my blogroll.

However, one in particular has impressed me - with her attention to detail, consistency, presentation skills and passion for food. Indeed, she has motivated me to start trying new recipes. For example, her Puff Puff recipe was given to me upon request and I have to say it was so easy to follow. Same with her Moi Moi  recipe.

This post is dedicated to 9ja Foodie - a blogger who consistently delivers. What is even more amazing about her is that she has proper recipes - as in measurements and stuff. Haba! I HAIL YOU OH!!!!

Here are a couple of meals I've prepared over the past few months...Enjoy...........:

FRIED RICE AND ASSORTED MEAT STEW

MEATPIE - NAIJA STYLE

DODO (FRIED PLANTAIN), BLACK EYE BEANS AND FLAKED FISH SALSA

DODO, ROAST PARSNIPS, ROAST CHICKEN, JOLLOF RICE, ROAST DUCK, MEATPIE,
AND ASSORTED MEAT STEW

SEAFOOD STIRFRY, SALMON WITH SOY SAUCE, RICE AND DODO

MOI MOI IN PLANTAIN LEAF - 9JA FOODIE RECIPE

LEMON DRIZZLE CAKE

MOIST CHOCOLATE SPONGE CAKE

SLICES OF CHOCOLATE AND LEMON DRIZZLE CAKE WITH CUSTARD 

HOT PEPPER SAUCE WITH GOAT MEAT AND DODO

TILAPIA FISH WITH EFO RIRO AND STEWED BEEF

JOLLOF RICE, BAKED CHICKEN AND MIXED SALAD

POUNDED YAM AND BANGA SOUP

HOME MADE BEEF BURGER, OVEN BAKED CHIPS AND KETCHUP

RICE WITH HOT PEPPER STEW, ASSORTED MEAT AND DODO

PUFF PUFF - 9JA FOODIE RECIPE

MIXED SEAFOOD, NOODLES AND OYSTER SAUCE STIRFRY

RICE WRAPPED IN PLANTAIN LEAF WITH OXTAIL STEW AND DODO

SPINACH STEW WITH PRAWNS, COLEY FISH AND POMO

PS- I meant to take more pictures but sometimes I was too hungry to get the camera LOL

Women Who Know Their Place

Apologies for my long absence .....again !  Thanks to the luvvlies who asked after me - especially Prism and Gbemi. I really appreciate this......(If I ommitted your name, I owe you lunch *smile) !

To get things started, here's an old joke I heard again today:


Women who Know Their Place:

Barbara Walters, of 20/20, did a story on gender roles in Kabul, Afghanistan , several years before the Afghan conflict.

She noted that women customarily walked five paces behind their husbands.

She recently returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk behind their husbands. Despite the overthrow of the oppressive Taliban regime, the women now seem happy to maintain the old custom.

Ms Walters approached one of the Afghani women and asked, 'Why do you now seem happy with an old custom that you once tried so desperately to change?'

The woman looked Ms Walters straight in the eyes, and without hesitation said, “LAND MINES !”


LOL. I'll be back soon..... Do have a good week xoxoxoxox

Subtle Racism

It's no news that Donald Trump has questioned Obama's birth

To me, this is just an example of 'subtle racism'...Not the type that shouts out 'NIG*ER' at a passing black man, but the type that........................:

- Questions a black man's right to move into an all-white neighbourhood
- Writes petitions as soon as a black man is appointed to a senior position
- Funds private investigators to find evidence - any - of inappropriate dealings as soon as a black business man becomes successful
- Incites resistance and disobedience - among fellow workers - as soon as a black man becomes a manager in the workplace
- Smiles at the school gates but warns their children to avoid yours
- Moves to another church as soon as a black family starts attending the same church.........................

Yes indeed, make no mistake - This is racism.

Trump questioned Obama's birthplace - now he questions his school grades. I wonder why he doesn't just come out and say 'I do not think a black man is fit to be president.'  ? At least, we would all know exactly where he stands.

If Trump the Chump was not such a pathetic figure, I would be sad. However, I find him - along with most racists - comical !

Whenever my sons have told me about a racist comment/ encounter; I have always told them that the best way to overcome such comments is to do better than the racists. The best way to silence your critics is to outperform them. Score higher, Be smarter, Be more confident......Be Strong !

Obama is a living example of this.

Please watch his response to Trump:

or  if you cant access the video, click HERE !

Classic ! Never get mad - get EVEN
 xoxoxoxoxo


PS - Obama confirmed today (2nd May 2011) that Osama bin Laden has been 'kaputed' by US Navy Seals. I wonder what Trump has to say about that.....mmmm !