Encapsulate it Please….

October 1, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha9 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Immortalized in Stone.”

The moments spent with my family are priceless to me, especially as I watch my children gallop in growth and at the rate that they are growing, before I can say Hey Presto! they will fly my coop.

If I could compress all these precious moments, dotted with times spent with good friends, then have them encapsulated in a frozen kaleidoscopic capsule, so that even when I am old and my memory is no longer as sharp as brass tacks, I may revisit and relive them as often as I choose.

Are there any words or acts of mine that would add value and minister wisdom to others even when I am long gone? If I should peradventure find such words; those are the words that I will have immortalized in stone. Those words that will nurture, strengthen, encourage, motivate and teach are keepers.

What adjectives can I use to describe the probability of such occurrence? Fabulous, Fantastic, Wonderful and every hyperbole that you can think of.

Alas! The transient state of life makes such dreams impossible Since at some point, everything that has been created by man shall become detritus. Back to planet Earth oh my wishful, illusive mind.

The Daily Post · Writing

Learning is Ad Infinitum…

September 30, 2015February 19, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha32 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Lazy Learners.”

I fretted to get good grades, but that was when I was very young.

Now I fret to do my best because that is what pleases me to do.

However I am not going to fret myself to death;

For those things that I want to learn but haven’t gotten round to doing them for various reasons that are unavoidable,

Learning process is ad infinitum. We learn till the day we die.

I have a long list of things that I would like to learn, because it pleases me to know them.

What I do each day, is to learn something new, no matter how minutiae,

God willing even in my dotage, I shall trudge on to those martial arts classes,

I shall probably learn a bit of Japanese along the way;

Basket weaving for the fun of it,

Taking better pictures through practicing;

It’s a long list of things to learn…..

It just never ends..

Family · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · The Daily Post

A Step back into Childhood….

September 29, 2015September 29, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha46 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Life’s a Candy Store.”

What a delightful day this would be! I am six years old again and I get to spend it as I please and with whom I choose.

Well! Well! Whoever says that life doesn’t have it’s pleasant sweet spots and that the lines don’t fall in the right places is a big, fat lying Pinocchio! Just watch me 🙂

It’s a beautiful Saturday morning. Of course, I am still young enough to get excused from doing serious chores, apart from brushing my teeth properly, taking my shower and eating sumptuous helpings of mummy’s homemade pancakes with dripping drizzles of maple syrup, nicely done omelets (no vegetables please), sausages, baked beans and a nice warm cup of cocoa.

We all pile into my daddy’s lovely blue Renault Saloon car. It has seen a lot of good mileage and made lots of beautiful memories.

Off we go to Leventis super stores in Enugu; a forty-five minutes drive from our abode in Nsukka, through the old road and past the Milken hill.

Milken hill is a verdant wilderness and as I peer through the wound up windows of our beloved Renault with plate number ”ECH 480” winding, its way through the snaky, precarious, hilly road with its scary drop, my child eyes imagine the trumpeting Elephants, the roaring Lions and the curious monkeys that inhabit that wilderness.

The scary drop seems like a bottom less pit and one must negotiate it with care. Many cars have been known to meet a fatal stop on this part of the road.

We make it safely to Leventis. It is a store of a child’s dream and every book and toy that my mind can conjure is stocked here.

”Chinny, you and your siblings can go and select three items each for yourselves.” ”Two books and one toy each.” ”We have two hours to spend before we go to visit your cousins, daddy says to me.”

Daddy is such a wonderful man. He knows I love books and he stokes it rather nicely by buying lots of them for me 🙂

I make a beeline for the huge outlay of more books than I have ever seen.

Rows and rows of beautiful, vibrantly coloured story books fill my eyes. A browse and a selection of the two books that I want to go home with are made. I then settle down at the children’s corner where I quickly digest another one whilst waiting for mummy to finish making her purchases.

I debate in my mind whether to exchange my toy option for a third book. I know that on a good day when we are not squabbling, my sister will allow me to play with her new doll and I want all the books in the book store to belong to me.

I negotiate very nicely with daddy and I end up with four books instead of two. I have diligently checked the prices on all the girly toys and they far outweigh the price of two extra books; somehow, I feel sensible and smart. I think daddy appreciates my consideration.

Don’t be mistaken, I love toys like all children, but my love for books far outweighs my love for toys. Besides, I already saw my parents looking at Raleigh bicycles. I know that they would be purchasing one for each of us.

Our shopping is done! We make a quick stop at No 1. Chief Alex Ekwueme street, the home of my favorite cousins. They don’t need too much coaxing to join us for a picnic party at Polo park.

At the expansive Polo park grounds, we take turns on the rides, on the swings and slides. We play ”Swe” and ‘‘Uga” until hunger pangs kick in and it is time to tuck into the goodies that mummy has dutifully packed.

The picnic basket bulges with all sorts of goodies – enough to feed an army. Fizzy pops, cake, cookies, sandwiches, jollof rice with chicken, etc are generously marshaled out on paper plates by mum.

Daddy has a sweet tooth (I think the sweet tooth thing is genetic) and never fails to get those lovely ice lollies on cones for us for dessert.

Our palates are sated and our tummies nicely rounded from food.

Evening is fast approaching. A quick decision on whether to drive back home through the Milken hill or to spend the night at the cousins is made. Auntie Christie always graciously opens the door to her home.

She would always say “Jay-Jay, Alberta (shortened for my dad’s name: James Joseph and my mum’s name Alberta-Bianca), it is too late to go driving back to Nsukka o, you guys must stay over till tomorrow o.”

With delight we turn the house upside down with our horse-play until we were tuckered out.

They had a very big house, with lots of room.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

P.S. This article is based on ”my real life story” as recalled from my minds eye as a child.

Quick Glossary

Milken Hill: These hills are found at Ngwo in Enugu North LGA, they are 100 meter above sea level, offering beautiful standpoint for a panoramic view of Enugu metropolis, especially at dawn and dusk. The hill was named after one of the earliest colonial administrator in Enugu. The first road into Enugu city winds through the foot of the hill bounded by a deep gully. Underneath the hills are relics of coal mines and its beautiful tunnels. Beneath the Milken hills is the Iva valley. The hills are good for mountaineering. However, drivers are advised to drive slowly with caution through the meandering roads.

Enugu – One of the State’s in the Eastern part of Nigeria.

Nsukka – A town and Local Government Area in South-East Nigeria in Enugu State

Chief Alex Ekwueme: Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme is one of Nigeria’s most respected statesmen alive today.

Swe – I think this is what is called hopscotch.

Uga – synchronized clapping rhythm of hands followed with feet competition to outwit the other.

Jollof Rice – A popular meal eaten in most West African homes, a one-pot meal made with fried tomato and pepper stew, rice, meat and spices

Life · Love · The Daily Post

Its a Hardworking Love….

September 28, 2015September 28, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha39 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Yin to My Yang.”

There are no perfect relationships! They all require some modicum of work!

Some relationships are fantastic, some are marginally okay whilst some are an absolute lesson in “who not to be with” and probably meant to be tossed into the garbage can.

The term soul mate is a misleading concept that hints at perfectionism, which is not a word that can be ascribed to any human.

We all are works-in-progress, who spend a better part of our lives trying to figure out who we are and this process cascades down to everything that concerns our lives. ”There is always room for improvement.”

That said, The Yin and The Yang of soul-mating, are those parts in our relationships that keep chipping at each other, until their rough surfaces are smooth enough for the jigsaw puzzle of our characters to blend in seamlessly, or, alternatively, they chaff at each others bits until the edges are so jagged and worn out that ”would be” Soul mates become Stab mates.

It’s a reciprocated effort.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Devotions · Family · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · The Daily Post

That Thing That Niggles Me…

September 27, 2015September 27, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha39 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Must Not Fail.”

The fear of failure when it comes to the aspects of life’s material wants has ceased to bother me, because I have really come to realize that we can exist on far less than we tend to surround ourselves with.

I literately and completely believe in the word of God in Ezekiel 34 v 26: that says: I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send showers in season; showers of blessing.

I have seen this proven true time and time again in my life even when I neither earned it nor deserved it.

I know that as long as life exists that hope exists. That faith and perseverance will sustain me.

It is always wise to keep in mind that failure is only a setback and not the end of the street. It is an invitation to learn from, to grow from and an opportunity to start again.

However, as a mother blessed with lovely children, there is a fear that niggles my heart each day and that is the fear in my ability to do a good job in raising my children.

With the amount of corrosive erosion in human ethics and values, I am concerned and wonder if I am doing enough to raise upright children who will be blessings to their generation. Therefore, I must continue to try.

On a personal note, I live with the fear of failing as a Christian in the true sense of the word. Not the picture of me that the World sees through the acts of Earthly Godliness but the intrinsic me that no one else is privy to.

I however remind myself that it is only by the Grace of God that I am redeemed and not by the arm of my flesh.

These two thoughts drive me everyday and if I do not fail in these two things, then I must count myself as extremely successful.

Let us not fail to remember that success is relative. What count’s as success for me, may be viewed as idiosyncratic nonsense to another.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Inspiration - Motivation · The Daily Post

Keep it Moving Forward…

September 25, 2015September 25, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha10 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Pay It Forward.”

Splendid prompt! Splendid timing!

I like this prompt because paying it forward just happened to me today, out of the blues. Whilst going through posts on my reader, a little note popped up and I saw this comment:

Congratulations to JACQUELINE who is the Giveaway Friday winner!!!!!! 😀 😀 😀

With the most comments on alocovivavoce.com, Jacqueline has emerged the winner of Giveaway Friday for the month of September 2015. Congratulations Jacqueline!

As a special prize, Jacqueline gets one of the following:

A 2000 (two thousand) naira recharge card of any network of your choice.

Or

A promotion of anything of your choice on alocovivavoce.com. Whether a product, service, idea or writeup, just let me know whatever you choose to promote and I would be at your service.

So once again, congratulations Jacqueline for being the top commenter for September 2015.

Sincerely speaking, I was quite surprised. I thought it was spam. Then I saw the name of the blog that it came from, so I gingerly clicked on it, reminding myself that April fools day had come and gone.

Anyways, I decided to play along and Viola! It is real. Now that certainly put a very big smile on my face 🙂

My initial thought was to ask her to promote my blog, but a little voice whispered to me: “you have received some pleasure and delight from this warm gesture, so why not put a smile on the face of another unsuspecting person” and I decided to go with the voice, so I responded to A Loco Viva Voce:

Goodness gracious me! This is a very pleasant and warming surprise. Not expected in the least and that is what makes it extremely lovely and appreciated.

My dear lady, thank you from the depth of me. This is such a heartwarming gesture. How I wish I could claim the recharge card, but since I am not in Nigeria it’s okay.

Better still, I can pay it forward and bless someone else over there with the recharge card.

Please let me know what you think and once again, thank you. God Bless

She came back with the response that it’s fine to send the gift of the recharge card forward to another recipient 🙂

So there you have it! Easily done and all in a days job 🙂

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Inspiration - Motivation · Life · The Daily Post

When its Over, its Done With…

September 24, 2015September 24, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha27 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Out of Reach.”

Frankly speaking, as the days go by; which by the way is turning out to be one of my favourite statements, I have no regrets about Ex’s that have been left behind!

They came into my life at the point in time that they should have and we moved on at the juncture when the show was over and their time was up to move on. Not all relationships are meant to last forever even when they were absolutely delicious. Nothing in life has permanence!

In my opinion, no place is out of reach to travel to if you want to and set your mind to. It is all in one’s perspective! One place that I visited and stayed for a while and wanted to stay longer than I was entitled to was Geneva – Switzerland. I fell in love with that city; its mix of ancient and modern. No Swiss gentleman was forthcoming to sweep me off my feet and other things in life were beckoning to me, so I had to journey forth 🙂

I don’t believe in dwelling on a past that is out of reach and done with. Thus, I don’t bother looking back at things that are not in my ability to resolve. Minor skirmishes with loved ones, where I need to apologize and make amends, I do that as swiftly as possible and try to mend fences.

I would rather continue my transformation by expending positive energy in creating better moments in the NOW. Moments that would translate to a better tomorrow when it arrives!

Yesterday is gone!

Today is now!

Tomorrow does not lie in my hands and will take care of itself!

Live within the moment and live it in full!

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Humor - Bellyful of laughter · The Daily Post

Those Wicked Contraptions….

September 23, 2015February 25, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha48 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Night and Day.”

An A-class rated event, coupled with the desire to cast a captivating, svelte, alluring figure all rolled-in-one *pun intended* led me down the path of purchasing a slinky dress to go with the anticipated moment.

The rolls and bulges needed to be folded in very nicely and the cute shop attendant introduced me to the wonderful corset. A piece of nip-tuck body magic, body shaping contraption (not garment in my opinion) which promised a smooth finish and an immediate downsize of several inches. Everything looked real good!

Now, a pair of stilettos which were required to complete the fashionista look were obtained (at a bargain, I must tell you).

Party, here we come!

It’s was a lovely evening. We were good to go. I was no longer so sure of my choices but with husband practically tapping his toes in the bid to go, I chose to brave it and all nicely trussed up like a turkey, off we went.

I don’t think I have spent a more miserable evening at a party before! I could barely take in sufficient gulps of air. Needless to say, the pins and needles poking at my ribs all evening were absolutely no fun!

All the lovely finger food passed me by with regret (the food regretted and so did I). Any attempt to take a meaningful bite would have caused some things to burst loose.

I couldn’t even comfort myself by dancing either! It appeared the stilettos were not quite as comfortable as they had been on the day they were bought.

I sat upright all evening like a nob or better still a snobbish aristocrat and using the restroom was not a mean feat at all!

Most of the conversation floated over my head because my entire thoughts were “Oh my God, when would be the reasonable time to leave so that I can disentangle myself from my self-imposed cagey nonsense.”

Those items never saw the light of the day again. A lesson not to be repeated.

Just in case you are interested, I have this lovely corset and killer stilts that would complement your wardrobe. It’s available for auction. Going! Going! Going….to any bidder please!

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

P.S. Thank you WordPress for reminding us of good times spent 🙂