New phone, who dis? Part 2

Update people!!!!!

 

So after much deliberation and not too subtle barbs from Chioma, I have bitten the proverbial bullet and gone ahead to get myself a new phone!!!

YAAAY!

I know that sometimes, it’s hard for me to enjoy spending on myself but when you eventually do it (under duress and necessity in this case) there’s that undeniable thrill about getting a new device or something really nice for yourself.

It’s a beautiful Samsung S24 FE.

Suffice to say, it’s really sleek, good looking and has tons of features which I’m yet to wrap my head around. It’s also a limited edition (FE for “Fan’s Edition”) and just to satisfy the growling of my finance minion, I got it at a very good, discounted price from the original cost. Furthermore, by pure luck and thanks to Chioma’s sleuthing, we were able to get a Samsung watch thrown into the deal for free!

Also, tech has gotten to the point where the switch from one device to another was so seamless and smooth!. This one also incorporates a lot of AI features, the cameras have better resolution and bruh..there’s so much to learn and do with it.

Totally worth it

I’m happy this is over with. Even though I miss my Note 9, (biko e don try,) let it have a deserved rest and retirement

New phone who dis?

How Okey got his groove back

A couple of days ago, I was going over some of my past posts on here and my goodness…. I realized that the amount of times I complained about lack of cash and the terrible economy numbered quite a bit. Of course, this was still back in Naija and was very understandable. There were so many things I wanted to do but no way to financially get them done

However, things have changed. Thank God for provision and growth. Even though things are still a bit shaky overall when I open my banking apps, I certainly can’t consider myself in the same position I was back then.

Now a whole set of new challenges have popped up.

How do I balance the urge to make more money and find time and ways to enjoy myself without feeling guilty about the opportunity cost or alternatives I have to forgo?

It’s weird I tell you. I’ll try to explain

Unlike in Naija, you wouldn’t need to tell me twice about going out to Bims garden with friends, , buying this item, going to ShopRite or the cinemas or generally hanging out whenever the chance and finances, presented. Here, I have to exert a conscious and intentional effort to do the basic things I’ve always enjoyed doing.

You have to be deliberate in deciding whether to hang out or buy this item or take that trip because it’s all too easy to fall into a funk and slip into a mindless routine that excludes all other activities.

 It’s been happening to me recently.

Weekday: Wake up, sneak out of room (before a certain grumpy not-a-morning-person swears for me), lay in the living room and press phone for a bit, prepare and head out to work, close in the evening and get on the bus back home, eat, watch tv with Bae, doze off in the middle of whatever we’re watching and eventually go in to sleep and cycle starts all over again

Weekend: Wake up, sneak out of room (before a certain grumpy not-a-morning-person swears for me), lay in the living room and press phone or laptop or TV for a while, catch up on calls to family, clean the house with Bae, (Go to church on Sundays) settle in to watch football till evening or go shopping depending on the week, come back, eat, watch tv with Bae, doze off in the middle of whatever we’re watching and eventually go in to sleep

The irony is that there are countless things to do and places to go but the time and desire to do these things is just not there. I’m not sure if this is an indicator of middle agedness or one of the sneaky symptoms of adulthood but at a point, it gets tiring, (at least for me)

The firm conclusion is that I have to be deliberate about getting out of this silly cycle and put myself out there a bit more. Make new white friends (Chioma mentioned one day about how it was easy for me to engage folks here and I know it’s true), start new hobbies (again, my wife has one-upped me here. She has this lovely new hobby of making resin-based artwork. Trust my bougie babe!), and even though I haven’t gotten to that point where I can comfortably say money is no object when it comes to buying things, try to enjoy life a bit more, do more online shopping (maybe), stop at a pub after work, close eye and buy tickets to go watch matches at Villa Park, Maybe engage my Nigerian neighbors Chidi and Jerry a bit more and generally, get my groove back.

Mixed feelings and the Motherland tug

 Hiya Peeps.

It’s actually been decided a while back but I think I forgot to mention on here that we’ll be travelling back home at the end of this year for my late father-in-law’s funeral proceedings.

It’s really the definition of mixed feelings here.

On the one hand, it’s such a devastating loss to the family and most certainly NOT the type of circumstance anyone would wish to incur the necessity for a trip back home, yet on the other hand, I won’t lie, there’s a big part of me that is excited to travel back to Nigeria (even if its just a couple of weeks), see my folks, hug lolo, reconnect with the kids (they’re all growing so fast..Jesus!) and just generally reacquaint with the Naija feeling.

There was no doubt about the inevitability of this trip. My late FIL was one of the best of men and deserves the greatest send off we can give him and of course, we all have to play our parts in making this happen. We’ve booked our tickets well in advance and Chioma will be going back a couple of weeks before I do in December.

One thing people don’t realize is the amount of planning that travelling back home to Nigeria entails (Moreso when you have a huge event like a burial to plan for). Chioma, God bless her, as the natural planner of the pair of us, has already started buying stuff months in advance. There are clothes to buy, gifts for the immediate family to plan for and buy, serious deliberations on how to even transport the stuff we buy back home in advance of our trip, plans on where to stay in the different locations where we’ll be during the period, other social stuff we have to consider attending, are there family and friends we’d like to go and see? The nightmare scenario of how and if Chioma’ll work during this period with the power situation, what’s going to keep her occupied e.t.c

Bruh, it’s exhausting.

My logical mind is spinning off all the cons about this venture. The economy has never been great in my lifetime, but I can comfortably say this is the worst it’s ever been. There are going to be so many costs incurred with planning a successful event but God on our side, friends and family as well (and the power of the pound), I believe we’ll pull it off very well.

There are lots of logistical issues which could possibly raise speedbumps and which honestly, Chioma and I have just resolved to go with the flow and tackle along as they come.

I now understand why sometimes, my cousins who live in the US just slip back into the country unannounced and make minimum fuss about their travel arrangements. It just makes sense now that sometimes you’d want to just get away from all the stress and just plan a solo trip somewhere you feel safe and comfortable.

This is most certainly not the case here.

Anyway, I’m very excited. Despite the situation back home, the country of my birth is still my motherland and my umbilical cord (actually buried somewhere in the ground in Umuawuka) keeps tugging me back and reminding me that there’s nowhere like home.

Wish us luck. I’ll keep y’all updated

Loopy Tunes

 Hey guys… how's it going?

This is a weird one. So, I’m not sure why this happens but in recent times, once I think of any song, tune or lyric, or play it in my head, it gets stuck there for almost the whole day playing itself over and over in a loop. This happens almost automatically and most times it seems like I’m not even in control of how it happens.

It's always been like this but the recent occurrences are getting crazier.

I wonder if there’s an official diagnosis for something like this or if there’s a word that describes this sort of phenomenon.

I’ll just be going about my day and there’ll be a specific song playing all by itself in the background and replaying itself on a never-ending loop. Na wa o.

Wonder what kind of party the minions are throwing for themselves these days.

At one point, I was getting worried about if this is one of the symptoms of a mental issue. Laughable I know, but I think I’ve gotten over that and just accept it as one of my many quirks which is supposed to be embraced.

Anyway, let the music play on..

Greek

 Hey guys…hope you’re all good.

So, another year has gone by (yaaay!!!) and as part of a seemingly growing tradition with us, we decided to celebrate our anniversary by ticking off another item on our bucket list of international cuisine offers.

I did the mandatory scouting and even though Birmingham is most certainly not London in terms of the number of dining out options, there were still a fair number of great choices.

We decided to say hello to our Mediterranean brethren and go the Greek way!.

I wonder why we haven’t ever tried Greek food though..

Anyway, I scout up this lovely Greek restaurant named ‘’Mr. Souvlaki’’ somewhere near the city center and give them a call. As soon as I heard the voice that picked up…I knew we were in for a treat.

Think of all the uncles in ‘’My Big fat Greek Wedding’’ and you have an idea of the first impression I got from the voice.

We doll ourselves up and head there in the evening, after work. Suffice to say, it was quite the perfect spot.

There was beautiful Greek music playing in the background, a gigantic grill open right there in the restaurant (a little distance from the seating area though) where smoke was billowing out from, the seats were these little comfortable lounge chairs, Shelves filled with Greek wines, Olive jars, Beer, Breads, sweets and other delicious looking treats from that beautiful country.

Our host was delightful. He had this wonderfully charming Greek accent and was very attentive, informing us of every ingredient on the menu options, where it was sourced from, the manner of cooking, and everything else about the food. Once he went ahead to dissuade us from having starters on account of it not being necessary, I knew this was someone you could trust.

Turns out he was right, as the 2-person food platter we ordered was more than enough to feed four!

Bruh!!... There was Souvlaki (a sort of skewered grilled chicken), grilled meat fresh off the rotisserie, lots of warm Pita bread, sausages, tons of delicious salad, chips, pork, two different side dishes of sauces and two bottles of delicious fruit juice.

It was an absolute feast! And surprisingly tasty too.

Okay, I know the Thai food we had last year was still the best but Greek food is not so far behind. We ate all we could, had some lovely desserts (yogurt cream, cherry custard, and biscuit crumbles all mixed together), and packed the rest home to continue later on.

As they say, he who eats and runs away will live to eat more another day!

ευχαριστώ πολύ

 

 

Milestones Part 4 - ''Growing in love''

 Hi Baby..

There it goes.., 1460 days of my best decision. 1,460 days of being married to my soulmate and 1,460 days of being happily married.

Of course, I had to look back and take a deep breath. It’s been another rollercoaster year filled with highs and lows. However, the one constant thing throughout was the fact that we continued growing in love and I can honestly say, it seemed like this was our happiest year so far.

Again, I thank God for you. You are an absolute gem my love.

Somehow, our marriage has grown more, and I’m not quite sure how to put it but It’s now such an easy, seamless fitting together. We are more in tune with our moods, the handshake in decision-making is very smooth and even when there’s friction, we always know what caused it and more importantly, how to make it right again.

Again, it’s been such a crazy year…new city, new job, more challenges, and heartbreaking losses. I’m just happy that we stuck through it together and by the special grace of God, will keep getting through everything that comes our way

Like I always say, you make it very easy to love you. You’re such a good person with a kind, generous and loving soul. Whatever I did in past lives to deserve you must have been exceptional. I’m so very proud of you my love. Your strength, your determination, beauty, and even that stubborn part that pops up from time to time. The Chinky Charm is still going strong and that oil of grace on your head will never run dry

There’s still a lot ahead baby, but I’m very confident in US and I have absolutely no doubt that it can only get better and we can only grow stronger together as the years go by.

I love you, Baby. Never have any doubts about it.

So, I’d like to repeat my toast: To the life we have, to the love we share, to the future that awaits us and to the very best of growing old together…. May God always envelop us with his love and blessings now and forever!!

Cheers to the next 56!!