₦airaland Forum

The hard working people deserve a holiday. A period that is official-work free. Whew! 2019 December holidays was memorable.

I had decided to take a trip down to my aunt's house in Lagos and spend the holidays with her. I wanted to compensate the long period we haven't seen each other even though we resided in neighbouring States. So a day before I was to embark on my trip, I went to the market and bought some provision. I took my daughter along with me so she could start learning, know how to buy things and help improve her mathematics.

By the time we got to Lagos, we ran into traffic and at a point I wish I had stayed back in ogun state. It's too late now to start regretting, I told myself. My daughter kept asking me when we were going to arrive and I kept reassuring her we were almost there.

With all that lagos stress, I wonder what lagosians eat that makes them gain weight. By the time we got to my sisters house, no one was at home. Even though I had informed her that I was coming on a later date, I decided to come early as a surprise and it worked. It worked for me because I had to sit at a kiosk in front of her house. Her husband came and we exchanged greetings. He said he thought I was coming before new year but who would want to travel during that time?
By the time I saw my sister, I could barely recognize her. We hugged and I could feel the joy in her. She carried my daugher and greeted her too. Of course my daughter couldn't recognize her because she was barely 8 months old when they saw last.

That night was all about reminiscing and making calls to special family friends. The next day we went to Balogun market and bought ingredients for Christmas food. It was very hectic and again, anywhere you go people keep hitting you with their shoulders, it's very annoying and I didn't even get a "sorry sister".

You know when siblings who haven't seen themselves in a while talk funny questions always arise. My sister asked, "why do we even need to eat food"? Why is food important? I wasn't sure if I should give her an unintelligent reply then again, I wanted to be sane. I told her over the course of human history, food has always been an important aspect of living. Have you ever seen a person survive without food "? In fact, we need food for many things like trade, you need food for good health, you need food to produce energy in order to work optimally." If you don't eat as at when due, you won't perform well at work and that means if you are my employee, I will sack you". We both laughed. She even affirmed that our kids need food to grow properly.

I wanted to show her I was educated in history. I told her, "aunty, it is even part of the marital right to bring different kinds of foods especially tubers as gifts for your intending in-laws. Food usage is exhaustive, iwe need food to stay sane.

In order to bore my sister the more and kill the topic, I went further too quote the Bible where it says "I have given to you every seed bearing plant that is on the entire earth and every tree with seed bearing fruit. Let them serve as food for you".

She smiled and asked if I was getting prepared for pastoral school.

As we cooked there was a brief silence and I asked myself Why are humans attracted to food? I don't stop thinking about food, do you? The sizzling oil, aroma, flavors, colors, texture in hand and on the tip of your tongue. That growing softness and sweetness that had you salivating as your canine bite harder, yes that's food.

Later that day I freshend up and took my daughter, and my sister's kids to Bii Bigi restaurant. I believe there are different types of food I will so much love to have my family enjoy. But then again, people are stepping out to enjoy such meals at restaurants although it could be styled as a cuisine.

I asked the kids "have you eaten the Nigerian delicacy popularly called "ASUN"? They all said no. I taught them how asun is made of properly washed goat meat, onions, turmeric, pepper, spices and salt to taste.

Before the waiter brought the food, I told them they wouldn't be going through the stress of making it themselves, and waiting for the meat and spice to marinate for 30 minutes on low heat.

It was only me in charge of six children, I had to be extra watchful. It got to a point I started suspecting anyone looking towards my direction as having an ulterior motive.

I taught the kids why Restaurants are painted with some colors. Colors such as light blue, yellow, red and orange makes one feel hungry or wanting to eat. When we got home it was well past 10pm and the dad was worried.

The next day, I needed to check certain records I had brought with me on the trip. I discovered that I forgot my glasses at the restaurant. How on earth could I make such a silly mistake. I and my husband's sister drove to the restaurant to check for my glasses.

As we drove past Red Onions Restaurants and down Kola Amadu Cresent, we were faced by heavily armed men who were forcing a man into the vehicle. They asked us to park too which we did. I initially wondered why my in-law decided to park. And me being a woman who wanted to prove human rights, said "haba Oga, what is the issue"? The man thundered at me "are you mad, who are you to question me...". I was very scared before my sister's husband shouted back all sorts and he immediately recognized him.

The armed man removed his blackface cap that was initially covering almost his nose in such a way that if he wanted to look at you, he would need to lift his head and you will need to consider his nose as his eyes if there is a need to communicate with him.

He removed his cap and was saluting saying sorry sir, sorry sir. But I couldn't insult him again even if I wanted to. HE only, clappsed his hands together and was saying sorry ma, sorry ma. My in-law is a high ranking officer who hates stickers or dressing his vehicle to portray being an officer. He says "it draws the draws the obvious". I am not sure what it means.

He drove slowly towards the van and asked what was the issue. The young man had been traced and caught with the stolen phone. As we drove off, the man kept apologizing. My in-law appealed to me but stylishly told me not to question them next time to just ignore. But the defiance in me was as high as mount Everest although I nodded my head each time in acceptance to his long speech as we drove along.

On Christmas morning around 4am I started cooking, so that we could go and give to the needy that stayed by the road side. I don't like the idea of calling them beggars. I feel like it's an insult. In the evening, my sister's eldest son decided to teach me how to play God of War. I have to admit the game was interesting like a movie. He taught me how to use the consoles. The younger ones too wanted to play too. I had to teach them some aspects in English like parts of speech. I taught them about noun, pronoun, verbs, conjunction and adverbs.

On the 28th, we went to visit. My mom's uncle who came back from Canada. I must admit there is something different about being abroad and being at home in Nigeria.

We stayed over till 1st of January and we went to church. The Reverend preached about new year goals. I thought to myself, "even the ones I set last year, I couldn't meet up".

But this year, I promised to do better this year. One of my goals is to take my birth even if it's the cold season. I know the make over and perfumes work wonders. I intend using make up a few times this year.
I want my daughter to spend more time with me and to help her go through her books more especially her mathematics. My goal is to make sure she excels in that aspect more before the end of 2020.

Nothing is impossible, I believe it's a year of chances and I am bent on using it to my best advantage.
Ifyalways

Wow I would have loved to have this... Are they friendly with children.

Jalinspy:
7 Obasa street, Chemline building behind forte Oil Oba Akran Ikeja

funny enough I was congratulating the dude

This man is intelligent. It's about time people start challenging things we consider awkward

Compliments ma

Wow war is bad and evil... Jesus

@whyem15 there is no fairness in war.

There is no such thing as following convention or engagements of war.

If they attack the US by proxy, the US will attack directly... This reminds me of George Bush administration and the 9/11

IRAQ

From a feminine stand point, War is a necessary evil. World War 111 will usher in new technologies, inventions and a more liberal world...
Especially for women entrapped by religious beliefs in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Somalia and Brunei amongst numerous others, also women in northern Nigeria.

I am 100% sure WW111 will usher in new methods to living

Olalan:
Feminist that don't really know what they want........asking for equal rights, yet would run away from footing the bills equally

hello I foot by own bills joyfully.
I have seen men who can't. So what's your point again?

If you respected her you wouldn't have been selfish and cheated on her.
If you respect her feelings you better let bygones be bygones

We often times find love in strange places

Certain things are just for show... But the youth believe it's real life..

What's wrong with our youth