Flowerly Smile

God the Artist

2009-10-23T02:15:00.005+01:00

2 summers ago, my son and I were travelling from Edinburgh to London by air. It was the first week of August, but Scotland being Scotland, the weather was horrible. It was cloudy, wet and the temperatures were so low. (I had forgotten to pack jackets. It was summer).

As we checked into the airport, we were so cold and couldn't wait to board the plane. I was so longing for a hot cuppa, but remembered it was EasyJet. I had to wait for long not to mention that I had to buy from the crew.

We took off from the airport, and as we got into the skies, above the clouds, the temperatures changed and we could see the sun setting. The sight was really beautiful, and romantic too. Its like there was a layer separating the cold, cloudy, wet grounds and the romantic, yellow orangish sun setting on the horizon. Edinburgh disappeared completely. No sight of it at all. This really muffled my son. He asked me so many questions i.e. how, why etc. I asked him what he thought of the whole experience, and all He could come up with was, 'God is a real artist'. The answer surprised me, but took me to the bible - Genesis.

When I read Genesis, it gets me thinking. God is such a genius, a designer, not to mention being an artist. First time ever, and He created things so perfect.

He must be really beautiful, coz when I think of Him making man in His image, I look at man and think, 'how did He know of where to place everything'. Then He designed the wo-man, to suit the man. Man, I'm beautiful.

When one Kenyan man married another

2009-10-20T23:28:00.003+01:00

Chege Kairitu has finally said 'I do' to his/her one love Mr Ngengi.

I know many will follow suit, this could be a breakthru for many, but may cause many parents heart conditions.

No excuse

2009-10-17T02:33:00.003+01:00

No excuse at all for being away, but I'm still looking for him, plus my dissertation is up and coming.

Where are all those people who work or ever worked as temps. I'm thinking of your motivation or psychological contracts.

Polygamy, not for me.....

2009-09-29T22:07:00.000+01:00

like this family

Foreign paedophiles in Kenya

2009-09-25T18:18:00.005+01:00

What I can't do in my homeland, I can do out there and get away with it. This includes big men sleeping with underage children. This video made me so angry I've no words.

Kenya, we need to wake up.

I want to marry my son

2009-09-15T23:26:00.001+01:00

Incest to the maximum.

A Zimbabwean woman and her son have done the unthinkable – they have fallen in love with one another. And now they want to marry since the mom, Betty Mbereko from Mwenezi in Masvingo, is six months pregnant and expecting her son’s child. Mbereko (40), who was widowed 12 years ago, has been cohabiting with her first child, Farai Mbereko (23). She confirms that she is six months pregnant and that she has decided it is better to “marry” her son because she does not want to marry her late husband’s young brothers, whom she says are coveting her. Betty stunned a village court last week when she said the affair with her son had begun three years earlier. She said after spending a lot of money sending Farai to school following the death of her husband, she felt she had a right to his money and no other woman was entitled to it. “Look, I strove alone to send my son to school and no one helped me. Now you see that my son is working and you accuse me of doing something wrong. “Let me enjoy the products of my sweat,” she told the village court. Farai said he was more than prepared to marry his mother and would pay off the ilobola balance his father had left unpaid to his grandparents. “I know my father died before he finished paying the bride price and I am prepared to pay it off,” he said. “It is better to publicise what is happening because people should know that I am the one who made my mother pregnant. Otherwise they will accuse her of promiscuity.” But local headman Nathan Muputirwa says: “We cannot allow this to happen in our village, mashura chaiwo aya, (This is a bad omen indeed). In the past they would have to be killed but today we cannot do it because we are afraid of the police.” He warned them to break off their marriage or leave his village. They chose the latter and have left the village for an unknown destination. – (Source - The Weekend Tribune.)

Left with me, I will shoot her, kill her and tell God, 'I killed her'.

The Thames Festival 2009

2009-09-14T23:21:00.013+01:00

Why is it that people who snore sleep before everyone else?
And why do tall people arrive early in church, meetings etc, sitting at the front and therefore blocking the view? My Five three height makes a victim of such people, all the time.

Imagine my disappointment (yet again) when I attended the Thames Festival 2009 and neither my son or I had a clear view. These tall guys came from nowhere and just squeezed themselves in, then carried their children on their shoulders. Heavy as my son may be (13 yrs), I carried him on my back, and these were the photos he took, the rest became history shortly after.

In the evening, the carnival was good. I’d recommend it as opposed to the Notting hill carnival, more peaceful and kid friendly. I feel like I never missed anything in August. Plus yesterday came with a bonus – Diversity, the finalists of Britain's got talent. I was with 3 other mothers and a dad, and between us we had 9 children. We left the Festival at around 9pm, just before the fireworks went off at the Thames South Bank. The looks on the kids faces - Priceless, even Mastercard can't pay.

Who is Jesus?

2009-08-06T18:48:00.005+01:00

If you had the honour of introducing Jesus, the King of Kings to an audience, exactly how would you do it.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you This is classic.

Routine Random Police Checks

2009-08-04T23:10:00.010+01:00

My 1st car was a BMW which my then boyfriend and I drove to Munich from Athens to go buy. It was an old car, maybe 4-5yrs old, a 320, a 1988 model. I loved my car, but it was short lived coz a few weeks later, it crashed and I packed it.

A few yrs ago my brother got a BMW 318 sports. It was newer than mine, and very beautiful. I was so proud of him.

5 yrs on, he doesn’t want it anymore. And what’s wrong with it? I've asked this question many times with no answer, until yesterday morning. I was with him in the car, and the ‘ old bill ’ followed him for quite a while, and then stopped him.

The usual questions, ‘have you got your DL? Yes. Do you own this car? Yes. For how long? 5 yrs. He hands his DL, and they are running a check on him, with no explanation why they stopped him. 15 minutes later, they say it is routine. (A black man riding a posh car.)

I don’t believe in racial discrimination, but, I think I’ll be shifting soon.

He told me he’s getting rid of the car coz for the last 5 yrs, he can not count how many times he’s been stopped, how much time he’s wasted, and how many times he’s been late for work coz of ROUTINE CHECKS.

I am not driving any posh car for a while.

Other issues
1. Why are London buses’ heaters always on in summer, and off in winter?

2. For 6 weeks since last week, I have a full time job. Cook, escort, driver, cleaner, teacher, social worker, name it. The sad thing is, it's unpaid, I can't resign, and I have to do it come rain come sunshine. I need to import myself house help.

Getting To Know You

2009-07-30T23:49:00.002+01:00

Copy all questions, write responses, and tag yourselves, blogger pals.

1. What time did you get up this morning?
-0815

2. How do you like your steak?
-Very Well done,

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
-17 Again

4. What is your favorite TV show?
-Holby city

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
-Politia, Greece.

6. What did you have for breakfast?
-Coffee and a peanut buttered toast

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
-Greek

8. What foods do you dislike?
-Kikuyu, all boiled stuff.

9. Favorite Place to Eat?
-If I can find Feta cheese and olive oil, there it’ll be.

10. Favorite dressing?
-I make my own, lemon and olive oil.

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
-My car - TfL

12. What are your favorite clothes?
-Anything comfy

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
-If I hate content and it has no lesson for me, ½ empty.

15. Where would you want to retire?
-254 definitely

16. Favorite time of day?
-When I’m sleeping – I get to dream.

17. Where were you born?
-Greece

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
-It has to be Olympics

19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
-Kenyanchick, she’s idle for now.

20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
-mmhhhhhh

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
-KK, he’s crazie gud

22. Bird watcher?
-Is that a game or a hobby?

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
-I’m more sober when all are sleeping.

24. Do you have any pets?
-Fish. I have 10, Pat, Jr, JJ, TJ, Goldie, Silkie, Fishy, Smallie, Small, Poopy

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
-God is God, He doesn’t become Godder by the day. Regarless of how much you fast, pray, love Him, go to church. He still remains God, He was, He is, and He will be 'I AM' JEHOVA.

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
-My aunt was a secretary, and my role model, and I so much wanted to be like her. I did secretarial/medical in a major Hospital in London, went to Kenya after a long time, visited KNH several times, and everytime kept thinking - Management Skills. Came back to UK and decided Health Management it is. Still pursuing.

27. What is your best childhood memory?
-When my mum said ‘turathie show’. I enjoyed every bit a 9 yr old would.

28. Are you a cat or dog person?
-None of the above. Refer to #24

29. Are you married?
-Was, to the wrong one. I sent him to look for his wife, and I went looking for my other half. He found his, I'm still searching.

30. Always wear your seat belt?
-Always, in Kenya everyone thinks I’m nuts. Law in UK, unless you have £50 to spare the cops.

31. Been in a car accident?
-Never.

32. Any pet peeves?
-What????

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
-Bacon and chicken.

34. Favorite Flower?
-I’m not flowerly.

35. Favorite ice cream?
-Magnum. When I was pregnant I caused a fight with my Ex hubby when he ate one of my freezer stocked white chox. I didn’t talk to him for a week.

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
-Pizza hut

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
-Twice. 1st I forgot to indicate at a roundabout, 2nd I did a 7, or was it 9 point turn.

38. From whom did you get your last email?
-NHS jobs, ‘you’ve not been shortlisted’.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
-Littlewoods catalogue. They store everything one book.

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
-I’m thinking.

41. Like your job?
-I love my weekend job – shooting fotos at weddings.

42. Broccoli?
-The most healthy green I know.

43. What was your favorite vacation?
-Zakinthos island. Beautiful.

44. Last person(s) you went out to dinner with?
-My gal friends, all 7 of us – 2 weekends ago.

45. What are you listening to right now?
-Kenny G - Even if my heart would break

46. What is your favorite color?
-Mauve, it’s sexy.

47. How many tattoos do you have?
-Nil.

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz?
-Please tag yourselves, prettylyf said, hahahah.

49. What time did you finish this quiz?
-2343hrs

50. Coffee Drinker?
-I love my coffee, strong, creamy, 2 sugars please. I don't do instant.

Am I an alcoholic?????????????

2009-07-13T22:45:00.005+01:00

I love my Smirnoff Ice - Black. It's the only drink that gives me no hangovers, but, I take like 2-3 in a week or two. So you can imagine my shock when my son told my brother to talk to me coz I'm becoming an alcoholic. Let me back up a bit.

A few months ago, a friend of mine phoned me to say he was very near my house, and if he could pass by. I said 'why not'. He works for a big Off Licence that also distributes alcoholic drinks. He happened to have a few SI –black in the car, and coz he knows I like them, he brought a case of 24.

I had a few that evening, a few like 3.

This was a time when I was writing a paper, and every evening after we had dinner I'd retire to my bedroom, with my laptop and a bottle of Smirnoff Ice, and sometimes I'd have 2 bottles. This went on for a few weeks. I didn't know my son was keeping records.

About six weeks later, my friend came again, and did the same. This time my son didn't keep quiet. He confronted me. 'Mum, you know you are drinking too much'. I was shocked.

We had a talk, and I reassured him. I thought all was gone.

Last Friday my new reap, Shujj brought me a big bottle of Smirnoff Ice.

On Saturday evening, about 10 pm I came from shooting a wedding, and my feet hurt. I was really knackered. I took a bath, then my blankie and just lay on the settee, sipping my chilled drink. About an hour later, as I was drifting off to sleep, my phone rung. It was my brother. He was at the door. I opened, and then immediately after, my son got out of bed. His eyes were red. He had been on the phone to my brother in tears, convincing him that I was drinking, again.

‘I think my mum has become an alcoholic’, I can just imagine him telling his friends and teachers. I think one of these days I’ll actually get drunk and he’ll see me drunk. He’s never seen me drunk, not in his life time.

Will be back soon

2009-07-08T11:07:00.001+01:00

Still going well. I'm revenging on all the years. I'd forgotten how it felt like to be 'adored'.

I pray I'll find time soon to post something. I miss you all.

My internet is still not very sawa, and these days I hadly find my ways to the library and hotel parkings. To be honest, I don't even drive any more. He does.

Reaping where I didn't labour

2009-06-04T16:13:00.002+01:00

I listened to a preaching from John 4 about the Samaritan woman, and vs. 38 caught my attention. I was very keen when the man of God said, ‘some of you labour so much, yet it has been commanded you go out and reap where you did not labour’. In my interpretation, my relationships have been crap because it’s never the right one. 4-8 months in the relationship you realise the person is not right, yet you feel you have put so much labour. I’d imagine there are people who labour for years and years, and finally when they leave each other, they have both changed so much in the way they see each other. A good example would be a man who keeps forgetting birthdays. After years of the woman mourning and constantly reminding him, he finally gets the hang of it such that he would never forget the next woman’s birthdays.

This weekend I’m off on a date, a blind one. I’ve not met him yet, but we’ve been talking for the last 2 weeks. He sounds nice; I’m hoping it turns out worth my while as I look forth to reaping another woman’s labour (wishful). Wish me luck.

Wilderness

2009-05-26T13:17:00.013+01:00

Farmgal refered to a sermon she listened to and I thought maybe all the pastors had received the same word and delivered it a bit different. My pastor has been teaching on the Wilderness and the Wilderness Experience, and it has really gotten me thinking. The teaching comes from here and here

After Jesus was baptised, the Spirit of God came down, heaven opened and a voice said ‘this is my beloved son……’. Then Jesus was led to the wilderness.

What is a wilderness?

A place of
1. isolation
2. dryness
3. emptiness
4. lack
5. burreness

We try so many things but we remain empty. We get frustrated as we try. We bear no fruits. We seem not to enjoy life. We live by the day and we feel alone. Believing becomes hard, commitment is non existent and we lack direction and motivation. When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, He felt like quitting, but He told God to do His will.

But nothing just happens without a reason. When we are pressured in life, or when burdened, God wants to bring out something in us.

We go thru the wilderness because

1. God wants to purify us. We often sin and disobey God, but when we are faced with difficulties, we turn to God and repent.

2. satan wants to test God’s word in us ‘if you are the son of God’…, but God had already confirmed ‘this is my beloved son….’. Confusion comes and you've no idea what to believe. Always remember, before childbirth there are labour pains, but they do not last forever, and when a child is born, you remember the pains no more, just like the tests. So don't be confused by what the devil tries to preach to you.

3. God wants to empty you of yourself. God wants to teach you to rely on Him as we often think we can do without Him. .

4. God wants you to listen to His voice. You have to mature spiritually. You have to differentiate the trials and temptations, whether they are from the enemy or it’s God trying to teach you something. Later on, you can pick the lessons you learnt from the experience.

The enemy looks for those moments when you are weak and vulnerable (Jesus was hungry after fasting for 40 days). ....‘turn these stones to bread…..’ watch out your weaknesses, coz satan will target them and use them to his advantage while you are confused and in unbelief. ‘throw yourself down ….angels will catch you’, you test God unnecessarily. Lack and loneliness cause one to compromise.

So next time you are in the wilderness, learn from the experience, listen carefully coz God could be telling you something. Remember that satan had to get God's permission first before testing Job.

For the last 6 months God has really taught me to be humble, and to rely on Him in everything I do. I have (like Cheri once said) come from 'bank to grass', except mine's not bank, but grass I've hit. The light in the tunnel can be seen from a distant, coz He's faithful, He'll never leave or forsake us. But for us to grow or for God to use us effectively, the wilderness is inevitable.

Kenyans in London know how to do their thing.

2009-05-23T22:55:00.011+01:00

It was a lovely day, hata the weather behaved itself. In my almost 20 yrs in UK, I've never been to a Rugby Match, lakini nilipenda. Below is the pure proof I was there, and I give God all the glory, coz I enjoyed myself.

The Kenyan team.... mmmmhhhhwa. First match Kenya beat Scotland I think 17-12. Second match Kenya beat USA 33-0, but they lost to Fiji 24-5.

The support was really kwa wingi. Kenyans came from all over, I reckon there were over 2500 kenyans, and the good thing is, they were all seated together. People said that the stadium was so quiet except when Kenya was playing. Kenyans were the only united supporters. Before beating USA, the slogan went 'Yes We Can', courtesy of Virgin Atlantic, the sponsors. After the match 'Yes we did' was sung until USA knew they were beaten.

Let the spirit live on, for next year, I'll be there too.

Twickenham Stadium South Wing was all Kenyan

And they all came

Kenyans

France Vs England

'Yes we can' support.

The Kenyan Team

The Kenyan spirit

The Kenyan Team

Parents Evening

2009-05-22T19:37:00.002+01:00

I’ve been trying to get an appointment with my son’s teachers for a while as I’m concerned about his progress in school, but…..I’ve phoned the school and left messages with the receptionists who always promise that I’ll get a call back, but……

My son has always been good in maths, science, and any subject that does not need much reading. He hates reading, which is the opposite of his mother. But of late, all I hear is 'I hate Maths'. He never seems to have any homework.

Then, there are these drums lessons he takes, which I have to pay for. Last term I asked him what time he goes for drums and it turns out it’s during class time. The lessons are 35 minutes which take up 15 minutes of his play time and 20 minutes of a Humanities lesson. I reckoned that if I’m paying for the drums, they should be taught after school. I talked to the Form Tutor about this, and we agreed they’d find a slot that does not conflict with his lessons, and if not I’d withdraw him from the drums completely. No slot was found, and no one told me, until the end of the term when I got a letter reminding me that I had not paid for drums.

Yesterday was Parent’s Evening. I saw almost all the teachers. Apart from Spanish and Humanities, my son is either on or above the expected level. Spanish I understand as it’s a new subject he picked up when he went to secondary school last year, and he seems to be making progress, but Humanities……… mmhh, it’s the damn drums.

I was talking to the Humanities teacher when I noticed my son had a chewing gum in his mouth. I told the principal to excuse me a second. I asked my son to remove the gum from his mouth and wrap it on a tissue which I handed to him, then we continued.

As soon as we finished with the Humanities teacher, who was very concerned, we went straight to the Form Tutor, who didn’t seem to understand my concerns, so we went to the Deputy Principal and poured all my worries. In the middle of our conversations, I noticed my son was chewing again, I flipped. Right there and then, I turned to him and made a whole scene.

‘I just told you to stop chewing’.
‘You know you shouldn’t chew in school’.
‘It’s rude to chew when talking to people, especially your teachers’.
‘Can you sit up when I’m talking you to you’?
‘Is that how you disrespect your teachers?’

The principal just looked at me. The parents with the other teachers near me looked at me. My son just sat there, not knowing what to do or say. We always have these kind of conversations at home, but he had never seen me react this way before. I had to do this, my way of embarrassing him so he never repeats this again. I’d hate to imagine him like some kids I see around. When I was in school, I’d have been punished for this, so, where or when did the line get broken?

‘I’m sorry mummy’, he kept saying.
‘I’ll deal with you when we get home’ and I got back to business.

‘It’d be good to have more of your kind, maybe the kids here would listen more’.
To cut the whole thing short, I’m withdrawing Master Maua from the drum lessons, and I’ve registered him else where for two hours a week after school for the same amount. He’s grounded (no playing games, just reading and finishing his pending home work) for a week coz of chewing gum and for not handing in his homework in time in almost all the subjects except Art and Spanish.

But the punishment starts tomorrow as he’s going with me to watch Kenya play rugby, the closest he gets to being close to Kenyans from Kenya as opposed to Kenyans from London or UK in general.

Hoping to see some of you guys. Farmgal, Superb Stallion, I'll look out for you.

Honest S/crap

2009-05-11T19:14:00.012+01:00

I don’t ’brag, so please, don’t make me.

I’m very grateful and honoured to have this award. I also wanna thank you (you know yourselves) for the messages, chats, and constantly reminding me that I’m missed in the blogsphere.

Shiko, Kei, Ngare and Joy all tagged or is it s/crapped me, That is a real 'honour'. Shiko and KK missed the flowerly maua smile (I’ll put a fresh one soon- as soon as I get broadband), thus the tagging to guarantee a comeback. Ngare misses the good stuff (which ones, please electrify and elaborate – Masanduku). Joy thinks I’m honestly quiet and tagging might make me yell (I’m yelling now). I hope to stay, this time.

I pray that I’m not late, like Kei, and if I am, I blame the cable in my new address. I hate BT, and Virgin Media has no broadband on my postcode (shame on you Mr Branson, this is pure discrimination). Believe it or not, I park outside a library or hotel to ‘tap’ wireless connections.

Ok, here are the listings.

1. I love the Lord with all my heart, soul and strength. I try to make my actions speak louder than my words. I believe that with Him all things are possible, even Mr Maua coming into my life. He reminds me that if I seek His Kingdom first, (not because He’ll reward me, but because He commands me) all the other things, He knows I need them, therefore He’ll give them to me when the right time comes.

2. I leave my phones on all the time, and I pick all my calls. All my close friends know that they can get me any time of the day. If you phone me late in the night, especially after I’ve dozed off, I’ll answer, and in my sleep I’ll ask if you are ok, and if we can talk in the morning. I know I always forget to phone back, but then again, the tone matters,

3. I am multi skilled. I pride myself in wedding planning and photography, but I only do this in summer. I’ve worked in health care service delivery most of my working life, yet my PG qualification has absolutely nothing to do with health service. I use my skills more in church and social events. I’m still studying, and still not making use of what I study. (Crazy ehhh).

4. I love my son so much. He is the reason for all seasons. I want the very best for him.

5. Kenyanchick and Modo inspired me into blogging. For about 2 months I toyed myself into commenting on their posts, and thru the comments, I staggered into PKW, and I had to comment. I had to open a g-mail account to comment, then a blog and the rest is history.

6. I can’t drive manual cars. If my car breaks down, my brothers laugh at me coz I can’t drive theirs, but they can drive mine. I’ve tried, but I just don’t get to gear 3.

7. I look 20 something in my 5.3 frame, pass for a school gal, sometimes I wish I look my age, like when I went to the Off Licence and they refused to serve me without an ID. Once I cut my hair very short and my son forbid, I repeat, forbid me to go to his school because I looked like a boy, and the next day he said that I’m the smallest adult he knows. When my son was a baby, the first time I took him to the health visitor she insisted on bringing the mother. In my son’s records, it showed the mother was 30 something, but this little thing with a buggy looked 15-6. I worked in hospitals (before the crunch), and when I see these big mamas with 3 kids then I look at their records….DOB …..1983, I think to myself, gal you’re old, ’83 you were in High school.

8. I smile a lot, smiles help me make friends. I’ve got a good dental pack, which reminds me I need to book an appointment to see 3TOC’s colleague. Smiles earn me friends, I make them very easily, but when an underage starts making passes, the smile vanishes like mad.

9. I hope to meet all bloggers in my blogroll, and many more. I think most of them are interesting people. I’ve recently found out that one blogger in my blogroll is an old friend/relative, who we communicate all the time.

10. I’m always late in submitting my assignments, and the truth is, I never understand the question until 3-4 days to the deadline. My tutors are forever cross with me.

Bonus
11. I'm a photographer, and although my son has loads of albums, I can count my photos. I never get any taken. EGM, how many photos do you have?

Given that I’ve come in late and many are tagged, Can I only do 3, please. Dear blogthren I give you pkw prettylyf EGM

the rules,guys, the rules.

1.You must brag about the award - Check

2.You must include the name of the blogger who bestowed the award on you and link back to the blogger - Check

3.You must choose a minimum of seven (7) blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.
4.Show their names and links and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with Honest Weblog.
5.List at least ten (10) honest things about yourself. Then pass it on with the instructions!

If I've not done something right, it has to be coz I've not blogged for long, might take long to get used to again.

MOTHERS’ DAY.

2009-05-07T01:17:00.003+01:00

Last month was Mother's day in UK, and this Sunday, many countries, Kenya included, millions of people will honour their mothers. Please do so, if you have a mother.

I loved my mother very much, but the concept of Mothers’ day is something I picked up when I became a mother myself. I remember sending Mother’s day cards to my mum whenever I found them regardless of the season. I didn’t know about this special day until 12 yrs ago, but I always reminded my mum that I loved and honoured her.

People remember their mothers in various ways. I remember phoning my mum an hour after my son was born just to thank her for giving birth to me. Not that I didn’t appreciate her before, but after almost 10 hours of labour, I understood what she had gone through to have me and my 2 brothers. My baby was so special, and it wasn’t until then that I appreciated mum telling me how special I was.

My brother had walked into the labour ward 10 minutes after my son was born, and seeing how tiny and delicate my baby looked, and maybe how much love and care he’d need, he thought of his own mum, how she had looked after him. He phoned her. We all have different reasons of honouring mothers.

I celebrated mother’s day with my mum present only once. Ever. I made her a special meal, bought her favourite drink and I got her flowers. In the morning I had remembered to make her a full English breakfast. I had bought a MUM ring which I presented to her after the meal. In the evening, we both drove to her mum’s where she honoured her mother in the same way for the first time. It was a special day for the two of them.

She passed away a month later.

I thank God all the time for that one Mother’s day, and for that one month plus that I spent with her. I guess those few days were the best time she had had in a long time as a mother with her daughter.

Immediately after ‘A’ levels, before the results were out, I left home to study abroad, initially for 3 yrs. After 3 yrs, I’d not even finished my first year in Uni, and when I went home to renew my student’s visa, the country had changed so much. During this short stay (10 weeks), it dawned on me that I felt more in-touch with myself in Europe than Kenya. At first it was the freedom of doing whatever I wanted, then came the fact that after 3 yrs away, my former classmates were in their last year in Uni, and I was just beginning. I knew it’d be a struggle coz of language barriers(I was in a non English speaking country), but I had started, and I wasn’t about to quit. There was also the pride of being in Europe. Irrelevant as it may seem, I lost the valuable opportunity of spending time with my mother.

I went back after 12 yrs when I learnt my mother was seriously ill. She had visited us once. In short, for 12 yrs, I’d spent only 3 weeks with her.

I miss her dearly. Everyone’s mother is the best thing close to love that one can ever know. Mine was/is the best thing I've ever known. There is no single day that passes by that I don’t think of her. I think of so many things, her wisdom, her jokes, and above all, I think of her unconditional unselfish love. She gave her best in her own way, not expecting anything in return, and she never complained. As children, we fell and hurt ourselves but she always had enough bandages to nurse, not only the physical wounds, but the heart aches as well. When she visited us in UK, in the middle of the night when she woke up to use the bathroom, she’d come to my room to tuck me, just like she did when I was little. To her, I was her baby, not a 20 something going on 30 yr old grown woman. I can still hear her calling me ‘Mummy, Baby, Kairitu or Mahua witu’.

My son wonders how on earth she let me leave home to study abroad before I even turned 20. To be honest, if I was to do it to my son today, I’d really feel guilty, very guilty. But this is 2009. In the 80s, the best education was in Europe, and that is what she wanted for her children.

When I was a very small girl, my brother and I used to fight constantly, and if my brother was on the wrong, she’d say ‘We tigana na kairitu gakwa. Onakangigakorwo England, kaigwe ndina thina, gakahaica ndege goke ihenya’. ( Leave my babygirl alone, she’s like my insurance. Wherever she’ll be, England or where, if I ever need her she’ll take the first flight and come to me). And this was like a prophecy, coz when she got very ill, I left my son behind and flew home to look after her until her last breath in my arms.

The first 10 yrs of my stay in Europe were tough. Life in Kenya was tough too. In as much as I’d have loved to help out, send her money every week or every month, I couldn’t. I probably visited my local Forex Bureau once every 3-6months. I know she understood. But today, when I walk past the same Forex Bureau and see people queuing to see those Somalis, to send money home, I think of how I’d have loved to send her more money. I think of how I’d have done without that night out where I’d spent £20-30, or how I’d postpone my calls to her coz I was ‘busy’. I think of that £100 I saved last month, but can’t send it to her coz she’s no more.

I can’t express how much I miss her. I regret not having spent enough time with her in the name of education and ££££££££££. My son never got to meet her, and that makes me so angry coz I kept postponing our visit home. Today, there’s no one to visit, except distant relatives.

I always wonder if I’d go home more often if she was alive, if I’d make those phone calls more often if she was on the other end? Had she been alive, would my son go to her during the school holidays like I always did to my grandmother’s?

If your mum is alive, stop wondering and pick up the phone and tell her how much you love her, get into that car, buy your travel ticket, and go see her now, coz there will be a day when she’ll be no more, and like me, you’ll look up to other women of her age to honour them in a season like this.

This Mother’s day, I’ll remember and miss my mum so much, but I’ll remember to give honour where it’s due, and honour the 2 women that I go to often, the 2 women who never tire in giving me advice, the two women who I cry out to when I need a mother. The two women who my son has learnt to call Gogo and Cucu for a long time, Mary S(Gugu)and Lucy W(Cucu).

I love you both. And I'm proud to call you 'Mathe'.

Pls explain this.

2009-03-24T18:51:00.001Z

Explain this:

Open a new Word document and type exactly as follows (even with the coma) :

=rand (200,99)

Then press ENTER.

Wait for a second and look again.............

Similar Syndromes

2009-03-13T02:18:00.008Z

I came across this forwarding, and I thought its a relative of this. How funny, we all suffer from similar syndromes.

INSTALLING A HUSBAND

Dear Tech Support,

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in overall system performance, particularly in the flower and jewellery applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0.

In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5, and then installed undesirable programs such as
NBA 5.0,
NFL 3.0
Golf Clubs 4.1.

Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system.

Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail.

What can I do?
Signed,
Desperate

DEAR DESPERATE,

First, keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while Husband 1.0 is an operating system.

Please enter command: ithoughtyoulovedme..html and try to download Tears 6.2 and do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update.

If that application works as designed, Husband1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewellery 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.

However, remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1.

Please note that Beer 6. 1 is a very bad program that will download the Farting and Snoring Loudly Beta.

Whatever you do, DO NOT under any circumstances install Mother-In-Law 1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources.) In addition, please do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0 program. These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0.

In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and
cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend: Cooking 3.0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7.

Good Luck!
Tech Support

Other Arising Matters.

I've not fully made a comeback, a few changes going in my life, but soon. I keep promising myself that I'll come back. I miss you guys, but this is more of an emergency, and if not treated now, and with care, it might have a huge impact in my life at some point. Needless to say, I'm about to say 'bye bye London, and Stevenage, here I come', better still, Africa is calling. I'm assessing whether the greener pastures in Africa are just seasonal mauas ama I should make a move.

I'm also on the last 'leg' of writing my dissertation, and time is not on my side. These things combined put me in a situation I wouldn't wish my best enemy.

I've tried to keep up with you, but I'm oftenly finding myself in Europes most uncivilised where wireless networks are not supported. I feel like I'm back in Kiambu some 20 something yrs ago, but again, there are some merits accompanying the uncivilisation. I'm hopeful for a Blackberry anytime now, but before then, pls forgive me.

When Snow brought UK to a halt

2009-02-02T10:27:00.006Z

Heavy snows in the country last night and the whole place comes to a stand still.
• The airport's 2 runaways have been shut down, and all departures affected
• Train services have been canceled/delayed
• Bus service was suspended until further notice.
• Euro-star cancelled all services and offered rebooks for 60 days

Being a developed country which has experienced this weathers for thousands of years, one expects they would have learnt to deal with them. But today alone will cost the country millions of ££££

Let's get to work.

2009-01-22T01:27:00.006Z

Jacket off, and get to work. Lets read the predecessors letter first as we ask the secetary to hold all the call this morning.

As is traditional,outgoing US president George W Bush left a note for his successor in the top drawer of his desk in the Oval Office. The white house obviously doesnt reveal the exact details of the letter to Barack Obama, but alot of you out there would like to think it went something like this...

Dear Barry,

First and foremosting, i would like to congratulatise you on getting the job. It will be great to have someone come in and bring a finished completion to all the work i did. I have to warn you,though, being president isnt all laughs. There are a lot of boring speeches to sit through.

But i think you will make a great commander-in-chife. You've got what I've got - charismaticism. And that goes a long way. I also dig the way you got all those famous people on your side - they didnt take much to me. But i like that Jon Bon Jovi who sang a few days before your augmentation - he's a good guy.

My daddy once told me : 'eat your vegetables, George Jnr.' And he was right. Well,now it;s my turn to give some advisementary words. Don't let people misunderestimate you the way they misunderestimated me - I hope you don't misunderstanderate what I'm getting at there,Baz. I know I used a lot of big words in that sentence.

Being the president is a bit like grabbing a bull by it's horns - you gotta go up to that bull and grab its horns. In a metaphosphorical sense,of course. If you grab a real bull by the horns you won't be the president for too long. You should maybe write that down.

I've left you some pretzels on my desk and,before i forget,i've also left you a crisis in the Middle East and a bad economy - in London,Engerland, they're calling that a 'credit crunch'. Ain't that cute? sounds like a breakfast cereal to me,Baz. Next time you're in No 1,Downing street, tell Gordon Ramsay I said 'hi'.

So i guess that's all i got for ya,I know you'll be a super leader. They made a movie about me after eight years were up,so if they do the same with you I guess you'll know you've done a good job. Good luck,Baz!

Yours in the white house,

G doubleU B

Will be back soon

2009-01-17T13:23:00.002Z

2008 suck, especially the last month. I'll be back on blogsphere as soon as I'm able to wrestle again, hoping it'll be soon.

Keep me in your prayers.

My 1st blogger birthday was last week, any presents?

In the mean time, see Maua's column.

Incest in Europe

2008-11-27T23:46:00.002Z

Josef Fritzl, and the man from Sheffield should have been jailed in Kenya, such that if they ever got chances of ever writing books about their lives in crime like John Kiriamiti, and if human rights activists kept their noses off, I can assure you no man in the western world would ever commit such crimes.

For those who are still in hiding, your days are numbered.

Mum's School

2008-11-18T23:01:00.008Z

We watched Holby City this evening with my son. There was a scene where a new mother, Daisha thinks she can not cope and is thinking of giving her baby up for adoption. Another nurse, Faye is trying to reassure her that everything will be alright. Daisha thinks that Faye is a strong woman coz she's managed a nursing career and bringing up a son who has a disability. Faye says that Daisha will cope, coz she's now a mum and that is what mum's do.

My son looks at me and asks, 'did you go to a mum's school when you had me?'

'Why?' I asked.

'You just seem to know everything when I don't'.

I wonder what they would teach in those schools that nature doesn't prepare you for, not unless it's a teenage mum's school and more teen mum school.