Thursday, November 25, 2010

Cheese Induced Insomnia

Weird huh!!! you do not know the first thing about how this feels. How did this come about? probably the fermentation process of cheese does not agree with my systems and processes. There is only one other person I have come across who has this - and they live about 12,000 miles from me- and they wrote a blog about this too.

I discovered this in my first year of high school - and therefore steered clear of cheesy things - burgers, sandwiches, pizza, cake and every other thing edible - crisps and chips alike. But today, I played the 'Grubbido'.

What is a Grubbido? This is what you become when you decide to eat what you cannot tolerate, just because you want too, or because you do not want to be left out. Which category do I fall into? Hmmmmmmmmm ..... that is a story for another day.

The pizza was called 'Meaty Feast' by Dominos pizza. And Hmmmmmm so delicious. Oops!!! it was not Dominos, but Debonairs Pizza. Hmmm Tasty for sure.. but then I paid the price , didn't I?

Here I am and I am still wide awake and it is 1 am.. it just doesn't seem like my brain wants to shut doem. The clock struck 1 am... I have been tossing and turning.. and wondering if it was resentment and bitterness worrying me... and then I figured it out that it was Cheese. HELP!!!!... still awake.. this is not a case for REM(random eye movements) - this is more rolling of the eyeballs, been to the loo, then to the fridge and then back to write this.. I figured, if I cannot sleep, then I better write, but then my laptop was conveniently left in the office, so I started off by writing this on paper, and now transferring to the blog.

Berry Blast - that's the name of the juice I picked up - 1 litre... and I am drinking.. and drinking...Hoping it puts me to sleep at some point. What is the time now.... 01:18 hrs.
I hear INSOMNIA can be induced in so many ways, but then 'Why Cheese?'.
I need to keep drinking this 'berry blast' juice...not sure if I am making things worse or better by taking it, but I really cannot be bothered at this time. The weather is 31 degrees Centigrade.. in sub-saharan Africa.... an you imagine how hot it is at that time of the night - STILL and HOT. To make matters worse... electricity was cut off tonight, so no Air conditioner, no fan.. nothing... and NO sleep... What a mix...

Hopefully I can get back to sleep, but first.. I need to finish by 'Berry Blast' Juice.
O!! I forgot to mention that I have a conference to go for in the morning, which starts by 10 am, and I need to be in the office first, to sort out some paper work before leaving for the conference. So that is an early start for me - Wake up call at 06:00 hrs, leave home by 07:00 hrs and get in to the office for 08:00hrs - leaving me with roughly 2 hours before the conference.....

I feel sleep coming.... so may be the 'berry blast' worked, or it could just be the cold drink on a hot night that shut my system down. Who knows

.................................................................................................................................
Well, I finally got back to sleep... what time.. I recollect not.. but I am awake now in the office and I can feel the headache from lack of sleep banging on my forehead... and you know what... I ain't going for the conference... I don't think I can handle it anymore.... not today...
Need to eat and sleep and be merry...

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Biometrics - Do they Matter

What are Biometrics? What is the use? Do they make things work better?
Hmmm


Biometrics comprises methods for uniquely recognizing humans based upon one or more intrinsic physical or behavioral traits. In computer science, in particular, biometrics is used as a form of identity access management and access control. It is also used to identify individuals in groups that are under surveillance ( wikipedia)

The idea behind this is so your identity is safe... right!!!

An applicant to the UK has just been refused a visa to study... why? Because she with held information about a previous refusal.

Question - Was there a previous refusal?
Answer - No
Question - So how did this come about?
Answer - The story goes - Twin sisters ( Identical) Jennifer and Jessica made an application through the UKBA to go in for a visiting trip in March. Jennifer was granted a visa, but Jessica was not. ( reason for the refusal of the twin is beside the point).
In august, Jennifer, who was issued a Visa in March, submitted the same passport for the issuance of a Student visa, and was refused because she was refused in March, and did not submit the passport she submitted with the previous application.
Question- really? Was it not Jessica that was refused?
Answer- Yes it was, and you'd expect that their biometrics of the twins, which they had, as well as the passport which Jennifer submitted confirmed that she is Jennifer and not Jessica.

Why then do we have biometrics done when a very developed country cannot even tell the difference in the biometric details which they have at hand.
The Entry clearance officer, has now refused Jennifer for withholding information on her refusal, when in actual fact she never had a refusal. This means they actually do not make do with any details which they collect. They can still mix up biometric details...

Very disappointing.. right?

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Things we do

following an article by a friend of mine, where she commented on the number of ladies who dressed up as the bride at a wedding function..... got me thinking.

You know... we Africans keep testing the limit. I mean, why would anyone dress up in a white dress to attend a wedding. Knowing fully well that the bride will be wearing white!!!!
Whats up with you people!!!!!!!!!
Why try to steal the show!!.. oh!! my bad..... it is not an African thing... I have actually been to a white wedding, where a white witch.. thought it only was nice, and' extremely selfish to do that'.

Well, I guess it is human nature to be selfish. To think that you want to steal the show?!!.. yet, these characters are the very same one who would not stand to watch someone else do that to them.....

I remember attending this wedding, which was Lavish, thanks to the bride's family. After the wedding, came the reception. At the reception, the bride still had on her wedding dress.. which is cool by me. However, the mother of the bride, went off to get herself a new outfit, and then again later on, changed to another outfit. For heaven's sake.. it ain't your wedding!!!... it is your daughters'... but then .. it really was all about the bride's mum. The Mother of the bride made so much noise ( PR_ attention drama) , so every one noticed her arrival.. which was late...
The one thing I noticed was, the daughter was unaffected by this. She seemed to be used to her mother's ever noisy tantrums.

O yes.... I forgot to mention.. at the engagement.... like we do in Nigeria.... the Groom is given a list of things to bring as part of the dowry.... this particular brides mother... kept complaining about everything that was brought down. So much that she received the dowry - 3 times before she shut up.
The fish... is not the kind I eat.
The yam is not sweet.
The box is empty.
The wine is cheap
I requested for two goats (male and female) and I got 2 male goats
.... the groom has NO parents O!!!

To top it up.... at the thanksgiving service on Sunday..... mother of the bride arrives....saying she counted everything that was brought down for the engagement, and it was not complete... so she is not interested in being party to the thanksgiving service... and OFF SHE WENT!!! with her entourage.

Eh!!!!! I am still relieving the shock!!!!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Pre- judging

I remember when I was heading home from the supposed business meeting I had at Grosvenor Gardens, in Victoria, London. Two guys asking me for directions towards Finsbury park. I did give the directions. And then they asked if I spoke French... I speak barely enough to save my life.
So we got chatting... and then they asked if I was married. .....Cos I look contented. Peaceful with no worries. I thought they were absolutely MAD.... but that was only what they felt about me. I had absolutely no worries... nothing bothering me. I was happy inside. My life on the right side up.
Okay... I get the picture.... But it was only yesterday that I realised that I had drawn the same conclusions about HIM.

I met him about a year ago... at the High Commission. Yeah.. we were both moaning about the services they had to offer.. and then we parted ways. He took my number... and somehow I did not take his. I wonder why that happened.
OK... so moving on.. He called me that night to check up on me. That was very thoughtful of him. SO we talked a bit more the third day.. and that was it. I remember thinking that he reminded me of a Nerd.. someone totally into books and work. He wore glasses.... the kind the geeks use. Funny thing though, is that I appreciate geeks and nerds, I think they are focused and driven, unlike the rest of this world.
He definitely knew what he was doing... with work.. The way he talked about work..Oh.. he enjoys what he does. ( my thoughts).
So... Then I thought to myslf.. he does look married. Not because I saw a ring. There was none. But he looked contented. No worries.. like he was tuly married ( married for all the right reasons). I remember telling a friend when I got home after meeting him, she asked.. is he married... I said.. well I did not ask. He looked married ( like there is a way married men are supposed ot look!!!!). But I did like him. He was very sure of himself.

So I get a text message from a strange number last night,... it was him... telling me he had been transferred to Switzerland. How lucky for him. To be where all the action is. He definitely must be good at his job, otherwise, he would not have been taken to Switzerland. So I called back... and we spoke. It was there he mentioned that he was not married. Good Lord!!... I did not respond like I thought I would. In fact, i'd say that my brain was rebooting at that time, so I could not process the new information. He is not married!!!???? What was I thinking. SO he asks for my email address.. I gave him. And I did the very same thing that I did when we met initially, I did not ask for his email address!!. Why do I do stuff like that?
Okay, so.. I sent a text with my email, which was not receipted, so I am not sure if he got it....So I guess, I shall have to wait to receive a mail form him as a confirmation.

Ah.. so there it is.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Another one....

So the maid decides to go to school. COntinue her education... and 'Boy' am I up for that. It means we can at least add value to the life of an individual. That is fantastic. It also means that she can be totally independent and be able to provide bread for her family when she wishes. Nonody wants to be left behind. Education is a legacy.
We were all excited about this, even the maid herself was super excited. I had started to search for adult education centres within the area, so she can go and start the next stage of her life. Little did I know, that my friends mother would object. What was her response ' When I do not have a maid to help around, you want to send her to school?'
I have never heard any such negative comment, and the connotation......... O my WORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What she meant was.. if you think she has time on her hands to get education, perhaps you should send her over to help me with some of my house chores.

I can't think, I do not know what to do...

It is unbelievable.. in this day and age....O my Josephine!!!!!

Hmmmmmm.. This life eh!!!

Another day dawns....and thus it goes.. my sister has still not been paid her last months wages. Why?... Some 'Man' who thinks he is an all in all has not signed of on her pay-check. Why do these things happen. So now.. she has worked 6 weeks without pay. She lives in a city about 12 hours away - by road. SO she cannot come home for dinner everyday. It is appalling.
Previous to that, she was supposed to go to Uni but her papers did not arrive on time. The said documents arrived one week after the late enrolment date, forcing her to take a year out before pursuing the degree. Why?.. I keep asking why?... perhaps someone has an answer that I cannot see.
Like I said.. this life eh!!!
Have to send her some money to cover living expenses or something....
Just when you think that life is going on well. then a spanner goes into the works.

This life... eh!!!!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Finally

Alleluia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Lord!!! It has taken me this long to get here. My goodness, the ideas, thoughts and processing running through my brain have almost left me crazy. O my Word!!! you should see them chasing up and down, round and round my head. Even affecting my facial gestures. It is appalling. Now.. I get to express it somewhere, where I can read it.
I mean, its not like I have not tried to write them down before, its just that, when I do the thoughts are pouring like a dozen to one at the same time, and I am busy trying to write as fast as i can to catch up. Then my handwriting becomes illegible, and I cant read it no more.
Ain't that a sad, sad story.
Whooohoooo!!!.. I am good baby...

Yeah.... ready to speed off. But first, I gotta get back to work. I am sure I shall be back.. , and back I will be.
Ciao