It's a new year, and it's exciting that there wasn't fuel scarcity through out the festive period. No reason for a long queue at the filling station. With this, one would expect that there shouldn't be hike in the cost of transportation, but no, reversal was the case. There was an increase in the cost of transport for no just reason except that it's festive period and they are collecting 'owo odun'.

After spending the festive period at home, I decided to return to school yesterday. On getting to the car park, there was only one passenger left for the car to leave, I felt I was so lucky until I realized the cost of transportation has been increased from #500 to #700. I had to ask why, I need to know the reason for the sudden increment even if I would be paying for it. All I got as response was that they were collecting 'owo odun' i.e. festive money. What does that even mean? I was like it's the 3rd day already, which 'odun' were they still doing, and the driver was like they would still be collecting it till weekend. The feeling of entitlement irritated me more, I was like I really do not have an emergency to attend to in school (even though I later realized I had), why should be paying such amount? I sha said I would be going back home to wait till when they were done with their owo odun, and he was like I should go and wait till after the festive period.
I sha got down, took a #50 bus to another car park. On getting there, they were still charging their regular #300 but they have also increased the number of passengers from 3 per seat to 4.

A friend who took the car from the former car park the previous day, 2nd later told me they also increased the number of passengers from 1 to 2 in the front seat a day before, aside increasing the T fare from #500 to #700.

Owo odun is something to be given freely and willing to the recipient as a way of sharing the goodies of the festive period around and showing love between the giver and the receiver.
I ask myself, should something of this nature be forced out of one's pocket and collected through means of inflating price of commodities?
But then, Nigerians remain the problem of Nigeria, and the greatest discomforters of Nigerians.

If there had been fuel scarcity, everyone would have been shouting the government, abusing 'Buhari' and have a 'justifiable' reason to increase price of goods and services, but now there's none, we still find a way to make life difficult for ourselves.
We will definitely be alright at the end.

2018 started on a good note, and I think it's ending on a fair note. In between was hell. It was a year of a lot of first timer. I experienced love. I was heartbroken. I experienced different set backs. At a point, it felt like I was moving a step ahead and three steps backwards. I lost myself. I lost loved ones. I felt all alone even though I was surrounded by people. My mum has always been my number 1 cheerleader, my love, my fan, my encourager, but she wasn't physically present. It made it tougher. I felt love deprived, looking for a substitute where there's none. I experienced depression at its peak. Suicidal thoughts kept crawling in. The only thing that held me back was the thought of my mum. Days I just want to sleep and never wake up. Days I don't just want to go out and felt like locking my inner self up. Days of complications as if the end is near. There was a time I felt I won't live to see the end of the year. I just felt I would be gone by them. That the pain, physical, emotional and mental would be over and everything would come to an end. I was really looking forward to that end. I just wanted it to come and the life would be over.
But here I am, still bouncing. I'm not yet an overcomer but a survivor. Still living, still surviving.
2018,ka ma pade mon. All the tribulations of the year, may I not see them again. It was a tough year.
Alhamdulilah.

Good morning.
I decided to put this here and not in my diary.
Yesterday was a really stressful day but didn't weigh me down. I kind of trek for a while looking for where to withdraw money.
Let me start from how it started.
Two days ago (Tuesday), I received a call from one of the doctors at the Haematology unit in the teaching hospital that they are conducting a test for their patients that my attention is needed. I already knew about the test, as my friends in the clinic already informed me, it's on their research work on sickle cell patients. I informed him I won't be available until Friday because of my school work which is true as my classes on Wednesday and Thursday are from 8-5pm with little few hours in between. He sha said I should come on Friday morning that my transport fare would be given to me, as if that would ginger me to come if I don't want to

I actually like to help with research work as I know what's involved, but most doctors' approach can be annoying, like it's their rights for you to give your samples to them and all. Also, they don't even try to explain what the research is about to the volunteers, all they are after is to get the samples needed and discard the patient, which is against ethical procedures of obtaining information/samples during research. Some of us know our rights, we just decide to be of help, in bettering the world. I know if the research work is successful, it can aid medical work and treatment, reason why I volunteer and don't care about the doctors' attitude most times.

Don't let me digress too much.

On Wednesday (yesterday), I was supposed to have a practical in school by 8am which I went for, but there was no light to carry out the experiment in the lab, so attendance was taken and we were released around 8:30am. That left me with ample time to do other things since my next class is by 12pm.
N.B: The lab was supposed to end by 11am normally.

I decided to go to THC (teaching hospital complex) to attend to the doctor who called. On getting there, he's not around yet so I decided to go to the gynaecology unit to find out if I can collect HPV vaccine which I had plans to get since. I was told to go and eat then come back and I also got to know the payment for it is directly to them not to the hospital account which I was planning to do with my ATM card since I wasn't with enough cash and I didn't really plan for it that day.

I then called the doctor from Haematology unit to know if he's around, and he said he will join me in the day clinic soon. I guessed he was already in his office. On getting to the day clinic, I sha waited few minutes, then he entered and called me, then I met him. Interestingly this particular doctor has never attended to me personally before in my 6 years of attending clinics there. I only see his face around once in a while. I guessed they allocated different patients to different doctors doing research works to use as volunteers, as he wasn't the one who contacted one of my friends in the clinic, I don't know the doctors who contacted the rest.

He sha told me he was the one who called me and asked me to sit, then brought us a form and started filling it for me. No explanation about the test to be carried out or research in general, nothing. He only told me mama, referring to one of their consultant haematologist, asked them to do the test for all their patients.
Meanwhile, I was already going through the form as it's his research work, and glacing what it's all about.
He then wanted me to sign that I was duly informed about the test, the risk and all, and I am fully aware and gave consent to the research. I would have gone ahead to do that even though he didn't explain as expected of him, as I really have no issue with been volunteer for such research work, but from what I could read I realized the test was for sickle cell Anaemia i.e. SS patients not SC patients which I am.
I sha told him he hasn't explain what the test is about to me. That's when he then explained and asked if my genotype was HBSS, I replied No and told him I'm HBSC. He then said he thought he asked me on the phone, wanting to kind of put the blame on me, I replied and told him he made no explanation on phone and didn't ask such question, he only asked me to come for a test been carried out for their patients.
He sha apologized that the test wasn't meant for me, and I can go.
No more talk about my Tfare which I don't really care about anyway. It's not as if he can give more than #500.
I sha left the place. Then, I started looking for where to withdraw money so that I can take the HPV vaccine and my journey to THC won't be a complete waste of time and resources. I visited the two ATM at phase 2, none of them were dispensing. Then went to their banking area. First got to Zenith bank, I was so happy it was dispensing even though there was queue, only for it to get to 2 people before me, and it stopped dispensing.
I moved to GTBANK ATM, also not dispensing. Then to Polaris bank, their ATM was out of service.
I then went back to Zenith bank to check again if they have load the ATM as people were going there. It was still not dispensing. At this point, I was already getting frustrated. Some people who are using Zenith Bank were entering the bank to make their withdraw. I sha also entered and approached about 3 different people, (1 elderly man, 1 elderly woman and a young lady) differently to please allow me to transfer into their account and they should help me withdraw from the counter with theirs, as I was using GTBank.
N.B: GTBANK only had an ATM in the hospital, they don't operate there.
They sha rejected claiming they don't do such. The young lady claimed she was in a hurry, someone on the queue. I wondered if it would have really taken extra time to offer such help.

I was discouraged and left the banking premises thinking of my next move close to the ATM. Then a woman approached the ATM also wanting to withdraw. As she was about to go into the banking premises since the ATM was still not working, I sha approached her and explained to her and asked if she can help me with the withdrawal. That's how she accepted o and told me to follow her to the bank. She wrote down her account number inside the bank, and I did the transfer to her account. Transfer successful. I haven't even received the debit alert before she filled the withdrawal slip and joined the queue.
She sha withdrew and gave me my share of the money. I was so happy and grateful. God bless her for me. May God answer her at her point of need.
That was how I was able to withdraw o.

I left the bank, went to eat, then went to purchase some of my routine drugs before going back to the gynaecology unit to get the vaccine.


I want to ask, is there any risk for you in transferring to your account and helping to withdraw from the counter? I feel you can easily confirmed the money has been deposited before withdrawing and handling over the money.
I even felt it's at my own risk as you could claim you didn't receive the money and I may not be able to voice out and defend my case, since you could give another account details for me to transfer into.

But then, I guess a lot of people have trust issues especially when it comes to money and might felt they can be scammed.

Nitefury:


Hello Dear

Hi dear. How have you been? NL don miss you and your writings o.

Nitefury:


Na morale to start again no dey after I lost my other laptop. Had typed several chapters into the sequel. Then work and hustle come join

Fury! I hail o

OMG, the rate of suicide is so on the rise, the rate of depression is so alarming. Everyone is going through some deep shits and want to keep it to themselves. Please and please, don't do it, suicide should not be seen as an option. If you need anyone to talk to, I promise to make myself available. We can encourage each other. We can share our problems with others and see from another angle. Things may not be going as we plan, but it will definitely fall in places if we are patient and don't kill ourselves before it does.
I personally I have been going through some deep poo. Depression has really creep in a number of times, the thought of suicide has been strong for a while, but I promise not to allow it. The thought of how my mom will feel won't let me do such to her. I have been trying to stay sane.
Since, around early June this year, I have been battling with depression. The death of some really closed warriors, my academic performance not going as expected, sickle cell crisis and complications and all.
Around May, I lost a really close friend and colleague (a warrior) who I draw inspiration and motivation from, as he's really good academically. After then, we lost a member of a sickle cell support group I belonged, though he had an accident which in no way was related to Sickle cell.
About two members from an online support group I belong to, also died from Sickle cell complications.
Some other ones not known, but heard of/read about.
Everything started getting to me in a way.
Also, I have really been in and out of crisis and complications. I have spent more time in the past five months battling with my health, than time spent on my studies and doing other things I would love to partake in.
I was diagnosed of Avascular necrosis around July, placed on crutches. I was on crutches for about 10weeks which hindered my movement and all. I couldn't attend classes and laboratory works, for about 6weeks till the first semester ends. I felt so down, I didn't know what my academic performance this session would look like.
After I stopped using crutches, I was suspected of having Osteomyelitis. I used 'suspected' because the Haematologists questioned it and refer me to the orthopedic unit, who couldn't see much on the x-ray as it wasn't clear enough. They wanted the X-ray reported by the radiologist, but it usually takes four weeks to report an x-ray in the teaching hospital I use. Even after four weeks, the report wasn't ready so I don't really know my fate about that.
In between the complications, there are also Vaso-occlusive crisis which has kept me in and out of the hospital. My Blood pressure has been high whenever I am in crisis, which necessitated been referred to and managed by the cardiologist.
Juggling clinics when I'm fine, and then hospital visitation which could lead to admission, has made it seems like hospital visit is the main thing I am living for.
During last semester exam, I had crisis which made me miss out on my exam. I was only able to write 1 out of 4, having 3 to retake. The semester hasn't been smooth as well. My academic performance has been of major concern as I am presently on yellow card in the school of Pharmacy. I don't know if I will survive and make it out of Pharmacy school. I have really been doubting myself of recent.
Thinking of the possibility of pursuing a career for 8years and not getting it makes me feel like a failure, but I know I am not one. If I am withdraw from Pharmacy school, I don't know where I will start from. I don't know what will be left of me.
Thinking about everything, makes the depression really high. I don't know how many times I have thought of taking the morphine bottle and drinking it all to end it all. I can't recollect the number of times I have been on a topmost floor and I felt like jumping down. I don't know how many times I have thought of standing in the middle of the road and been invisible to passerby so that a car can hit me. I was holding a broken mirror and felt like cutting my wrist. But the face of my mom kept me going. I can't do that to her. It will hurt her more.
Also, I have made up my mind that with or without Pharmacy degree, I will make it. I will live my life whatever remains of it. Maybe the 8years spent on this journey wasn't for me to obtain a degree/certificate, maybe I am just meant to learn some things which I already did.
Whatever happens at the end of this session, I have decided not to see the years spent as a waste, though I hope and pray the best comes out of it.
I pray I come back here to share my testimony.
This is not to encourage suicide in any way. I just decided to pour my heart out and let you know you are not alone in whatever you are going through.
Events will happen, whether good or bad, but it's our view of it that matters.
I know it's not easy to open up and talk about what we are going through, but I implore us to find someone to talk to, someone we can trust at every stage of our lives. It really helps.
You can feel free to contact me and share with me as well via DM. I just changed my mail address because I couldn't use my Yahoo mail to reply messages. I hope the Gmail works better with that.
Also, I have a business account now for first aid counseling session and it's absolutely free for now. You can contact us via that and remain anonymous if you want to. It's known as Sapphire Concept and can be reached via
https:///2347089792830?text=I%20want%20to%20book%20an%20appointment.%20My%20name%20is


You can also drop your contact as comment here, if you want me to reach out to you.

But please don't pity me, I need not that. I am trying to be fine, and I think I am fine presently.

Thank you

Hello everyone,
I got some really sweet names warriors are being called by loved ones, such as:
Strong and smart
Super Strong
Slim and sexy
Super Special
Smart and Classic
Slim and classic etc.

I'm so super excited, so we aren't just called by the bad names, I won't like to mention.

What other sweet names have you been called or do you call your loved ones, as a result of their genotype? Kindly add yours.

OkoAnike:
Please put a copy of your dairy here as promised, so that people can respond to them accordingly. Thanks and God bless

Okay. Noted.

OkoAnike:


Fam24, I only came to appreciate your personality here, since I won't be able to do that on the dairy thread. Thank you for being a fighter and a hero, fight on, you are a victor already... I 'm sure so many of us on this platform who has opportunity to go through your dairy are with you... Go on and fulfill your purpose, because HE (God ) created you for a purpose. Cheers.

Thanks so much. I'm blushing right now.

*NO BRA DAY: The Origin and Controversy*
October is the month set aside to increase Awareness about Breast Cancer and raise funds for research into its causes, prevention and management. October 13 has been picked out as 'No bra Day'. This day wasn't to say bra is a cause of breast cancer, as there is no scientific evidence to support such, but only a myth been propagated.
No bra Day is a day set aside to identify with survivors of breast cancer who has had their breast amputated hence could no longer make use of bra and to create awareness about breast examination in prevention of cancer.

_The Origin_
No bra day was initially BRA (Breast Reconstruction Awareness) Day to create awareness about the availability of breast reconstructive surgery for survivors of breast cancer who has had their breast amputated in the course of treatment.
No bra Day was adapted at the first BRA day in Toronto in 2011 by an anonymous individual who conceived of No Bra Day as a way to encourage women to enjoy being braless and to become knowledgeable about breast cancer symptoms.
N.B: A number of countries still observed the BRA day.

_The Controversy_
The day is controversial as some see it as sexualizing and exploiting women's bodies while at the same time belittling a serious disease.
80% of those around me who posted about the 'No bra Day' this year were guys. Is it because they were concerned? Some see it as a way of mockery of the woman body and has diverted to sexualize the day. At a point, I had to keep telling myself it's 'No bra day', and not nude Day, as doing away with bra doesn't imply nudity as some made it seemed.

Some women have seen it as a day to explore their body and do away with the 'bondage' of bra. Women are urged after taking off their bra to give themselves a breast examination for prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer.

'No Bra Day' is not the same as 'Anti- bra Day' been propagated by some feminists in protest against society's perception of women's bodies and dress requirements.

Also, another issue with the concept is that breast cancer survivors who use prosthetics must wear a bra to conceal their disfigurement or wear prosthetics and inserts in their bra to make them appear "normal". Some critics have described the event as sexualizing and exploiting women’s bodies while at the same time belittling a serious disease.

The unofficial No Bra Day is not recognized by any cancer research organization or is formally part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Some critics have described the event as being "purely sexual". The event does not directly raise money for cancer research or prevention, although individuals are in some cases encouraged to support such causes.

In conclusion, breast cancer is a serious life-threatening illness and has nothing to do with wearing a bra or not wearing a bra, and shouldn't be trivialized sexually or politically. All hands must be on deck to tackle this menace in our society as it affects us all.

Self examination and mammogram are important in the prevention of breast cancer. Get tested!

#PinkRibbon
#BreastCancerAwarenessMonth
#BRADay
#NoBraDay

*©FAM*

*What day is Mother's day in Nigeria?*
Are you one of those wondering how many times Mother's day is celebrated in Nigeria? Here is an answer.
Mother's Day falls on different days depending on the countries where it is celebrated. It is held on the second Sunday of May in many countries, such as Australia, Canada and the United States. It is held exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday in the United Kingdom.
As Nigerians try to combine the traditions of both United Kingdom (Our colonial master) with that of United States, which sometimes reflect in our English usage (short knicker �), same way we celebrate with both countries on the different dates on Mothering.

As mothers are worth celebrating every single day of the year, even the Prophet (S.A.W.) find them worthy of good companionship thrice, hence let's keep celebrating our mothers.

*A man came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your father. (Bukhari, Muslim).*

Shout out to Our Mothers.

©FAM

mantosa:
See her own rant. Omo these ladies are not serious

cc
Lalasticlala

Some ladies are just a disgrace to the humanfolk. Her favorite fast food is King bite but she can't afford it. How did it become her favorite, was it that she has always gone there with those who pay the bill? The story just don't add up.

Ladies, please stop disgracing your generation in the name of date. Take what you can conveniently pay for, even if it's just a bottle of water. Date is mainly about getting to know each other not about the meal. There's no rule that says you should not feed your stomach before leaving home.

And the guy Bleep up small, he shouldn't have run away, he should have simply enjoy the date, and inform the waiter boldly in their presence, that they will be paying, and then walk out.

*Course 411*

I initially decided not to really comment on this issue expecting that it will go away within few days just like any other news of its kind. But reading people's comments on the issue, and some even referring to the Supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution (If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void) for such situation, compel me to do otherwise. I will like to say that omission in the constitution is not the same as inconsistency. A lot of rules and regulations, laws and orders are not found in the constitution directly, but so far such didn't contradict any part of the constitution, such shall remain valid. That's why we have a lot of Decrees, Acts, Code of conduct and ethics to back up the constitution.

*N.B.:* This is not to nail nor support anyone, and it's just my view about 'sexual harrassment' in general, not restricted to any particular scenerio/case.

Hmm! Sexual harrassment in our society. Using what you have (sex) to get what you want (favor). Majority of those who comment on cases like this, do so without bothering the factors and evidences (if any) involved in such cases. People already decide and preoccupied their mind with what they want to see to favour whoever they decide to support in such cases, making out a lot of assumption to vindicate their favoured party and condemn the other party.

In a sane society, there is what is called FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP, and parties in this kind of relationship are not allowed to be in sexual relationship as one party may seems to be taken advantage of by the other party.
Fiduciary relationship is one in which one party places special trust, confidence, and reliance in and is influenced by another who has a fiduciary duty to act for the benefit of the party. A fiduciary relationship may be created by express agreement of the parties, or it may be imposed by law where established by the conduct of the parties. Typical fiduciary relationships exist between agents and principals, attorneys and clients, medical doctors and patients, lecturers/teachers and students, Pharmacists and clients.
All of these professions carry a special trust not to abuse the seen or unseen dependent elements that inevitably develop. Because of the greater power of the professional, the client is unable to give truly informed consent, and it is thus the responsibility of the person in the more powerful position to control the necessary boundary between the two parties. Hence, any kind of sexual relationship, irrespective of who initiated the act, between these parties is seen as inappropriate and even illegal as it's against ethical practice, and thus termed sexual harrassment of the subordinate.

© FAM

Good morning nairalanders.

My neighbor came to knock my door and woke me up early in the morning. He wanted to enter and lock my door, but I carefully moved outside to attend to him. He is so drunk, his steps been wavy and his words were incoherent. He claimed he wanted to lock the gate and just came to check on me, as he's scared. He was talking and blabbing about issues that are not even urgent. Asking about why my brother is not around and his daughter coming to visit me. He was talking as if it's still the previous day and just came out to lock our main gate.
N.B.: I'm the only one in my apartment. My families are not around for now. He's a family man staying with his wife and their daughter in the next apartment.
Just wondering, am I unnecessarily been paranoid or should be careful around him? Is it because he's drunk?

In as much as most of what I will be posting here are things that will be in my diary, I'm creating this thread to get others' opinion and feedback on certain issues that require such. Thanks

jaykorbs:
Hi , I seriously need help on how to call of this relationship without breaking her spirit because she is a fighter.

Like you said, she's a fighter, and she will fight with or without you. So stop being with her cos of pity or what people will say, leave her and let her move on with her life.