West Africa is not A country!

READ AND GET BACK TO ME

I want you to patiently read this offer. I am Mrs.Aminata Abdullahi, the wife to the deceased former Head of Delegation to the World Bank in West Africa. My husband was the linkman between the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries – OPEC and the petroleum sector in a West African country. He also attend OPEC meetings constantly in Geneva before his death caused by cardiac arrest in our home town.

Through the sale of our allocated oil quota in OPEC, he was able to make S$8.million.(EIGHT MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS)I want you to assist me to claim this money as i cannot claim it directly because he made the deposit as a fund belonging to his business associate in order not to raise eyebrow since he was a civil servant during that time, and the code of conduct bureau forbids him or his wife to acquire such amount of money.
It is on this basis that I am contacting you for assistance, if you will be interested, claim documents will been processed and sent to you. The documents with which the fund is deposited will be amended to reflect you as the beneficiary so that you will be eligible to collect the fund as his business associate.
You shall be entitled to 30% of the total funds while the rest will be given to me on arrival in your country for the up keeping of my only son and for further investment under your kind control there in your country as I can not be able to do any investment here in West Africa due to the origin of the said fund.
I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is risk free and doesn’t have any negative implication. You should not entertain any fear as all modalities for the smooth and easy transfer of this fund have been finalized. If you can conveniently assure me of your ability to keep this business very secret and confidential, you can write back to me for further details.
Expecting your urgent response.
Best regards,
Mrs.Aminata Abdullahi

I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE PLEASE

Good Day,

How are you and your family? I hope all is well, It’s just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for assistance. I am a banker by profession in west Africa and currently holding the post of Director Auditing and Accounting unit of the bank.

I have the opportunity of transferring the left over funds ($11.5 million) of one of our bank clients who died in crash since seven years ago and none of his family member or relation has come for the claim, and now the bank is planning how to confiscate the fund since no one has come for the claim. Please with out wasting time I need your honest and humanity to execute this transaction under your kind control for the benefit of our both families.

Hence, I am inviting you for this deal I will offer you 40% of the amount mentioned above as my patina and the rest will be for me, please if you are sure that you are capable to handle this transaction and you are ready to assist me to execute this business with trust and honest than the further details of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as i receive your return mail,have a great day.

For more clarification reply me back and please note that the claims is 100% free.

Thanks.

a first ….

Last night I finally watched my first 3D movie and it was worth all the hype – the 3D not so much the movie itself *insert whisper tone here* Avengers. One of the trailers was Madagascar 3 which looked so good, I almost broke my animation-phobe to go and see it coz its also 3D.

What “first” have you recently been involved in?

time and planning

Its one year since Osama’s death. And that’s not the issue for me as much as the length of time that has passed! ONE YEAR! It was this time 12 months ago – what am I doing? what have I done in times past? Where is time going? Jeez! This is how we get old and we don’t even know it. Tick tock, so much time going past. So many plans, not so much time to execute. This quote below reminds me of that:

“You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of shore.” Admiral Rickover

hello, over here!

Hello old friend, how are you? Do you remember me? I used to write here, would share a lot of stuff about me. No? Must quickly change that now.

I am currently reading (listening to) two books: Hope and The Italian Wedding respectively. Very engaging. Must say, I have recently discovered Lesley Pearse and this is my second book of hers. For some reason, I am in a chick lit sort of mood and I have gone through Elizabeth Noble and now Lesley (coz we on first name basis like that) and hopefully Cathy Kelly and Nicky Pellegrino.

Will try and post more stimulating things soon.

a little background … why i do this

So I have been going through a week (OK a few actually) of posting short little things and running. And this is no different! I know why I started to blog, many moons ago – because I had read so many blogs and some I loved so much and felt like the writer and I were friends, some had witty writing and I figured I could do the same, others, were just a peep show and who doesn’t love to have front row seats to someone else’s life? But then, I also wanted to start a blog coz there were some blogs that I didn’t wanna be like.

• I don’t like photography blogs at all. I oddly enough read blogs for the writing as well.
• I don’t like blogs that have graphics telling the story. Just tell the story. Occasionally it works, but that’s the exception rather than the rule.
• I don’t like blogs that are arranged in newspaper style as opposed to one with two/three columns

This has sparked a little idea in my mind and I will try and share about the blogs that I love to read.

Added:  I also don’t like blogs written by more than one person. I can tell both voices apart but its always harder to get into!

my take on the war in northern Uganda

So you would totally have to have been living under a rock not to know of the whole KONY 2012 viral video. I have a few random thoughts on the whole thing. I refuse to place a link to it on this site and will not raise any more attention to it beyond the 70 million views at last check.  Proceeding on the assumption that you have watched it:

• I don’t like the tone/slant of it – the invisible children matching in to help the children of Northern Uganda
• The irony is not lost on me that he is using his son to tell the story of the thousands of voiceless Ugandan children
• I am not so concerned with the picture of the Invisible Children posing in the forest with the rebels and machine guns. All it says to me is that they are misguided in their intentions
• Speaking of intentions, its true what they say about the road to hell being paved with good intentions.
• The Oil that has been discovered in Uganda and the 100 soldiers who have been sent into Uganda to obtain this oil help with the mediation

Kony has not been in the country since 2006, and this was either the last peace talks or since he was declared a wanted man by the International Court of Justice in Hague. He has been fighting for the last twenty or so years using a band of ill-educated soldiers including women and children who have been abducted using all sorts of stuff to keep them obeying him.  I don’t understand why my president Museveni cannot overwhelm him and capture him once and for all? I think there has to be some political goodwill or it won’t work and all we’ll have is a bunch of celebrities raising publicity and nothing changing for the Acholi tribe that is being decimated and has suffered the full brunt of this insane and stupid war. Having said, all publicity brings us that step closer to bringing this war to an end and I will bite down and take it.

Here are a few more ordered thoughts on this war.

Northern Uganda reacts. Here and Here.

The photo explained.

Northern Uganda, Visible.

Chris Blattman’s take.

419 Scam letter – REPLY BACK ASAP

DOMINIC & ASSOCIATES TEL:

+226 78 01 91 41.

 

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Dominic Edward, I have a Business Proposal of certain amount of Money in United States Dollars which I want you to handle with me.This Funds belongs to a deceased client of mine that died as a result of a heart-related condition because i was his Personal Lawyer during his life time.

My Late Customer indicated no Next of Kin with his Savings Bank during his life time because he had lost his family prior to his sudden Death.I need a trust-worthy partner to assist me in receiving this funds in a foreign Account for further investment in his/her country,you will be required to:

(1) Assist me in claiming this sum into your Foreign Bank account.

(2) Advise on areas for potential future investment in your country.

(3) Assist me in carrying a feasibility study before actual investment.

This matter should be kept confidential between you and me and please delete this message if you are not interested,i want your Trust and Honesty as the New Beneficiary that will not betray me.

Thanks in anticipations.

Barrister Dominic Edward.

+226 78 01 91 41

*NOTE: 226 is the country code for Burkina Faso.

Pet peeves

Just a few things that are grating on my nerves at the mo’.

1. The gross impersonation of the African accent that Europeans occasionally dabble in a la Kerry Washington in The Last King of Scotland and Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamonds.We do not sound like that, nowhere on the continent. I recently listened to an audiobook – A guide to the birds of East Africa (its fiction ) and the readers Kenyan accent made the peoples sound like blithering fools.
2. Drivers who do not indicate when they are going to turn left or right. I have no other driving concerns except the guy who won’t indicate especially  when you are at a T-junction and want to know if they are turning onto your road or going past you ….
3. Reading blogs (that I understand are people’s personal biz) that detail pets in great detail. Any blog that has fur babies, details vet trips …. puke!

… and the winner is

Source

All I’d say, never wear the wig ever again!

Viola Davis decided to ditch the wig she traditionally wears in favour of her little ‘fro. How young does she look!

This totally shows the finger to all the glossies that imagine that when african women with natural hair want a make over, they are secretly crying out for a weave intervention.  Sometimes, they just want to have their hair done up like Viola on the right.

ION, it would have been nice if she had worn the Oscar for Best Actress, watched the Help and she did a phenomenal job!

Book round up 2011

In no particular order and this list being inconclusive:

1. Midnight Children – Salman Rushdie. I thought the writer only writes stuff that’s banned. Its critically acclaimed but it kinda bored me and I only read it to finish what I’d started.
2. Whitethorn Woods – Maeve Binchy. She. does. not. disappoint. EVER!
3. Memoirs of my melancholy whore – Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Wanted to read this book for the longest and Marquez managed to write in very few words and leave you yearning for more. The book is less than 150 pages and took me a very short time to complete.
4. Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini. Writes about Afghanistan so beautifully, you could cry for what the current state of the country is. If you only read two books in your life, read this one and his first one: A thousand splendid suns. Please write a third one, please?
5. This Charming man – Marian Keyes. She manages to get the balance between neurotic and honestly loveable character each time. I would definitely recommend this to anyone, male or female.
6. The Secrets Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives -  Lola Shoneyin. A typical African tale, great description and the tale unfolds swiftly and very realistically. Read, read, read … Great first novel.
7. Change of Heart & The Tenth Circle – Jodi Picoult. Both books about the complex relationship between kids and their parents- Do you take the heart of the guy who killed your partner and made your child an orphan to give this child a better life? What if your child cries rape – do you immediately believe them or do you ask them to show you suitable proof? Jodi Picoult never fails to deliver. Great work.

interior decorator for the day

Disclaimer and Caveat: Not my pics, did not take the source but they are definitely NOT MINE. (Please let me know the source if you happen to know).

This is just stuff I found on my laptop and wanted to dump here … but they are decor stuff that I’d love to have one day!

Interior of the day...

Reblogged from nest design studio { blog }:

Apparently yellow is supposed to be one of the happiest colours. If I had this bed, I’d feel happy every day!

Designed by the designers of Atmosphere Interior Design Inc. in Saskatoon- Canadian awesome!

This room has my name under it ... Would totally love to sleep here daily!

reading and book awards

On the list of things I would like to do before I turn 30 is read through some books that have been nominated for a given literary award. I have quickly looked through the list and came up with some possibilities.

1.  Orange Prize for Fiction – This award is given to celebrate international fiction by women throughout the world provided the work is done in English. It’s open to all regardless of country of residence, age, nationality and subject matter.
2. Penguin Prize for African Writing – This award hopes to spotlight the talent base that is present in Africa, for both fiction and non-fiction, with the hopes of opening it to a wider audience.
3. Commonwealth Book Prize – This award promotes some of the best new fiction from across the Commonwealth Foundation. It is awarded to writers of new fiction that was published in the year of the award.

In this coming year, I shall read all the books for these three awards above and review them.

Update: Find the Orange prize for Fiction LONG long list here. 

link love

Make me smile Monday

Stuff I’ve looked at and liked or made me thought.

Parenting in the Noughties.

Paying more at high school, than uni.

Drama on the Big Brother Brazil show.

Happy birthday Oprah!

Review: Baking Cakes in Kigali

 

Just finished reading ‘Baking Cakes in Kigali’ by Gaile Parkin. It’s set in Rwanda about this lady, Angel Tungaraza, who bakes cakes for various clients and through the different occasions the story unfolds. She is also menopausal and bringing up her orphaned grandchildren with her husband, Pius.

It was a nice easy read, with a wide array of very interesting characters. It did get a bit monotonous especially around the tea drinking sessions. This story also made me think of the ‘No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency’ and how Alexander McCall Smith really gets into the psyche of Precious Ramotswe and how when she (he) speaks you really bought into it. In Baking Cakes,it felt a little rehearsed and like the writer had not really immersed herself into the character of Angel Tungaraza – a bit superficial bordering on condescending.

Would I recommend it to anyone? Yeah, its a light and easy read and of course any book about Africa, is a good thing to have in your ‘already read’ list. So yeah, definitely read this book if it crosses your path …

HBD to me

A few months back, I started to compile a list of some (30) things to do before I turned 30 and after a bit of thinking and looking back at my own goals and things that I keep talking of doing and putting off, here they are. Do feel free to suggest more things.

1. Write daily for a month.

2. Participate in a 5km anda 10km race.

3. Start/join a book club.

4. Read through the entire Bible in a year.

5. Volunteer in a short mission.

6. Continue with swimming lessons.

7. Learn to ride a bike.

8. Get married.

9. Learn to speak and/or write an African language.

10. Give time and money to a cause.

11. Visit 5 African countries within a given region.

12. Vote in an election.

13. Host friends to a grand dinner party.

14. Go to pottery classes and make something.

15. Knit andstitch an item of clothing and actually wear it.

16. Go on holiday alone

17. Bunge jump/ some equally insane adventure thing – Canopy tours

18. Make a reading list of 30 books, read and critic them.

19. Road trip to Namibia.

20. Learn to bake/make a decadent dessert.

21. Wake up at Xhr for 28 days to pray for one hour.

22. Take part in a demonstration for a cause

23. Pose for a painting/ have professional pictures taken

24. Pick a restaurant and systematically eat as many things off that menu.

25. Learn to play chess.

26. Watch one of the Grand slams live.

27. Pick a Book award and read all the books from that year’s nominees.

28. Watch movies nominated for a given category at the Oscars.

29. Go on a Christian retreat.

30. Leave the Continent.

31. Start my PhD.

32. Go to a World Cup game in a country I don’t live in.

33. Reconnect with an old friend/ get rid of a particularly stressful friendship.

34. Move out and live on my own for 6 months to a year.

35. Work with my alma-maters and use my skill sets to develop them.

What’s on/ would be on your list of to-do’s?

favourite scents

Bvlgari Pour Femme

Bvlgari Rose Essentielle

Recently, I got Lady Million by Paco Rabane and so far, so good.

2O11/2012

Merry Christmas and a happy, happy new year.

This is a scheduled post that will happily find me at home, surrounded by those I love and find dearest.

Here’s to 4 good years of blogging and many more to come!

December/January reading list

If you can’t see too clearly, these books are:

The Tenth Circle – Jodi Picoult

The post-birthday world – Lionel Shriver

Divisadero – Michael Ondaatje

We need to talk about Kevin – Lionel Shriver

Hopefully, a book a week over the next four weeks.

words only my parents use

Disclaimer: These are probably common English words but I have only ever heard my parents use them.

galavant – as in walk around aimlessly or roam about.

hullabaloo – as in loud protesting noise.

riot - as in to go out

What other things do your parents or the olds or the folks say that tickles you to no bit?