Author: jacquelineobyikocha

A wordsmith with a vivid imagination, an eager mind and a burning desire to carve out tales. As I journey with my muse to that land of all possibilities and self discovery, I hope my personal evolution will serve as a beacon of inspiration for anyone who chooses to stop by.
Dubai · Uncategorized

44 and Going Strong…

jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

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The past few days have been filled with lovely fun to-do’s.

It’s UAE’s (United Arab Emirates ) 44th National Day which is celebrated on the 2nd December of each year and several days following.

This is to mark their formal nationalization from a British Protectorate to the unification of  their Seven Emirates which consists of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain.

Very grand celebrations are held across the country to mark the event. They don’t do things in half measures!

There are several activities going on all over the Emirates to mark this auspicious event. Fireworks, Car Rallies and Dance Shows etc.

People are dressed up in apparels sporting the UAE national flag colours, homes, work places,  cars and streets are all flying the flag to celebrate this big day with joy and happiness.1449243683713[1]

Heritage Villages are set up all over the emirates in order to celebrate this event traditionally. Holidays are given from the National Day until two days later. Air Shows are conducted on Abu Dhabi and Ajman Corniche while Military Processions are held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition for the Rulers of the Emirates, Members of the Federal National Exhibition and the Emir Citizens.

For a Nation which started out as an utter dessert, they have not done badly, as a matter of fact, they have done a fantastic job of things and yet their push and progress is relentless.

Having meandered from Abu Dhabi; the sedate big brother in the house, to living in Dubai; the bold, glitzy and glamorous brother, to Sharjah, Ajman and Ras al-Khaimah; the rest of the crew, it’s a World of so many differences and textures.

It has been a beautiful day filled with camaraderie. People from all walks of life and 100 Nationalities are milling about in the city of glitz and glam.

I have seen more smiles in the past 2 days than in the 4 months that I have been here.

I even met a gorgeous looking lady from Mongolia and a couple from Tajikistan..Didn’t expect that and it took my brain a while to zero into Tajikistan on the globe.

Here are a few snippets of what I caught.

I hope they work. They were a bit finicky earlier.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Creative Writing · Fiction · Photographs · Short Stories

Ladies, Ladies, No Squabbling Please…

jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

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”Talk to the hand!” ‘Patra hissed at Delilah in a vexed tone.

”What’s with you girl?” Delilah feigned ignorance and asked in her pretentious calm voice.

”How dare you try to steal my customers for yourself?’‘ ‘Patra continues with her tirade as she accused Delilah:

”Do you think that I did not see you batting your bald eyelashes at them and you dare to stand and pretend as if butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth?”

”But I…” Delilah tries to get a word in..

”Sheesh! Just keep your buts to yourself” ‘Patra practically growled.

”We may be confined to sharing this fashion space, but know this and know it well! This is my turf! No encroaching on my customers, you wannabe! Except I decide that I am not interested in them, you can then try to charm them with your oily and smooth ways the way you must have confused the manager to allow you jump three steps up from the back of the shop to the prized show glass.”

For the first time in ages, Delilah is really ticked off. She has had enough of being the underdog and in raised voice she said:

”Listen up Patra! Delilah hissed back. ”I have had it with your uppity, bullish ways. If you have bones to pick with the Manager, feel free to go and do so.”

”It is not my problem that you don’t want to share the limelight with someone else. I am here now! Deal with it!”

”Besides, who actually appointed you the queen of this runway, if I may ask?”

They were getting all hot and ready to have a full-fledged shouting match…when Jerry the male mannequin bellowed at them.

”Girls, girls, calm down.” ”No fighting or gouging out your eyes!”

”You will frighten potential customers away!” He chastised. ”That will surely earn both of you a relegation to the store.”

”Come on ladies, try and work together for pity’s sake.” He muttered as he sub-consciously ran a check over his suit to ensure that it was lint-free.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

DAY 4

Jennifer at INK and QUILL has invited me to participate in 5 day photo story challenge.

Challenge Guidelines:

Post a picture each day, for five consecutive days. Attach a story to your image.

*can be fiction / non-fiction
*poem / short paragraph
*each day nominates another blogger

I invite afairymind  a fabulous blogger and story teller, to join the photo story challenge. I look forward to reading from you if you choose to participate. Enjoy 🙂

 

 

Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Poetry/Poems · Quotes For You · Weave that Dream · Writing

All These Names That You Call Me…

jacquelineobyikocha22 Comments

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You called me crazy
But I tell you that’s hazy
I just have lots of crazy characters
And lots of good friends
Who chatter in my head.

You called be lazy
And I said, Oh maybe
What’s the hurry
When my pillow
Is reluctant to let me go.

You called me fat
And I said no, not that
I just have extra layers of awesomeness
And I am built to last

You called me a dreamer
And I said, please add weaver
For I weave my dreams
While I eat fortune cookies and cream.

You called me a writer
And I said, that’s better
It seems I have to go chatter
With loads of characters
Under my hatter.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

”Writers aren’t exactly people… They are a whole bunch of people trying to be one person.” F. Scott Fitzgerald

Hope · Quotes For You · The Daily Post · Travel

Travel Itch…

jacquelineobyikocha36 Comments

Having been fortunate to have wandered a bit around the globe, both as a footloose and single chic and presently as a married lady with a husband who also has a nomadic spirit; as a matter of fact, his loose feet are far worse than mine, I must say without any hesitation that traveling is an education in itself. Travel quote

It is a worthwhile venture, though it can be expensive to do so.

Something that I realized is that some of the things which we spend money on, and which we forget as soon as that expense has been made, can be given up and the money set aside for a bit of exploring.

These days I noticed that I am keen to go discovering, but for shorter periods at a time. The hassles involved in migrating are no mean feat and I speak from vast experience.

Maybe my nesting senses are kicking in as I grow older and with the children growing older as well, it gets a bit disruptive to up and go because it entails a whole lot of changes, from accommodation, to mobility to new school, to a new culture etc.

It surprises me at times, at how my children have blended into the various societies that they have had to live in and how they make friends so quickly, that most times before I can say hello, I am having friends mothers call my phone to invite them for one do or the other. We are rolling stones but we tend to gather a lot of moss as we go along 🙂

I believe that the opportunity of having lived in very diverse environments definitely gives one a broader sense of understanding, exposure, knowledge, adaptability and so much more.

That said, there are some places that have been on my mind to visit for a good vacation time and I hope that in the near future, I will be able to scratch these travel itches.

I would love to visit so many places and see so many things but if I were to start right now, these would be my first five:

  1. The Fiji Islands
  2. New Zealand
  3. Prague
  4. Morocco
  5. Scandinavia – Sweden, Finland, Norway

Visiting a lot of the ancient and World Heritage places all over, like the Great Barrier Reef, The Wall of China, Machu Picchu etc. would just be awesome.

Time will tell how these things go.

“Traveling leaves you speechless, then it turns you into a storyteller.” Ibn Batutta

”I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” Susan Sontag

”Once a year, go some place that you have never been before.” Dalai Lama

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

The Daily Post prompt The Wanderer

Tell us about the top five places you’ve always wanted to visit.

Love · Poetry/Poems · Quotes For You · Social Issues

The Feast…

jacquelineobyikocha6 Comments

Beggar

With hungry eyes and gnarled knuckles,

He begged!

Please could you spare me something?

But they hurried along!

No one cared to look,

They were in a rush and too busy!

ζ

In abject poverty and clad in rags,

She groveled!

Hunger had punctured holes in her innards,

She cried out for help!

But no one cared to hear.

They were too ashamed to cast her a glance!

ζ

Flea bitten worn blankets,

Torn cartons for bed,

Under the stormy weather,

It’s bitterly cold!

ζ

Looking in at the warm and shiny windows,

Where laughter and food overflowed,

Into plates, leftovers to the trash,

Thrown away to go to waste!

ζ

He scurries over,

Digging for leftovers,

And a feast did he find.

With tears in his eyes,

As he gobbles grungy droppings,

That were several days over!

ζ

He is thankful for the offerings,

Shared with his stray companions,

A lame dog that no one wanted again,

And a one-eyed cat,

His companions at the garbage table!

ζ

Sir? Could you spare me a piece of bread? Please?

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Please don’t throw away food, someone out there is dying from hunger.

”If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”- Mother Theresa

”No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank

”A heart that gives, gathers.” – Tao Te Ching

DAY 3

Jennifer at INK and QUILL has invited me to participate in 5 day photo story challenge.

Challenge Guidelines:

Post a picture each day, for five consecutive days. Attach a story to your image.

*can be fiction / non-fiction
*poem / short paragraph
*each day nominates another blogger

I invite Kay Morris, my fabulous blogger friend  , to join the photo story challenge. I look forward to reading from you if you choose to participate. Enjoy 🙂

Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Musings · Poetry/Poems

The Truth As it is 😄

jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

In my mind,

I run like an African Gazelle,

filled with grace,

speed and style,

while in actual fact,

I am a robust Heifer,

trundling along,

with a rolling gait rump,

also filled with grace,

style and attitude,

to make up for the speed.

Go ahead! Have a chuckle at my expense.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

cartoon-funny-elephant-jump-exerciseImage Source: Indy Pendent Thinking

Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Poetry/Poems · The Daily Post

Make The Most Of It!…

jacquelineobyikocha36 Comments

Winter

Sometimes, our approach to everything is a case of mind over matter especially when it comes to weather issues that we have no control over.

To an extent it might be true that peoples moods are highly affected by the weather, maybe there might even be a scientific explanation for this.

However, I maintain that since we have absolutely no control over sultry summer heats or bitter winter chills, we can only exercise control over how we choose to react to either situation.

Each season has it’s beauty, even the harsh seasons like Winter which comes with a lot of challenges, dampness and grayness.

Nonetheless, if we choose to look at things with the attitude of acceptance and positivity, it will also elevate our mind and change our altitude, that we will begin to actively seek ways to make that period pass more pleasurably.

There is no point in wasting a good couple of months sitting in the doldrums of misery, for a situation that cannot be changed. It is a case of Lord give me the grace to accept and endure the things that I cannot change.

When we moved to Dubai in July, the heat was second to none.

It sweltered so badly that one would have surely suffered from heatstroke from being out in such fiery heat.

We simply adjusted and found ways of keeping out of the heat, living and hydrating.

Now the temperature has cooled sufficiently and the weather is absolutely divine.

I intend to wring out every moment of it to the best of my ability whilst it last because, who knows what Madam Winter has to offer next time around.

My little ditty might make you catch a cold but will put a smile on your face.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikochafunny winter

The Daily Post prompt Climate Control

The idea that the weather and people’s moods are connected is quite old. Do you agree? If yes, how does the weather affect your mood?

Image credit: Pinterest/funny2014.com

Creative Writing · Photographs · Poetry/Poems · Short Stories

On Guard!…

jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

1449056352263[1]Out of the blues,
They appeared.
Whence they came,
No one knew.
They stood stock still,
In proud array.
Like timeless rocks of Gibraltar,
That you could see from afar.
Some simply marveled at their mysterious presence,
Some used them for their resting and leaning essence,
Some vowed they heard their curious whispers,
Which simply gave them the shivers.
But the wise among them knew,
That these were the ancient ones,
Formed over timeless ages,
Hewn from endless stages.
They are the centurions of the fort,
Who stood in firm support,
In silence they watched the port,
As each person hurried back and forth.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

DAY 2

Jennifer at INK and QUILL has invited me to participate in 5 day photo story challenge.

Challenge Guidelines:

Post a picture each day, for five consecutive days. Attach a story to your image.

*can be fiction / non-fiction
*poem / short paragraph
*each day nominates another blogger

I invite Lucid Gypsy, who has a wealth of pictures that fascinate me, to join the photo story challenge. I look forward to reading from you if you choose to participate. Enjoy 🙂

Dubai · Photographs · Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday…

jacquelineobyikocha13 Comments

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A link to my neighbours/Community · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Quotes For You · Success · Weave that Dream

The Rolling Train Of Thoughts…

jacquelineobyikocha2 Comments

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It is very easy to sit down and dreamily wish for the niceties that life has to offer, but the bare truth is that those niceties come at a certain price. That price entails working smart and being less slothful.

Achieving most of our life’s goals emanates from our minds, which now transforms itself into the required energy.

So in essence, how we treat this powerhouse (our minds) that controls virtually everything that we are or we aspire to become really matters.

We have to choose daily, the seeds that we plant in our minds very wisely.

A weevil eaten seed is already faulty and is likely not to germinate into anything, much less giving any yield.

Our actions or in-actions emanates from our thoughts or lack of thoughts.

When we change our thinking, we change our lives.

If our thoughts are not working for us, it is time to switch into a better route of thinking.

As my people will ask with a proverb, “If you are building a house and a nail breaks, do you stop building or do you change the nail?”

As we plant the seeds of our thoughts wisely, may we hold onto belief, hope and grace to bring about increase and a bountiful yield.

This is applicable to everyone, irrespective of our religious or non-religious incline.

Thank you Vincent Wambua for inviting me to partake in the 3 quote challenge. Let me extend the invitation to other inspiring bloggers in the house.

Here are the rules:

  1. Post 3 quotes on 3 consecutive days
  2. Thank the person who nominated you
  3. Nominate 5 new bloggers each single day of the challenge.

Neveradullbling

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Adriennea

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