The Journey so far (entry log 3)

Another day gone by and im absolutely bored, hence, i decided to update my blog.  I still need to decide how regularly i want to be doing this but to be frank there doesn't seem to be much happening or maybe not enough for meto update or report. But ive decided to do this every week and im gonna sticking to it,...what about???!!! that's another question for another day.

For now im just going to keep trying to reach out to those that want to be reached. After a couple of years in this wonderful city of Cardiff, i want to believe that i can almost confidently call it home, 'Whats life in Cardiff like??' *scratching my head tho*. I think the one thing i definitely love about this city, is its serenity. That's almost the only thing i can say i love the most. Its peaceful green and all that, knowing where im coming from, everything works which is the plus side. The negative side is the loneliness it sometimes bring. No big families around for unnecessary gatherings, no hanging out at some pub because they aint light at home and the generators wouldn't come on till a certain time. Believe me as annoying as it may have been, it allowed for social gatherings and groups. I've got to admit there ain't no place like home, especially in the little big City of Lagos, Nigeria. The constant hustling and hassling, the challenges the commotion, the surprises, the havoc, the heat, there's always something to either lament or talk about. Unlike in the UK where everyone minds their business and stay to themselves except of course the prying eyes of the government and media who seem to find something to occupy their time with. One thing im grateful for is the experience and change in lifestyle i have experienced*grinning my teeth*, from the fancy array of international dishes, to clothing and best of all 24/7 electricity. 

Because i cant necessary lament to anyone around whom is willing to actually listen and empathize with me, like i said in entry log 1, i'm going to pour it all out on my Blog.

So, its month end and of course there are bills to be paid. After receiving my payslip for working so hard for the month and Her Royal Majesty has taken whats duely hers. I look at whats left and shake my head in despair. I start to calculate all the other things i have to pay,from mobile phone bill to electricity, internet, TV , TV license (for watching TV ooo), MOT, Council Tax, Car Insurance, Water Bill, Sewage then rent....all from the same monthly wage. Choiiii theris God ioooo!!!!! All i have is about 10% of my wage for any other emergency and savings. But that's the price we have subjected ourselves to pay, well not to talk about other people but that's the price i have decided to pay for the so called life on the other side. Oh well!!!! E go better.

There is a common misconception i want to address though. When people back home ask, "oh where are you based?", i always say cardiff, the next question they ask is do you know this person or that person. Then i ask, 'where they are they based or living', guess the reply? "I'm not sure but they are in london" I'm not in freaking London, i live in Cardiff which is in Wales and part of the United Kingdom, and people from wales aren't British they are Welsh. No disrespect but it drives me nuts...but that's story for the Gods. I love my people regardless.

The Journey so Far (Entry Log 1)

If anyone had told me the life of an adult wouldn't be easy i wouldn't have wished so eagerly to grow up. The thing was I believe we were all tired of being told what to do, when to do what and what not, we all wanted control of our lives. If only someone had actually sat us down to explain the complication involved in being an adult, the decisions we have to make, the hard choices, sacrifices and pains we would go through, I’m sure I’d have found a way to never land to join Peter Pan in his crusade to remain young forever. I know someone out there would say, yes they did advise us or try to warn us but we didn't listen. Well, only thing i can say is you didn't pass the message clear enough!!! Not blaming you or anything, it’s just how i feel. I can’t even complete my Blog without fear that someone would call me out on grammatical errors or misuse of punctuation or something. There’s always got to be something wrong.

Think about it, we are in a world filled with laws, rules, technology, propaganda, war, disaster and what not. Sometimes it feels like world war 3 is about to kick off at any second. If only i could pat myself on the back and say, “son, it will be alright”. Since I can’t do that myself, i turn to religion like we all do (some of us), praying for divine intervention, with hope that our faith would be enough to provide some sort of comfort. Even that itself is not easy because the world out there would not let it be.

Believe me, I’m not the type to moan and complain I've always taken whatever comes my way with a pinch of salt, put my chin up and just played it cool. But now, here i am sitting in front of my laptop punching away at the keys like they were some adversary of mine, in an eternal battle for survival.

Some very optimistic soul out there (God bless you all), would say, “Look at the bright side, you are alive, breathing and well”.....But is that enough? What if I want more, what if instead of waiting to be mega rich or whatever, I just want to be happy and not always think and worry and stress. But maybe if i didn't I wouldn't be writing this down on my Blog.

“Why a Blog?” some people would ask, my answer is, ‘because I’m hoping to reach out to people who feel as I do and can’t express it no matter how hard they try’, there a millions of people who just like have bottled things up for so long and never get a chance to express it and then what happens to them? They get snuffed out like a candle in the wind...just like that.

I lost a friend a few weeks back, we weren't like the best of buddies or anything but someone i met along the way in this marvelous journey we call life. I still wonder why, what did my friend do wrong? This friend of mine wasn't perfect or anything but was striving to be and just a few weeks after celebrating the birth of a child....my friends light were turned off, just like that. I’m not trying to make this about my friend or looking for emotional closure, I’m trying to reach out to the voiceless those who need to be related with, those that need to be comforted, those that need to find their way don’t know how. I can’t give any religious advice because I’m still searching for them myself, but all I can say is that you are not alone in this journey and i hope we can reach out to each other.

I’m sure I’m probably going to get better at this (blogging or whatever this is called), because im not even sure how to end my little story, but I’m sure to return in a bit, to pour my heart out once again. Until then, “ciao”!!

The Journey so far(Entry log 2)

Life of an African in Cardiff

A couple of years ago I decided to relocate i didn't know where to, all i knew was i wanted out of Africa, Nigeria to be precise. A few years have gone by and now I’m wondering if it was indeed the right choice. The truth is, i know a lot of people were in my shoes  or still are, so I've decided to put it all down on paper...no!!! I've decided to put up a blog to make it more extravagant (i hope!!)

Pardon me if I’m not excellent with words or grammar and what not, that’s because I’m not a writer never have been and i don’t know if i will ever be. But like they say “there’s always a first time for everything”, so follow me into my world and let me introduce you to Cardiff, the largest city and also the capital of Wales and from what i hear it’s the 9^th largest city in the United Kingdom. That aside, i call it my new home with the hope of a very bright future ahead.

I never knew much about this new city of mine until i moved here, I ignorantly thought it was just a place in the UK, or somewhere on the outskirts of the great United Kingdom, away from the populous city of London, somewhere i believed would unfold the new life i so much sought after.

So far, this new city of mine is called Cardiff. So far all i know is  Caerdydd (the Welsh name of the city) derives from the earlier Welsh form Caerdyf.....at the moment that's a story for another day or time.  

My journey so far has been a bag of mixed feelings, and as much as i loving living in Cardiff, to be sincere, there are times i cringe....not in the worst of ways though, because even the greatest city in the world would have its downside. Over the years we seem to have something like a long term relationship, in the beginning its all fun and crazy stuff, after a few years it  becomes annoying and after that you just live with it. For those who have been married for years will know it’s not enough to just get up and leave, like i said, I've decided to call it home. But maybe if i could erase the negatives it might just almost become perfect.

If there are a couple of things ill like of my list they would be......

Journalist or Plagiariser

One of Nigeria's so called young influential entrepreneur is currently drawing swords with almighty Google. I mean, in this present day and age, where the answer to everything and anything can be found with the help of the powerful search engine. If they decide to put a name on you is there anyway of running from it. 

She's currently said to have even denied lifting materials without making proper references to the source. In some part of the world that alone may or could have been a criminal offence

On Tuesday, Ms. Ikeji said the site came under attack by her competitors driven by envy over her success.

Chinenye Ugonna. (2014). Google removes Linda Ikeji Blog over plagiarism allegation. Available: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/arts-entertainment/169206-google-removes-linda-ikeji-blog-over-plagiarism-allegation.html. Last accessed 9th Oct 2014.

A journey of a thousand miles

Have you ever wondered why Johnny walker was such a popular brand in its era?

I have come to a conclusion it is due to its popular branding theme “a journey of a thousand miles begin with a step", even in this present generation one never forgets the slogan.

My journey so far has been nothing short of inspirational or motivational, i just feel its time i put a few thoughts down, as insignificant as it may be i hope to inspire the little few who still wish to be inspired

My day today was nothing short of ordinary, my plan was to get out of bed and head to d big city with the sole purpose of renewing my Nigerian passport.

7:06 am, I’m in awe of the city of London, once again fascinated by the continuous flow of people and speed at which everyone and everything around me seems to be moving. I finally get to my destination, feeling all excited i had reached my destination on time. Suddenly i felt a cold chill run down my spine as i realised i hadn't brought along with me the postal order which was necessary to aid my application for a new passport. In my normal nonchalant attitude i shake it off remembering or better yet convincing myself, “ i still had plenty of time”.

There i am at d front door of the Nigerian high commission chuckling to myself at the fact that i seemed to be the only one at the door at 7:25, so i decided to go in search of a post office.

As i walked back to the Nigerian high commission after purchasing the postal order,  my regular habit of day dreaming starts, as i allow the sweet world of unrealistic achievements overwhelm me. Suddenly i hear my name happily being calked, i sigh to myself angry at being pulled out of my world so suddenly.

I realize its an old friend from back in d days as we exchange pleasantries, i run a quick scan of the line i was going to have to wait on. Surprised at how suddenly i had over 20 people ahead of me.

I decide to engage in idle chatter with this old friend with the plan to jump the line and hopefully make it amognst the first 10, once again i chuckle to myself with the exclamation " naija" on my mind.

Once again i run a quick scan of the line again and next to me is this lady probably 10-15 years older than i am but elegant and beautiful in every way. she smiles at me with all motherly affection flowing from her, i smile back almost taken by her simple beauty. We sort of engage in idle chatter as we all gradually make our way into the building.

To cut the long story short, at the end of the day the elegant lady on the line is one of the reasons i decided to complete this blog...details of the conversation is yet to follow.

Selfie

Its 9:16 and im asking myself what have i been doing for the past 30 years of my life? This is shortly after hearing about the whatsapp guy and his deal with the face book guy.

So i decided to start my own blog and realised i had already started 5 years ago and never posted anything. Next question, whats the blog going to be about?....i guess we'll just have to find out.

By the way my names John