Of endings and beginnings

 Hey guys how far.

Yaay… so it’s the last day of the year. 2025 is officially one for the records.

Wow!! What a year its been. 

For me, personally, I honestly can't complain. It's been a year of progress, answered prayers, new experiences and continuous growth.

Yes, it’s also been a shitty year in many respects but when put on a scale, the triumphs far outweigh the low points.

I just want to take time to acknowledge the people and things I’m grateful for, and even though they are always to be appreciated at every single moment we have, there’s never a better time to do so than at the close of one year and the birth of a new one.

So firstly, as always, all thanks always go to the Almighty. For his favours, mercies and blessings. Honestly, we’d be nowhere without our faith in God and his works. He’s always looked out for us, provided, protected and promoted. For all these, we give him all the praise and glory! E mena Papa!!

To the absolute love of my life, my baby girl Chioma. All I can say is thank you for being who you are, for loving this craseman with all my flaws, for being the pillar of our home and my backbone all through the years. I honestly can’t put my feelings into the right words, but all I can say is that you’re my life and my world. I love you. You’ve been truly exceptional all these years, and I can only wish us all the best of the many years ahead.

To our family who’ve always been there for us. Lolo. Nnamdi, Uche and Ugo, Thank you for being our support system and giving us a reason to push on. God bless you all at every point of your needs and may he bring ease into all our lives in the coming year. We pray for reconciliation, prosperity and provision for us all and our families in 2026 and may there never be any cause for sadness or sorrows. Thanks also go to my in-laws who are the most amazing people ever. Mama, Ify, Gbenga and Ik. God bless and protect you all.

Thank God for good workplaces for both of us. Perk has been such a blessing in many ways, and I continue to declare it to be a prosperous environment where I can thrive and grow even more than my current status. Thank God also for Chioma’s workplace, Remote. Our story can most certainly never be told without this fantastic company. They’ve been there in so many ways for us, and honestly, it’s a blessing just being associated with them.

I’m so grateful for the United Kingdom. This adopted land of ours has given us so much and improved our quality of life dramatically. It’s a no-brainer to state that, even with all the stress and attendant issues with living here, the UK has been a blessing to us all, and i go ahead to declare that we shall prosper in this land and it shall flourish because we are here!! Shandaaa!!

Grateful for good family and friends, especially here in Birmingham. This Evenbrook community of ours has become a lifeline and such a wonderful support system. I know it would have been so much more difficult without having them in our lives, so to the Agomos and the Osarenkhoes, I say a big thank you.

Finally, thank you, Lord, for answered prayers (Watch this space!!). We are grateful for all your gifts and our ability to provide. We look forward to an awesome 2026 ahead. 

See y’all in 2026!!

Happy New Year!!

It's the lingo, innit?

 Hey fam, 

So recently. I was chanced to listen back to a call recording where I was talking to a British client of ours. Joanne is the quintessential Brit lady…. All posh, polite, ‘’darling’’ this and ‘’that would be absolutely lovely’’ that.

As I listened to the slightly unrecognizable accent coming from my end, the code switching in accents was so noticeable as to actually be slightly jarring. Initially, I wasn't sure why I felt a bit of a fraud as I heard myself adopting the Brummie accent, spiced with British fluency, and actually being quite successful with it. Joanne even commented on how glad she was about the conversations we had.

As I reflected on the experience later, it occurred to me that there was actually no reason to feel this way, because, to put it bluntly, code-switching is very useful. It’s a part of surviving and adapting to the realities of being in a foreign land. This ability to flow in correct pidgin when gisting with Nigerian office colleagues and then switch effortlessly when sitting in meetings or hanging out with my white friends is something to be admired. I realize that to some ears, it might sound a bit fake and duplicitous, but in the end, I believe that this ability to suppress your natural inclination to speak a certain way and adopt another is a remarkable adaptation strategy that is rooted in existentialism and survival.

I first experienced this when we went out once with my cousin Vanessa some time ago in London. She’s been in the UK a bit longer than we have and effortlessly switched to a very passable British accent when talking with the staff there. It struck me again that it’s a very useful survival adaptation, especially when dealing with clients on a daily.

It's such a weird thing, though. I can never seem to replicate this while speaking with black people or when I’m at home with family. Also, to be perfectly honest,  i dont think it’ll ever get to the point where I’ll only be able to speak with a British accent and not be able to successfully code switch back to Naija lingo on request.

Anyhow sha… let’s just agree that i’m not going to be an ‘’innit bruv’’ anytime soon

Its the most wonderful time of the year

 Merry Christmas people

Its been such a slow period for my writing. Haba!! Not sure why but, I’ve been in a terrible funk when it comes to trying to update here.

Anyway, there’s so much going on and i promise to update a bit more regularly as the days go by.

There’s also very exciting news coming but as i said, all in due time.

We’ve had a low-key Christmas celebration this year. We went for the vigil mass yesterday evening already and since we didnt make any travel plans, unlike last year where Chioma was in Naija and i was here, we spent xmas day wrapped up in the house savoring the quiet day, making calls back home to the fam and everyone else that rated being called, and later on heading over to our Evenbrookers EOY gbedu.

We had it in the Osarenkhoe’s (Joy and Jerry) house and as usual it was fun galore! There was tons to eat, drink and lots of games and gifts to enjoy. Thank God for this community here.. It would have been a very boring day.

All in all, a very good day.

Merry Christmas my beautiful people.

This debit life of ours..

 

Most times it’s always in the dead of night when all peaceful, law abiding citizens are deep in repose.

It matters not if you’re ready for them or not

The sneak in every month end, stealthy little fuckers who don’t make the customary noises you’re used to from your device.

Like the saying goes, the only certain things in life are Death and Taxes.

I say the only sure things in Life are death, taxes and Direct Debit alerts!

Omo, my tired is tired.

It’s 4.30 am on the first day of a new month and like most other days, my insomniac routine kicks in. After re-booting and calibrating myself, I pick up my phone to see how much sleep i managed to put away

Unlike most other days however, the notification bar is absolutely popping off!!

Before I can fully process or remember what day it is, I slide it down and sigh. 

An increased number of ‘’happy new month’’ WhatsApp messages mixed with all the usual message notifications from the groups I’ve stubbornly clung to (Despite Chioma’s threats), a medley of other app notifications, Google reminders and du dun dun….. The amazingly long drop down list of Direct Debit alerts from my HSBC account.

Insert deep hiss and weary sigh.😩😩😩

I mean, can’t somebody catch a break? Don’t I have one unknown ancestral relation who has decided to will me an Island in the Caribbean? 

Yes, I already know what you’re going to ask and the answer is NO. 

There’s no option of me choosing NOT to set up debit alerts because all the items which are being paid off are mission critical to survival over here in the UK. Unfortunately (lol), the responsible thing to do is to set up payments for them all and move on with life. Being a responsible someborry as i was taught to be, this is the most logical option.

Doesn’t stop it from being very annoying sha.

Council tax, car loan repayment, Insurance payment, car tax, electricity bill, Water bill, Rent, phone bill, WIFI payment,...Aaaarrrghhhh!!.. There’s one really really annoying one that comes quarterly. TV License bill. Can you just imagine? Actually paying the government to watch your own tv o!!. Like i said, If not for doing the responsible thing, (and Chioma’s knife-on-my-throat insistence)..wetin concern me and TV licence payment?

Bruh, if you see me anytime, biko press some forex into my hand. Life adiro easy at all.