I Love Mathematics

Long time... yeah. I don't post as much here anymore, I promise to change. 

Today, I want to take our minds all of the chaos and take you down memory lane. Growing up, one of my biggest fears was being an olodo. In my primary school, I was an average student. I wouldn't come last or even last 5 but I certainly wasn't among the top 3 either. I was just cruising in the middle and I was fine until I approached primary 5. I became legit scared! Scared I would flunk my common entrance and be a school dropout because no school would accept me. I knew my dad, he wouldn't beg no Principal to accept me. I was terrified of not being able to go to the then prestigious Federal Gov't colleges! I walked to my dad in primary 5 and told him I wanted to have a private lesson teacher. He was surprised yet proud.

I remember the teacher I selected, Aunty Ere... beautiful fair lady. She would come 3 times a week after school to our house to teach me. At the end of that term for the 1st time ever, I came 4th in class. I was excited. I felt more confident. Aunty Ere taught me about burning the midnight candle. My dad was my middle of the night teacher. I literally woke up at night to study for common entrance. 🤣🤣🤣 The joy when I passed with flying colours.. I legit ran from my school to the house to share the news to my dad and mum! Aptitude test was a walk over too and yeah, to my utmost joy my name was out on the merit list (first list) for admission into Federal Government Girl's college Imiringi.

 I realised in the midst of all of that, I found the secret to mathematics!!!! Thanks to Uncle Peter, he said then and I quote.. mathematics is the simplest subject in the world. I was inspired by those words to find out and I did... 

I stepped into FGGC Imiringi and literally was a mathematician from day 1 till I left. My love for mathematics grew each day. I got bored when the teacher won't just move to the next topic. I barely read for any Mathematics exam. Instead, I taught my mates. That was when my passion for teaching was borne. I enjoyed seeing the excitement when they understood any little thing. Bagged 3 awards at the end of my stay in FGGC Imiringi- Best in mathematics, Best in Economics and Most versatile Senior student. This same love for Mathematics was the reason I decided to study Petroleum Engineering Bsc. As for my Msc, I'm not very sure why I chose Petroleum Engineering again but that's water under bridge now. Done and dusted😊. What next???

 Anyway, I intend to pass this secret on to children/teenagers. Mathematics made easy, Mathematics can be your best subject. Anybody can understand and be a mathematician. Do you have kids, children or wards in your care who struggle to understand mathematics? Contact me and we can arrange something using zoom etc. I hope you enjoyed this post.

My VGC story

If you have ever tried to lose weight or maintain your weight, you'll agree with me the journey is like sinusoidal wave. Some days or weeks you're so pumped up and diligent and others... well, you know.

I was at the top of my game! Diet was 95% and I was seeing those little results and my well meaning fans were like Tope just add excercise. I thought about it for a while and decided why not? I planned with my
aunty Layefa to visit the VGC gym although my plan was to play squash. I actually love and enjoy the sport. My aunt Omawumi and I that beautiful Sunday afternoon picked out a nice sporting outfit and shoes, in short head band and all that. I got to VGC and to my surprise there wasn't anyone to play with. It is highly stressful and boring to play alone. I sat with my aunt and watched her kids swim.

After a few minutes, I remembered my dad's friend who lived in VGC. I stayed at his place some nine years ago for about two weeks. A short break back in university and all that. I called my dad and after some calls were made, he was home and it was decided I would stop by after my "excercise session" or sitting session. 😂

Aunty Layefa dropped me off and left. I met him and it was a full house. Conversation flowing from politics to football etc. Next thing food!!! I had a decent plate of eba and egusi soup. Next thing, it was time for house fellowship and I was like let me just stay as my uncle was insisting too. After fellowship, they usually have "item 7". I couldn't resist the wonderful hot and freshly baked meat pie, chicken pie and sausages. I had just 1 meat pie and malt.
Just when I was about leaving, big brother grand finale started and I was like Tope stay and enjoy with these lovely people. 1 chicken pie and sprite maybe to enjoy the show.

Anyway, that was how I eventually went home with 1kg plus when my goal when leaving the house was to go burn some calories. Aunty Omawumi asked me how the workout went, I told her it was great 😂😂

So these days, when I think of going out to excercise... I remember this story and sit down before what happened in 1990 will happen again!

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Lagos Chronicles 3 The ATM

If anyone had told me that I would one day stand on an ATM queue with the machine showing out of service... I would have said impossible. 😂

I went out that evening in a bid to withdraw cash and head to the market. I got to this bank and met about 4 people on the queue and nobody using the machine. When I asked, I was told the machine was out of service. I was shocked! I probed futher and I was told "na so e dey do;on and off". I decided to give it a few minutes. In about two minutes, when I was about walking away the machine spurred back to life. Wow! The two people in front withdrew and that was it... back to status quo 😂. I didn'teven consider leaving... I had been bitten by the bug! I stood gingerly... waiting

Soon, two guys joined us and were behind me on the queue. By the time I had waited about seven minutes, I gave up and decided to go. I had walked about 40m away when the guy that was right behind me called me saying the machine was back. I was pleasantly surprised.
Guess what, right after I withdrew before him... back to out of serice. I thanked him profusely and asked why he called me and he legit said because of the trumpet 😂😂😂 In case God decided to end the world.... he didn't want to be found wanting.

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Your comments keep me writing.....

Lagos Chronicles 2 The church

Lagos Chronicles 2
The church

People have different things in mind consciously or unconconcionsly when they are searching for a place of worship. For me, it's the undiluted word. You can't blame me.... covenant baby!

So I usually don't expect anything or put seriously into consideration other factors. I went to this church with an open mind.

When I stepped into this church, I was wowed!
It wasn't even the size or the edifice.... it was the people! The choristers were on the podium so gloriously dressed (not uniformed) but they looked as if they were in uniforms... it's kind of hard to explain. I was ushered to a seat and in no time ... eyes closed... heart open I worshipped and danced as if I was among the founding fathers 😂😂.

Time for the word and I was itching... my heart thirsty and hungry... yearning... it had been a while. The Pastor of the church came and talked about the visiting pastor who was going to preach but also said some other things... I almost needed a dictionary 😂😂. The words flowed like oil ... The way and manner he spoke of the HolySpirit...

The visiting Pastor was from Pittsburg. When this man began preaching I knew that this Nigeria may not be my home 😂😂😂.

He was an artist... he sang a little and spoke a little. He told us a story about a man who couldn't go home for Christmas but decided he should get his father an exceptional gift. He was living in Brazil at the time and his father Texas. After thinking he decided on a bird. A special breed which could talk and learn different languages. He got to the shop and noticed a very beautiful one which was already bilingual.  It could speak both Portuguese and English (Take note; Brazilian is not a language Brazilians speak mostly Portuguese).
The shop keeper said the bird was about $7000 and wgen he told him it was going to be sent to the US he said he would have to pay extra $3000 for proper documentation, vaccine etc. He thought for a while and said to himself "well my dad is worth it."  He paid and the bird was shipped to his dad.

He called his dad a few days later
Son: hey dad, have you recieved the gift I sent You?
Dad: Oh yes son, it was a delicious bird.
Son: Dad! You ate the bird?
Dad: Yes and it was really good.. it was all the works... the sauce .. the ...
Son: Dad, that bird cost me a fortune! It could speak English and Portuguese.
Dad: *pauses for a bit* Well, it should have said something then.

😂😂😂😂😂

You and I are mostly bilingual.  Earthly language and speaking in tongues. Do you say something (speak in tongues of fire or declare the word) in times of adversity and otherwise or you keep quiet????

1corithians 14: 15-18

Eagles, he reminded me of CU when he said we could sing in tongues while working, on the bus, cooking etc....

I have to stop here. 😊😊😊😊

PS everybody in this church was beautifully created by God! "I lie you not"
I wasn't looking around but witg screens and all not... not one person had a hair strand out of place. My God!!!!!

Lagos I don come....


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Lagos Chronicles 1 Lagos I don come

Lagos Chronicles 1
Longest time... I missed this space.
How has life been? I honestly would love to know if you're willing to share.

When I move from one geographical space to another, I usually shy away until I feel comfortable enough...

My Lagos Chronicles..
As a child in primary school, I picked up a song from only God knows where and it formed a vivid image or picture of Lagos that could only be described with a word...CHAOS!
Here's the song... a good number of you may know it.

"Lagos I don come o, I dey hear your stories before.
Lagos I don come o, as I see e get as e be.
As I reach the bustop people just full like market.
Some dey struggle to go in
Some dey struggle to go out
Some people jump through the window.
Lagos I don come o, I dey hear your stories before."

Before now, I have never really lived in Lagos. Visited a lot of places but all very short visits and purposeful.
The things I see daily and hear daily makes my fingers itch to write. Lagos is the city of the wealthy and the the poor all commuting mostly in exact same traffic. Traffic has a way of humbling us all and reminding us that last last we are all one 😂😂😂.

Lagos is a city where one second you think you're no longer in Nigeria and just a few minutes later you wonder when you got to a "gbene" aka fishing port 😂.
Walk into some institutions and you wonder if the Nigerians are different from the breed right outside the doors... 😂

Yesterday, in my hunt for a place of worship...  My uncle invited me to his church and I decided to go worship with him.
That story has to be a post on it's own.

Lagos true true I don come... I dey hear your stories before.


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Life in the village

Life in the village
The weeks I spent in the village during each visit were vital parts of my life. To me, my village was in every sense of the word home! My village is Peretorugbene Town in Ekeremor local government area, Bayelsa State. In my head was shaped like a capital letter  written reversed but with more than three prongs. I wish I could draw it... a long stretch of the river, a small road between the river and the streets. Almost every street had a warf at the foot of the river made of wood and a separate resting place called atele made out of bamboo sticks. The Warf serves a lot of purposes; makes it easy to get on or off the boats and canoes, it also serves as a platform for chores. Washing clothes, plates, farming and fishing tools, bathroom as well.

We had the village center, radio house which stood as a major way to disseminate information by the use of public address system, a hospital which I never saw, the community school, we also had lots of churches too. The garment churches always looking clean and colourful in their robes on Sundays. They barely ever clo9se before 4pm! The market confused me a lot! Coming from the city where a market remained a market everyday morning till night to a village where we had market days (Dorogu fou) and times (usually night). You get to the market at night and it's teeming with activities and music, the next morning you won'tsee any sign that that spot was a matket. Everyone gone by very huge boats to another nearby village!!!! Till same day next week.

I enjoyed going to the warf for any reason whatsoever. I would prefer to wash the plates there (please don't ask me how many of my mothers cuttleries I lost in that process) or the number of my slippers that was carried away by the ever flowing river. I enjoyed watching the kids swim after the chores until I learnt how to swim and joined them.

I enjoyed eating coconut rice, banga rice, squid, karafiye, I didn't like mgbosu, I loved gbe and doun aka bayelsa suya were classics, madiga, so many other things. The village had varieties.

I spent my mornings lazying around, sitting on our porch and watching people leave for either their farms or go fishing, you'll hear them call after their kids and give instructions to the ones they are leaving behind. The cries of the littles ones that want to go with their mothers or grand mothers and someone in the compound trying to pacify and all that. Then I hope for the sun to shine bright so we can brube our mum to let us swim rather than have our baths in the bathroom.

I spent my afternoon/evening time playing and taking fun trips with my playmates. We made dolls our of the barks of plantain trees, we buy and sell stuff using the wraps of gums, we walked to the mild bushes and plucked some edible fruits and delicacies, we cooked, ran and played all day! As the evening approached, my playmates begin to disperse. Their mothers or grandmothers would be back from the farm soon. Things had to be done to avoid being beaten. I join them to do their chores, I enjoyed bathing the smaller ones.

The arrival of those that went to the farm or went fishing meant the children around had to help off load everything. You get rewarded most times by a fish or a big Crayfish or any other species. Now the big question, who would help me roast my prize? I would watch these kids expertly clean my fish with theirs and sit by the fireplace hoping to learn how to so the next day.... forget it. I usually got my fish burnt before it is cooked. 😂😂😂.

It was very easy to communicate with the children and adults because I was fluent in my language Ijaw. Sometimes, you're given a tray load of any farm produce to help hawk. I would balance my tray on my head, count all the goods and ask the prices and also the least acceptable price and with my partner off we go. I looked out of place in my beautiful clothes hawking... my mum will laugh and encourage me to go but when you're tired just come back home. It was safe to move around. My goods were sold quickly I think mostly because people were eager to ease the load.

I remember following my grandmum to the farm a couple of times. She carried dried fish and garri which was my snack. I don't remember doing any useful work in the farm😂😂😂. I knew how to do almost nothing. I also tried my hands on weaving the traps, that was much more successful than farming. I don't think I ever caught a fish in all my years of trying 😂😂😂.

Masqurades!!! I remember very little about them. The practice was abandoned roughly about 15 years ago if I'm not mistaken. Back then, the radio house would announce the particular masqurade that would display, the day and time. I remember the yellow one with black large polka dot (I think it was called eremtoru) then there was also "gulogulo owei" anyway the fun was being chased but you wouldn't catch me near even the window. I was that terrified of the charade yet I liked the adrenaline rush. So I would peep and watch the young teenagers tease the masqurades and eventually get chased and all that. The one I would always remember.... Olorungu it was the most dreaded. All dressed in red, merciless and usually the last. The last masqurade I saw was this one, an aunty in the compound convinced me to go with her in a canoe as we trailed its activities from one street to the next. We felt relatively safe since we were using the canoe and it was displaying on land. I don't know what triggered this masquerade but it threw a bottle at the river... I almost peed on my pant. I kept asking myself who sent me to follow this masquerade 😂😂😂. I got back home safely giving glory to God only to realise the masqurade cut down our plantain tree.

My village was my safe haven!
I could goon and on and on....

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Christmas as a child

My childhood...
Welcome to a glimpse of my early days. I don't remember much before I was four years and four months old. My memories began from the days that led up to the birth of baby Joy. I was awestruck at the sight of her. She was the most beautiful little being I had ever seen. I stood next to her crib all through the visit, wondering what was going through her mind.

With the Yuletide season came preparations to go home. I went through an entire year, every year; looking forward to my birthday and the annual trip to the village for Christmas. My mum my hero. She would ensure almost everything we may need was bought and packed for this long journey. From indomie to live fowl to rice to goat to Christmas decorations to maggi tomatoes beverages corned beef the list was endless.


During those trips, I learnt to be accountable and alert. She would tell us to always know by heart the total number of boxes, "Ghana must go", and anything else. It was a journey that involved both land and water so there was always transit. The moving of all our belongings safely from two cars to a boat in a busy park was somehow headache but when you'r little, you just do as you're told and you'll be fine.

My mum would take the pain every single time to tell us the name of each village. I never stopped wondering why we were not from the ones that weren't far. In her words, our village was the last which also made me wonder what existed after our village because the river of course continued. She would say in fluent Ijaw this is this village; remember Mr A? His wife's mother was from this village until she got married and moved to the village I showed you fifteen minutes ago. My siblings and I: okay.🤣
She would say to us that the villages on the left were Delta State and those on the right were Bayelsa state.

To be continued
Life in the village.
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My father's blessings

About three weeks ago, out of the blues I decided to send my dad airtime. Usually I send to my mum just because 😂😂. That day I was like why not daddy today? So I sent #1500 worth of airtime. I was too excited, I called immediately. 

After the usual laughter, I told him, and at first he didn't understand. He thought I said I sent him a message so he was like "I'm yet to see it, let me check." Then I repeated it and he legit screamed "really? Airtime? #1500! Wow!" More laughter...

He was so so so happy I didn't even know when I asked him "daddy why are you so happy like you can't buy #1500 airtime?" He laughed it away. Tears welled up my eyes, I still can't explain the tears. I was feeling very heavy at heart with some major issues I was dealing with, but that call lifted the weight off me. I could laugh and cry and felt good that I could make my old man so happy despite all.

Later that day, he called to say thank you and that he wanted to call me with the airtime. We talked about other stuff and yeah.

Ever since that day, I have been experiencing different level and types of favour. 

I thought to share the secret...

Nothing is really too small to appreciate these people we call mum and dad. 

Don't wait till "you blow"; as much as we don't want to reason in that line, it might be too late then.

Start small if you must, start anyway.

😊😊😊

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Daddy for hire

Yes... we have a daddy we want to hire or is it rent? I'm not sure but here is the deal.
For a little fee you get to invest quality time with our daddy. Please pay special attention to the following. You should be willing to make lipton tea at least five times a day (No milk and no sugar, maybe sweetex). Morning devotion starts at 6am to err as the spirit leads but don't worry about that; yours is most likely to lead in praise and worship. Personal advice, let go of Sinach and Frank Edwards... go old school so you won't be the only one singing.
Do you love tennis? Well, you have to try... he loves it so much he got us coaches at a very young age 😂😂. Scrabble is equally important to him, be ready to record games.. It's just normal addition. Draft too yeah buh there's no scoring per say with that one.
Can you drive? That would be an advantage and could lead to discout. You will most likely become his designated driver.
This part is the most important, always run out of the house to shout "daddy welcome" whenever he comes back home. He loves it a lot and would legit pick up his phone to call all of us if no one does that.
Fresh food from mama's kitchen daily and during the day you can visit prettytouchomes for beautiful household decoration, blossemfreshdelight for fruit parfait, sandwiches and cocktails, Oke the photostylist could give you that photoshoot you always dreamt of, you can visit the lake, the cinema etc.
Just send your CV and reference letters.

I'm a creative writer... I write for fun.. I just decided to write about daddy today.

Please leave your comments below, let's talk.😁😁

My Trip to Italy

Now that I'm trying to document my trip down to Italy, I should have known from all that ensued that I was in for a rollercoaster here.
When I was putting my final things together,  friends of mine Anita and Ebise came to bid me farewell. See me "jjc" I packed every and anything, including hangers. Imagine my embarrassment when I got to the airport and had to unpack and send some ridiculous things back home. My uncle was shocked to see hangers (like 20) in my box.
Finally checked in and they left. Our flight had about an hour delay, I was tired so I changed my wedge sandals to comfortable slippers. The plan was to change back on the flight at least but I forgot completely.
Boarding was relatively smooth. We stopped at Lagos and more passengers boarded. I honesly don't remember what ensued, next thing a woman and a man were boxing right in front of my seat. I was in a mild shock. They were separated by well meaning Nigerians and boarding continued. Just as we were taxying, this lady that was in the fight started screaming that she couldn't breath, they tried to calm her but to no avail. That was how our pilot made a U turn back to the airport and called for medical evacuation team. Now this was happening in September 2014 the Ebola saga was still very on. Next thing we saw was a team of medical practitioners kitted to the teeth. Nose masks, gloves, just name it. They looked like they were going to space. The moment they stepped on the aircraft; everyone began laughing. After much negotiation, the woman agreed to come down only if her assailant would get off too. Eventually I think they hid the man so she would get down. We were three hours behind schedule! Some activists or journalists came to me for eye witness report and in my mind I was like "I just want to go to Italy quietly o" although I gave my honest account of the fight.
Needless to say, a good percentage of us missed our connecting flights and it was at that moment when we landed and realised that that we became really upset about it all.🤣
I was stuck with my horrible slippers till I got to Italy and since I got here it's been one drama to another🤣🤣.
Welcome to my world.

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Police station drama (4/11/2017)

Earlier today, Faith Eferemo Okoro went to the police station to sort out something. I feel very well informed whenever I go there for enquiries.
She went first and saw a group of Africans and without asking questions, my madam joined them🤣🤣. After a few minutes, she tried to explain her plight but it only confused the police more. Eventually she got him to go through the document she had in her hand. She said the policeman asked her to go inside that the people she  joined were dangerous political assylum seekers. 😲🤣 I  asked her why when she was narrating her ordeal to me and she said she saw her brothers and sisters so she decided to join them.🤣😂😂

I arrived much later and asked where I could wait for her and they said I could just stand with them outside. I felt happy and switched on my observant mode. Taking mental notes of plate numbers, car colours, vital statistics, outfits, unusual   in short I was sure I believed I was an undercover police or plain clothes. 🤣🤣🤣

After about 30 minutes, I decided I wanted to join the police. I mean I was already doing the work. So I walked up to them and asked them the procedure. They laughed ehn and that sealed my decision. I went online and found out that the first step was to go the police station and pick up an eligibility check list bla bla.

When they eventually realised I was serious, they let me in. I was given the form/checklist. It was at that moment as my eyes ran through the "impossibles" I realised how amazing Petroleum Engineering actually was🤣🤣🤣.

Just forget the last 2 paragraphs; it was all in my head😂😂. Thanks for reading...

Che bella (03/03/2017)

Earlier yesterday, I rushed to U2 supermarket about 120 meters from where I live for a quick purchase. On my way back, I noticed the garden was busy with a lot of kids. Some on swings, some riding anything, some playing with the tap (taps that have no knob to open or close) they run 24hrs (just imagine a fountain). It was a beautiful sight, parents and grand parents keenly watching out and calling out now and then. Getting really close to my house, I saw an absolutely cute little munchkin riding his tricycle. He couldn't have been more than 3 years old. I smiled at him as I always do and then he turned to his mum and said "Mama guada, che bella" the mother burst out laughing and I was laughing and blushing. He was saying "Mummy look, she's beautiful." His mum repliesd in between the laughter "Si si molto bella" meaning yes yes very beautiful. Just then I saw another just like him riding a tricycle too coming along, so I asked the mum if they were twins and she said yes and in a flash I remembered them.
Two years ago, I always used to see her push twin babies in a two in one buggy and also pull her two large dogs!!! Whenever I saw her then, I would say to myself how can someone have twin babies to cater for and two dogs? If it were me, I would have given the dogs away 😂😂😂 In short it was the dogs that jogged up my memory because loyal as ever they were with her 😂😂😂. Apparently she recognised me too, it was heartwarming to see how fast the boys had grown and how they could ride on their own and she didn't have to push them while pulling two large dogs. We laughed together a bit and I went my way wondering about life!
Sometimes we magnify our challenges and in pursuit of a better tommorow,  we never really live today and that hampers our ability to soak in the little beauties of life. Today, take some time off and just live in the moment and enjoy and thank God for the seemingly little beauties in and around you! Only believe!!!!!!!!
Stay blessed Romans 8:31-39

The meeting (16/02/2017)

Random musings II
Waited all afternoon for the call and because I have a strict habit of not calling people at work, I waited anyways both patiently and impatiently. The phone rang at about 5pm... "babe I'm coming with my friend for the meeting we discussed about" oh sure....ladies know the drill. The house may look great o but once a foreign body is coming you begin to adjust cushions that weren't even disturbing you in the first place😂😂😂. They arrived in no time....I greeted and I was very excited. To be honest I felt like it was my first real business meeting. I asked tea or juice although praying in my heart they will just say juice. Making tea here is not a joke, inshort it is an art. First you will put on the cooker and then with a clean small pot heat the milk on low heat. Don't ask me why low heat o, when I got here I realised via observation. I think it's to prevent the milk from losing vital components, before the struggle wth sizes of tea cups yada yada yada. When they said "juice would do" I was relieved!😂😂😂 I quickly got the juice, glasses and a plate where I poured some fancy biscuits.
The meeting began, I was highly attentive and intressted in the first few minutes but when I realised all we needed to do and chirped in my opinion, to me the meeting was over. I became bored, it would be rude to fiddle with my phone so I literally turned my attention to the juice and biscuits...I only answered when they asked me for currency conversions.
Deep in my thoughts, the next thing I heard was "where is the cover?"
You know how you got bored in class back in Secondary school and you pop your blue biro cover in your mouth and chew it beyond recognition? I only realised after he asked for the cover that it was in my mouth and beyond recognition 😂😂😂😂😂😂
There was no way I was going to bring out that cover from my mouth. I quickly bent down pretending to search for it and brought it out of my mouth and hid it in my pocket!
Little did I know that his friend would not let that kind of "big dissappearance" slide. Next thing he was moving everything searcing everywhere. I tried to casually ask him to free he kept repeating "it was just here, it's green colour, I saw it". Well, I joined them 😂😂😂 so I don't look left out. After a minute or two of jumping around I decided to mistakenly tip the juice pack😂😂😂😂😂. Will they be looking for the cover of an empty juice pack? So I did very smartly, hurray!!! We had a bigger crisis than a missing cover. I quickly apologised for the mess, picked up the pack and threw it in the bin where it belonged got wipes cleaned the table perfectly😂😂😂 even sprayed those things and wiped. Problem solved! Can we now get back to the meeting?😂😂😂😂😂😂 Just imagine the laughter we shared after his friend left and I brought out the dismantled cover from my pocket!!!!!!

Unsolicited advice (21/12/2016)

I used to think before now that unsolicited advice from strangers is exclusive to Nigerians but today, I was pleasantly surprised and laughed so hard!
I had an ongoing transaction which I began with a particular customer service representative and as such insisted on seeing her in particular although others were free. I waited patiently for a couple of minutes and it finally got to my turn. She recognised me and we quickly got to business, to be sincere I had never seen someone so excited doing her job most especially a banker! She was literally gay with excitement and because I enjoy small talks with random people, I stated it in a question like manner "You seem to really love your job" and she went "oh yes I do, I enjoy meeting different people and helping them out." I was impressed, then I noticed her beautiful wedding ring on her finger and asked out of pure curiosity if she had kids and she said  "Yes one, he's eighteen years old and just like his father!" I was taken aback, she honestly looked too young and then she went on to tell me her age (forty-eight) seeing my surprise and then she asked my age. I told her and she went "oh you're young do you have boyfriends?" I laughed,  I answered her and she said anyways it is good. She went on to say this wasn't the time to have just one boyfriend that  I should have as many as I like that life was just too short! That when I meet him...I would know, and then I could consider dating just him 😂😂😂😂😂 but that for now.. many boyfriends but I should be careful not to mix up their names. See me see laughter! I was just thinking, how do I begin to bring in my faith into this conversation and loyalty and all that.... I decided not to I only said okay Ma!😂😂😂
In all of these, she never stopped even for a second. She was clicking away on her computer with regards to my request while dancing to a tune only her could hear.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Colossians 3:23
I don't know if she was a Christian or not but sitting there and watching her brought that scripture to mind.
It was beautiful!

Be kind -Maya Angelou (30/03/2017)

When I was very very young, I thought it was important to be heard so I spoke a lot well maybe louder than necessary as well. I grew up and I heard "actions speak louder than words" so I lowered my voice and reduced my words and began doing. Which had its numerous benefits. Simply beautiful....
Now, somewhat intertwined with doing, I bumped on another quote; People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou
I thought deeply about it and carried it along. Wherever you find yourself today and tomorrow, as much as you can....be kind to the people you meet....you never know!
Be a people builder, don't go about purposely tearing people down, ruining people's day, causing irreparable damages with your words, actions and inactions.
Finally, to thy own self....Be kind as well.

Who sent you? (31/01/2017)

It was a Sunday, he finally invited you to his house...you told yourself "phew finally!" In excitement you put on a smashing overly decent dress, make up was a thug of war between your usual and low key....you didn't want to go looking desperate nor shabby. Finally you're ready. You got there....you were offered food by his mum who the whole time was just watching you. You accepted the food so they wouldn't think you were proud even if you know you're proud. You finished the food without exactly tasting it because your mind kept racing up and down....wondering if you were even eating right. You felt a bit relaxed as they were all laughing and gisting...so you volunteered to clear up and do the dishes, you saw the surprise on his face because he knows you hate doing the dishes and, but you gave him that "I have got it" smile. Mama tries to stop you but the oversabi in you says "no mama it's okay." You started cleaning and washing and just as you were about to begin rinsing, the pile of breakable plates somehow managed to land on the terrazzo floor. All shattered, quite a loud thud and he rushes in.... you couldn't decide if to cry or just start cleaning up. Mama walks in and she won't shout, she can't even if she wanted to...It was Sunday lunch...they were her favourite. You began to pick the pieces while mumbling something that ought to sound like an apology. He joins you...the tears threatened  to come but you quickly advised yourself. Mama is just silent....heart broken if you may. She kept looking as he took the pieces away....you tried to drop the spoons and forks that survived and opened a drawer hoping to find a rack and alas right in front of you.... You're staring at the dish washer!!!! Mama was just looking at you and all you can ask yourself.....now, na who send me this work? Society's expectations, up bringing or just an over dose of oversabi? ? ? ?
Anyways you felt better when you were leaving because you took a mental note of every brand name and design and thank God they were IKEA.....oh and thank goodness Mama's birthday is next Saturday. IKEA....I see you.

Random musings.

Memories of Sunshine (7/06/2017)

Good evening,
I hope your day went well. My day started out beautifully. I slept well, got out right on time and rode Sunshine (my bicycle) to the bustop and off I went.
Wednesdays are usually hectic for me so I just prepare my mind and body.

As at the end of all my classes I still felt good to go, so when Faith EferemoOkoro and Yemi Okunlola suggested we go to the market before heading home, I obliged. Had I known what awaited me, I shouldn't have....who knows?

Little did we know that the broad daylight deceived us, we got to the market and they had closed so we started our journey home. We parted at our usual stop, while I continued home.

Getting to the bustop I ought to have alighted, I always look out of the window to get a glance of Sunshine but I didn't see her from where I sat today, which was relatively normal.

When I got off and was walking towards where I parked my dearest Sunshine and was welcomed by a bare grass,  I thought for a second that I was at the wrong bustop. I said let me think well, where did I park her? While I was racking my head and telling myself I wasn't having a nightmare in broad daylight I saw her padlock broken and resting on the floor. At that second, I knew and accepted that my dearest Sunshine was gone....my heart broke! My fear had been confirmed.

Oh well, I consoled myself and thanked God that at least the thief left the padlock for me. I had closure. Else, I probably would have still been out there checking the bustops around for my dearest.

Our time together was so short but you would always be remembered by me and your fans here that never got to see you. 😊😊😊😊😚😚😚😚😚

Good bye Sunshine.

Oh what a day! (29/05/2017)

Oh what a day!
 It didn't start out so well but then who cares? Better is the end of a matter.......

This whole story began exactly a year ago. Right about my birthday period, I made it clear to my friends that I wanted a bicycle as a gift. My love for bicycles is second to none when it comes to inanimate objects. I was so sure and my friends were so sure I would somehow get a bicycle that one of my friends even got me a safety helmet. Hahahhah When the D-day arrived, I got perfumes, shoes etc but no bicycle. Everyone thought the other person was getting a bike! Some assumed my boo (which I didn't even have) would get me and didn't want the imaginary boo to feel threatened. I think what was most painful was a particular friend that got me a perfume which the price was more than a bike😂😂😂😂. In his defence the perfume was my favourite perfume ever although it just finished. I just dumped my helmet somewhere.😂.

It was much later I realised I could actually get used good bikes for a very very cheap price. I had no idea... I told myself I would get one but didn't even know where to. Last week I saw someone and we got talking and he told me he would look out. I bumped into him again today and long story short....today today just a few more days to my birthday I gifted myself a bicycle. I'm overexcited!!!!

Going out this evening, I rode my bike half way since where I was going was extremely far. I felt like I was flying...the weather was hot but I could feel the breeze in my hair and my face.... I rode and sang out with so much gusto one of my favourite songs and laughed so happily, smiling to everyone.
"You're my sunshine my only sunshine you make me happy when times are grey you never know dear how much I love you please don't take my sunshine away" oh her name is Sunshine. Yes my bicycle has a name.
An old man even joined me singing and a many others waved and laughed back.... I was so happy! It was all so beautiful. I felt like Maria in Sound of music singing and riding😊😊😊😊😊

I got back and same thing riding back hohohoho. I think the icing on the cake was also getting back and standing in the cold shower and being able to wet my hair!
I'm so leaving this hair like this,  this weather is too hot! I'm not sorry if my hair bothers you.... it's my hair and no it isn't unkempt😃. It makes me happy and no more headaches.

Bottom line
I can't stop wondering how much fun I had deprived myself. What are you waiting for? What makes you happy? Go ahead and just do it. Live life.....enjoy every moment. I'm thinking of the next fun thing to do..... that air balloon is calling my name and I would answer😂😂😂😂.

My siblings,  if you do tell mum this story please don't forget to tell her yes, I will be careful and that I have already anointed Sunshine with anointing oil and covered it with the blood of Jesus😂😂😂.

Betrayal (06/06/2017)

Betrayal.

Good day and how are you? I woke up this morning feeling gloom. I'm sure we all have those days now and then when for just no absolute reason, you just don't feel upbeat. The weather even made it worse, it was depressing and gloomy... raining almost all day.

I was indoors mostly until the evening when I had to go out. I looked out and the rain had stopped and because I really enjoy riding Sunshine (my bicycle), and she usually adds colour to my day I decided to ride her halfway as always. I rode down and yeah I did feel slightly better although there was no singing today, I smiled mostly.

On my way back, while on the bus it began to rain. It was relatively cold and raining although raining here is equivalent to drizzling in Yenagoa. I wished I had left Sunshine at home because if I had,  I would have stayed on the bus till I got home warm and dry.

I was honestly tempted to abandon Sunshine there for the night since she was locked but then how could I sleep well knowing Sunshine is out alone in the cold? Would I forgive myself if I got back by tomorrow and Sunshine was gone? I honestly couldn't betray her like that. We are in this together, come rain come shine.

So, I got off the bus where I parked her and rode home. Did I feel cold and slightly wet? Yes! I felt warm from the inside knowing I did the right thing, I didn't betray my friend and companion during trial, I am a great owner and caretaker!
😂😂😂

The old man (03/05/2017)

Good morning 😊😊
How are you? I'm doing great! You see, some days I go out hungry for a story and more often than not when I least expect stories come to me. Today was one of the latter. I had a lot on my mind because I had a lot to do today. I rushed off to school and on my way from school and to the market, I made a quick call to mumsi although it was popsi that took the call.

 You see, there is nothing more relaxing and reassuring and heart warming here on earth than the sound of their laughter in this chaotic world we happen to find ourselves! It was a quick one and although the connection wasn't so great, the laughter came through. I also spoke with mumsi who kept repeating call your sisters Pepe and Joy,  talk to them and I'm like yes mummy but in my mind I was already writing this story and laughing hard. 😂😂😂 She says that all the time, she would even add "make una talk to each other" 😂😂😂 especially Joy her last card😂😂. Okay back to my story.

I got to a bustop where I had to switch buses, so i got off and sat down to wait for the second one. A well dressed old man walked up to me and asked me "cinquantaotto?" meaning 58 but I understood or interpreted it to mean he's looking for bus 58 and I told him it would arrive soon. He sat down as well and in less than a minute the bus 58 arrived and being the nice person that I am (I promise you I am nice) I told him that the bus had arrived,  he looked at me like I was talking about something else. In exasperation because the bus was about leaving I repeated like three times, he was looking at me like this child leave me alone! Next second he replied cinquantaotto? I screamed Sì sì he just looked at me and said cinquantanouve! (59). It was at that point I realised he wasn't okay and there I was conversing with him like......I almost burst out laughing but that would be rude so I decided to just watch him. I began to wonder, how come he was so well dressed? Had he lost his memory or his way because bus 59 plies a route very very far from where we were... in less that three mins a lady approached us and told him this bus and they both jumped into the bus..... bus 11. She was definitely his care giver, she was most probably the reason he looked so well kept and dressed and it did warm my heart to know he wasn't lost, he just wanted to have a non conversation conversation.

Life is fleeting, the days go by so fast. I have decided to maximise everyday and just live because when it's evening and you sit in that recliner needing a care giver you do the things you can do so freely so easily.....It is the things you didn't get to do now, you will regret most and not even the things you tried to do and probably failed.

Where are those dreams, ideas, visions? Go pick up that dusty book where you wrote them down and retrace your steps and pursue them with a renewed tenacity.
Finally, find/discover Christ for yourself if you haven't yet. Spirituality is different from religion.