Moving on....

We're looking to buy a house. It's long and complicated. And sometimes feels like it will never happen. But I need to trust and keep pushing on and believe that the right place will come up soon. We put an offer in for a place last week - which was rejected. The sad thing is that the place is probably not even worth that much, but the vendors are insistent on getting the highest quote - and because no one has got far enough in the process to do a survey, they are non-the-wiser about the true value. So the search continues - with a lot more gusto than previously. We need our own place. It is about time now. I want to start my family. 

Happy May day!!

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There is something quite therapeutic about the rain. As much of an inconvenience it is, it does tend to bring fresh air. And on a day like today, it brings a fresh start. I am looking forward to this new season, the last has been a bit of challenge for me. But I am now ready for change!

Happy May day!!!

Opportunities

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We have many opportunities in front of us. The key to how successful we are is how we utilise them. And I’ve been making poor use of those opportunities. But the beauty about life when lived with God, is that it is never too late. I am determined to make the best of my situations (trying as they are at the moment) and make them work for me. We just got to keep trying, eventually one door will open for us, and in the process of having other doors closed, we would have learned lessons which will be vital for us in making best use of this new opportunity.

I have been inspired by the word from Deut 31:6:

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

It’s like that song “Be bold, be strong....”  

I have been looking for permanent work for a while now. Applied to numerous places but not making real progress. This has forced me to change tactics and strategy. Maybe I’m not supposed to be in a permanent role; God knows how I enjoy the flexibility and free time. So maybe, just maybe I have been looking in the wrong place. We’ll see how things go. But I know that in the end it will be alright!

Shakka - Dealcloud

As luck will have it, dealcloud are offering an AMAZING offer - 3 course taste of Africa Menu for only £19.95.

Deal only lasts till 24th April, so get it now!!

Click here.

Restaurant Review: Shakka Zulu

I haven't done one of these in a while!

For my birthday, my lovely husband decided to treat me to the delights of Shakka Zulu, located in the heart of Camden. Quite fitting to its geographical location, the interiors of the restaurant transport you into another world - a sort of mythical African palace. The walls are ornately decorated with carvings of figurerines stretching across both floors. No detail has gone amiss. Even the furniture screams African King or Queen.

For me the food is lovely, but not worth the price. I have visited it twice and on both occasions had a fish dish. The first was a coconut infused dish served with some piri piri chips and on the second was a half lobster (as they they had run out of the lamb dish that I originally wanted). Both dishes were delightful; light and full of flavour. The lobster was even better than the one we had whilst honeymooning in Mauritius. It was so good in fact that I wished they had given me some pincers so I could have extracted all that juicy meat.

A starter costs around £10.00 and main meals are on average around £25.00. Definitely not for your everyday meal.

I would definitely recommend it however, even if it is just to see the surroundings. They also have a bar on the top floor where they serve light nibbles and after 9pm it turns into a club. If you are lucky, you might get treated to a pup-petted safari show.

Look out for special offers at Groupon.  

He has Risen!

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                      JESUS IS MY KING

Happy Easter Everyone!!!

We have the promise of new life. Take all the opportunities that  you can!

Have an amazingly blessed day! Love to all. 

Project 52: March

We're already into the 4th month of the year (today is April 1st). Time does move fast - although, coming out of a short February always makes March feel even longer (not helped by its 31 days).

March has been a difficult month - photos-wise. I haven't felt as motivated and excited by the camera as I  initially did. Starting a new job, I've generally been drained, not wanting to go out to places. However, I have seen the seasons change - all in one month - from cold wintery bluey whites, to warm yellows from the daffodils and the soft pinks of the blossoms on the trees.

Anyway here is MARCH for LTNE:

Photo of the Olympic Park, Stratford. Taken by W.
I love the "smokey" feel of the clouds.

A plant in bud. 

Homework.

Practice.

Yellow bouquet.
I can change the settings on my camera so that it picks up certain colours. Here I chose yellow. 

Y's Bouquet.

Candy Station.

Chandelier.

Almost too late. Taken by FB,

Kiddies Couture

                                       

Over the past few years I had thought that the fashion community had come under scrutiny following uproar about size zero models, debates about ethical trading and a general conclusion that the industry is putting undue pressure on young girls (and boys) to be a certain way.

"What girls doesn't want to wear her mum's shoes?"

A quote from a recent article I read promoting the launch of Roger Vivier's Jeune Fille collection - a mini replication his range of ballerina pumps for adults. You might ask what is such the big problem, there's no harm done in ballet pumps right? Well no - but it's the principle that counts. Just like the quote, its the encouragement of young girls to be like women - grow-up. And with the launch of DVF's girls range for Gap (that many women are coveting), the line between childhood and womanhood seems to be getting ever blurred.

When will children be given the freedom to grow up at their own pace? They are facing more complex issues each day; divorce, caring for the sick, abuse, bullying, gang crime - all sorts. Will there ever be an age when kids can just be kids?

Let me know what you think!!

Insomnia

How can one be so tired and yet not be able to sleep? I’ve been really struggling getting a full night’s sleep over the past few weeks. I have recently started a new job so my routine has changed, but I also have things on my mind that’s preventing me from resting.

The body is a funny thing. When they say mind over matter – it truly works. No matter how tired you may physically feel, if your brain refuses, you’re not going to get much rest.

I miss my sleep!

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Happy Mother's Day!!!

Today is the day we celebrate our mums. The women that brought us to earth, the women that care for us, nurture us and inspire us. For many of us we have many mums. As the African proverb states “it takes a village to raise a child”, so there have been many great women that have shaped my past and made sacrifices on my behalf.

It’s only when you leave home and start living for yourself – start building a family – do you, I think, really appreciate the worth of a mother. That unconditional love that they have for you. The dreams and the hopes and the sacrifices. Leaving home has made me realise just how blessed I am to have a family like I do. Facing challenges of myself, I appreciate more the struggles my parents went through to enable me to be where I am today.

So let us celebrate our mums today and show our appreciation unashamedly.

I love you mummy!!! (and daddy, and lil' bro)

The Cocoa Box

Thanks to the generosity of my very besties, I had the opportunity to go to a cupcake decorating class. I've been on the baking thing for a while now, so I guess they thought that I should get some proper instruction.

I went to the class not really expecting too much. It was something to do on a Saturday morning. I think that maybe I should had prepared my creative brain, because when left to our devices, I didn't have a clue what to do. Which I thought is very unlike me. But I guess when you let your gifts/talents go to waste, or you don't spend the time nurturing it, practising it then it's taken away from you. It's like the story in the Bible of the servants and the talents, where they the servant with one talent hides it away instead of investing it and then it's taken away from him.

Ok enough of the downer. The class was indeed fun. I arrived at the Thistle Hotel at Victoria and laid out on the table were an array of goodies: pre-baked cakes and all the lovely lovliness to decorate with.

Our instructor for the day was Natalie from The Cocoa Box. She started with a brief intro into the basics of making a cupcake. Thinking about it now, I've actually lost the recipe. But from memory it's 150g of dry ingredients to 2 eggs.

She then went on to show us how to make a selection of iced toppers from bows to ice cream cones to cupcakes. It was then our turn to make something spectacular. The best I could come up with was a heart and dice. But the lady sat next to me made a hippo, a skull, another made a snowman and petals and yet another a fan!

Overall, the 2 hour class was good. You come away with your 6 delicious creations, and a desire to bake. It would be a better experience if you went with someone I think. Helps with conversation. 

These were my creations for the day!


The Cocoa Box offer a selection of classes from cupcake decorating, to chocolate making. They also do parties!!!

Barclay's Bikes

I have a slight bone to pick with Mayor Boris.....

In the last month or so, the Limehouse, Mile End, Stepney and Whitechapel areas have been inundated with bicycle docking stations, empty ones at that. My husband keeps telling me that it is in preparation for the Olympics. I'm sure it is, but do they really think that demand is going to be quite that high? Even if the bikes are used during the Olympics period because of an influx of extremely wealthy tourists (who else is going to afford the extortionate rents that is going to be charged) what will happen to the bikes afterwards? Taking into consideration the demographics of the Tower Hamlets area (these are just what I have personally seen) it does not seem to me that the population is one that would favour bicycles as a mode of transport.

I'm wondering just how much "investment" has gone into the expansion of the scheme to the area and I'm also wondering if the benefits will be that great.

Photo taken on Mile End road. 

Project 52: February

The month of February was an interesting one. I still have a lot to learn, as you can see from the photos below. I'm spending time experimenting with the camera at the moment. I will start to set myself challenges soon which I think will help me to focus and learn about different types of shots.

Anyways..... here's my February in photos:

I had a lunch date with my lil bro!

The girls from Blackgirlflow! Keep up to date with their blog here.

An art display at Spitalfields.

Month of Love: Close

As the "month of love" draws to a close, I do wonder to myself if I have learnt anything. Love is a complex thing, it is a choice. We can opt in or opt out. It's easy to do either, but it seems like we have a problem remaining in either camp.

Choosing to love is probably one of the easiest decisions we can make as humans. We are personable people and want the company of others. But being in love or showing love to others requires sacrifices, and we are selfish.

Over the past few months, I have learnt just how much of a selfish being I am. I thought that I was perfect.... well close enough anyways. How WRONG I was. Living with another being and spending all your time together makes you realise just how much you enjoy your own space. I know, earlier I said that we want the company of others, and that is true, no one wants to be alone. But it seems as though as soon as we get that, or rather too much of that, we want to push back, we feel threatened.

I am learning the lessons of being a better person every day. But I am having problems with the implementation process. That would mean, changing myself and admitting that I am wrong and have been for a while. I need a lot more courage and faith. God says that we have nothing to fear, and as sure I am about the truth of that fact, it is extremely hard to live it out.

What have you learnt this month?

Valentine's Cakes

As my pressie this year, I decided to bake. Hubby loves cakes and biscuits and I love to experiment.

The intention was to make heart-shaped shortbread biscuits and a red velvet cake, but good intentions don't always come to fruition especially if you don't plan! I forgot to get the heart-shaped cookie cutter so had to go to the groceries on the morning and I also learnt that "natural red" food colouring (the one in the bottle) shouldn't be used for red velvet cake. In my defence I thought I was doing a good thing because I didn't want to have all those e-numbers. I have since found a recipe on sophistimom that I am yet to try, but will definitely give a go once lent is over.

So this is the fruit of my labour for Valentine's day:

btw... cake tasted amazing and my shortbread was the best yet.

I used the recipe from BBC website for both things: Red Velvet and Shortbread Biscuits . But when making a red velvet cake you definitely do not need as much coco powder.

I attempted to make a white chocolate icing using cream. I had seen a recipe years ago and it always came out brilliantly, this time not so. I need to track that one down. So if you know of one that uses cream as supposed to butter please send it my way.

It wasn't all me... my hubby made me a lovely dinner of asparagus in bacon served with monkfish:

Love: Community

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How many of us actually take in our surroundings when we are out and about? Whilst walking along the streets, are we taking in what we see, looking for those who need help or are we more concerned about getting to places on time, seeing who has texted us or fitting in a phone call? I know where I fall in.

Recently, I have been challenged by the actions of a very close friend of mine. Whilst we were on our way out, we briefly noticed a lady who was walking in the opposite direction to us. Upon our return, we noticed this same lady in the same area as before. She was walking very slowly, as if she had no real destination; she looked cold (it had just snowed) and ill. My friend, immediately showed concern (I think because we had seen her before) and wanted to offer her gloves that he was wearing. Without much hesitation, he crossed the street, asked her if she was ok, to which she replied that she was fine but was on her way back to the hospital (so obviously wasn’t too good), and then offered her the gloves for which she was really grateful.

That simple act of kindness, I’m sure brightened up her day, even if just for a short while. And I hope that in some small way will have a positive effect on her. Now every time I think of gloves or see them, I think of her.

How courageous are we to be selfless? Personally, I know that I am lacking in this area. The act of love should not only reach those that are closest to us but reach out to those that are in need. This is a challenge both to myself and to you.

Deuteronomy 15:11

There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.

Perfect Love

1 John 4:17-19

In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgement; for we are as He is in this world. There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love.

I came across this passage over the weekend, and the final sentence got me. It states quite clearly that to love perfectly, that we should fear nothing. But is this really achievable. I know it is because it says so in the Bible, but how? Thinking of myself and the many “fears” or “anxieties” that I have (which I have also learnt is not fruitful) I do wonder if I will ever get to that place of perfect love. How do you feel about it? Do you even think that it is necessary?

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Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Wishing you love and happiness. 

Here are some pics/wallpapers that I've found online that I thought were cute:

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This is a reminder that I need to go out and get me some so I can make the cookies for my man.
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Go on.... tell someone you love them.... you know you want to. 

Does Valentine's Change after Marriage?

This is a re-post from writer Katie McCarthy. What are your thoughts? Is Valentine's important once you get married?

As kids, everyone loves Valentine's Day because it means you get to buy cards with your favorite pop-culture characters on them and give them out to everyone in class; you also get cards from everyone in return, not to mention candy and a break from the school day for a "party." 

Fast forward a few years and things start to fracture. Some people still love the day, others call it a "Hallmark holiday," others derisively say it's Singles Awareness Day and opt to get drunk with all their other single friends.
I always claimed as a young adult that I hated Valentine's Day. I felt it had no fundamental meaning or purpose, just another way for all those lovey-dovey couples to rub their happiness in the faces of single folks. 

So before we even started dating, when my now-husband and I discussed Valentine's Day, that was how I framed my feelings for it. "Eh, I don't really care about Valentine's Day. It's a stupid holiday."
But we officially became a couple on Feb. 12 and I couldn't help but feel just a little excited by the fact that I'd have a Valentine that year.
Four years and a wedding later, I'm still trying to take back my anti-Valentine's Day sentiments. Though I still feel that Valentine's Day is of lesser import than most holidays, I'm still a girl and I want flowers damnit!
Last year, when we were engaged, he did pretty good — Godiva chocolates, a bag of "New Moon" conversation hearts (don't laugh, they were awesome!) and a sweet card, lovingly signed "Here's your valentine, now quit your bitching!" or something to that effect. 

Ah, sweet romance. 

Now, in his defense, I've known how he feels about Valentine's Day from the start (thinks it's stupid and cliche) and his view hasn't changed. He's pretty ambivalent to all the hoopla and he tells me I misled him. Oops. 

I don't imagine this year, my first Valentine's Day as a wife, will be too different.
Chances are our first Valentine's Day as husband and wife will go one of three ways: I'll nag him until he begrudgingly gets me something just to shut me up; I won't say anything and he'll totally forget about it; I'll casually mention how I've already bought his Valentine's Day card & present and he'll come up with something he's already done/bought for me and how that can serve as my Valentine's gift. 

He's a pretty funny guy. But he has been known to surprise me on occasion, so ... we'll see. 

As with many other personality characteristics, if a man isn't into it before you get married, he's not likely to be into it afterwards either. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. A lack of participation in Valentine's Day does not equal a lack of love, even though the opposite has been drilled into our heads for so long. 

I've got a built-in Valentine for life, not just on Feb. 14. And that's worth more than all the long-stemmed roses (with their holiday-inflated prices) you can buy. (And besides, I prefer lilies. Hint. Hint.)

Posted here  on 02/08/11.

P.s MR O - my fav flowers are peonies and African Lilies

Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/02/08/1451397/does-valentines-day-change-after.html#storylink=cpy

"What you thinking?"

Men and Women are very different. What’s new in that piece of analysis I hear you say. Well, I’ve been experiencing this very fact for the last 6 months now. In my ignorance I had assumed upon getting married, all problems of miscommunication, feeling like we just don’t get each other would just simply disappear. Needless to say that in our pre-marriage counselling it was heavily highlighted that such aspirations are just that, dreams – but a girl can dream, no? We always think, “Maybe it’ll be different for us” – oh how simple as humans we are.

Men just don’t think! Well in the same way as I do at least. My mind is constantly ticking over something. Whether its mulling over what to prepare for dinner, deciding how I’m going to start a career, what career I should go into, whether the oven needs a clean and if I can fit it in today, or if I’m ready to reproduce – I’m always thinking. Guys on the other hand, don’t seem to undertake such complex/long-winded trains of thought (they may deem them to be unnecessary).

Now me being me, I’ve always tried to “understand” men. I figure that the best way to achieve this is to try and understand what goes on in their heads, so you can try and figure out what makes them tick. I think in large this has been a futile exercise, well at least in the way I have approached it.

“What you thinking” I think is probably the worst thing you could ask a guy….. regardless of who is responding, even my husband who I thought “definitely, we’ll be on the same wave-length” it is always “erm….nothing”. How can it be so? Do men really not think? And why don’t they have the same thoughts as I do? Life would really be a whole lot easier if we could just understand each other.

Living with another person is definitely a challenge. We are all different and approach things as it suits us best. Thinking back to the days of shared accommodation in Uni, I realise that my current frustrations aren’t new. But there is a VERY big difference now. At Uni, you know that you will not be living with your student friends for ever, and you just don’t love them like that. Now, we have to work on ways of compromising, which sometimes means just letting things go. To be honest, life is just too short to worry about who makes the bed in the morning or the fact that the cushions haven’t been fluffed up recently.

Nevertheless, I do hope that one day I get to the stage where I no longer have the urge to ask “so……. what you thinking” because we’ll just get each other. Right? 

Month of Love

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As the name of my blog suggests, the main topic of discussion is usually that of the emotional character. So it would be fitting that in this month of February, also a synonym for love, that I should share with you my words of wisdom. So watch out for various posts this month as I share my experiences.

xxx

Project 52

As one of my Christmas pressies, hubby bought me a brand new Sony NEX C-3. Apparently, it’s the new development in the photography market. It’s a combination of the best bits of technology from the SLR cameras and digital. He has great ambitions for me. According to his time plan, I will be hosting my own exhibition by the end of the year…. But we’ll see about that.

I guess in response to that, I took upon myself a project. The project originally started as Project 365, the idea being, that I will take a photo every day of the year. After the first two weeks of enthusiasm, I quickly realised, that this task would be more difficult than I had imagined. My daily activities are not as varied as I would like and when I do go out, I see the same things (I guess that should inspire me to get out more). Plus it’s just too cold at the moment to try and fiddle with buttons/touch screen whilst being exposed to the elements. So my Project 365 has now dwindled down to a more manageable Project 52: one picture per week. So here is my offering for January!