a cooking pot and twisted tales
Thoughts and Tales…A Lifestyle Blog with a Zing.
When I saw the haiku prompt please & tease, Chaka Demus song ‘tease me, tease me, tease me, baby, till I lose control,’ came to my lips, I knew my prompt had to be musical.
Bachata is a riveting dance
its sensual moves teases all the senses
and certainly, pleases the heart
©
Jacqueline
Our memories are woven into the essence of who we are just like our DNA. Some memories are fleeting, while some stick and go with you wherever you may journey to. Even when you are far away from the source of such memory, little things bring thoughts of them flooding you with bittersweet nostalgia.
I’ve found myself easily moved to tears in the past few weeks and coincidentally, I’ve been running into things that quickly transport me to my carefree days of childhood when I was under the loving protection of my parents and didn’t have to worry about finances, World politics and if the World’s going on a one-way ticket to hell in a handbasket.
Here a few of the things I’ve seen in recent weeks that transport me back to my growing up years in the close-knit campus community of The University of Nigeria Nsukka.
Nostalgia – The Daily Post Challenge
Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
P.S. Are you coming to the party? It’s LIVE right now and you can join the fun through this link. See you 🙂
Oh! My dates! I smiled when I saw the prompt ‘dates,’ that Linda gave us for SOCs. How apt! It’s as if she knew that I had some homemade date juice last night – I’ll share the recipe in another post tomorrow – and now I hasten to finish my blog posts, respond to comments, read some blog posts and get ready for my date night with my one and only Dear Himself, my main Boo-Gatti 😉
I need to kick up my dancing heels a wee bit and having young children means that date nights for just the two of us are not as often as they should be. However, to keep stoking the embers of our 16year old romance, we get to squeeze a candlelit, stare into your eyes mushy stuff now and again.
On the other hand, I also try to construct cheap and cheerful stay-at-home dates as well.
Enjoy the weekend folks and a sweet date; be it the fruity type or one with yourself, a book and a delicious cup of beverage 🙂
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
For this week’s Great book of lists, we get to outline our hobbies. Through the years, my hobbies have changed a bit. A lot have been dropped by the wayside due to push and pull factor of life. Some exigencies and recent moves found some things falling into the crack of lifes pavement.
However, there are some hobbies that have grown to become an intrinsic part of me:
There are some hobbies that I miss doing, like crocheting, playing the piano, pottery making and sewing. I don’t know if it’s that the zeal has waned or due to time squeeze. I guess I can use the excuse of not having a piano here in Dubai to console myself.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
La Duchesse Derat gave us two themes for this week’s Great Book Of Lists and as usual, they are topics that bring out the joy in us.
I am a very expressive person and I believe in appreciating those around me whether in little or big ways. What matters is that over time, those little things compound into something that they hold on to as a good memory.
The little Acts of love that I indulge in often are:
I am a hugger: Embracing my children, my husband and those whose are close to me always give me a warm buzz and it costs nothing.
Buying little tokens or giving a gift card: A lot of times I might stumble on a little item that makes me smile and think of someone, from a painted little vase, a book, or a card. I buy it and give to the person.
Occasionally, I indulge in gift cards that don’t cost the World – a 10, 20 or 50 dollar gift card depending on how buoyant my pocket is at that point in time and give them out in appreciation. There are times when I have a little bit extra to spare, I could buy up to 5 gift cards and just keep in my purse and give them out as my spirit moves me.
Cooking: Celebration calls for arrays of food. It always gives me pleasure to watch everyone eat, drink, laugh and generally enjoy the offerings that I made with a lot of love and sweat 🙂 There is this bond and camaraderie that eating together builds.
Calling and texting: I always endeavour to call or text family and my close friends to find out how they are doing. Now BBM, Whatsapp etc have made it cheaper to do so. It gives me an uplift in the spirit after a nice, warm chat.
I listen, I counsel and I pray: I always offer a listening ear and as much as possible, try to offer an objective advice that’s not biassed. If it requires praying, I would partner in prayers and counselling. If issues need to be straightened out, then as much as possible I will tell you my mind as gently as I can. I don’t believe in enabling someone to behave badly and unfortunately, this has once or twice not gone down well with one or two friends who sought my advice and expected me to side them in their bad behaviour…telling my friend that she’s wrong to wish her husband harm and going out of her way to his office to make a scene did not earn me any badges, but it’s not a friendship that I particularly miss. I will only proffer an advice that which I would probably resort to myself.
When it comes to celebrating:
I dance. I love to dance and possibly sing along to the music. Sometimes, when I feel very glad, it’s not uncommon to just play my loud jams and dance. Occasionally, my husband takes me out to go dancing and dining afterwards.
Going out with my family for a good time.
Take my body wholeheartedly to a spa and get a little pampered. There’s nothing like a deep tissue massage to work out the kinks and a relaxing pedicure to make you feel as if loads has been lifted off you. I love to paint bright red colour on my toes at such times. It makes me feel like revving my engine 😉
Indulge in some cheap home treat of reading, eating dark chocolate, running a nice hot tub and just feeling good.
I share my good news. I believe so much in the power of positive aura and when I have positive vibes to share, I do so.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
Hop in let’s get this party started. You are most welcome.
Just make yourself comfortable.
Refreshments are nicely arranged down the page: Drinks, Chocolates, Cakes, Donuts, freshly squeezed juice, Coffee, Tea and so much more. 🙂
We even have an Intercontinental Chef in the house. LOOK UP and place your orders 😉
Just a little rules of play:
There we have it. Since all the rules have been clearly explained, have fun and make the most of it 🙂
Thank you for coming to my party and supporting my blog. You rock.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha.
CAN YOU SPOT THE DIFFERENCE?
Let’s add some SPRING to the tale 🙂 You can crack your Story telling imagination by contributing to this tag along Spring fiction below. The full story will be published on my Tuesday’s Trivia with every part attributed to the contributor. So here goes…
Buds of Spring
Georgette looks out of the window
The cold is fast thawing out and little fresh sprigs are sprouting.
It should be warm soon
Yet the coldness in her heart did not match the liveliness of the budding Spring
Her heart feels like a ghost town.
Where is he?
He promised her everything and she believed in him…
Counting the days and hoping that it’s just a dream.
‘Back in my home country, when we call for a party, we call for a party. We don’t skimp. Our hospitality is legendary. We even give out party tokens, so help yourself to an Easter Party Pack. You are welcome :-)’
![1458334611382[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/14583346113821.jpg?w=161&h=161&crop=1 "1458334611382[1]")
Connections can be built in split moments, while some take a good while to be established.
Every part of human life is filled with one atom of connection or the other. From the technological services that surrounds us that makes it easy for us to be in touch with each other, to the various modes of transportation all around and to the physical fellowship with fellow mankind.
So when we consider the theme of today’s photo 101, we realize that the very essence of life is all based on the singular desire to connect.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
![1442564797239[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/14425647972391.jpg)
Look me in the eyes
So that I may see into your heart
Whisper to me the loves songs
That radiates in your pupils
So that their echoes may make my blood thrum
When two hearts are in love
We have no need for so much words
For your eyes speak volumes
That your mouth cannot put into shape
Yet it makes my body sing.
Back in the days, my mother did a lot of speaking to us with her eyes. For instance, when we go out and someone offers us a cookie, you have to look at dear mother’s face, before daring to accept that cookie and the gleam in her eyes or the nod of her head will tell you what to do.
No words said! Sometimes, you might make a mistake in translating the meaning of that look and wolf down the biscuit.
You will surely have some explaining to do. One scrumptious cookie might not be worth all the drilling questions that you will have to answer to.
So if you are not too sure, you simply say, ‘No thank you Ma’ to the biscuit tender even if drool is pooling in your mouth.
Naturally, I love being around people and would talk to total strangers. In a safe environment of course because there are so many crazies in this time and age.
Sometimes, I go people watching, where I will see a large crowd of human beings going about their lives.
I may say nothing, but just let the cacophony of their words wash over me.
A snippet overheard here and there could trigger a memory, an inspiration, a story or more.
Sometimes, I wish I could do a documentary of some of the fascinating humans that I have come across.
It’s been a while that I had a girls night out with friends, where we would dance, laugh and shout on top of our voices.
No one hears what they other is saying, but we leave for our homes and husbands, happy as larks.
When it comes to serious talk, I like a one-on-one, where I can listen quietly, read your nuances and get a clear meaning of what you are trying to transmit.
The ideal conversation depends on the occasion, what is being discussed and also the people involved.
I also happen to love being left alone by myself. I am never bored being all alone because I have perfect conversations with myself and the many voices in my head.
No! I am not crazy like that. I don’t know if I am normal, but that’s fine. I don’t care if the ship with the normal people left without me a long time ago.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
The Daily Post prompt Counting Voices.
A lively group discussion, an intimate tête-à-tête, an inner monologue — in your view, when it comes to a good conversation, what’s the ideal number of people?
Of course there was life before the computer and there will still be life after the computer.
It’s called ‘Living and The Dear Diary Day’s. ![1453819073144[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/14538190731441.jpg)
Before I started blogging, my dear diary took the brunt of my words and my dear Himself’s ears were perpetually hot from lending his ears to my nattering.
Now he can flip through the channels in peace while my gleaming eyes are dancing as I mumble and mutter over the clattering computer.
I still scribble a lot in dear diary, though not everything anymore and sometimes, I do get the feeling that she feels disenfranchised because at times, I feel her giving me the cold shoulder when I want to write those personal tidbits at the end of the day.
My typical day starts at 4.30 am on school days, when the alarm shrieks to wake me up. I groggily waddle to the bathroom to take care of business with eyes at half-mast so that the sleep can be retained for a little longer.
I then lie back for a few more minutes and just either read the Bible or pray quietly, going through things in my head. I enjoy that part of the morning when everywhere is quiet.
With school age kids, I prepare their breakfast and a meal that they take to school. On a lazy day, I slap a sandwich together. They have a canteen, but I am not particularly enthused with the offerings especially since my younger son has allergies.
We get ready for school and hopefully the morning goes sanely without looking for a missing sock, or pencil pouch or their glasses and what have you. It’s always a nice morning bustle.
After shooing them off to school, I try to get in some brisk exercise or lazy walk and just take in the fresh air.
Thankfully, for the past few months, I have not had to dash off to work like a headless chicken as well, but that might change anytime soon, when I get back to school myself.
The rest of my day follows with attending to Himself as well, planning the days meal, dashing out for xyz, homework’s, housework, personal business, reading, writing, listening to music and what have you.
Some days involve church work, charity work, this and that and those work, but life is usually full of odds and ends of things to do.
Now that I blog, I also fit it into my days schedule. Blog early. Switch off and get other things done, then come back to the blog later when the dust of the day has settled.
I keep pretty much busy without my computer, but please don’t get any ideas of coming to take it away.
I just got this new one when the old one gave up from exhaustion during Christmas, though I think my dear diary would be secretly pleased if you nick my computer.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
The Daily Post Life After Blogs.
Your life without a computer: what does it look like?
There are things that I do often and quite enjoy doing. A lot of these things are physical and some are not.![1448552289124[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/14485522891241.jpg)
I cook every day to keep myself and my family well nourished. One of the dishes that features in most West African homes is Jollof Rice. Maybe, some day, I will share the secrets of Jollof with you 🙂
I dance a lot too. Not the gymnastic, acrobatic tumbling all over the place, but I dance virtually everyday to the tunes of my music of the moment. However, I guess except I turn to you-tubing, I may not be able to teach you much about my dancing.
I write ever so often. I don’t bother tallying the amount of time that I spend penning something because writing to me is akin to breathing, laughing, reflecting and crying through my fingers.
I have been known to write on serviettes or tiny bits of receipts to catch that fleeting thought – and you need to see me on the days that I am scrambling through my bag trying to find that little piece of tissue on which I wrote something 😉
I actively search out ways to maintain a balance of my inner peace of mind in a chaotic life.
I am not a religious fanatic, but I am unapologetically a Christian.
At most times, I am a peaceful, humorous, friendly, loving and hopefully a kind human.
Let me share with you the little things that I do to create peace within and around. Maybe, we share somethings in common:
These things translate to my inner peace which leads to external peace. What one does not have they cannot give.
So what will you teach me today? I am listening 🙂
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
The Daily Post prompt Teach your bloggers well.
We all know how to do something well — write a post that teaches readers how to do something you know and/or love to do.
a cooking pot and twisted tales 