Diary of a new Lagos wife: Covid - 19

Diary of a new Lagos wife: the lockdown
Diary of a new Lagos wife: snail hunters
Diary of a new Lagos wife: Easter

Diary of a new Lagos wife: work outs

Hey guys, your favorite iyawo is back, and with lots of good tidings not minding the times we find ourselves in. It's no longer news about the virus that has besieged the world. The world as we know it, has been tossed on its head, shaken up, down, right, left and centre.

This started late last year and only came to the limelight when stuff hit the roof.  for some od us, we only caught wisps and snatches of conversations pertaining to it. Not until we were also hit with it.

We're familiar with the healthcare routines and practices for keeping safe. They sound so simple but ultimately, they're life savers. You don't appreciate the little things like touching one's face indiscriminately while wiping sweat off the brows, until you're constrained from doing them. Life has taken on am entirely new meaning for me & for you too I'm sure.

In my case, I've kinda been keeping busy, as it is, I'm not entirely isolated considering that I live in a family compound with family in it. So, we've been using the opportunity(ies) to bond & to create memories like I outlined in the brief opening paragraphs. That kinda sums up some of our activities within & around the compound, hehe.

Well, stay safe out there please this too shall pass. Till I come your way next time, it is I, your new lagos wife, toodles.

Weird, Weirder, Weirdest

For some strange reason that I can't even make sense of, I decided at last minute to wrap up this month with a post. This month for me was far from being perfect and was really a lazy one. And I'm not just talking about the blog alone but all round - work, academics, relationships, every. 

For some inexplicable reason, I've been pretty much low key with few bursts of adrenaline in between which afterwards led to burn out. I'm even surprised that I have the energy to put up this post. No, I'm not overworked and no, I'm not tired. I just feel...ennui. Yeah, I think that's it.

In between the few spells of energy bursts, I've been stuffing myself with food. Yeah, this March was really pretty weird for me. I was demotivated and a little bit down I must confess. Probably 'cos I felt kinda alienated and who's responsible for said alienation? My humble self. Well, if there's anything I've learnt about so far in all of these' that:

1. Always go with the flow. In the end, I'll feel better for it. If I'm down, it's OK, be down. If I want to be alone, it's OK, be alone. If I stuff my face with food, please don't go beating yourself up about it, just go with the flow 'cos I know that these too shall pass and when it does pass, things get better. Which brings me to...
2. I usually come back revitalised and ready to take on the world after these spells. It's as if I have to pass through the valley so as to better appreciate the view from the mountain top.
3. One's friends (if they're really yours) will always be there waiting for you. They won't make you feel bad or guilty for feeling the way you do and acting it out. No they won't. Highest, they'd give you the space you desire and then watch for the signs that says "no danger here, safe to approach". That sounds messed up, I know but it's the truth. True friends wont leave you hanging or pressure you into acting some typa way. They just let you be. If you want to be.

That's not all, but I feel drowsy and so that'll be all. Thanks for reading, bonne nuit.

***

so, that was a 2017 post that I'd forgotten somewhere in the archives. Compared to then and now...hold on, lemme see what's different...A lot!😉

Bye darlings...

Diary of a new Lagos Wife💍: The Job Hunter 🔫 🏹

Dear diary,

Boy, do I have a lot to say, especially as it relates to these elections. But let's start with the most pressing of them all (as it relates to me of course), job hunt!!!

I've gradually come to the realisation that job hunting in Lagos, is an etirely different ball game. I'm afraid, I won't be going into specifics but believe me, it is. 

I remember while back in Abuja, sitting in my cozy office, chatting with a Lagosian friend about the scarcity of jobs in Lagos and I'm wondering how that could be when job vacancy ads were swimming with them? Let's just say, I understand better now. Then, I simply couldn't. 

When I look back, I laugh because I now understand what his response, “you won't understand” meant. I so understand that nine times out of  ten job ads one may come across are fraudulent. Yes, Lagos is indeed a prowling jungle cat which reminds me of a poem I once wrote about it👇🏼

I also now understand to an extent how hunters feel when they go to the bush and come back empty handed (infact, I'm now understanding a number of things, no thanks to Lagos). It's not a nice feeling. It's a demoralising one. But do they quit and decide to pack up their tools and fold their arms? No. The very next day or week or month or whenever, they cock their guns and head back into the bush.

So what have hunters and bush got to do with me you may ask? If you don't know by now, you probably didn't read this post from the beginning. Do so now? 😁

Well, I'll still answer, a lot. Cos you see, I'm now a hunter. With Lagos, the jungle. I'm tempted to claim to be king of the jungle, but nah, I leave that for the agberos*.

And so, with all the little idiosyncrasies I've noticed about the city so far, I think it's time to state that there is Nigeria and then, there is Nigeria (Lagos). 

Meanwhile, I came across a facebook post, that any neighborhood built in the midst of fuel stations should just say odaaro** to constant electricity and ekaabo*** to epileptic power supply. Ain't that the truth? Honestly, I pondered on this submission and I think he's right. Because:

1. This is Lagos. If this had been said about an Abuja neighborhood, nah, wouldn't believe it. But here in Lagos, anything (if not all things) is possible. 
2. I live in such a neighborhood and what he claimed, I'm experiencing. So yeah, I believe that. 

Next time and up next, the Lagos driver travails.
Cheers... 

P. S
*Touts 
**Goodbye 
***Welcome

Doing it afraid

You can't breathe

You can't think

Your Palm's sweaty

Your heart's racing

You repeat the mantra;

"it's well, it's well"

But reprieve comes not

Then you think

Maybe, just maybe

You can't do this after all

This isn't your call

This isn't your path

You must've misheard/misread/misunderstood

This isn't for you

You talk yourself out of it

Yes, you must have misheard 

After all, you don't have the skills

You're not as well read/spoken as Ms. B

Neither as confident as she

Surely, you won't be taken seriously

You think

I'm sure we've all found ourselves in the aforementioned scenario at some points in our lives.  It's a dicey situation sometimes, however, I dunno what to say to you other than, "just do it!" What ever it is that “it” is, just do it. This is my message, and it's for me as well as for you, just do it.

Selah...

Diary of a new Lagos Wife💍: The Market Woman

Aloha diary, 

I realise I didn't talk about my very first time in an international market, aww.  I'd wanted to but forgot? I guess. Anyways, I recall how my head wouldn't stop swivelling upon stepping feet in one, lol.

There was so much to see. And buy. And then see again. So much. My eyes couldn't take it all in at once. I nearly became dizzy. I'd gone with my sissy for some wedding shopping at the highly heard of Balogun market. 

One of the things I've come to learn so far's that, there are different markets for different commodities in Lagos. The other day, MIL took me to the market, another international market.  This time, for electronics, that'd be the Alaba international market (I keep forgetting the correct pronunciation of that “Alaba”). As in holding hands kinda taking o, lol. We'd get to a crossing, mum grabs my hand. To a rowdy place, another hand grabbing, I was just feeling amused. I'm still very much finding my footing on this soil though (it's probably not helping that I barely step out) and at the same time struggling to acclimatize to the rowdiness (the city's comprised of stuff that do not make me like a city; noise and crowd) and the same time, trying to find my balance as a newly wed.

Whew, they make it look easy. The others. Don't ask me who the others are, they're just that. On both occasions though, I'd come back feeling like this:

Lol, who wouldn't have? So much for going to the market. Until next time diary,

Cheerio

Diary of a new Lagos Wife💍: New year Bants

Dear diary,

It's done. Officially in the new year. It doesn't feel so new if you ask me. I wonder, should I have thrown out everything related with the last year so I'd feel brand new? Lol

So, I did attend the old/new year ritual (I talked about new year rituals here, or rather asked a question. Biko, you pipu shu ansa me), holding a watch night service into the new year.

And then later in the day, went out for movies and ice-cream with le famille et amies. A ticket was being sold for an outrageous amount hence the cancellation. Allow me to indulge in my fave peeve statement when I encounter something outrageous like that in Lagos, “it can only be Lagos”. I was shocked, a ticket that would ordinarily sell for #500 for instance was multiplied *10. *Hiss* Extortion if you ask me. I wonder if it was because of the season we find ourselves in or because it was a box office movie. Either ways, that price wasn't justified IMO.

The shenanigans that folks welcome new years with is a general affair it would seem. Witnessed some notorious joy riding in the name of “new year” celebrations, SMH. I however witnessed no touts in churches, but there was a lot of banga (fireworks) throwing. Back in the North, they'd burn tyres in the middle of roads. Don't ask me who “they” are. And how did burning tyres add up with the new year baffles me, each to their own sha. 

Another thing that surprised me is that here in Lagos, our Muslim brethren also mark/observe these celebrations (Christmas, New year). I'd thought it was a strictly Christian affair but not so in Lagos. Any excuse to do owanbe in this Lagos is always a welcome development. Besides, an owanbe that's yet to block roads and streets, is that one an owanbe? 🤦🏻 Some things tire me in this Lagos TBH. My love-hate relationship with this city won't be ending anytime soon I'm afraid. Are there things I like about Lagos? Of course.

1. Food: for those that don't know, I identify as a foodie 😋. Food stuffs' extremely cheap here. At least compared to where I'm coming from. Not veggies though (carrots et al. The North owns those). 
2. Erm... That's it! Lol,  actively searching for more reasons. Were I to be a party kinda person, Lagos woulda been for me. They're good at partying I've observed.

Unfortunately, same day, news filtered in of a loss in the neighborhood, to the cold hands of death. For a moment, I felt cold, we were barely into the year.

Well, that did put some damper on things. So for those of us that've resumed work, journey mercies tro and fro. The roads are still traffic free,

Hubby gets to work in record time these days. Can this last forever pretty please? 🙏🏼

Peace...

Happy New Year

Hi guys, this is to wish us a very fulfilling and marvelous year 2019. The election's just around the corner *cues in action soundtrack*

May your year be bright and colourful. Happy new year. New year resolutions anyone? What new year tradition(s) do you observe? 
Here's mine:

Cheers... 

2018 in Review

2018 i.e

Hi guys, it's another year wrapped to the glory of God. Thank you all for keeping in touch and at par with adnilscorner. It's really encouraging when I see comments and messages from ya'll. It's encouraging, gracias.

This review is mostly for me and some of it, for you. I'll be highlighting some posts/articles that might have been missed or that are personal faves of mine. This year, I realise I didn't do a lot of fiction. I was mostly introspective it would seem. Yeah. But in all, I'm mighty super exceedingly glad that my year's goal for 2018 which I'd outlined here, was mostly accomplished. Woo-hoo. Did I read all those stuffy books I said I would? Nah. But I'm trying, honestly. It would seem that even though I'm a book lover, I have my niche. And it ain't academic. Did I conclude my schooling? Woo-hoo. I'm glad to announce that I did. Did I save? Uh....well, I did!!! I am rather. Or I'm still on it? Heh🤷🏻

Business wise, I kinda lost steam with my Midastouch hair salon. Yo, that's my business for those of y'all that don't know. My relocation did a number on me TBH. It's not easy to uproot oneself from the familiar basically and try to grow roots in another place. But hey, that's that, working on it. Will find my balance soon enough. I hope. Which brings me to putting myself out there, did I or didn't I? This, I'm not so sure what the answer is, it seems to be a lil of both. 

So! Review's not about what happened in the blogosphere or the country at large, uh uh. I also need to officially state that the MMC series' on pause mode. Mostly due to insufficient raw materials, sad. I really liked writing about what goes on in official settings. 

The year started out on a sad note for me, lost my dad. It was heartbreaking and birthed this post. Meandered through and found myself married. Really, that's how it happened. Yours truly woke up one day and gbam! Marriage, just laik dat 😂 and then, she quit her job and relocated all the way to a city that people say “they're all mad there” lol. Note, that's a direct quotation. I seem to be putting too many disclaimers these days. Yeah, the walls have ears it's said. 

The highlight of 2018 for me's embedded in this post. I think I did a lot of meditations on God's love this year, that I wonder...

Am I still on track?

Well, gotta go now. See you shortly. For 2019, I intend to return to my first love, poetry 😍. Yes, 2018 did bring a lot of changes, but that's no excuse. Cheers... See you all next year, God willing. 😁

Diary of a new Lagos Wife💍: The year of Firsts

Dear diary,

A merry Christmas to you. How was it? Mine was spectacular.

Yeah, spectacularly spectacular. Experienced Christmas in Lagos for the first time and it was...hmm, dunno yet. 

This year's Christmas also happens to be my first Christmas as a “Mrs” (there seems to be a lot of firsts happening to and around me lately) and it was ok. Not exactly as tentatively planned, but ok. There will always be other Christmas'es' I told myself. 

So, attended the Christmas service with the family and spent some part of the day with the extended family cooking up a storm in the kitchen 😋 with the CCO (Chief Commanding Officer), my mother in-law supervising 😁 Afterwards, had a really quiet day no thanks to the powers that be, PHCN.  To cut short a rather boring long story, allow me to tell the story with pictures. 

 Trying to reason how to go about making our first Christmas really memorable and beginning to feel stressed. Even before I'd started anything🤦🏻.

 Yay, me finally catching the holiday spirit bug as soon as I started the decorations. Ably assisted by my bruva*

                                    Victory at last😄

And then cooking began in ernest. Here, I was the assistant chef😁

Christmas morning😍

And that was it. The highlight of the whole affair IMO was hosting guests, haha. My hostessing skills are quite rusty, believe me. 

Another surprise, the roads and streets of Lagos were empty and traffic was relatively light. I'd been told it would be that way. But Lagos? That's chock-full of human beings? Like sardines in a tin box? Impossicant I thought. But, seeing was indeed believing as it's said. Apparently, all the wise men from the East who'd migrated West to hustle, had returned home for the holidays, hehehe. Please do not quote me anywhere. 

There were still pockets of traffic here and there but not your typical Mexican stand off (according to hubby). Not that I strayed too far from my locale, nope. Waiting to see how the new year celebrations would look like. I've heard, touts take over during the cross over nights that are usually held in churches. Well, *Fingers Crossed*

😁😋🤐

And yes, Boxing Day did indeed look like this. There's more than enough to go round, please help yourself😀. Merry Christmas once again. 
Cheers...

*Bruva - Brother

Frank Friday:Putting CHRIST in Christmas

A merry Christmas to you and yours. My prayer for you's that you see and know and experience the visible manifestation of the reason for the season, Jesus. 

I hope we all had a good one. Statistics show that this is also the season many get depressed due to one thing or the other. Could be pressure, distance from family, friends and loved ones, lack of money or one thing or the other. But let's try to not put ourselves under any sort of unnecessary pressure. Which brings to mind a joke someone shared recently about another someone being asked about the Christmas celebration and s/he was like, “is it my baiday?” Lol, sounds like something I can say. True, it's not your birthday so don't feel like you've got to throw a party to prove a point or something like that. No. Christmas' all about Jesus' arrival and its significance. If we must ponder on anything, it should be that.  Remember, you've got nothing to prove. I'm also talking to myself by the way cos in the beginning, I was gonna put some pressure on myself, based on first Christmas as a married woman you know😋. I'd wanted making it a memorable one. But hey, 🤷🏻

There will always be other Christmas'es'. I believe. So here are some pictorials that attempt to describe how this year's Christmas commemoration looked like: 

Me reasoning how to go about making our first Christmas really memorable and beginning to feel stressed. Even before I'd started anything🤦🏻. JJC*

Yay, me finally catching the holiday spirit bug as soon as I started the decorations. Ably assisted by my bruva*

Victory at last😄

And then cooking began in ernest. Here, I was the assistant chef😁

Christmas morning😍

This was to be a short post as is my fashion but it just occurred to me that I veered off course a lil bit, so...

Here are a few pointers to putting CHRIST back in Christmas. Some persons might argue that Christmas observance ain't even scriptural and was an adopted pagan tradition and on and on, but that's not the point. The point is, we're already “marking” it right? So, why not do it the proper way as opposed to the usual round of cooking, binge eating, and entertainment that seems to be prevalent. For record purposes, “proper” is highly subjective, this is my “proper”, thank you. 

• Read your Bible. To put it in context, preferably the Christmas story. For us, (I & hubby i.e) we read the book of John chapter one. 
• Go to church. Yeah, most churches hold Christmas services that day. Don't pass it over in favor of finishing your cooking or something. 
• Meditate on the scripture passage read. That way, you're constantly reminded of the reason you're celebrating. That would also curb some untoward behavior (if you know what I'm talking about, drop a comment😉).

As per usual, there'll always be the human factor(s), petty annoyances, grievances et al that'd threaten to make you loose the Christmas spirit but then, *shrugs* that's life for you. Deal with it! Will gist you details of my Christmas proper in “Diary of a new Lagos Wife”. Keep it locked down.

So, those were a few pointers. There are lots of ways to having a CHRISTcentric Christmas, but I'm short of time. Yes, time😏 Bye...

Peace.
*JJC - Newbie
*Bruva - Brother