FlashBack...earth tremors in Nairobi!

A couple of years ago....I was seated at my desk minding my own business

Office was on 5th floor of a building in Westlands....suddenly I felt like I was in a lift that was going down...that inertia that leaves your tummy feeling funny....I looked up and at the same time, my colleague looked up...(open office manenoz) and said....ai...did you feel something?? Suddenly an item on top of the cabinet moved........waaaaaaa panic...........off we went to the other offices....everyone was at the corridor...this was strange....another colleague was standing and had felt nothing.....we all ran downstairs ...with someone shouting *don't* use the lift!!!......the guys in first and  ground floor wondered what we were all about - turns out they felt nothing.

We all ran to the front of the building....the Director was frantic wondering where everyone was (you see we didnt have any drill of where one is to stand once there is an emergency....so we were not all at the front of the building)...she made the call....lets close for the day!

So...silly us....we went back to our desks, shut computers, picked handbags...that kinda stuff....aki...you should have seen her....we were not supposed to do this...she is the only one who walked out with her handbag....so how were we to go home with nothing....

Haki drills are important!!

http://www.panapress.com/Unexplained-tremors-spark-panic-in-Nairobi--13-506412-17-lang2-index.html


My heart goes out to the victimes of earthquake in Italy last night...I cant even imagine how that feels!!

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37171953

Sea Food...different...

Am not really one to try out new tastes...I really fear a soft tummy!!

So anyways, some 6 years ago, we ganged up old gals from high school and took off to Malindi..I had never been to Malindi before, so this was exciting for me...the kids were small....so didnt bother tagging them along

On one of the afternoons, we took a boat ride and the tour guides came along with shrimp...I think that was shrimp....and once we had parked...or is it docked....they lit a fire and roasted it right there!! Imagine that!!!  The ones who knew what to do with it showed the novices like us how this weird looking formerly pink delicacy should be eaten...mmmm...new taste...

Again, we were deep into the waters (ok, not too far, but heck we were in the ocean) and I was not about to have a you-know-what situation, and clearly the humble boat had no such 'facilities'. Lets just say I didnt have much of the roasted feast :)

Fast forward to 2015 and I go for dinner at the Ocean Basket....again, I had never heard of the place before and was pleasantly surprised at the concept....entire menu from the sea....gerrit??....from the ocean basket :)

I was not too sure at first, but after seeing people munching away, I decided to give in ...I mean...I was on safe ground....whats the worst that can happen??....so I tried a lot of different types of sea food that I had never eaten or seen before!! from sushi to other things I dont even know their names....BUT they did have interesting taste I must say

And my tummy behaved!!

Wonder if my peeps at home would love this experience.....mmmmm

Olympics 2016!

The 2016 Olympics wrapped up last Sunday

This time I really didnt get to watch it much....just the highlights when I already know the results

For the opening ceremony, I got the timing wronggg...thought it was 11pm....sat up late with the kids until my sister wrote me and said, by the way the opening ceremony is at 2am...well thats too late for me so off I went to bed

Next morning I woke up to the exciting news that the first Olympia Laurel Distinction was given to our very own Kipchoge Keino....I searched instagram and twitter for updates so that i could like, forward etc...but nothing from the agencies I expected!! So the entire team that went to Brazil didnt have a communications person that could be updating us? I think David Rudishas team did a splendid job on the updates! They were personal and with great shots to boot!!

http://www.brandediq.com/kipchoge-keino-to-receive-olympic-laurel-distinction-in-rio/

Despite the embarrassment that we caused ourselves n the organising of our representation to the games, the atheletes outdid themselves and made us proud with 13 medals...6 gold, 6 silver and 1 bronze...well done #TeamKenya!

Clearly a lot needs to be done...alot of blame games are already being played....lets see how this pans out..

http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-kenya-rio-olympics/440808-3352124-4oy4do/index.html

https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/shocking-details-dp-rutos-trip-rio-olympics-revealed

Me thinks that its easy to get people to pay back.....just get the list of travellers, have each justify their presence and surcharge them....make some heads roll on this one!!!


Meanwhile, sportsmen and women better just prepare themselves for next Olympics...Yego Style ...unfortunate, but true! and then we blame them for moving to Bahrain??? we had better style up!

Tokyo 2020 - here we come?

One Humanity

Today is World Humanitarian Day - the theme is One Humanity

Its been marked every Aug 19 since 2009....started by UN Secretary General Ban Ki- Moon, and in his own words, its an..."annual reminder of the need to act to alleviate the suffering. It is also an occasion to honour the humanitarian workers and volunteers toiling on the frontlines of crises. I pay tribute to these dedicated women and men who brave danger to help others at far greater risk."

http://www.unocha.org/whd2016

So who is a humanitarian? one definition is that its a person actively engaged in promoting human welfare and social reforms; a missionary of sorts, they leave comfort of where they grew up decide to go to another place to help out

What could be their motivation?? for some its the profound need to ensure everyone gets justice, for some (if religiously inclined) its the innate need to extend Gods mercy and kindness to others, and for others it could be,well, more personal - the need for adventure, career progression and of course money.

Never mind their motivation, they find themselves in unfamiliar territory, hopefully since they are different, they can be impartial and ensure what needs to be done is done without prejudice.

However, aid work can be romantisized...to appear charming and that one sails through this with the gratification of having helped someone in need....I doubt this is the case....aid work, is HARD, very HARD. The challenges aid workers face are immense...I have heard several accounts of their experiences and you are tempted to ask the (insensitive) question - but why do you bother?? so you don't ask...you try and sympathise.....but it doesnt make so much sense to you...BUT they carry on doing what they do....there are many blogs about that

https://www.odi.org/comment/9795-life-humanitarian-frontlines-challenge-staying-course

http://www.redr.org.uk/en/News/aid-worker-stories.cfm

http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/08/17/490383488/aid-workers-provide-harrowing-account-of-being-attacked-in-south-sudan


BUT, I choose today to still celebrate those that, despite these challenges, and regardless of their motivation, choose to do this work.

Hats off to you.

Pledge Allegience

In campus, the CU guys staged a major performance when they reached final year - they called themselves Elders :)

 

So when in my final year, I sat in the audience, waiting in anticipation to be thrilled by the performance that tooks months to prepare for.....and this final class did not dissapoint!!!!

 

One of the songs they sang along to was I Pledge Allegience To The Lamb....I had never heard it before...and loved it immediately!! Everytime I listen to it I remember that great evening...I pray that they are still steadfast in their faith!!

 

Here are the lyrics......................

 

 

 

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

 

I have heard how Christians long ago
Were brought before a tyrant's throne
They were told that he would spare their lives
If they would renounce the name of Christ
But one by one they chose to die

The Son of God they would not deny
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring

 

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

 

 

Now the years have come, and the years have gone
But the cause of Jesus still goes on
Now our time has come to count the cost
To reject this world, to embrace the cross
And one by one let us live our lives
For the one who died to give us life
Till the trumpet sounds on the final day
Let us proudly stand and boldly say

 

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

 

To the Lamb of God who bore my pain
Who took my place, who wore my shame
I will seek to honor His commands

 I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

 

Songwriters
BOLTZ, RAY

Published by
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Read more: Ray Boltz - I Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb Lyrics | MetroLyrics

# REPOST #TBT Dubai Lights...

#REPOST
I must say one of the greatest perks of being a twin is that you can be effortlessly enjoined in a plot with her friends and feel no shame….that is me J. My twin sister Gertrude and her chama mates Anne, Sophie, Janet and Lillian planned to visit Dubai to mark turining 40 years!

Plans rolled out in January and payments made early in the year. The Sunday of August 10 arrived…..and finally we were airborne to Dubai. Must say we got a great deal….Return flights and airport transfers, 6 nights BB accommodation, Tour of Dubai and Dhow cruise dinner, desert trail and BBQ dinner….all for a very considerate price a piece! Much as we tried, we could not tell where the profit margins came from!! 
Anyways, we arrived through Sharjah airport since we used Air Arabia. Small hitch on arrival…the airport transfer happened after one hour of frantic phone calls….the hotel we were booked in was situated in a predominantly Indian area….Fortune Grand hotel….not bad…good wifi (10 points for this as we all are wired by internet)…..exhausted we slept and woke up early Monday morning to enjoy the experience that Dubai was to offer. In the group, some had been to Dubai, but none as tourists, but for business (which translates to knowing the inside of one hotel, one mall for a limited period and airport only!).

Monday was day for Dubai tour,… that was nice….we drove round the main streets of old and new Dubai with a tour guide who sang praises for His Highness, Sheikh (could not catch the full very long name). Gist is that he is a generous fellow and has ensured the “Dubains” are in comfort. What was apparent was the effort to make the city green…we were told that the soil is imported and that the smaller shrubs are uprooted and new ones planted every three months, while the bigger ones are replaced yearly…aii that one sounded doubtful….but who knows? When cash is no problem…anything is possible!! She also mentioned that Dubai didn’t have a single 7 start hotel - that the first one in Dubai is under construction (we all thought that one that looks like a Dhow was 7 star – Dr Google says that it’s not a star rating they have embraced…so, there you have it!) It was great to see Palm Jumeira via an overhead tram…that is one megaproject – the land was reclaimed from the
sea and is shaped like palm leaves – magnificent to say the very least!…..That evening was dinner at the creek on a dhow…quite nice…mainly Eqyptian, even the dance performance…interesting and strange to some level given the puppets they used J

Tuesday was for the desert trail. Since it was starting in the afternoon, we did quick visit to the Emirates mall and headed on to the desert in a landcruiser that came for us. The driver, Abdul was pleasant, told us he came from Oman, that he has been at it for several years, that he is teaching his 10 year old son the skill of desert driving and that he sometimes brings his mother but she gets so scared of the ride up and down the dunes. The ride was quite something, so many cars! And the hot sand!!...anyways, we got several chances for great photo ops and moved on to the site where the BBQ dinner was to be served. Must say that was quite a sizeable crowd for a loose Tuesday evening!! Dinner was great, and we watched a similar Egyptian dance, but with additional belly dancers.

The rest of the week was not scheduled…so it was malls, malls and more malls (retail therapy at its very best)….we discovered the metro train and attempted to visit all the major malls, Emirates, Dragon Mart (by taxi), Dubai mall, Deira City mall etc; even managed to bump into Hon Joho in one of the malls and gave him a loud greeting J. For some reason the dancing fountain at the Dubai mall simply blew me away….mesmerizing to the least! I can watch it again and again….we had a vantage point from one of the restaurants overlooking the man-made lake that has been fitted with the fountain….and right next is the grand Burj Khalifa…..tallest building in the world (like 8 KICCs stacked up on each other!!!)….we could not miss taking photos next to it!!

My personal favourite was the Gold Souk…..rows and rows; and more rows of shops selling gold and silver…..my oh my….I was in gold heaven….the prices are regulated so moving from shop to shop is about looking for a design that you fancy, not so much for best price. And West Africans were many….mpaka attendant asks you whether you want the price in Naira!!...no security checks here….everywhere is safe….my kid sis was right, the gold wizard cast a spell on me and can’t be found to unlock me from this spell….I had to get myself a piece …. priceless!

One thing often came up – that when will Kenya open up / develop like Dubai?? Vision 3020 or nearer?? Yaani, God is great…making plans in January and actually everything goes as planned….tunashukuru! Anyways, all great things have a beginning and an end….and Saturday morning came faster than we thought…..back to Nairobi….Girls, you the best….may the next phase of our lives be filled with the love  and laughter from family and friends, be blessed, be surrounded by uncommon favour and ever more glorious….FOREVER YOUNG!

Plus size challenges..

Nairobi is cold....very cold!!

So I decided....mmm....nows about a good time to get me a pair of knee high boots

I checked online shops...to determine the price...and yes, they are available...for my kind of foot.....the price is steep - upwards of 14k....I toy with the idea of sending a friend who is going to the US soon...but....mmmhh....she has a busy schedule so sitaki to be dissapointed when she comes back with a very expensive pair that she just had to buy from duty free since she didnt have time....I know that feeling...

Next option is second hand shoe shops....the ones along Bus Station have wide variety....and what do you know....the first place i went i found them..just hanging there waiting for me and my big foot...and the exact type i wanted....and they fit me like a glove!!! I was excited......but wait....madam ebu we zip it up....zilch.....try again....no luck......the zip could not pass by mazgwembe!!!!! I was mortified....thats when it hit me (again)....girl you have a BIG LEG!!!!!

Woi....the guy didn't even laugh.....he told me, madam wait i go to another shop and get you the one that will fit perfectly...(meaning, fit my shin/calf??? ) and sure enough, he got me one that folds so does not have to fit straight.

I happy!!

#keepwarm!!

Oh Vista!

You can have an item for so long that it literally becomes a member of the family!!

Today we sold the Vista...been more than 8 years with us (my sis kept saying SELL IT, SELL IT!!!)

So, we found a buyer and gave it up - turns out the guy also had a vista and loved it, but it rolled, so he was looking for the exact same car as a replacement, luck was on our side, since he knew a guy, who knew a guy, who knew a mechanic, who knew my bro, who....anyways, we go connected and exchanged vista for mulla... :( :) :( :) :)

Been trying to sell it since January but no luck - and the way they say Toyota is easy to sell!! Maybe we didnt try hard enough???

Anyways, I remember when we got her (its a girl, tihihihi)

It was in late 2007 and we needed a more spacious car....so off  I went to the Ngong road to check out the many car bazaars.....the first one i went into....was right opposite the matatu stage and I guess the salesman saw me walking in and i kid you not, gave me a once over, and basically paid little attention to me...and the way I was a serious buyer.....pana dharau watu jameni.............so I moved on to the next bazaar and an eager very young sales lady showed me around. When i told her i wanted a spacious family car, she told me, eh...let me show you one that came in yesterday...and sure enough it was a Vista....and I was sold!!! I loved it.....me, its about how it looks....engine manenos achia wengine....hehehehehe.

And what do you know, its first major mission in January 2008 was to ferry an expectant mother to hospital to get baby!! Imagine that :)

Goodbye Vista, hope you make some other people happy!!

PS This happened so fast, didnt remember to tell the kids....when I mentioned it, they said....woiyeee we didnt get a chance to say Goodbye!!!!

Maternity leave(s)

So this week is World Breastfeeding week (1-7 Aug)

I have had the honour of having 3 maternity leaves...each one very different....

For my first one in 2006 I only had 60 days and no more...and anyways a very very major report was due end of the month that I was expected back so could not even think of extending the leave....I was  not too sure about how to breastfeed....and assumption was that this was natural....well it wasnt for me....and I struggled with a hungry baby until we got the grip of how best to do it....Once that was in the bag, back to full relaxation mode! This break was my introduction to the world of DVD series...I used to watch TV a lot...but then someone gave me the House series and I was hooked!! waaaaa.....so long as baby was awake, I was seated in front of TV watching that series!! The house was very quiet most of the time....since it was just one housegal and me most of the time....60 days passed in a flash!! and before i knew it was back to work and consumed by the usual race. The first kid receives a lot of visitors!! I came to appreciate not extending a visit when you go see a new mother, not insisting on holding baby for long hours, NOT going near baby if you have a cold among other do's and donts...Meanwhile, I was doing my MBA and completed the course work before baby came; and the supermom in me, thought i would do the research paper during maternity!!! thats a story for another day #thestruggleisreal!!

For first one I didn't even attempt exclusive breastfeeding - boy was so hungry all the time he was on light uji as soon as he was three months old and off Naan by the time he was 9 months! Thankfully he enjoyed his milk so much that he used to drink 3 packets in a day!! All this ended when he joined preschool :(

Second one was during the month of December and was much easier to feed her...maybe its true about girls....but I didnt feel like a cow with her...hehehehehe...For this one, the holidays were around the corner and so by the time baby was barely 3 weeks old, the holidays had set in and so she was already making visits since Christmas time comes with a lot of visits to people...For second baby, I had 2 girls helping me with work and my sister in law was staying with us. So house was full at that time and I had company so I barely noticed the free time I had in between...this was 90 days and by the third month I was truly ready to get back to work.

I tried this exclusive thing since my friend also had a baby and really encouraged me to do it....I was on a roll till one day, I came home and found baby being given milk...on testing it, it was cold...the milk had hardly thawed from fridge and she was being given....ehh...I said, better to have warm naan milk than cold breastmilk!!!

I did one visit to Garissa when she was five months and when I came back, she looked at me like I was crazy when I offered to breastfeed her :)

Third one was during October and this I must say is a perfect time to be on maternity since by December, all have adjusted and you return to work mid January when the rush is over! The leave was uneventful...I had gotten the grips of taking care of a small baby so things were smooth...baby was not such a hungry one so even breastfeeding was a breeze. I didn't even bother with exclusive since the milk was kidogo and trying to pump it just left me a frustrated Mum!!

By this time I had a handy laptop and a good supply of movies and series. I stationed laptop near bed, and soon as baby woke up, I fed him while watching a movie/series...and once he was asleep, i pause it and sleep too!

Now there is talk of 6 months maternity leave so as to ensure babies are breastfed exclusively - whereas I support this 150%, wonder if private sector will be for this!! My own take is that better to have options where possible eg creches at work (Safaricom does it, dont they??)...working from home arrangements....flexihours....since baby doesnt feed whole day every time....and also Mummy needs a break!!!!....and truth be told, work can be a VERY welcome break....so a win-win for everyone!

http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

Schools Out!!

Today many schools are closing for the holidays

My kids are over the moon….the instructions are that there is gonna be a party so please dress your child up in party clothes! This we dutifully did …complete with coloured nails for effect…tihihihi

Flashback to my own closing day in primary boarding school….undoubtedly this was my BEST day in school. I did not mind all the hard work washing and scrubbing the desks..chairs…classrooms, and dormitories…the image of all things hanging out to dry is still so vivid in my mind…..the idea was so that we leave them clean before we take the break! I wondered why we just didn’t do this when we opened so that we don’t get dusty desks and rooms??

Next event was to confirm that we (my sis and i) are on the list for those heading out by train to Nairobi…aii glorious days!! I looked forward to this day from the moment I entered the gates for a new term (clearly I didn’t like the school much)….but that was life, and I had been dealt with this primary school so I had to deal with it

 

Times have changed for sure!