Money, family and expectations...

I have been thinking quiet sometime about money issues and how the society holds us liable into bailing out our parents once we grow our own wings and leave the nest. I've read on the issue online and was surprised at how objective some people really feel that we owe it to our parents our financial support for the obvious reasons that they gave us life and saw us through school to the independence we now possess. This of course applies to those who had rigorous and loving parents who played their roles right.

As their child, I think I also owe it to myself for having danced to their tunes, worked hard and turned out just fine. It was a symbiotic relationship, whereby they wanted the best out of me and I pursued just that. Not all parents push themselves beyond their limits to provide for their kids, on the other hand, not all kids work as hard as their parents expect them to inorder to make it in life. Otherwise, why do we choose to bear children? So that we may enslave them later on in life?

At my age, I'm inclined to think that if I owed my parents a debt, then I've paid it and even overpaid it, that is, if one can afford to place a price tag on their existence or what's dictated by the society. For instance, dowry payment (topic for another day). For one, I didn't ask to be born, but now that I'm here, I am definitely their responsibility as it is them who chose to bring me forth. Of course it's a taboo subject to broach but in my case, I don't want history to repeat itself.

I choose to have kids, I want them to be in a situation whereby they'll know that they can look up to me for anything for as long as I'm living and not the other way round. For one, my pride won't allow me to borrow money from my children leave alone become financially dependent on them once I retire. It would suck being put up in an elderly home if I get to live to that overripe age whereby I'll have lost all my functionalities and shall be drooling about in diapers. But that too shall be anticipated in the present age and a program laid out to handle it out in future.

Meanwhile, I'll continue bailing out my parents as it is expected of me and ensuring that they are happy as they enjoy their retirement.

REVIEW: Stokke Tripp Trapp Baby High Chair

My partner is a fan of Stokke's Tripp Trapp baby high-chair, to which he instantly fell in love with because of the design. I was in total agreement with him. The design is great, and the chairs are pratical, as your little one can join the family during meal-times right from birth. We chose to start ours at about 6-months, the average age when a baby gets stable and is able to sit-up by themself.

My only qualm is that, a baby that small doesn't know anything about security, therefore, an adult has to be around them whenever they are on the high-chairs. My baby us such an explorer and it's getting worse everyday as I have a feeling if we don't keep a watch, she might one day fall off the chair, as evidenced in the video. She is now 8-months old, I don't think at that age they have a notion on matters pertaining to security.

ESFP Portrait

As an ESFP, I'm always mis-understood, not that it bothers me. I love self-introspecting from time to time, just to check and confirm that I'm the same old me, and I find that apart from not allowing myself to take in some crap that I can easily avoid -a thing that I've been doing from the time I was conceived, I guess- then, I'm still the same old girl, the only difference's that I'm using an alter-ego.

I'm currently feeling like crap because of all this motherhood and 2-child policy that befell me, else, the rest, besides my piling up weight is perfect!

My girl was -what I'd consider as- bullied

Everytime I pick up my daughter from school, I have developed this habit of asking her how her day was, what they did, what she ate for lunch, whom played with, who was good at her, who was mean and so on. It has become a ritual, in that, nowadays, she'll be the first to indulge me even before I ask.

This past week, on Tuesday, she narrated how at the playground, one of her friends started teasing her on how she was dressed. The meanie ganged up the other kids who were laughing at my daughter, totally alienated her to the extent whereby they didn't want to play with her. So, she sat down on the bench and cried her heart out. I felt truly sorry for her and mad at the same time because I assumed she was strong enough to take anything anyone dares throw her way. That's when I realised that on this, she took her Papa's side -he cries when watching sad stuff, she cries too, whereas, I don't- wear my heart on the sleeves..

Anyways, I had -and still- do a long chat with her on bullying. I told her what her colleague did was not good and explained how she should react the next time she or any other person is confronted with such a situation. I also reminded her that nobody has got any right to decide how she was going to feel, she could wear a sack of potatoes if it pleases her without giving a damn about how another person was going to perceive her. My mum used to tell us that, we don't go to school to make friends, but to learn. I transmitted the same to my daughter. Of course, the BF is not in agreement with this view.

It is common practice to see kids as young as 3 years old go violent on the others. I've had to talk to her teacher on the matter severally, and finally decided that my daughter won't be turning the other cheek. As brutal as it may sound, I settled on, an eye for an eye, and since then, reports on violence towards her have drastically reduced.

The BF thinks that I'm exagerrating and that I should stop with my hawk-eyes tendency. He tells Peaches that I was traumatised as a kid and that's why I can't help being overtly protective; Funny as it may sound, I would rather it the way it was in my childhood. My dear Mama was the family investigator in her own level. She had her eyes and ears all over the country, depending on where her children were schooling. I can only copy her ways because that's what made us pan out successfully.

Besides, Peaches takes part in other activities besides her school ones, and I told her that's another way of socializing. 

As a parent, I took a silent oath to never sit back and watch any form of prejudice being thrown my children's ways, I am their guardian, their protector, I pledge my allegiance to them, if I don't veil on their well being, how will they develop trust in me as their mother, as their parent?

Of being overwhelmed and yelling

So now I'm back to yelling and not liking it! The bf says that it's good that I'm conscious of the vice, I say that being conscious is not enough as the damage is slowly creeping in. Peaches, as sweet as she is, is seriously taking the brunt of the damage the angelic demon a.k.a Berries is taking me through.

For instance, today, I gave Peaches 3 serious yells! The last yell made me go to the bathroom, look at myself in the mirror, and remind myself that it's totally NOT right!! I yell till my head hurts and only wine can cure it. That's the effect of being a STAHM with absolutely no help coming through. The first yell came through right after we got back home from school. I asked her to come and wash her hands before the evening snack, and she came dragging her chair, with a cushion and the fat Winnie Pooh on it. I yelled because I'm fed up of picking up after her. That was not even supposed to be a big deal since if I had asked her gently, (without yelling), she would have still taken them back. The second yell came during dinner, I had put Berries to sleep and came down to finish eating with her, as Paps was out of town, and there she was, still dilly-dallying with the food, trying to get out the garling eti coz she doesn't like it. The silly behaviour she picks up from other kids at the school canteen I felt terrible afterwards because I obliged her to eat up everything. I had to hurry back in the room because the baby was hysterical. So, I asked Peaches to finish up and head in her room and wait for me to come read her the usual bed-time stories. She instead headed straight to my room and woke up the baby anew, that, totally drove me into a frenzy!

I handle fatigue by going for a run, but now that I hurt the stupid knee, even walking is an issue. I think seeing the tummy bulging as if I was pregnant, and having none of my pants fit me is part of what drives me into a rage with every single petty - of what I consider - misdemeanor, on the part of Peaches, iven that I can't take it out on Berries.

I can't wait for January for Berries to start going to the creche, I'm headed there tomorrow first thing in the morning to ask when she can begin her orientation for full time care. I just can't handle it anymore! 

In the meantime, I have this noted somewhere at the back of my mind to control the yellings. Before, I could do Jumping Jacks everytime I felt the urge to yell. Now, I don't even know what to do. Counting from ten backwards doesn't even come close to help!

*sigh*

Failed friendship that never even picked!

I met this lady in September of this year, I'm even starting to doubt whether she didn't do it on purpose, that is, on the first day of extra-curricular activities, bringing her daughter in the same music class as mine, even though the class was strictly for beginners and her daughter was in her second year. Just before she left, she called me aside, gave me a sheet of paper with her address and phone number on it, because in her words, I look like a nice person and she would have loved if I joined her in her upcoming project(s). Since I didn't want to dissapoint, I gave her a call two weeks later and we met for tea. I extended the kindness and invited her over for teaat mines. She came in drinking some energy drink and instead asked for wine. That would have been the first warning sign, I chose to overlook it.

Last week she gave me a call inviting me over to her place because they were celebrating his son's in-law birthday. I made it clear that I was not in a position to go since I had guests over. She insisted I go even with my guests, I stressed that it was not going to be possible. She told me to think about it and drop her a message on my response. I completely forgot about her. It's not like I gave her the impression that I'm always short of invitations.

So last night as I went with my daughter and another neighbour's daughter trick or treating, I decided to stop at her's because she has children too. On coming to the door, the first thing I noticed was alcohol smell, she was clearly high, furious at me to the extent of not wanting to see me. I had to explain that I had a mishap with the fall I had during my run, and that I had explained it wasn't going to be possible to attend the improptu party etcetera.

She went on and on how dissapointed she was, how everyone was waiting for the mysterious overdue friend, how no matter what, next Saturday, Peaches should make it to her daughter's birthday, how I have to ensure that our daugthers become friends even if it takes moving the earth for it to happen. I was like, "are you kidding me? Our children are not at all obliged to be friends just because the parents are friends."

Her neighbour who was walking her daughter to trick and treat stopped to say hello, and as she was trying to explain to the little girl who was roughly 10 years old why according to her daughter she finds her weird, I bid her goodbye and we came back home.

I talked over the issue with the bf because I felt the matter needed his intervention. He was kind enough to tell me that the next time the lady accosts me, I should inform her that he is against her trying to impose herself in our family, period!

I've never had to apply pride in such a long time, but with this lady, I am left with no choice. I shall simply efface her like she's never existed as I await a new confrontation. I get tired thinking about her, I even had a terrible nightmare!

Losing weight and failing miserably!

In about a week's time, Berries turns 8 months. In between, I started exercising, was hospitalised, hence had to stop. Last Sunday, out of the blues, I put on my shoes and went for my usual run. It felt good, it felt like I was picking up from where I left. With autumn holidays just around the corner, I was so excited because the bf had taken some days off, and I had my pal coming over for a week. I was excited because I knew I was going to have my "ME" time. My long over-due ME time! So, on Thursday, I got up feeling bubbly as usual because I was going to go for my run without having to think about the baby.

35 minutes in the run, right in the middle of the woods, I realized that the old path has been diverted. I climb up the new path with squats and even before I had finished contemplating whether to run or walk, my body felt propulsed by some forces. My goodness, I totally lost control of my body, I went down that steep path with fear and panick, I didn't even have time to choose whether to fall or fall, I just dived on a pile of leaves narrowly escaping hitting the stem of a nearby tree. I FELL! I fell terribly and hurt my entire body. I don't think even when growing up I've ever had such a fall.

I was in major pain! I dragged myself up to a sitting position, my right knee felt wobbly, my left shoulder felt disconnected, but I still got up, picked up a stick and started walking out of the woods. I finally got to the roadside, and my mind was made up, I was walking home. Only to get in the wrong neighbourhood. A good samaritan lent me her phone, but the bf didn't pick the call. The only solution was to hitch-hike and this other lovely lady dropped me right off at out doorstep.

As I type this, I'm yet to see the doctor. I am totally anti-ER because they keep one for long hours before being tended to. My right knee is visibly swollen but I'm giving it until Monday.

All I'm hoping for is to get better and take another attempt at running. I can't believe my body is conspiring against my will to lose weight and maintain being fit!

In the meantime, I'm still the same old foodie.

Giving birth somewhere in Europe...

As my days wane by, I can't help thinking about all those women who have lost their infants at birth or the men who lost both infant and mother during delivery. Margaret Kenyatta is an opportunist, a productive opportunist since what she is doing now with the #beyondzero campaign, is something that she could have done even before the husband became influential. That does not mean I don't applaud her efforts, not that it's going to change anything. She is using her position as a First Lady to collect funds in order to put right what the government has failed to. Never mind that it is its duty to ensure that the health system is apt enough for the population.

I am scheduled for a Caesarian, and thinking about how medicalised even natural birth is in the West for damage contro,l and trying to compare that with what's taking place in Kenya just leaves a lot to be desired.

There's the doctor -the gynecologist without whom nothing much can take place. One has to be always present or on stand-by just incase.

A nurse does the bulk of the work. He/she executes the gynaes orders and is the one who is mostly present after the procedure has long been done. She'll make the follow-ups and updates the gynae who'll just come to check that everything's okey.

There's the midwife, who works under the nurse. The midwife will know everything about the patient. He/she reports to the nurse and the gynae. The midwife veils on the wellbeing of the mother. Asks whether there'll be help in the house, does the house-rounds upon return to ensure that everything is okey.

Then there's the puéricultrice, who takes duly care of the infant from birth, teaches you how to wash it, follows up on the first injections etcetera. Ensures that the feeding is going on well, that the baby has all that it needs etcetera.

Then there's auxiliaire de vie. This lady is there to maintain cleanliness of the patient. Changes the beddings, the pads, wipes the patient, etcetera.

Then there'll be the cleaning lady who ensures that the room is impeccably clean.

Last, I guess there's the one who serves meals. 

I don't have all the details as my first birth was planned to be natural and all over sudden we had to undergo a CS.

And just incase anything goes wrong and there's death (which is inevitable), there'll be conselling. Tonnes of counselling session! A couple is never left to their own devices as is the case in Kenya. And it is for this reason that #istandwithmamanjeri - You can click on the link to watch the video and get the concept.

https://youtu.be/6BXEEzu1KdU #istandwithmamanjeri

Reflections, Nostalgia and Changes...

Nostalgia is a good feeling, makes one reflect on what's going on around them. In my case, it doesn't make me wish for what I had in the past as I always choose to live in the present. It only makes me realize how much people do change, or even reveals other hidden characteristics that aren't really positive or motivating. It could be my personality or just who I am but I've always thought and noticed everyone or most people around me change as I try to remain the same until their influence runs on me and I fit into whom they've become. So I change too so just to fit in their context.

When I was single, i tried to keep in touch, mostly with family, my close-knit and even virtual friends. When I migrated, I continued to keep in touch. When I met the bf and got into a relationship, I continued to keep in touch. When I got my first child, I still continued to keep in touch. I wasn't struggling, I just felt it was important, limit imperative to! I called, I sent postcards, we created home-made cards with the daughter and sent them, I sent money, I was all over the place because that's how I felt things were supposed to be done. So recently, a few months ago, during one of my reflection moments, I decided to stop. I won't get into details under what circumstances, but I just decided to stop! 

And then you realize that wow, no one really bothers! No calls, no texts, no goodwill messages. Not that I was expecting that in return, but I just realized that things were not balanced. So I decided to stop! Stop giving handouts, stop sending those post and home-made cards, stopped calling, stopped sending messages apart from on a need to basis. In short, i just stopped giving a damn.

I still send post-cards and make cards with my daughter to send to those pals and family members who remember to replicate. Fortunately such kind of people do exist! The kind of people who choose to have a life besides social media. That person who will still call to wish you a happy birthday without a reminder from FB. That person who even shocks you by remembering your daughter's birthday and either sends a card or call. That person who'll just stop by to say hello just for the heck of it. 

I guess when we have our own families, the rest can easily be classed as "by-the-way" in this case not by choice but by consciousness to.

2nd child dilemma and anxiety...

With Peaches, it was really easy coming up with a name but Berries has given us such a hard time but by last night, that is 5 days shy of her being delivered is when we came up with one. We've decided to keep it a secret until she's born plus it has absolutely nothing to do with berries. It's a French name that rhymes with framboise - raspberry in English - but neither of those tickled my fancy as a nickname hence, Berries. One can never imagine how difficult naming a baby is! I've been late with everything on this pregnancy, (as is the case in my daily life)... I'm never in a rush until when I'm running late. But as I type this, Berries' stuff are packed and the MIL, upon my request came over yesterday to help me arrange the drawers. I'll see whether I have any energy in my reserve to sort out and pack my stuff tonight.

I told the BF I was not going to spend more than 100€ buying new "gagdets" for the baby only to dispose them off after 6 months and therefore settled for second hand. I checked out all that I needed online, got the numbers of the sellers but then proceeded to the second hand store before making the calls. I got the car seat for 5€, moved to the next shop where I managed to bargain the baby carrier that will act as her bed to 15€ given that some parts were broken and I figured we can improvise how to fix that. The changing table came down from 54€ to 30€ with a promise to take it back and get 15€ for it at the end of its use; I also took for 1€ some support that'll use when she'll be able to go in the bathtub with her big sister and a mattress for 9€ to place on the changing table. On the overall, I was quiet pleased with my day. At the counter as I was really bargaining, this pink lady tells the shop-owner that at least she is not like me, in the sense of squeezing the euros! I hushened her up by telling her that her budget was not the same as mine so she should just quit with the comparisons.

I've had people I know stop over to check on me before the D-day and I ashamadely had a small drink once. Then I found myself texting the bf asking him to get me non-alcoholic beer. It started with one bottle and when the second one made me feel a little bit tipsy, I had to stop and totally restrain myself from continuing. The following day got me depressed and I figured the only way out will be a beer. By the third day, I just had to stop as my conscious couldn't let me curve after restraining myself for the past million weeks or so!! I must admit that I really tried keeping it clean with the foods and the drinks.

I guess Peaches is resigned to the fact that it's not a baby boy but she ain't admitting either that it's a baby girl, she just says "Ohhhh, I can't wait for the baby to be born" and she tells the baby secrets every night! She is hyper clingy to Mama, I totally understand and I just hope the transition passes on without any hitches. I surprised myself because I stopped yelling and became really good maybe Berries helped me with that :-)

Well, I check in at the hospital on Tuesday and have the CS done on Wednesday morning. The BF is still deliberating and mustering the courage as to whether he'll have the grace to go through the whole procedure as I officially sent him an invitation to be there. I swear I can't wait for all this to be over! It feels like 9 years of pregnancy. 9 months have never felt this long!

Deactivating Facebook Account

A pal sent me a message asking me to help her out on the procedure on how to deactivate her Facebook account. I outlined it out and that's exactly what I'm going to do next as soon as I post this! Facebook is just too addictive and in my case, for as long as it as active, I'll visit it! The only way out is leaving!!

1) On the top bar, on the extreme right where you see your name, there's an arrow-like icon, click on it...

2) While there, scroll down to "Settings" click on it...

3) While there, on your left, you'll see "General" then under it "Security", click on Security...

4) On the main page whilst under "Security" scroll with your eyes to the bottom, you'll see "Deactivate your Account", click on it...

5) A first stupid window will come up, DO NOT CLICK ON CLOSE, still click on "Deactivate your Account"...

6) Ignore the photos, on the part "Reasons for Leaving" click on °This is temporary. I'll be back.

7) A second STUPID window will open asking you to instead "Log out", click on CLOSE! Facebook is soooo silly trying by all means to keep people on their stupid page hihih!!

8) Just before you click on "Deactivate" you will see another even STUPID option that is automatically selected for you, that is, "Auto reactivate"...WHY THE FUCK DO THEY DO THIS!!!!

Undo the selection by clicking on it!!!

These people are so fucked up and manipulative, they want to control the masses' decisions!!

Lastly, click on "Deactivate", you'll be prompted to enter your PASSWORD then finally click on "DEACTIVATE NOW!!!"

And you'll be good to go!

Good luck and hit me up incase you get stuck.

4C natural hair on all natural ingredients

My 4C natural hair will turn 2years old in November 2015 and is on all natural ingredients since March 20th 2015. I must admit that I've never stopped admiring the power of natural ingredients and what they are doing to my hair. It's now with pleasure that I get to take care of my hair as I chase length. Yes! I'm a length chaser. But I just want to gauge to what lengths I can take it without any of those processed stuff that are being commercialised left right and center.

To cut to the chase, here's a lazy woman's way of taking care of tough hair;

For shampoo, I use;

-egg (take and egg, beat it up, apply it on hair, leave on as you scrub your body then rinse it out)

-cow peas flour (depending with length and density, measure the flour, mix with cold water, apply on wet hair...leave on as you scrub your body...rinse it out. I'm assuming you'll be doing it just before showering like I do)

Leave-in conditioner;

-Rosemary infused water - apply on hair as a final rinse

Oils - here I don't limit myself....

Colza, olive, duck fat, avocado, coconut, almond etcetra (depending with your budget).

When I don't have the rosemary infusion, I use apple cider vinegar (ACV) mixed with cold water. And this is used to rinse out the limestone found in water. Don't worry about the smell, it dissolves within no time. If you don't have ACV, use beer. Yes! you heard me right - beer!

I also use bicarbonate of soda once in a while too. I really don't have a strict schedule that I follow, I just go with the flow of things and my moods.

I never have issues with dandruffs, huge hair loss, and my hair is growing healthy and lovely as seen on the image :-P

Today I tried the ayurveda oil bath using duck fat...story for another day!

Reading...Douglas, Maeve, Khaleed, Diane (...)

I have this habit of stretching myself thin in everything that I do, including reading! I had to do less of the net, moreso, less of Facebook and get back to living! I spend so much time behind the computer in that reading a novel from Kindle, a notepad et al! is totally not in my list-of-things-to-do. So two weeks ago I walked into this bookshop and stumbled upon a small section of English reads and that's how I ended up alternating between four novels and tonnes of other self-help books.

Douglas Kennedy on "Five Days" - How long does it take to fall in love and leave your life behind? - is what will give you that mushy lovey-dovey stuff of the modern generation of middle aged personalities that'll leave you aweing all the time. You see the characters in every word and want to reach out and touch them, and join them in their dreams and hopes! It's a truly easy read that'll break your heart at the end! It's full of surprises and lots of other good things! 

An excerpt, "But the truth is, the love I felt, the love given, the love we shared ... it was nothing less than matchless. All these amazing plans. All within the realm of possibility. Because love - at its truest - allows all the impediments to fall away. You see a vision of the life you want to lead. A fulfilled life."

Who wouldn't want that?! Taken in the context of what was going on between those two characters, I swear all you can think of is that love is indeed such a beautiful thing! Get it! Read it! Then come we lament together.

Khaleed Hosseini is simply a brilliant writer, a magician with a pen. I love reading his books so far - The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns - purely because he takes you all the way to Afghanistan, a country which the very few people I know never dream of visiting. Khaleed in "And The Mountains Echoed" is unstoppable. More characters than in Douglas Kennedy's above, that'll lose you in the beginning but once you get a grip of them you just want to keep following them. It's magical how you get to figure out a part of Afghanistan in a story told on two families. I swear I loved it. He is also full of surprises! There's a mention of homosexuality albeit mildly but enough to get the reader thinking of - what if?  The reader gets a picture of Afghan before and after the Mujahideens, a description of social disparities between a family of the rich and the poor. Buy it! Read it! There'll be no lamentations.

My favourite quote from Khaleed, "They say, find a purpose in your life and live it. But, sometimes it is only after you have lived that you recognize your life had a purpose, and likely one you never had in mind."

As for Maeve Binchy (r.i.p) I'm not sure why the French love her so! Maybe because hers is always full of gossip. She reminds me of those FB groups where women gather to talk about either their lovers, side-dishes, etcetera...this one lady for instance was narrating what I'd equate to a fantasy, "My life with a millionnaire" but when you take a look at her profile you can spell out "S-U-F-F-F-E-R-E-R" even with a blind fold on. Okey, I digress as her writing can never compare to Maeve's :-)

Last night Maeve almost killed me with this phrase;

"They tell me you are an actor, Norman,' she said, (...) 
'Is it an advertisement?' (...)
'Norman's a real actor you know, Joyce,' said Sally. 'He's not just in advertisements.'
'Lots of real actors are in advertisements,' said Joyce, flustered. She had thought he might be playing a fat Italian eating a tin of beans or some funny, clowning window cleaner falling off a ladder to get to his pint of beer. She was annoyed with herself, for her efforts to put this fatso at his ease were rebounding on her in an unexpected way.'

Last in this series is "Femmes de Dictateur 2" - the Dictators' Wives by Diane Ducret. This is the bf's read. I saw there's also the part one of it, I'll need lots of grace to read it. This particular one that I'm reading covers Castro, Saddam, Milosevic; Ayatollah Khomeiny, Kim Jong-il and Bin Laden. I am reading it because it talks mostly about the wives. Never in my life would I be interested in the biographies of the personalities, I don't do biographies anyways. I guess I just wanted to know how the women in their lives coped because I imagine I'd do well as a wife of a dictator, especially if I'm the one who is pulling the strings. I totally related to Mira Markovich, Slobodan Milosevic's wife, former Yugoslavia and Serbia's president. I simply love her personality and loyalty. It's a nice read but not one to be hurried.

When I pick a book to read, I pay my hommage to the author. I admire their skills, I respect their work and when pages keep turning - and the characters, the places mentioned even though fictious become alive in your mind - and at the end of it you shelve the book because you know you are going to read it once more in future, then you know without a shadow of doubt that the author has accomplished their mission. 

A letter to Kenyans from Al-Shabaab

Has anyone else seen this?

"15 Jumad ath-Thani 1436 (04/04/2015) –

 It is a well known fact that the Kenyan government has perpetrated unspeakable atrocities against the Muslims of East Africa. From the historical massacres in Wagalla and Garissa in which nearly ten thousand Muslims were summarily executed to the mass detention, torture and extra-judicial killings of Muslims, the systematic persecution of the Muslims in Kenya was carried out with such savagery that it has left deep psychological scars in the hearts of many Muslims. 

In Somalia, the Kenyan military has committed a countless number of atrocities against the Muslim population. With their government’s approval, the Kenyan military embarked on a series of mass killings, torture and systematic rape of the Muslim women in Somalia. Tens of thousands of Muslims were displaced from their homes, hundreds more were killed and thousands injured as a direct result of the Kenyan invasion. Kenyan jets shelled refugee camps and hospitals killing dozens. They strafed entire villages from the air, killed livestock and bombarded Madrassas and educational institutions, crushing, with such malice, the dreams and hopes of an entire generation. 

Throughout East Africa, the Muslims were stripped of all their dignity and subjected to the most inhuman treatment for failing to succumb to the subjugation of the disbelievers. Following such widespread persecution against Islam and the Muslims, it became incumbent upon Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen to retaliate on behalf of their Muslim brothers and, in a series of attacks, avenge the deaths of thousands of Muslims killed at the hands of the Kenyan security forces. 

The latest attack occurred at Garissa University College on Thursday. At around 3am the Mujahideen stormed the university compound and swiftly proceeded to the halls of residence where they had gathered all the occupants. And since the attack targeted only non-Muslims, all Muslims were allowed to safely evacuate the premises before executing the disbelievers. The Muslim blood is inviolable whereas the blood of a Kafir [disbeliever] has no protection except by Eeman [belief] or Aman [covenant of security]. 

And this is a message addressed to the Kenyan public: 

We have repeatedly warned you that the actions of your government will not be without retaliation. Choices have consequences; you chose your government out of your own volition so endure the consequences of your actions for you will bear the full brunt of its follies. Not only are you condoning your government’s oppressive policies by failing to speak out against them but are reinforcing their policies by electing them. You will, therefore, pay the price with your blood. 

For as long as your government persists in its path of oppression, implements repressive policies and continues with the systematic persecution against innocent Muslims, our attacks will also continue. No amount of precaution or safety measures will be able to guarantee your safety, thwart another attack or prevent another bloodbath from occurring in your cities. 

How long will you be lulled into a false sense of security by your government’s repeated lies? Have you not learnt anything from the attacks at Westgate, Mpeketoni, Gamba, Mandera and Garissa? Your government keeps promising you a lasting security but fails to deliver on its promises. And the reason is that those in the corridors of power are serving their Western masters and care little for the welfare of Kenyan citizens. You are vulnerable and you will always remain vulnerable. Your government cannot protect you. Your government is not willing to protect you. You will not find safety in your schools, universities, workplaces and even in your homes. 

Do not dream of security in your lands until security becomes a reality in the Muslims lands, including the North Eastern Province and the Coast and until all your forces withdraw from all Muslim lands. We will, by the permission of Allah, stop at nothing to avenge the deaths of our Muslim brothers until your government ceases its oppression and until all Muslim lands are liberated from Kenyan occupation. And until then, Kenyan cities will run red with blood. And like we said, this will be a long, gruesome war of which you, the Kenyan public, are its first casualties. 

So if you care about the future of your country and the future of your children, then hold your government to account for its crimes before it’s too late or there will come a time when the notion of peace would be but mere reminiscences of a past long gone. You will regret at a time when regret will be of no avail. Think wisely and do not ignore this threat for it has the potential to save your country from destruction, your necks from being slaughtered and your loved ones from being massacred. As for the Kenyan government: Our message will be written to you not with words, but with the blood of your people. Dig their graves and prepare their coffins from now. 

But honour belongs to Allah and His Messenger, and to the Believers; but the Hypocrites know not 

Press Office Harakat 
Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen"

Source
Retrieved on 05/04/2015. Kobciye24.  http://kobciye24.com/english-news/garissa-attack-burying-kenyas-hopes/

Lighting up Africa - plans of a former French Minister.

World Map at Night - Africa in the Dark 

Whether for economic benefits to Europe or out of goodwill, former French Minister Jean-Louis Borloo presented his plan on Tuesday 3rd March 2015 to future investors and a brief appearance of the President François Hollande.

Currently, only 25% of the continent - excluding Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco - has access to electricity. His conclusion : a stagnating Europe economy must invest in this future territory. "Africa is the gateway to Europe with rapid population growth, this may be our future. Because electricity is the basis for everything else: agriculture, access to water, health, the economy..." he said.

He has given himself 10years to realise the project to 600million Africans who have no access to energy. His estimates based on economic studies stated that 200billion euros are needed over a decade, including 50billion grants, that is, 4 billion per year. "This is a joke! This represents 3% of the European Union's budget."

Nobody in the world is willing to personally engage themselves to help build the infrastracture, hence the idea is to create an specialised agency which will have access to the 4 billions euros per annum that will be coordinating the projects across the continent. This agency will be piloted by the Africans. Each region shall decide on the nature of energy to be produced. Be it geothermal, solar and wind etc.

He wishes that all be in place by the end of June, to be operational before the Paris Summit in December.

At the end of the interview he adds that, "And then there are the Europeans who are freaked out to see the effect of misery on the masses -radicalisation.

Sources;

Châtelot C. (2015). Le Monde Afrique

Why you shouldn't be drinking Coke

I know the heading sounds like a warning coming from the matron, but it should have included "why you shouldn't be drinking coke and any other soft drink for that matter!" This is because, you don't know what they contain, their effect on the health, the psyche, the moral, the environment, etcetra.

Last night I watched a documentary that made me vow never to buy this drink ever again! It's easier said given that am already an addict. I won't get into the origins of it, but I am now joining the Killer Coke movement to advocate in my own level! Check out their website and you'll understand the origins of the rage against the Coca Cola company.

From a layman's point of view, the addiction to the produce makes the brain asks for more, and the red colour is a trap they use to attract you to the product. But what they don't talk about is the after math, the obesity levels, the change of lifestyle. In Mexico, where they have one of their plants using up their water resources, soda is much cheaper than water. It has been totally integrated into their lives including during the cult procedures. Children as young as one are already sipping the unholy drink. The taps run dry since coke's overexploiting their water. They got lots of help to privatise water when the president  of the company -Vicente Fox in Mexico and Latin America became the president of the country.

"According to Bell, "Coke is also widely produced in Mexico, an arrangement that is threatening the country's water supplies and undercutting indigenous control of natural resources. It takes three cups of water to make one cup of Coke. Since 2000, Coca-Cola has negotiated 27 water concessions from the Mexican government. Nineteen of the concessions are for the extraction of water from aquifers and from 15 different rivers, some of which belong to indigenous peoples. Eight concessions are for the right of Coke to dump its industrial waste into public waters."

Small wonder Nakuru always has issues with water shortages, what with the existence of their
plantation right in the heart of the city?

Je suis Charlie - What does it mean?

As I devour my copy of this satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, that has been the talk of the media and all those who care about it, I can't help laughing at all those funny and satirical issues mentioned therein.

Je suis Charlie is a French slogan meaning "I am Charlie" that has been adopted by supporters of free speech and freedom of expression after the 7 January 2015 massacre that took place in Charlie Hebdo's premises which left 12 people dead. (Wikipedia)

As much as there are controversies sorrounding the journalists involved from them being islamophobic, rascists etcetra, I choose to stand by their principals which has always been satire. Satire defined as the use of humour, irony, exaggeration or ridiculy to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularl in the context of contemporary politics and other issues. They made Front National -a French right wing group, religion and politics their speciality. Well, this didn't seem to go down so well with some who thought it right to blow up their heads.

An example of an image used of Madame Christine Taubira -Minister of Justice of France was a comeback to another article that was used by the Front National journalist that indeed depicted Madame Taubira as a monkey. Charlie Hebdo was ridiculing FN's post but some choose to vilify them forgetting what they stand for -satire.

Long live freedom of speech!

Killing in the name of the prophet...

Charlie Hebdo

The terrorists are really doing a number in enhancing their terror! I've just watched in the news what they've done to Charlie Hebdo and I can tell you it's super depressing! They entered their building whist the team was in a meeting.

According to Wikipedia, "Charlie Hebdo is a French satirical weekly newspaper featuring cartoons, reports, polemics and jokes. Irreverent and stridently non-conformist in tone, the publication is strongly antireligious publishing articles on the extreme right, Catholicism, Islam, Judaism, politics, culture, etc. According to its editor, Charb, the magazine's editorial viewpoint reflects "all components of left wing pluralism, and even abstainers"

Their offices were bomb attacked and their website hacked in 2011 after publishing an article named "Charia Hebdo" and "guest-edited" by Muhammad. Since then, their premises found in the 5th District in Paris have been under protection. 

Charlie Hebdo was attacked for exercising its right to freedom of speech and the attackers knew their targets quiet well. Their names were published in the Jihadist's websites and in this morning's attack, it is said they asked them to identify themselves before shooting. 10 journalists are dead plus 2 policement who hurried to the scene. Others are injured...and the attackers can be heard saying that they are doing this for their prophet. How does that make their prophet feel? Cringe in pain? How can one believe in such illusions as killing in order to end up as a martyr?

Why is it that only certain muslims get offended when jokes are made in the name of Islam? How come other religions don't literally shout in rage?

The image is hillarious, the title states, "my 23 to you papa"...the father, the son and the holy spirit That's just one of the examples! 

May their souls rest in peace!

My life as a virtual teacher

I think I make a good but a strict teacher. I am willing to take anyone under my wings for as long as they are willing to learn. I have 4 dedicated students who are making good progress with the lessons. Why am I doing this? Simply because I feel there's a need to! The masses are not well exposed to what the net underlies, wiat a minute, I think I found the word, "I want to take people behind the scenes"...many fear, thinking that coding is difficult, is is NOT! Even if you had an E in Mathematics, trust me, coding has got nothing to do with Maths. One can hack it even if they didn't go through high school. 

In Kenya and in many other parts of the world, they charge people to learn how to code, they will charge you to put up a simple and free website in Wordpress. You learn how to do it at Elimu Coders and you learn it FREE OF CHARGE!

I have taken up the responsibility of looking up the materials online, made your work easy so that yours will just be to learn. Self-learning is not easy, it requires a strong will and sacrifice to lots of things. The future is in coding...the beauty of it is that you can easily work from home and make good money as compared to what you can earn whilst employed at some outsourcing agency.

I am glad because I just put up Assignment 2, working on things at the same time as my students. This enables me not to lose my grips on what I already know.

N.B: One more thing, you do not need internet connection to practice, the materials are saved in .pdf, all you need is a computer, usb key and time!

If you are a beginner, the lessons begin here and this is the first assignment.

If you are reading this and know someone who might be interested, then share it with them, remember, kindness is free :-)

Welcome aboard and good luck!

Kindness is Free...

When looking up for words to use on the "Share Button" in my blog, I went for "kindness is free" because I've come across "Sharing is Caring"..."Share if you Care"...etcetra. I found those a bit uptight, more like obliging the reader to share just because they've read the blog. The share button is a plugin amongst many used in Wordpress to improve the blog, I used Simple Share Button for a start just to try it out and am sure I won't stop with that one. That was not the aim of this blog, but I had to pay an hommage to that wonderful plugin.

I am writing to let you know about my new (ad)venture, I have metamorphosised into a teacher! "A Jack of all trades" can't miss out on such an opportunity. My "school" is known as Elimu Coders and am offering free coding lessons. It's a self-learning environment with me looming in the virtual space ready to guide you,teach you, correct you - basically, to show you the way on how to go about things.

If you are really interested, check out the website, then get in touch with me for more information, if whatever's provided on the site is not clear enough.

This project came about so as to introduce the curious and the interested ones to coding. To show and encourage them how easy it is to create new and manipulate existing web pages.

Elimu Coders is a platform used to train future trainers – who have access to computers – so that they may go and train those who do not have access to computers, mostly based in the rural areas in order to give them the possibility of one day doing something wonderful with the skills that they possess.

The online campus is found under google sites. I chose it as a working example to show how easy it is to manage templates.

I want to kill the fear that many bear about coding. It is not difficult, it does not involve Mathematics, even if you got an E or never went through high school, trust me, YOU CAN CODE! I think it's one of the easiest things to do and make lots of money whilst at it.

Am getting carried away here. Just get in touch.