KHDA – The sublime working environment – Echoes Of My Neighbourhood.

August 25, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha7 Comments

On Thursdays, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple and you can find out more about it through this link.

On Monday I had cause to visit the office of The KHDA – Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai and I will use the adjective ‘sublime’ to describe my experience.

In all my working years and having ventured around a bit, in recent times I will adjudge this place as one of the best office environments that I’ve been in. The open plan office is cheerful and welcoming. Polite, friendly and efficient staff attend to you as briskly as possible. Everyone sits in an open area in one corner or the other. No closed cubicle offices that assign importance to anyone.

Birds flitted about and tweeted all over the place, visitors could play a tune on the grand piano and admire the resident Parrot. Free coffee, juice, fruits, tea and different flavours of ice-cream were on offer at the in-house cafe which is manned by smart baristas’ who quickly attended to your request.

Needless to say, I went away feeling calm, happy and refreshed and I plan to have a reason for a repeat visit sometime soon 🙂

Kirstwrites takes us to Liverpool and her photos remind me of an awesome, previous visit to the charming city. We’ll join Roo for a walkabout and have a chat with the neighbours. Our last pit-stop is at Lady Lee’s as she introduces us to the healthy Hindustan Organic Garden.

Please do take a peek and share some of your echoes with us if you please.

Jacqueline

P.S. Our monthly Meet and Greet/Blog Party comes up this weekend Sat 27th/Sun 28th August. Hope to see you there.

Writer's Quote Wednesday

The Miracle Lies In Your Eyes…

August 18, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha9 Comments

The gift of life itself is a miracle, and I see this phenomenon every day. Jacqueline

If you’ve not seen a miracle, then take a second long look in your mirror, for you are staring at one. The expectation that miracles must happen in a spectacular manner creates a vacuum in appreciating the miracle of each day that we receive. Each day that the Sun rises and we open our eyes to the splendour of the Earth is an absolute miracle.

Thoughts of miracles remind me of a what my mother always said, that “May Thy Kingdom come is not only when the Lord Almighty steps his feet down from heaven for us to see, for the kingdom lies in the soul,” and she would say this to punctuate a blessing received.

This equally applies to miracles. For the fact that something is quantifiable, explainable and understandable doesn’t make it less a miracle. Each day that dawns without effort from you and I is a miracle. The majestic beauty of the Earth is a miracle. Conception is a miracle. Watching my young ones grow each day is a miracle. Hearing that bird sing and watching it fly is a miracle, watching the flowers bloom and many uncountable examples out there are natures splendour and nature is a miracle.

Let our eyes not become too jaded

Nor our minds too cynical

that we fail to see

and fail to comprehend

that the beauty of life

lies in our perception

and appreciation

of all the miracles

that nature has placed in our path.

We received the prompting word Miracle for this weeks’ Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge. WQWWC is a challenge that I enjoy participating in and you might find it interesting as well.

Support Me.

Wordless Wednesday

The Falcon – Wordless Wednesday.

August 10, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha17 Comments

The Daily Post

Peace Be Still

July 15, 2016May 22, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha15 Comments

Just wait it out
with the Lord
for the storm will pass
and after the storm
comes great calm

∼

The storms of nature shall obey my Will. Peace Be Still : Psalm 46 : 10

image credit – pixabay

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Jacqueline writes from her heart on passion, pain, suffering, loss and LIFE. I have been incredibly moved by her poetry and I know I will return to “Out of the Silent Breath” again and again.

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee

Everyday People

Go Green – Everyday beautiful people 84

July 11, 2016July 11, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha7 Comments

Isn’t it interesting how we use colour phrases to express a depth of meaning to certain things even emotions?

The term Going green is defined as making more environmentally friendly decisions such as to reduce, reuse and recycle and at the same time is an idiomatic expression used to express ‘Going green with envy.’

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

Wonderful, evocative poetry by a talented writer. Left me hungry for more. Jacqueline can write! Linda Bethea

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee

Mundane Monday

The Odd Passenger – Mundane Monday

July 4, 2016August 22, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

Mundane Monday Challenge is created to find beauty in almost everything.

The challenge is simple : find beauty in everyday mundane things, capture the beauty and upload the photographs.

I got into an empty lift two days ago to head up to the 23rd floor of an office complex and I was busy ruminating in my head over what I wanted to say to the person that I was going to meet when a crawly movement caught my eye.

Believe me when I say I literally squealed and hopped in the air, but on a closer look I saw that it was a GECKO!

Phew! I know that they are insectivorous lizards and don’t feed on humans, however between Gecko and I, we maintained a respectable distance since I couldn’t very well jump out of the lift 😉

If you want to know more about Gecko’s you can read this up 20 interesting facts about them that I googled up.

Have a great week.

Jacqueline

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Wonderful, evocative poetry by a talented writer. Left me hungry for more. Jacqueline can write! Linda Bethea

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee

Writer's Quote Wednesday

See!… Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge

June 22, 2016June 22, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. Dalai Lama

Cover your eyes and touch me
with the sight of your heart,

cover your eyes and caress me
with the fingers of your soul,

cover your eyes and hear me
through the pulse of your being,

for when you look with eyes jaundiced and jaded
with cynicism and age worn perceptions,

you can only see what your physical eyes permit
and miss seeing the finer qualities of me,

for when you look
through the sight of your heart,

and when you hear
through the ears of your soul,

you are happier
and you are free,

for you’ll find that I am you
and you are me,

and together
we are nature.

This week’s prompt for WQWWC ‘happiness‘ is a thought that has occupied my mind in a large way and I wrote an earlier post today focusing on happiness.

I’m also working on my inspirational book that centre’s on ‘happiness and you,’ which is a strong feature in our lives.

Our state of happiness comes from within. Material things may ease our daily living but it’s no guarantee of happiness or a good life.

When we are not at peace with ourselves, when we lack the love and care for others we can never truly be happy because our minds are burdened with negativity, with bias and limitations.

‘The depth of your happiness is the consequence of your own personal effort and it’s worth the relentless pursuit.’ Jacqueline

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

“Beautiful Poetry of Life and Love.” Amanda

Rononvan's Weekly Haiku Challenge

Wind of life…Ronovan writes weekly haiku challenge.

June 14, 2016August 15, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

I totally enjoyed this week’s haiku prompt ‘fresh wind’ from Ronovan, so I tried my hand on three 🙂

A fresh lick of paint
gave his jalopy
a new wind of life.

***

The fisherman’s lulling boat
needs fresh gusts of wind
to reach the shore.

***

ill wind blew out her candle
not giving up
she simply lit a fresh one.

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

From the very first poem, “Dreams,” this book captivates with passionate and perceptive words. Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha captures a broad expanse of the human experience in this book of richly layered poems.

Out of the silent breath

Mundane Monday

Clocking in…Mundane Monday.

June 13, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha8 Comments

Mundane Monday challenge is created to find beauty in almost everything.

The challenge is simple : find beauty in everyday mundane things, capture the beauty and upload the photographs.

I was rushing to meet someone and arrived a few minutes before our agreed time. When I looked at the clock that they had on the wall, I still had two minutes to sit down and catch my breath before stepping in for the chat.

As I sat there, I ruminated a bit on how this everyday gadget called ‘clock or watch,’ has become a trusted custodian of time. We rely on it in so many ways – sometimes annoying us when alarm shrieks to wake you up or when the time seems to run away too fast or go too slow dependent on one’s circumstance.

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

She is amazing at describing love and life in her poems. She creates such beautiful images with her words. Truly, she is a talented writer and I’m so excited to have her poetry book and to continue reading through it.

Everyday People

Aging…Every day beautiful people #65

June 13, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha13 Comments

“Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” Betty Friedan

“Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind.” Jackie Joyner-Kersee

As you get older, you become a classic and viewed with respect. It’s inevitable that we all go through this process (hopefully) and it’s a blessing to live long.

Let’s remain young at heart even when our body ages in other places:-)

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

From the very first poem, “Dreams,” this book captivates with passionate and perceptive words. Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha captures a broad expanse of the human experience in this book of richly layered poems.

Out of the silent breath