My Favourite Food #BAD 11

Today 16/10/2011 is BLOG ACTION DAY and all registered bloggers are to blog about FOOD #BAD 11. I have chosen to write about my favourite food. My favourite food is COCONUT RICE but before I start writing about it, let me briefly define food the way i understand it. Food is any substance eaten to quench hunger and provide nutritional support for the body and the mind. Food must contains essential nutrients like carbohydrates, fat, protein and vitamins. But I have seen in this country of ours that most food consumed by many does not contain all the nutrients. There is poverty and hunger in the land so most people do not mind what is eaten as long as it fills their tummy. We hve several foods in Nigeria but my favourite is Coconut rice becaue it is simple to prepare and very nutriteous. You need the understated ingredients to prepare a delicious and nutriteous Coconut rice: INGREDIENTS 2 cups of rice 11/2 cups of water 3 - 4 cups of coconut milk -Shrimps -Pepper -Onions -Salt -Seasoning -Fresh Fish -Curry leaves (Optional) Many culture have recognisable cuisine and traditional ways of preparing their food so i will describe the way we prepare Coconut rice in Nigeria. DIRECTION FOR COOKING -Boils the rice for few minutes, rinse and drain. -Break the two (2)coconut, drain the liquid in it, and grate the flesh. Add 2 cups of warm water to the grated coconut, stir and squeese. Collect the water and use to cook the parboiled rice. -Cleans the Shrimps by removing all the unwanted scales and tail -Dice onions -grind pepper -Clean the fish and cut it into the desired pieces. Finally, when all the ingredients are ready, pour the Coconut milk into the pot and add the parboiled rice. Put the pot on the fire and then add the shrimps, pepper, onions, salt and seasoning. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes adding the milk a little at a time until the rice is cooked. Sprinkle the curry leaves. Put the pot down. Seasoned the fish and roast for 30 minutes using low heat or until its cooked. Dish out and serve.

Coconut Rice contains all the nutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fat, and vitamins)required by the body to function optimally. It is easy to prepare and very tasteful. Happy Blog Action Day #BAD 11 to all bloggers.

FLOODS IN LAGOS

Some months back, the Lagos State Government issued a warning to its citizens living in the boundary between Lagos and Ogun State to evacuate the area to avoid the annual flooding caused by the opening of the dam when its full. The government also advised the residents in Owode onirin, mile 12, Ajegunle in Ikorodu and its environ to relocate but they refused. Lagos being below sea level has been experiencing flooding year in year out. Check out the flooded areas of Lagos,

Nigeria

Betrayed by my husband

Friday, 12 August 2011, my husband left home in the morning for work in his Chambers. Before he left in the morning, he said he would be going to the Redemption Camp for night vigil. Since he said he would be going from the office, i couldnt go with him. But when he was leaving home, he packed a bag with knickers and shirts. I then asked why he was carrying a travelling bag since he was going to pray throughout. I was curious with the change of clothes so i asked him why he was carrying them. I mean if he was going to the camp for the convention, and just a night, why carry change of clothes? He mumbled an answer which i did not pay attention to. Why would i worry when my supposed husband was going to the camp to pray for 'us'? I helped to pack the travelling bag. What a deceit. He lied to me. He lied using God and he is an Assistant Pastor in our Church. A friend from Abuja that was coming to Lagos for the Power Must Change Hands programme at Prayer City called that there was traffic hold-up from the Airport to Ikorodu Road. I called my husband that he should leave the office early so as to beat the Hold-up. In the background when he answered the call, i heard a baby crying. I asked where he was that a baby is crying loudly as if he is carrying the baby. He lied that someone close by was carrying a baby. Why would he lie? I thought we had a beautiful and honest relationship so was not suspecting any betrayal. I then wished him well and hung up the telephone. When he drove home in the morning, as a dutiful and loving wife, ran a bath for him and quickly prepared breakfast for him. He slept and woke up much later. But i noticed he did not talk about the vigil he attended or the normal hectic and choatic driving and indiscriminate parking of vehicles. I waited for a whole day and i had to ask him on sunday morning, how the programme was and he said fine. When i wanted to probe further , the man became defensive and angry. He asked what i meant by saying he did not talk about the programme? He said he was tired. I had to leave him but i was suspicious of the vigil, no sermon, and no discussion on what happened at the camp ground. Even the explanation of the cry of a baby and a woman i heard in the background was not satisfactory. On the 14th of August, he invited his friends from the church to come home for his birthday celebration. I was surprised because he does not like celebrating birthdays. He claimed birthdays are for babies and sometimes women. So we were surprised that he was organising a birthday bash. I was happy for him and started organising people and foods for that day. 15th August 2011, was a monday, the birthday date. I went briefly to the office, ran an errand for a church member and quickly drove home to prepare for the birthday celebration. We cooked and served and everyone was happy and satisfied. But the look on two of his friends made me uncomfortable but i waved it off then. Later i now asked him why he changed his mind about birthday celebration and he said he was happy. Why deny him that happiness? I also promised that next year we will celebrate in Sheraton Hotel. I never thought about anything being responsible for the change of mind. My husband betrayed the trust i have in him. My husband has a mistress and a son because we are still waiting. He did not tell me until i found out myself. My heart is broken. It is only God that will mend this heart.

banish ANGER

The Bible says in Eph 4:26

"Don't sin by letting ANGER control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil"

What this means is that because we are human with emotions, it is expected that we would get angry occasionally over things but God tells us in His word that we must control that emotion, if you allow anger control you, the consequence would be sin. Anger must be dealt with before the sun goes down, if not, it would breed evil thoughts, evil words or evil actions. Anger is bad. Most times our tolerance level for what we considered wrong is so low. When I am angry, my body would begin to shake and it would take sometime for me to calm down. I discovered that this was a trick of the devil to have a foothold in my life and I had to start working on it. I later read that due to the secretions that come into the body from anger,it leads to increased blood flow with no corresponding physical activity, which could result in high blood pressure and heart attack. I didnt need anyone to tell me I had to work on it. Some of the things you can do to reduce your likelihood of getting angry include:- 1) Become more tolerant of others 2) Don't expect too much from people. 3) Pray and try to control your emotions And if you are angry try the following to reduce the effects on you: 1) Be slow to speak - James 1:19 2) Pray to God about the situation and ask God to defend you if you feel offended. He is the avenger. 3) Sit down and engage in breathing exercises 4) Depending on the situation, try talking to the person involved. Most times, people you are angry with do not even know you are. 5) Learn how to see the humorous side of things. It takes more muscles to frown than smile 6) Praise God Prolonged anger over someone or situation can actually be a blessing blocker to you. You must never allow anger over anything linger, if you still discover that it is about to consume you, just drop it at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to help you. When you do this the peace of God that passes human understanding shall be yours. There is an open invitation from Jesus, He says come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Respond to that invitation and receive the rest of God

Gadhafi ouster

Gadhafi had ruled LIBYA for 41 years and the people demanded a change. This change has taken six months and several lives. At the beginning Gadhafi said the rebels were cockroaches and he would crushed them. He was saying that because he had a lot of ammunition to execute the war. As a leader and the President of a country he was not tolerant of others views and criticism. On the other hand, the rebels were just protesters protecting against the one man regime of Colonel Muammar Gadhafi. They were just a rag tag team that was not organised and had no military training to sustain any civil war. But the rebels had strong passion for freedom and determination to fight to the end to oust Colonel Gadaffi. The war was about regime change or termination. That is the termination of decades of misrule, corruption,(that has become the bane of African society) tyranny, abuse and torture. Yesterday just saw what the family did to their maid. It was so horrible. I just imagined what their perceived enemies and opposition went through. (Anyway, most of them fled the country.) Gadhafi wage war on neighbouring countries that are weak and small like chad. He was careless with his words and his opinion on issues affecting other West African countries were undiplomatic. When Nigeria was having internal crises, he suggested that the country should split into two IE NORTHERN NIGERIA and SOUTHERN NIGERIA. Nigeria fought a war in the late 60s to remain one so why would anyone not to talk of the chairman of AU advised the country to split?.

The protest in Libya started around the 14th of February 2011. Six days after, almost 200 people had been killed according to the rebels and human right activists. On the 20th of February, one of the sons of Gadhafi, Seif Al-islam Gadhafi warned protesters that they risk igniting a civil war that would burned Libya's oil wealth. This particular day, the military had fired on thousands protesters in Benghazi. 60 or more people were believed to be killed.
With their Federal might, the Gadhafis were confident and optimistic that their regime would not be toppled like what happened in Tunisia and Egypt. Seif said

"We are not Tunisia and Egypt. Our Leader (that is his father) is leading the battle in Tripoli and we are with. The armed Forces are with him. Ten of thousands are heading here to be with him. We will fight until the last man, the last woman, the last bullet".

After few weeks of senseless bloodshed, President Barack Obama eventually decided to intervene. The Libyan rebels needed the support of the international community especially the United State. With the United State intervention, came NATO and the roll out of USAF gunships. That was five months ago.

By 21ST August 2011, the fierce battles had gotten to Tripoli's International Airport, a military camp and other areas. Explosions and gunfire were rocking the Libyan Capital and this showed that the rebels persistence with NATO's help had paid off. The television reports said the rebels in the western towns of zwawiyah and zliten were just 27 kilometers away from the capital. Already other towns had been seized. AL-Jazeera television also reported that government troops including a high ranking Air Force officer were captured by rebels too.
On Tuesday, 23rd August, 2011 Tripoli fell to the rebels and Gadhafi did not wait to shot the last bullet. He, his sons and family fled. its reported he fled to Sirte, his hometown.
Unfortunately, a lot of people lost their lives and properties.

Riots in London

RIOTS IN LONDON
According to reports from the Police and family, it all started on Thursday, 4th August 2011 when the Metropolitan Police Officers stopped a minicab carrying Mr. Mark Duggan near Tottenham Hale Tube Station in North London for a search. The search was pre planned which means the deceased was under surveillance for a while. The 29 years old black man was shot dead by the Police claiming he was resisting arrest and he shot at the Police. Claims that are being refuted by family and friends. Before you could say JESUS is Lord, the news had spread all over the neighbourhood that Mark Duggan a father of four kids had been shot dead during a pre planned operations by the police.
There are reports that he was a suspected gang member and a gun runner. That he was under surveillance and that evening he was carrying a gun. But some friends said he was a complete family man who was very loving. They believed he couldn't be involved in gangsterism. Being a Father does not mean being crime free or a saint. A friend said Mark Duggan was not violent but was involved in things. What are these things he was involved in? Were these things honest? If he was peaceful, why was the Metropolitan Police Specialist gun unit conducting a planned operation to arrest him? There is a saying that there is no smoke without fire. Or is it because he was speaking out against incessant police raids in the black community? Whatever it was, led the police to him and unfortunately he died leaving behind a family and a community to mourn his untimely death.
For the Police,why were the officers so hasty to shoot at point blank or at close range? Is this a case of racial attack? Is the Police Department getting away with too much in London?.
By Saturday, 6th, the news of Mark's death had spread and the people in anger took to the streets to protest the dead and to record their frustrations with the establishments. Before the people could realised what was happening the youths had taken to looting, vandalism and destruction.
The rioting was unprecedented and mindless. Public properties were destroyed. Shops looted, vehicles burnt and facilities vandalised. Were the rioters dis-enfranchised, jobless, homeless or anti-capitalist activists? Or are they thugs acting out the scripts of some disgruntled Politicians? How many of those businesses were owned by the Police or government that the youths destroyed?.
Whatever it was, the Prime Minister Mr. David Cameron had declared that " if you are old enough to commit the crime then you must be old enough to face the consequences". He further said that the government will not allow a culture of fear to exists on the streets of Britain. He said the government, police and intelligence services were looking at whether there should be limits in social media sites like twitter and facebook that have been used to spread disturbances.
We all need peace. Everything should be done to maintain peace all over the nations.

DA VIVA Fabrics

When Da Viva Prints started appearing in Nigeria markets some years ago, people did not think it would last or pose a threat to other Nigerians fabrics. This was because Nigerian wax and prints manufactured by United Nigerian Textile, NIGERCHEM etc were ruling the fabrics market then. But Da Viva came with beautiful, bright, bold, colourful and eye catching designs. The markets became flooded with DA VIVA Prints and it became affordable to an extent.

Whether you want to sew it as a casual wear or a Sunday best, Da Viva has the fabrics for you. Da Viva has good prints that look good when sown and worn as seen above. Because of this, the print has almost taken over the prints market in Nigeria.

Recently in Abuja, the manufacturer of Da Viva held its first fashion show in Nigeria simply called "Glitz and Glamour". It was really a night of glamour as many Nigerian designers showcased their designs which were produced with Da Viva fabrics.
The fashion show according to the GM, was to create a platform for and support young
Nigerians designers. He believed Nigeria has talents which should be harnessed and supported. He further said that Da Viva is introducing new designs into the fashion industry. I hope our young designers will take advantage of the exposure and upped their game. Well at the show, the young designers showcased a collection full of creativity and style.

It was a night of high fashion and creativity. Wish all the designers good luck. And to DA VIVA, may you continue to produce quality fabrics that will endure.