Monday, January 16, 2023

The meat of the matter

 Hey everyone,

 

So, I’m not altogether sure how to put this short post together…but I’ll try..

So, I’m seated to a very late dinner and I’ve ensured to pack as much “protein” as I can into the small bowl of rice…when an internal query suddenly strikes me…

“why do I derive so much pleasure from eating so much meat/fish/chicken in my food ever since we relocated?”

On reflection, it’s been that way ever since moving to London and I suddenly understand the concept of “trying to make up for lost time”. It actually seems like playing catch up for all the years of having to be rational and frugal with certain food choices. Unlike the issue of housing here, Food in London is not outrageously expensive and you can actually get by easily…working in a restaurant, as well, gives me more access without too much stress. Things like meat, fish, chicken, lamb and goatmeat are very commonplace and cheap so it’s easy to get carried away and indulge lasciviously.

Chioma and I even bought a lot of chicken and beef to just fry and keep in the fridge for subsequent sessions.

However, halfway through the meal, I had to pause and ask myself again.. ” what’s the rush?” why am I behaving as if beef cutlets and chicken thighs are going out of fashion very soon?...

It’s a sobering thought and I’m guessing theres a lesson somewhere in there to be learnt. Same as with most things in life, nothing is running away. Enjoy things but always in moderation.

 

Yay…look at me going all philosophical on you guys…lol…

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Critters in the yard

 I walked out to our lovely backyard here one day to spread some laundry and right in the middle of wrangling my shirt onto a hangar, I look up and come face to face with a beautiful gray fox.



I’ve always been a wildlife enthusiast and one of my dreams is to actually go on a safari trip to Masai Mara, Gorongosa, or any park indeed where I can interact with wild animals so it’s quite a pleasant shock to see one so close.

We both freeze and stare at each other. Me, trying to stare it down and wondering if rabies shots are included in my NHS package and the fox staring at me and probably wondering what the fuck I’m doing in its territory. (for some strange reason, our backyard is seldom visited and has a grassy, outcropy type of landscape with a lot of shrubs and some squirrel-infested trees)

We stand like this for about one minute, till my minions smack me upside the head and remind me that I’m the higher mammal/predator on the evolutionary scale here… so I stamp my foot (and my authority) and shoo the fucker away.

Can you believe that this thing “eyed” me up and down and literally just strolled away down to the end of the garden and disappeared into a hole which I can only assume was its burrow. I could have sworn the idiot fox was also laughing as it went.

I kukuma just spread my clothes and left there jejely.

Apparently, foxes are regular denizens over here and are a part of the local fauna along with the numerous squirrels and lovely birds.. If they do so well here in London, i wonder how they would be thriving in the more local areas in Britain..

 

Reflections on '22

 Last year was intense.

Had my fair share of losses, wins and in-betweens….

Closed down a business and lost money, made some new investments and gained some….

Lost touch with some family members and reconnected with so many others… Almost lost a friend and brother to fucking Cancer…

Resigned from my long-serving job, relocated out of the country, started the process of resettling and took on manual jobs to survive. Altogether, gathered new outlooks and perspectives on life

Re-discovered school again after more than 10 years, The craziness of international classmates, the massive difference in teaching methods and the joys of a functional library.

Travelled and visited new places, learnt so many new things, cut back on some vices, took on new hobbies..

Had a tragic personal loss at the end of the year but we’ve bounced back and look forward to more blessings

Welcome to 2023. We go hard again this year!!

May the winds be in our favour.