Tag Archive | Dancing

Bachata – Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku

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.

Image result for images of couples dancing the bachata

Bachata is a riveting dance
its sensual moves teases all the senses
and certainly, pleases the heart

Jacqueline

Bittersweet Nostalgia…

Oct1

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. Image result for images of memories quotes

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

: I saw this Tortoise at a nature garden that I visited recently and that brought back different memories of folktales of The Wise Tortoise that my Grandma told us on balmy evenings as we peeled cassava or shredded our harvest of corn. In my hometown, the Tortoise is respected and roams free. It wasn’t strange to see them trudge along the bush path, stopping to nibble at foliage as they went about their business.

: I saw this shaker in a musical store and couldn’t resist taking a photo and shaking it a bit. It reminds me of days of traditional, energetic dancing with my childhood friends and shaking these musical gourd in rhythm with the drums and other homegrown instruments. We call it ‘ishaka’ and practically every mama owned one. Sometimes, especially during festive season, our dancing efforts were rewarded with pennies from appreciating adults.

: Interestingly, I wrote a post just last week when I came across this mask. https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/2016/09/22/the-mask-a-click-a-day/

: Abundant blooms of Bougainvillea brings back thoughts of my childhood home. The perimeters of our compound was trimmed with Bougainvillea and The Queen of the Night flower that emitted its signature, beautiful, musky fragrance that hung in the nights’ air.

: Ha! I chuckled when I saw this grandma telephone. My parents had a cream one and my dear dad kept it locked so that we wouldn’t run up bills for him. Back then to own a telephone was expensive, novelty and for a select few. We (my siblings and I) outwitted my poor dad (sorry daddy) by learning a trick on how to tap the numbers on the phone to call our friends. Now, I wonder if my dad ever knew.

P.S. Are you coming to the party? It’s LIVE right now and you can join the fun through this link. See you 🙂

Sweet Dates…Stream of Consciousness Saturday.

Aug20

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 😉 socsbadge2016-17

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 🙂

My Relaxing Indulgence…The great book of lists.

Apr9

My reads of the moment

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:

I love to read and I read to live. As far back as my conscious mind can recall, I have been in love with the lettered word. Even as a child, I would spend my pocket change on a book instead of something else. I read voraciously. As an adult, I indulge in a book, two or more in any given month. Reading is my sleeping pill. After the day’s hustle, I settle my nerves down with a book and if the book is a compulsive read, I might read far into the night or toddle off to sleep as I read.
Writing. This is my way of thinking. I think through my fingers. Even before I ever started blogging which is just 11 months ago, I journalled every day.
Doodling. I sketch. I really don’t know how it works but sketching relaxes me. I just doodle whatever comes to my mind. Sometimes, they turn out very nicely.
The Running Man
Can people watching be classified as a hobby?
Taking photographs. I have thousands of random photos taken over time. I hope to find time to take professional lessons. It’s a hobby with a lot of potentials.
Dancing. It makes me very happy. I dance just for the sake of it. No celebration required. I get a shake of a leg in virtually every day. Somewhere, some how, I find my ten minutes of wiggle the waist 🙂
My daily me time gives me a little room to flex my mind, to tone down and just exhale. I could spend my me time just being quiet, or taking a walk and soaking in the things around 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.

Celebration and Acts of Love….The Great Book Of Lists.

Apr3

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.

BRUNCH PARTY TIME…LIVE LINK it’s a PARTY!👔👡🎶🍦🍰🍛🍕🍗

Mar19

PLACE YOUR ORDERS HERE 😉

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:

You must mix and mingle with others. Don’t be a wall flower. Go say hello to someone and you can participate in the Tag a poem up above.
Please leave your blog link or post link in the comment box below along with an introductions.
It’s one link per comment, but come back as often as you’d like, that way it’s easier to focus on a link at a time for others.
Please reblog, spread the word of the party like butter, or like, share on Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, Facebook, etc. Tell your family, friends, blogging neighbours, even your blogging pets.
Have fun, it’s a great way to find bloggers and have them find you.
Please show some love. Reblog this post. It helps all of us! The more people that see and participate in it, the more potential new follows! So, share and share voraciously!

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.

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 :-)’

Mashed Potatoes, steak and mushroom sauce

Tempting array

Fruity and Drinks

DONUTS

Cookies in a jar

Soft rolls

Appetisers

More appetisers

say Cheese

Jollof rice

Greens

Easter Eggs

Easter bunnies

More Easter bunnies

Goodie pack

Across The Bridges..

Mar14

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.

: Connecting bridge

: Connecting bridge

: Connecting bridge

: Warm feelings among friends

: Happy sight

: Loving connections

: Connecting with music

: Let me show you

: Let’s see

: Connecting over a smoke of shisha

: Doing the pushing together

: A Bow-wow connect

: Sports has a way of building connections

: High tension wires connecting us with essential services.

Eye’s Speak Volumes…

Feb26

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.

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?

The Dear Diary Day’s…

Jan26

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.

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.

The Daily Post Life After Blogs.

Your life without a computer: what does it look like?

If I Teach You Something, Will You Reciprocate?…

Nov26

There are things that I do often and quite enjoy doing. A lot of these things are physical and some are not.

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:

I dwell on positive thoughts – even if it is just one thought that I meditate on each day.

Walking or finding an hour to exercise either very early or much later in the day. It clears the cobwebs in the head and helps my health as well as the waist line 😉

Those thoughts that bug me, I write them down and them take time to tear the piece of paper into bits. Its a way of releasing and letting go for me.

Sometimes, wacky it may seem, I go into the bathroom, face the mirror and just speak my mind, make faces …

I say my mind if someone has hurt me and I move on. I let go of grudges as quickly as before I go to sleep.

I am always quick to apologize if need be. No need aggravating and dragging an issue that can be quickly nipped in the bud.

I doodle, draw and reflect as I draw. The doodle in the picture was my last work done two days ago.

Writing happy stuff.

Searching out amusing things to read or watch and laughing out real loud. I like people who can make me laugh.

Having a date with myself at least once a week. It could be going to the park, spa, museum or as simple as a cafe alone.

Rest when I am tired (still working on this though, because sometimes other events overtake my intentions).

Honesty is a key in life that I don’t compromise on and practice. Especially in my relationships.

Talking to people and not just family and friends. Total strangers too.

Minimized drastically the amount of time spent watching TV.

Keeping away as much as possible from negative and toxic conversations.

Working consistently towards my passion and financial goals.

Avoiding the spirit of envy and jealousy as much as possible and giving myself a hard telling off once I see the green eyed monster rearing it’s ugly head.