The Artist

January 11, 2016January 11, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha20 Comments

This changing Gif of David Bowie’s profile that I saw on Fictional Kevin‘s blog just caught my eye’s. Bowie was one brilliant talent. He will surely be missed but his legacy has been printed on the sands of time.

A link to my neighbours/Community · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Quotes For You

Why Sweat It?…

January 9, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha31 Comments

Naturally, like every erring human I have had many moments of taking the wrong turn in my life and making the wrong decisions over big and small things, such as eating that extra slice of pie, over spending and buying something that wasn’t really important, saying something that I shouldn’t have said, letting an opportunity pass by etc.

It’s all about choices and at each point in time, good or bad, we made choices that we felt were the best for us at that point in time.

Since some of these are not things that we can rewind the hands of time to change – the way forward would be to assimilate lessons from the experience, leave sweating it and move on.

Change the things that are within your power to change and leave those that you can’t regurgitate back.

Living in the Land of Regrets is truly waste of one’s reserve energy and time.

I leave you with these quotes to ruminate over:

‘Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you cannot build on it; it’s only good for wallowing in.’ Katherine Mansfield.
‘You mess up sometimes, don’t regret your mistakes, fix them and you will learn from it.’ Stanisha Wray
‘It’s never too late to be who you might have been.’ George Elliot

For the quotes challenge invitation, I thank Perfect The Days for the invitation, and would like to invite the following awesome bloggers to participate in the 3 days, 3 quotes challenge.

No pressures at all to do so. Just do it if you can.

The rules are:

Post 3 Quotes on 3 consecutive days.
Thank the person who nominated you.
Nominate 3 other bloggers on each day of challenge.

Mandibelle

FT of Hook LIne and Inkwell

Cavelle of Mental break in progress

Regards,

A link to my neighbours/Community · Blogging · Echos Of My Neighbourhood · My Thinking Corner · Reblogs

Where Is My Blogging Heading To?… I need your input.

January 5, 2016January 5, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha101 Comments

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‘What is my 2016 outlook for my blog?‘

When I started blogging in May 2015, I had no idea what tangent it would take and how engaging it could get.

All I knew was that I had this burden to write poking me in the ribs. I had started writing so many stories and books but never arriving at the end. I needed something that would hinge and balance my writing lifestyle so, I decided to poke my toes in, to feel the waters, to be motivated and to learn.

I find that I like these blogging waters. Truth be told, I love these blogging waters 🙂

Even on cold days, there are voices to keep you warm and to encourage you on the journey. I wanted to feel the pulse of my own blog first before wading in deeper and I believe that I am gaining a little more confidence as I go on, which brings me to this point.

There are Two (2) ideas that I have been fomenting and have actually started on my own. I wish to push it a little further by inviting you to join me and to also seek your counsel just in case you have ideas on how to make it work a lot better.

I want to invite you to join me on any or both ideas enunciated below:

My Thinking Corner: In my attempt to grow, I always strive to keep a positive frame of mind especially in these trying times. I would like to invite you to join me in sharing on Tuesdays, your short snippets of positive, inspiring, motivating, health, spiritual, advice, clips and posts that can serve as a prop for others. I call it my thinking corner because, I actually take out a bit of time in a day to think, encapsulate my thoughts and detoxify my mind.

Echos Of My Neighbourhood: This is a little space to share your photos of bits and pieces of wherever you are at any point in time. It could be houses, backgrounds, activities and so forth. No hard and fast rules. Just ping-back’s and we can build it from there.

I would appreciate your feedback if you are interested in this. It may be possible to get the WP engineers to advise on how to create a page for any of this, but that would depend on the success of response received and I will enunciate the modality for both a bit further in another post.

Let’s talk about Re-Blogs:

If you’ve noticed, I have been doing a bit more re-blogging than I used to and it hasn’t affected publishing my own posts in any way.

Why? On the average, I read at least a hundred posts a day and sometimes more, leaving comments, likes – when I don’t have comments and so on. I always find posts that resonate, motivates, inspires, teaches me and a lot more and would love to share them with you as well.

I waited to understand a little bit more about re-blogging and I know that not only is re-blogging all part of networking, sharing, complimenting and encouraging others, it is a practice that I want to embrace a bit more.

Initially, I must express that I was a bit concerned about re-blogging so much of other people’s work, worrying over the fact that it might reduce the authenticity of my work. I did not really want to start something that I didn’t have much understanding of.

Now, I think I feel more comfortable to re-blog as many posts as possible on specific days and times.

I find no problem in writing my posts from scratch, but there are also loads of beautiful, inspiring and wonderful posts by others out there which needs to be shared and it would be a shame not to do so if you can.

Although, I always recommend and link other bloggers posts on my Short Stories Series each week, there really is always room for more. ‘The generosity you extend is also the generosity that you receive.‘

I am giving you the heads up in this direction so that it doesn’t come as a surprise.

If you have any issues about your articles being re-blogged, please do let me know so that I don’t offend anyone.

Lastly, let me reiterate that I would really appreciate your candid feedback on this post with regards to my challenge invitation and your opinion about re-blogging.

A link to my neighbours/Community · Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories Series

A betrayal in the offing…Husband wanted urgently!

January 3, 2016January 3, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

What the @@@&&&? Tess stared in dumbfounded shock at the image that unfolded before her eyes.

Unbelievable! She stepped back, a burning sinking sensation hitting the pits of her stomach as the scene registered in her brain.

‘Is that not Humphrey that I see?’

She stared through the clear glass of the jewelry store. Watching as he attentively hooked a necklace around the slender neck of the pretty lady with him.

‘No! Her mind silently screamed.’

But his drop of a tender kiss on the cheek of the exquisite looking face and their intimate looking tête à tête was enough confirmation.

The anger pooled inside her as she hurried away. She didn’t just have the stomach for a confrontation.

‘No wonder he has been behaving like a cat on hot coals these past few weeks.’ Goddess’s voice muttered. ‘I have always been suspicious that he is too good to be true.’

‘He has obviously been tom-catting around town and here you are eating your heart out and driving yourself crazy trying to pick the perfect birthday gift for him.’

Tess gazed in annoyance at the gifts in her hands.

She had spent all afternoon and a little fortune picking out the lovely presents to give him for his birthday.

‘You better take back the presents advised Goddess.’ ‘He can’t make a fool out of you and still get your money as a thank you. No Sireee’ She continued.

‘Wait a minute, Cautious chipped in. ‘Don’t be in a haste Tess.’ There’s probably a reasonable excuse, Cautious rationalized.

‘You’ve been together for over nine months now and he hasn’t given you any reason to suspect him, has he?’ Cautious sagely reminded her.

‘Well, it starts one day and for all you know, he has just been smart about things’ argued Goddess.

The warring voices in her head gave her a headache and for several hours after she felt totally demoralized, mooning around her apartment.

Several hours later, the happy tune of her phone rang and she stared at it in uncertainty. Humphrey’s caller ID face stares at her through the phone screen.

She wasn’t sure she wanted to speak to him but she eventually decided to answer at the third round of ringing.

‘Hey Bae’, his warm tenor pulled at her.

Her curt reply of ‘Hello Humphrey’ wasn’t as warm as usual.

‘I missed you.’ He said. ‘How was your day?’

‘Really? *you lying cheat, go on, sell me another one, she muttered silently in her head* but her lips uttered a very curt and polite ‘Fine, thank you.’

‘Are you busy?’ ‘You sound distracted,’ he asked.

‘No am here.’

‘Good. You sound tired though. Just called to kiss you goodnight. Be seeing you tomorrow at the party.’ He hung up.

Tess barely slept well. Half of her night was spent tossing thoughts around in her head, wondering if she should bother going to the party or not.

She hated confrontations but she needed to get to the bottom things. The lying cheat.

To be continued…Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

I have been busy digging. Enjoy

Some posts like Claremary’s Auld Lang Syne, truly make you appreciate the gift of life

Follow Chape and maybe, just maybe, you can do this.

Sound advise from Success Inspirer.

This post from Diane made me chuckle. Yeah right!

Put yourself in the shoes of a Syrian refugee from Skinny and Single.

The poem New wind blowing from Joy gave me joy and much thought.

I agree with Rose about defining our goals.

Change succinctly said by Koko.

Astrid explains it all to me and I daresay to you too 🙂

How honest are you?

A link to my neighbours/Community · Dubai · Gratitude · Life · Musings

To all the Fire Service Men/Women out there…

January 2, 2016January 2, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha51 Comments

You know at times, we tend to take a lot in life for granted, going about our daily business grumbling and sometimes without care or in-depth thought as to what others pass through in the course of their jobs.

It took watching the luxurious building of The Address Hotel rage with fire on the Eve of the 2016 New Year’s day at a close range, to serve as a big eye opener for me, as to the enormous pressure and brave exploits of Fire fighters all over the World.

They put their lives on line every time they step into such blaze and even though some of us will very well say that it’s their job after all and that they are trained for it, it takes a heck of gumption to do the stuff that these courageous humans do.

For All the TEA in China and all the Swiss CHOCOLATES and a million dollars on top, I, Jacqueline, would not venture near that raging inferno that I witnessed.

The orange tongues of the fiery blaze licked with thirst and reckless abandon, in search of who and what to consume. The billowing smoke was choking even from a distance and yet these service men, did such a fantastic and efficient job even as others (including me) were watching in silent prayer.

Since the night of the 31st, the image of the burning skyscraper has been stuck in my head and my vivid imagination has been in overdrive ever since. On television, fire service men tend to look glamourous and sexy, but, gosh, when the chips are down, their job is one tough cookie to bake.

To the brave men and women of the Fire Service all over the World, how can one say thank you to your selfless services?

How can one appreciate the utmost help received from all of you for fire incidents which sometimes stem from actions of irresponsibility of others.

Yet, all I can say, and I know some people have this in mind as well, is thank you very much. Thank you for being there to mitigate a situation that could be worse. Thank you for giving so much of yourself. For your courage and faith in the face of such scary adversary.

Respects.

Bless you all.

A link to my neighbours/Community · Blog Awards · Blogging · Gratitude

A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR…

December 30, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha55 Comments

The year 2015 is practically a wrap.

We made it through despite so much upheaval around the World, so many individual challenges that looked insurmountable, and if there is nothing else to say, the fact that we waded through it all, is a massive blessing and a huge reason to be thankful.

My gratitude challenge today is two pronged.

Foremost, I am truly thankful to God for so many things that I can’t begin to count but above all, the gift of life, the gift of family and the gift of friends.

I deeply appreciate the connections that I have made on this platform.

A lot of you have been winds in my wings and oxygen in my lungs.

Your words have decorated my heart in indescribable ways and I am grateful that I met you in this space.

I have received a whole bunch of award nominations from my good friends and I truly must appreciate them for the generosity of their hearts.

Please, let me apologize upfront if I missed out mentioning a nomination.

It is not a slight but an oversight, because it has grown in number (over 20 of them) and I truly didn’t want to inundate people with putting out an award post ever so often.

For the Epic Awesomeness Award, I thank Yinglan of This is Another Story, for this kind nomination.

awesome-award

For the Versatile Blogger Award nominations, my appreciations go to: iamabloggertoo, Gharkepakwan, Emma of Shut that negative noise off, Amra of Perfect My Days, Izzyasabee, Star Scrolls, Koolaidmoms

To Sam of Starlit Octave , I say thank you for The Word Magician Award:

The nominations for Leibster Award comes from: Recharge Your Day. Sister Emma, Pamela of K. Phoenix, Walty, Rebirth of Lisa, you warm thoughts are very encouraging. Thank you.

liebster-award-discover-new-blogs3

For the Sisterhood of The World Bloggers, my appreciation goes to Inspiring Max, Susan, Jake of The Peasant Blog,

sisterhood

Now I have a loyal Dragon to guard me from marauders and I say thank you to Kaushal of Expressive Human/Original Thoughts, An Off beat bluestocking, for the Dragon’s Loyalty Award. This made me smile.

dragons-loyalty-award

Chape, a heartfelt thank you for the Darts Awards/Premios Dardos

Premio dardos 2

Dear Joanne of Vellissima found my blog neat enough to nominate me for Real Neat Blog Award. Thank you my friend.

In my place, it is said that ‘the man who has human support is better than the one that has money.’ Money can buy you a lot but cannot warm your heart with it’s words.

So, to all of you, dear friends of mine, who have supported me by breathing life into my blogging journey, ‘may the Sun shine on your path and may the shadows fall behind.’

Thank you very much and do stay blessed.

A link to my neighbours/Community · Creative Writing · Fiction · Love · Short Stories Series

Dating At Last!…Husband Wanted Urgently!

December 27, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha10 Comments

”Hold it right there.” Tess tried to rein in her runaway trail of thoughts.

”Don’t go getting all mushy right now and seeing visions girl.” She admonished herself.

”It’s just a date.”

”Repeat slowly after me.”

”Just. A. Date.”

The two voices in her head continued their tussling, as she pursed her lips in admiration of her new cherry, shimmery lipstick that matched the gloss of her new O.P.I nail polish.

”Yeah right! It’s just the 9th date in a line of quick successive dates. Ha!” Snickered inner Goddess

”With the same guy.” Goddesses inner cynical eyes were raised.

”Who by the way is ole fancy pants, pompous Humphrey.”

”Who would have thought it? That he could pack such a punch in his kiss. Girl, you are so hooked and reeled in.” Goddess proclaimed.

”Hey! Cut the guy some slack.” Protested Cautious voice.

”Okay. Let’s calm down.” Tess interjected into the muddled log jam of the two rioting voices in her head.

”I admit that I was a tad too hasty to jump to conclusions and in summarizing him” She accepted her default.

”I just thought that he was always too full of himself in Church, you know.” As the son of the Vicar, he always cut across like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth and all those choir girls batting their eyelashes and singing out their hearts to him, just made me want to puke.”

”You could see the trail of their eyes and their flouncy skirts swishing flirtatiously and panting after him and I think he knew it too.”

”See, a girl has to keep herself out of such quagmire, you know.” ”I can’t be seen drooling after a fine brother and hanging onto his very last word like my life depended on it.” She concluded.

”Oh, oh! You’ve sure been paying him a lot of attention, haven’t you?” You are practically drooling right now Tess,” Goddess chimed in. You have checked your time like, what? The umpteenth time!”

”Ever since the accidental cinema date, your eyes have gone all starry, you are wearing all the girlie stuff that you have and fussing so much over your appearance. I know that smile girl.” ”Just be careful!” ”That’s all am saying.” I don’t trust all that gentlemanly courtesy and all that fineness wrapped in his sleek BM. He hasn’t even made the expected sleek fresh finger moves. No booty calls. I am kinda worried girl. That’s not the usual way these beaus move you know.” ”I wonder what tricks he is up to?” Sage Goddess queried.

”Hey! Goddess just shush.” ”Come off it!” ”There are still a couple of good guys out there you know.” ”I have a good feeling about Humphrey.” Said Cautious voice

The little birdie doorbell chimed. ”He’s here.” ”Comport yourself.” She quickly smoothed her skirt and a quick spritz of her CK Contradiction perfume, she opened the door to let Humphrey in.

To be continued.Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

It’s been a bit of a slow week, I haven’t read as much as normally do, but I still tried to dig into the neighbours yards, though a whole lot seem preoccupied. I still managed to find a bit of this and that.

Thoughts by Star Lit Octave.

This photo from Conversations around the tree made me smile.

An inspiring story of The tiny frog from Gchan.

Anand’s 3rd QSM Humor magazine.

Smart Goal Setting by bikini book worm.

5 Inspirational and 2 children’s books from Emma.

Can You Help?

This post, The day after I survived from Tess…

Beautiful pictures from my sis Lucid Gypsy always makes me happy.

Have you sent out holiday love this season, from Damyanti

A link to my neighbours/Community · Creative Writing · Fiction · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Love · Short Stories Series

No More Urgently….Bridegroom Wanted…

December 20, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

For several weeks Tess has decided not to bother any longer with the online dating hullabaloo.

The ping-pong uncertainty of it all was just not for her nerves. She simply wanted to meet a nice gentleman in a more conventional way and not chew her nails down to nubs from the nerves of dating a total stranger.

She still finds it romantic that her parents met some thirty five years ago at a friends wedding and within the space of a few weeks they knew that they were meant for each other.

”I think I am just going to enjoy being by myself; living and loving myself and letting my harmony flow.”

All the relationship Buddha’s advice about focusing on doing you, doing something that you love, staying in tune with your inner-self, self development, examining and getting rid of the junk in your trunk and growing the feeling of being complete in yourself, so that when the gentleman appears, he only complements the wholesome you, all sounded worthwhile.

She decided to do more fun stuff and not let her life revolve only around work, online scouting, mooning under the duvet reading romantic novels that left her with unsatisfied cravings in the pits of her stomach and yet more work.

She found that indeed there was so much that she could do alone or with a gal-pal and for the first time in some good moons, she felt satisfied, happy with herself and not pressed.

The tinkling ring of her telephone interrupted her thoughts. It was Anna.

”Sorry Tess, I can’t join you for the movies today, can we do next week?”

”Why? What’s up? I was just getting ready to leave.”

”Joe is town unexpectedly and I have agreed to have dinner with him tonight.”

”Girl, you know that’s just a booty call?” She tentatively said to Anna.

There was a lot on the tip of Tess’s tongue to say but she held it in check. She didn’t want it to seem like she was a miserable, jealous friend, but her guts told her that Joe is simply stringing Anna along and that doom would surely arrive one day soon.

”Oh well! Have fun. I’ll still go.” She said and hung up.

The trailer of the The Kings Men was very interesting and it promised to be an adrenaline satisfying watch.

She settled down with her buttery popcorn and a soda in the cinema, whose darkness was only interrupted by the flickers of screen-light and the tiny blue lights on the stair edgings.

Just as the movie started off, a bumbling, hulking shadow picking his way to the seat behind Tess’s row tripped over someone’s feet and his ketchup, mustard covered hot dog flew through the air, landing in Tess’s lap.

She squealed in startled surprise thinking it was a live creature. When she realized it was a hot-dog, she shot daggers with her eyes at the skulking fellow who had mumbled an apology and quickly settled into his seat with all the urgent shushing sounds of other viewers.

It was quite a worthy watch and she soon found herself enjoying the movie and no longer stewing over the startling fright.

Making her way to the ladies with the exiting crowd, a warm hand tentatively settled on her shoulders just outside the doorway and she paused in her strides.

‘‘So sorry about that Tess.”

”Of course! It has to be pompous Humphrey.” She thought uncharitably.

”Its okay!” She accepted his apology with an impatient wave of hand.

”If its really okay, them you must allow me to pay for the laundering and to buy you dinner at least?” He suggested.

”Oh why not?” Her little sensible voice said.

‘‘With such gracious and earnest request, you’ ve got to accept.” The inner tussle continued.

”But it’s boring, pompous Humphrey!” Her inner goddess grumbled.

”It’s just dinner, not a walk down the aisle.” The two voices tussled.

”Okay! Tess said to him. ‘‘Let me just freshen up.”

To be continued…Part 1, Part 2,Part 3,Part 4,Part 5

There’s been a lot of harvesting this week from all the neighbours pastures but I will just share these few with you. I hope that you find time to visit them.

Have a good week ahead lovely people.

How your worst fears can lead to your biggest triumphs by Commonsensegal.

Santa has a sweet tooth. Why not find out for yourself 🙂

Alone but not lonely. Detox as recommended by Dr. Yelhispressing

Are you driven by passion? Asks Enlightenment Angels.

All I want from Santa from Diane. Maybe it’s all you want too.

You might be interested in this senior salon presented by Haddon Musings.

Relaxing holiday stress relief from Nurse Kelly.

Stop all the excuses – advice to self by Dialogueftdepths.

Six fantastic tips to help inspire you through writers block, from Dream Big, Dream Often.

Image credit: Pinterest

Reblogs · Uncategorized

A Letter To Jacqueline

December 14, 2015December 14, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

There are some things that come so surprisingly and so pleasing that you have no words to express what the impact of such an act has.
Please do take a moment and appreciate Carlos for me. A moment is all that I ask.
Thank you

A link to my neighbours/Community · Blogging · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Inspiration - Motivation · The Daily Post

My Dear WordPress….It’s not possible!

December 14, 2015December 15, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha51 Comments

My Dear WordPress,

If I can recall a not so dim memory in my conversations with you, I remember that we have had this chat before, when you slyly asked me to take a pick of my three favourite blogs out of the wholesome lot of my blog-some friends.

I told you that my eclectic tastes and needs makes variety the spice of my life. That these needs are fed in their itty-bitty parts by each and everyone of my committee of friends and basically, in a day I go visiting at least a 100-200 of my friends, which makes it rather impossible to pick 3 posts out of so many.

Since you can’t quite remember this conversation, let me refresh your mind.

I told you my dear WP ( I hope I can call you that, since we are such bosom buddies) that a lot of my friends fill so many gaping gaps in my life.

They make me howl in glee till tears run down my face.

They plaster smiles on my face and sometimes do make me frown.

A good number of them have clicky fingers and they show me vibrant pictures that leaves me in awe.

Some keep me grounded and in touch with my humanity and yet some make me reflect deeply about life itself.

Some remind me that I should always be grateful for the little things, sharing their tips freely and indeed I am grateful for these friends of mine.

Some fellowship with me and throw more light on my spirituality and some are generous enough to share their blessings with me.

They have shared their lives, their children and spouses, their pets, their horses and even garter sssnakes at times (now I have the heebie-jeebies just from the ssss word and it’s all your fault).

A good lot of my friends feed my appetite with the flavour bursting, delicious meals that they serve up online – thank God we can’t add weight from looking at all the pictures.

A staunch number of my wonderful friends encourage and inspire me to spread my wings, to soar and reach for the skies and some even take me on their own wings on expeditions to places that I have never been before.

Some give me cause to pause and share a silent prayer, hoping that all is well with them and lest I forget, a good number of them weave very delightful tales and write delicate poems.

I do have a raunchy bunch too and the political man as well.

A lot of sage counsel is equally on offer and they’ve got my back as well.

So you see, my crowd is quite a mix, even with music and I really think that maybe you should join us? Need I say more? What do you say?

Maybe, if I send you the list of 719 of them to marinate over, that might help you make a decision, whilst I go and get acquainted with some more.

Finally, don’t forget that saying which goes that ”you should never ask a mother to choose out of all her children, it’s simply not done.” If you are wondering how she can cope with them all, I must highlight to you that she is the multi-breasted one.

My regards to you WP. I have enjoyed having a good natter.

The Daily Post prompt Press It

Give some love to three blog posts you’ve read and loved in the past week, and tell us why they’re worth reading.