Category: This Is My Life

Personal · This Is My Life

This Is Who I Am….Streams of consciousness Saturday.

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This is what it is and I have come to accept that. When I was younger, it was a bit difficult to really describe who I was or am and what I am all about.SoCS badge 2015

I can get quite wrapped up in my books and in make-believe Worlds that open up for me in the pages and I find beautiful contentment from that.

Being around lots of people gives me pleasure and I would be the life of the party. Mingling, laughing, dancing and all the merry-making, yet in the background of all this, is some still brook that runs deep inside me. A reserved person looking from the outside.

This different personalities that inhabited one soul, confused me a bit in the younger years of still trying to find myself. I thought that I had to fit into a mold.

That I had to be x or y, black or white, this or that. That I had to be either an extrovert or introvert and every other label that people put out there to pen everyone else.

My mother would say that I was the most quiet child she has when we were growing up, with an acute sense of responsibility, yet at the same time, she would equally say that I am one person that would arrive and would be welcomed as many. ‘When she comes in, we say you people are welcome.’ A one woman riot squad.

In the early days, I never quite understood these things and struggled to fit into one caption or the other.

Now, I am older and wiser, I embrace the me who is a bundle of eclectic this and that and I have ceased with the defining.

I accept and love the me who rages like a wild-fire yet burns in peaceful flames.

The cool sophisticated lady with the blend of a gypsy, wild child.

I admire the me who loves colours in splashes of vivid brightness and the calmness of cool pastels. Who has a myriad taste, yet particular.  A me who reads like an open book, yet with curling smokes of mystery.

This is me who loves noise and quiet, who embraces life with zest and calmness. A bundle of contradicting this and that.

No more definitions!

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Today’s SOC’s prompt asking us to write about this and that had me looking around for a few minutes then I realized that I am an epitome of lots of this and that.

Personal · Photographs · The Daily Post

Harmony is in the rhythm

jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

The Daily Post Photo prompt Harmony.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Blog · Personal · Photographs · Uncategorized

Leaping Along…personal

jacquelineobyikocha17 Comments
My new skipping rope. The previous one was a killer rope in it's past life.
My new skipping rope. The previous one was a killer rope in it’s past life.

So here I am seated in-between Sugoi and Umami, two Far East Urban Cuisine/Japanese and trying to decide what to eat as well as checking my mails when I see Colette’s challenge sent to me to leap and the Daily post prompt to leap as well, so I will kill two birds with one stone.

Don’t think that I am a food addict. A girl has to eat to keep the brain cells functional and aside from a bowl of porridge and currants this morning, this is a late lunch of my decision, veggie rice and teriyaki prawns.

I enjoy the drone of voices. It’s amazing when you keep silent and just listen to the cacophonous buzz around you. My thoughts takes me back to the beginning of the year and how far I am leaping along.

Thinking about leaping made start looking at people’s feet as they passed by, for silly reasons. No one was leaping out-rightly, just a scurry, a flinch, a waddle and a slow trot.

Where have I leaped to between Jan and now?

I tried to leap high, but feared that I would break a precious bone, so I just hopped along.

  • I just bought a new skipping rope, a few minutes ago. Very apt for leaping out of a month. I will obviously leap a lot in March.
    The last one I had was used for drilling young recruits in its past life. It kept flogging the back of my legs *no jokes* when I didn’t skip high enough, that I had to ask myself if the punishment was worth the result?
  • So, I finally finished collating my poetry book and hopefully, by next week, I will seek professional assistance with editing and book cover. The plan is to have it out between March and April, so it’s right on track and I can tick the box for hopping along with my set target to have four of my published works out this year.

Yes, I know its a tall challenge, but I believe in setting a high bar for myself so that even if I fail to meet all, I fail forward by achieving a good percentage.

  • I hopped to a writer’s critic group and asides from parting with too many dirhams buying coffee and sandwich, watching people feel snazzy and writer-like with the interesting hair-dos and streaks of colours, and a huge dragon tattoo running from one shoulder into her bosom *I didn’t get to see the bosom* but the dragon did, and a lot of Shisha smoking all around, I really didn’t get much out of the experience, so I am quite doubtful that I will repeat the experience.
  • I dared to submit one of my stories for a competition. The results don’t come out till March, though in all honesty, I am not expecting anything, since the whole World, their wives, pet garter snakes, dogs and cats made an appearance. A cool cat is most likely going to win the prize. I did it to push myself out of my comfort zone and get over the jitters.
  • The weight hasn’t shifted downwards, but it hasn’t gone up thankfully.
  •  Blogging is coming along nicely 🙂

I am ruminating over my personal goals for March, so let me trundle along and get cracking.

So, who would like to leap off the board with me? A short note will do just fine

Colette, thank you for making me look and appreciate my steps.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

The Daily Post Prompt Leap.

P.S. A silly video of the drone of voices and the occasional feet.

Family · Personal · Photographs · The Daily Post

In The Present Moment…

jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

The Daily Post Photo prompt State Of Mind.

All taken at some point of yesterday. My present state of mind is filled with love for my family. Enjoying them and finding inner peace.

Blog · Family · Memes · Musings · Personal · Uncategorized

Bliss…

jacquelineobyikocha39 Comments

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Bliss is waking up late on a beautiful Saturday morning, lounging in bed, cocooned beside the warm body of your loved one and talking about everything and nothing.

Bliss is eating a robust, nutritious home-made breakfast, smiling about nothing and everything, and generally feeling happy.

That’s my bliss. So, what’s your  bliss 😉 ?

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Challenges · Personal · The Great Book Of Lists

These Musical Chords That Tug My Heartstrings…

jacquelineobyikocha36 Comments

Grundig

La Duchesse seems to know all the good buttons to press to get my heart overflowing with good memories.

I grew up on the staple of a plethora of music from a father who adored music.

Our mornings started with music for as long as my dad was alive. Played on the Grundig turntable and then on to Bangs & Olufsen sound system.

I suspected my dad wanted to be a musical maestro and he had a gentle deep baritone.

I love music and barely discriminate except when they are offensive and filled with cuss words.

I love the oldies and the trending ones as well. Most days, I join my children in singing the new songs, especially as we drive around town and I teach them some old ones. We love turning on the radio and just having a go at it.

However, deep in my heart there are those beats that are ‘my forever’ rousing strings of chords. I shall choose 10 out of the string beats of my memories and 6 from recent ones.

They are those beats that I grew up listening to over and over as I grew up in my parents home. Their sounds always transports me right back to the butter yellow house with the red roof.  The house of my childhood.

  1. We thank thee from Jim Reeves 
  2. The Archies. Sugar, sugar 
  3. Handel’s Messiah 
  4. Kenny Roger’s Through the years 
  5. Miriam Makeba 
  6. Nat King Cole 
  7. Bob Marley 
  8. Michael Jackson 
  9. Dolly Parton 
  10. The Beatles 

I rock these ones below with my children:

  1. Dido – Life for rent 
  2. Adele – Hello 
  3. Nico Vinz – I am wrong 
  4. Afrojack – Ten feet tall 
  5. Dimtri Vegas & Like Mike – Take me to a higher place 
  6. Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk 
Blog · Life · Personal · The Daily Post

A Little Horn Tooting Is Required…personal

jacquelineobyikocha27 Comments

If you fail to validate yourself, not too many people are going to be bothered to do it for you.

So, if you are waiting on other’s to do it for you, your disappointment will come in huge spades. Everyone else is busy trying to get on with their fabulous lives and you will surely be left in the dust with your esteem shredded and battered.

We have a saying that goes’ the Agama Lizard fell from the palm tree and landed on his feet. He looked around, but no one applauded him, so he gave himself a good nod and a praise.‘

To appreciate and show yourself some love is not being, arrogant or proud. It is knowing who you are. Embracing and owning yourself. If you fail to be able to acknowledge your good sides, or those things that you’ve done well in, then how sincere is your appreciation of that which is done by another?

A lot of people feel embarrassed when complimented or commended and I wonder if at the back of their minds whether they only hope for criticisms and put-downs? Putting ourselves down and short-changing ourselves does not make us a better person, it actually makes us appear unsure of ourselves.

Please note, that there is a huge difference between having a modest sense of humour by being self-deprecating from undermining your good qualities in order to appear humble. It may not serve you well.

I have always said to myself, if you’ve earned it, Jacqueline, wear it with grace and joy. Appreciating yourself is not conceit.

Sometimes, I am my own worst critic especially when it comes to achieving set targets. I can cut the slack for others, but not as much for myself, then again, I find it very easy to laugh at myself.

However, I never fail to recognize some sides of me that has served me well over the years.  I try to do everything with my whole heart. Loving with all I can love with. Executing any responsibility to the best of my ability. I always come in the first three when it comes to Team lead/player in my work place. I am a very dedicated and focused person with a good sense of responsibility and I believe in getting it done.

I get on easily with people and over the years I find myself growing more and more tolerant of people’s shortcomings. I don’t take offence easily.

Above all of this, I honestly value my sense of peace, stable mind and contentment. I have no idea how it all started, though I strongly suspect that my upbringing as well as my spiritual growth has a hand in this.

I hardly ever catch myself wanting material things that I cannot afford. They simply don’t move me. I am very, very thrifty, but not cheap.

I would rather work hard, save and get the best that I can, rather than a cheapskate that will break the next day. It’s almost tough to make me covet my neighbours goods with a jealous gleam in my eyes.

You can trust me with a Million dollars and not a dot will be found missing.

Yes! I said it and you can take it to the bank. I have integrity!

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

The Daily Post prompt Toot your horn.

Most of us are excellent at being self-deprecating, and are not so good at the opposite. Tell us your favorite thing about yourself.

Challenges · Lifestyle · Parenting · The Great Book Of Lists · This Is My Life

Hang Your Bag…The big book of list.

jacquelineobyikocha29 Comments

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When La Duchesse Derat started this challenge my thoughts wavered on whether I could cope with adding it to my list , now it’s become a feature I look forward to weekly and this also goes to prove that you can go the extra mile and further if need be.

This week’s TGBOL prompt asking us to make a list of the ‘the words that matter to me‘ is what we refer back home as ‘buying market‘ or ‘inviting the insect infected log,‘ because yours faithfully Jacqueline has a lot to say, but I shall restrict my enthusiasm to 10 quotes.

1. ‘Hang your bag where your hands can reach.’

My parents used this phrase so much *in Igbo language * to teach us how to be contented with what we have and never be greedy for that which belongs to someone else.

They taught us that if you worked hard and with integrity, that yours will come and this is so true.

I can truthfully say that I have never owed for a day in my life because at every point in time even when it requires living the life of minimalism, what I have at that point in time is always enough and I even strive to create surplus from the little bit.

I endeavour never to buy that which I cannot afford to pay for, no matter how beautiful it is and for that, I have peace.

2. ‘For my Grace is sufficient unto the day.

The grace of God is free and belongs to all who seek for it. We all live by grace.’

3.’ As a man thinks in his heart so is he.’

Those things that you dwell on consistently, gradually erodes your mind and heart and becomes you, in the sense that you exhibit them and they control you.

4. ‘Never give up on yourself.’

Even if the World fails you, it’s only over when you fail yourself and stop believing in yourself that’s when it’s really over.

5. ‘For I have not given you the spirit of fear but of love, of power and of sound mind.’ 2 Tim 1:7

6. ‘Dare to dream big for the journey of a thousand miles started with a step, but you need to take that step and keep moving.’

Let your dreams be large. Then take them on. Even if you don’t arrive at that precise goal, you will have a heck of a good time getting there.

7. ‘Be appreciative of the simple things of life and be contented, for there in lies your sense of peace.’

The love from my family and the time spent with them is beyond priceless.

8. ‘Give. Be happy to share out of your bounty as well as your scarcity and you will see even more.’

Giving is not only when you have money in your pocket to hand out. If you do, all the better, but giving starts from the mind. Give of yourself and of the little that you have. Your resources well up and brim over.

9. ‘Be the light that you would like to see shining in others and do unto them as you would like them to do to you.’

10. ‘Be bold and be strong (courageous) for the Lord your God is with you.’ Deut 31:6

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Dubai · Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Photographs · This Is My Life · Travel

– 6 degrees! The First Sub-Zero Lounge in the Middle East. Echoes Of My Neighbourhood #10

jacquelineobyikocha56 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share a picture about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Every Thursday, share a photo of bits and pieces of wherever you are at any point in time. It could be houses, backgrounds of your neighbourhood, activities and so forth and you can tag it Echos of my Neighbourhood, add my link to your post so that I will get the ping from your post.

Every other Thursday, I will publish a post with the links of all those who participated the previous week.

This is just a fun way of getting to see more of the World around us through your eyes, since we cannot all be at those places, we can at least see them through you.

Some are praying for the blistering cold weather in their area to cease, while some of us have to pay some money to get a bit of the real Winter chill. Several cups of steaming hot chocolate and I was glad to leave, which is the good side about Chill-Out Lounge, you can leave when you want to.

The temperature is maintained at – 6° no matter how hot it gets outside, so you better cover up well, though they give you thermal jacket and gloves.

Last Week Echoes harvested quite some peeks of different neighbourhoods, so board the flight with me and let’s go have a look see 🙂

This is good way to spend a calm Sunday from Writing in North Norfolk. Relaxing

How many of you have seen this lady bag-piper before? My first time thanks to Dancing Palm Trees. You can learn how, maybe.

Sarah’s Planes, do you want to hop aboard. Come along.

Lovely photos from Malmo, Sweden by Giggles and Tales. You will like it.

Pretty and Serene. From Dollops of Heedful Ramblings.  Take a peek

A good hideaway for lovers and fairy tales presented by Kat. Inspires the weaver to spin some yarn.

Some good pick me ups on a Tired Thursday from Mandibelle. Are you tired? A cuppa always perks you up.

I would be Sleepless in Seattle as well. I have something going for this city. Thank you Paula You should find out.

This is some of my Lagos and Oba’s Lagos. We love Lasgidi!  There is no place like Lagos.

Open Sesame! Peeks of NY and Brooklyn from Jazzy Tower.

I am loving these views, aren’t you?

So, when can we get a peek at yours? Pllllleeeeeaaasssseee  with a cherry on top 😉

Regards,

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

 

Personal story · The Daily Post · This Is My Life

Say My Name, Say My Name…

jacquelineobyikocha72 Comments
Child naming ceremony
Child naming ceremony

In my place, when a child is born we don’t give the child a name immediately. We wait for the Ibo traditional eight market days, before a proper naming ceremony is performed for the child. So until the child’s naming ceremony, the baby is simply addressed as ‘baby’ for a girl or ‘bobo’ for a boy.

The parents will present their chosen names to the paternal grandfather who usually presides over this auspicious occasion, in front of a tidy crowd of family members and clansmen.

For this occasion, water, salt, palm-oil, gin and kola-nut must be present. Oblations are offered to the ancestors with kola-nut and gin, after which the well clad baby is presented by the mother for the naming. The water, salt and palm-oil represents purity, health, wealth and peace and they will be dropped on the babies lips one after the other accompanied with prayers and a chorus of ‘ise‘ meaning ‘and so shall it be’ by everyone else.

The list of the child’s name would be read out and attributed. Sometimes, it can be quite lengthy if the child’s grandparents are all alive because each of them will present a name asides from the names chosen by the parents.

I grew up answering different names to each grandparent.

For instance my maternal grandma called me Ngozikaego – which means ‘blessing is bigger than wealth,’ while my paternal grandma called me Adaeze – which means ‘The daughter of the King’ and then my grandpa called me Ekwutosinam, meaning ‘don’t tarnish my good name.’

However, the name that my parents chose, prevails today and it turned out that they chose Jacqueline after Jacqueline Kennedy whom my mother loved her class, composure and style.

My mother said that I made such a pretty and peaceful baby that she not only chose to give me a name that matched my serenity and a woman that she admired a lot, but also the meaning of the name was a deciding factor for her. Jacqueline means, ‘May God Protect.’

It is possible that bearing a French Roman Catholic name contributed to my predilection for all things Frenchy and for being bilingual. I found myself naturally gravitating to things that had the french language tucked inside them.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

The Daily Post Say Your Name

Write about your first name: Are you named after someone or something? Are there any stories or associations attached to it? If you had the choice, would you rename yourself?