Hello everybody,

Guess who’s back with another piece? Me!!! Yes i surprised myself with the intention to be more persistent and try to push my creativity and fun side and here we are. I have said this so much before, i enjoy writing for fun i love how a piece can make your day whether reading it or writing it, i do not take any of it for granted. Sometimes i may get slow but i will always find my way back.

This week’s blog post is dear to me because not only is the person involved my colleague turned friend/clique/get in all sorts of trouble with/i cant air our business like that, but also because i used to love manuals at a time.

They were among the first cars a drove in way back when (my sister can relate) we moved a lot while were younger and we moved in the middle of nowhere really, so getting there such cars would be the ones that survived, ie our trips to shinyanga or across ngorongoro to Loliondo oh those were the days.

Anyways back to real life shenanz, in driving school they let us drive more manual than autos (bless them they knew this world was hard out here yo) and most people complained but i never did. I enjoyed it alot and was quite good, it always made me feel in control and powerful to have such a beast in control, but then like everyone else i grew up and stopped driving often, went to uni and then life happened and now i am blank in that area altogether, bitter truths hey.

Years later here we are. my first take was wow! when my friend got Lando and the the first ride was even more wow! and then the first trip to dar pretty much finalised my wow! moments. I am glad she agreed to do this and indulge my inner manual girl and all out there in this Q&A, enjoy!

What pulled (attracted)  you to the Land Rover Defender?

My earliest memories of Land Rover Defenders are from family trips to Mbinga and Nyasa. We didn’t own one but because Defenders are efficient vehicles they are highly valued in hilly country sides, you can find quite a few there. If I recall correctly, I first came into contact with a Land Rover Defender, most likely a 110, at the young age of 5 or 6 as we transferred from Songea to Mbinga sometime in the 90s.  My next memory of a car (that left an impression on me)  is of my childhood friend’s parent’s Mercedes G-wagon. I think that was when I started to feel strongly attracted to the box-shaped 4x4s.  Then fast forward to when I was in University, in the UK, where I got reintroduced to the Defender. This time they looked polished and not out of place in a city backdrop, which was so cool I thought. 

The Defender 90 also meets most of my preferences. I have a greater liking for items that tick both the “unique” and “classic” boxes. I am partial to smaller things in life. I also always knew the car I would spend my money on would be manual transmission because I like a challenge and to be active.  So, my earliest memories of Land Rovers Defenders coupled with my taste, all brought me to the Land Rover Defender 90.    

What is your experience owning and driving a vintage?

It’s so much fun! The breakdowns, the noise, the attention, all of it! 

What is your first memory of “Lando”?

My first memory was when I first saw it parked. It was love at first sight. 

If you weren’t driving “Lando” what would you like to drive and why?? (In comparison or contrast to the Land Rover Defender)

I cannot imagine driving something other than a Land Rover Defender but probably a Mini Cooper for the size contrast. 

What’s your favourite Car movie lol

I don’t have one.

Driving laws: what would you add, what’s your best and worst?

1. Large vehicles e.g. heavy weight lorries must park aside and allow other cars to pass where there is no climbing lane. 
2. End of  50 km/h speed zone
3. I’m bad at breaking laws so I haven’t experienced the worst yet.

Would you say you’re a petrol head ? What got you into it?

I wouldn’t say I am a petrol head. I just like this one at the moment. 

What do you like most about Land Rovers?

The iconic shape and durability.

What was the first car you drove?

The first car that I drove was a Rav 4, I think.  

What is your dream car?

My dream car is a Land Rover Defender 90 with a soft top in the classic Atlantic Green.

What is your favorite music to drive to?

I haven’t got a favorite genre to drive to but you’ll probably catch me listening to some Afropop.

Best and worst  part about content creation for defender dadas?

It’s fun to capture moments while on road trips. It’s difficult to think about what to post.

They say cars represent traits of the owner, what traits does your car have that represent you? 

What is the saying, “Dynamites come in a small package” ? 

What inspired defender dadas?

A friend, they thought it would be good to have female African defender owners showcased. 

Any tips for driving a Land Rover Defender?

Well this goes without saying, you should know how to drive properly. You must be a good driver!  

Then you really need to listen to the car and pay attention. Enjoy every moment.  

What’s the craziest experience you’ve had driving “Lando”?

It just slowly lost power and came to a stop, luckily I was able to pull off to the side of the road before it went off. 

If you could add one thing to “Lando” what would it be?

Just one thing? I’d like to add a few but the first would be a sound system. 

What is your dream adventure with “Lando”? 

To drive along the East coast of Africa.

Is there anything you don’t like about “Lando”?

It leaks. 

What inspires you for remodeling and what are your go to IG and Pinterest pages?

I really appreciate clean, simple finishes. I love to see tan leather interiors, black exteriors and cool but modest personal touches. I like  @defender_dogs LOL dogs make everything cute. @landrover.addict @coolnvintage and @thelandrovers have some fly defenders. 

Lastly, do you have any hacks for owning a Land Rover Defender?

Keep searching for a good mechanic until you find one, don’t settle for an average mechanic, and learn about your car. 

Until next time, au revoir & bisous!

Hello everyone,

It has been a hot minute to put it lightly, because in reality it might be a gazillion years (okey i am exaggerating) but i am sure you know what i mean. Writing for me is a fun outlet, its a reflection of what goes on in my life in so many ways so even if some days are hard and i don’t find it in me to write passionately, such days are a reminder of why whatever happens i will always find my way back to this.

I said journey to aunty-hood because, this is a hood for real! Like before i even get into it, i did say again because, this journey did not start yesterday, i have friends with babies and i adore every one of them although some i see more often than others thanks to adulthood(that is a conversation for a different day). One of my little babies is my whole heart in human form, he’s my besties child and that boy melts my heart everytime, he is the sweetest kid, gives the best tiny hugs and has character just like the mom. Everytime i see him i am awed allover to be honest.

At 28 everyone just feels entitled to asking when questions no matter how insensitive like its as if the more closer you are to your thirties that question is somewhat a norm and legalized because everybody and their mama asks, when are you getting married, when are you having kids … Its even more so when the people around you close people and friends in your circle start having babies or getting married then all the flood gates of questioning open because somewhat your expected to be up next, and everytime i just think omoooo you people wont kill me..

Everyone has their dreams, wants and aspirations. For some its babies and marriages while for others it’s better paying jobs, living a passion filled life, changing lives or just something as simple as living. All these count, none of them is better than the other, for me it has definitely been making better choices, spending more time with my beloved ones and doing things that give me pure joy, one of them is being an AUNT!

Aunthood version one involved alot of distance and missing out of little things because well life, either between school and just not being able to be there more, hence why aunthood version two is dear to me because i get to be a little more present, for things like the news of pregnancies or engagements,for seeing & touching the baby bumps feel the kicks and movements, for things like baby showers, meeting the little ones early on and just feeling overwhelmed at the beauty of life, the growth of my friends and just the beauty of being present.

Anyone that knows me knows how much i love mines, my circle and the people in it, my family and just my people. So i am always entirely and wholly ecstatic, i love being an aunt so far and i can’t wait to meet the rest of my nephews and nieces, this brings me so much joy, to just know that the people around me gave birth to life and are living their truths and are brave because motherhood the whole journey is not for the weak . I have heard countless tales and i will say this, they are brave and strong and i am so proud of these ladies in my circle. These moments shred have al ot of background stories attached to them but please enjoy this ride with me…

Also until further notice ( More like infinity and a day) please no one should ask me when is mine due, pleassssssssss! Because chile!! I am enjoying aunthood as it is and that’s fine by me.

Until next time, bisous!

An Ode to Karatu
I moved- well, who am I kidding- my parents hauled us to Arusha from Mbeya twenty three years ago.

At the time it was just my sister and I, our youngest sibling wasn’t even in the works by then … actually
in those other works I guess he was (naughty naughty!)

Anyways, my point is Arusha is my town since before it was made a city during Kikwete’s time of
presidency. This town has earned my love by bits and now I am in awe: the markets (my relationships
with the numerous markets need a whole written piece of its own!), but yes the markets- quite colorful,
crowded (yes, that concept that most of us are now craving…thanks to COVID!!), fresh goods and most
of them even rare ones- fruits, vegetables, spices and odd things that I never know I needed until they
cross my eyes- these and more only at the market baby!

The streets with all names that you find in most others Tanzanian regions, but hear even these streets
have character that is so Arushan. Uhuru road, Kanisa road, Haile Selasie, Goliondoi … neighborhoods
too- Sekei, Sakina, Kijenge, Kaloleni, Mbauda, Majengo and more. I know this town like the back of my
hand -it’s what I say to my friends; and I learned of it’s crevasses, curves, potholes, dark and bright spots
all by intention, because that’s what you do when you want to explore where your feet and bum are.
So in 2014, I got a job and moved to Karatu; one of the districts constituting Arusha region. We had lived
in Loliondo for a while in 1998/1999 and we used to drive through Karatu to get there. I remember a
red, dusty, isolated stop filled with garages and guest houses. This vibe still exists, however, now there is
a tarmac road that has opened this place up in un imaginable ways, some of which I’ll spill here.

There is eye-blinding beauty in nature out here, living big impression on your memory in the semblance
of fresh scars; the hills have a community of their own, rolling on and on in various shades of blue from
afar and lush green close up; a whole new shade of red, mirage and gold takes over on the dry months;
the works that can cause or chase a migraine depending with how in touch one is to their camera lens.

In the past years, I chose to explore this dusty tourist stop. I began taking walks at the end of my work
day and sometimes on the weekend I’d wonder off for up to 3 hours, armed with my phone for pictures
and in case I run into a lost elephant or buffalo- for lo and behold where I was at, these loitered the
place! My ‘fanny pack’ and once in a while water. Some days it was 3km simple walks, and others 7km of
steep hikes up and down to Neptune Lodge right before the gate to the conservation- these was on the
days I had to train for Kilimanjaro climb. My thighs have lived within a story I hope.

There is Oldeani, a stop known to be as old as Nairobi and once a hotspot for settlers; the village now
harbors various coffee estates, wheat farms and small workers camps; the hills (or is it Gyetighi
mountains?) keeping guard of its habitats- animals, both man and wild. These hills are gorgeous at all
times: mornings and during cold season, the heavens come to dine with the earth, and slowly kisses
away living behind clear blue skies, direct sun light and a hulk of hills going on endlessly. All of it being a
sight for a sore eye.

See, what you don’t know and cannot comprehend until you have been to that place is that these hills
are what Ngorongoro rests on; they are the shoulders on which the crater saw fit to divulge it’s
contents. It is no wonder then that antelopes, buffaloes, elephants, leopards and rhino roam about
unregulated. Villagers are no longer shocked nor scared when either of these is sighted close by; the
only worry is usually little kids to and from schools and farm work.

Then there are the numerous grand spots in and around karatu- The Manor, Gibb’s farm, Plantations,
Ngorongoro farm House, the Retreat and Kudu lodge- with epically outstanding décor, flattering
landscape, offering stunning views of the town. Watu! Kuna ile hali usipojua hujui una miss nini in life
adi ujionee…? So when you know what’s out there and you can, please do splurge on yourself kwa
sababu maisha ni haya tu. Personally I took away so many tips of how unconventional I would want my
‘humble’ abode to be when I am ready to this adult thing and build a home for me.

Sitting on the border between Monduli district and Karatu is Mto wa Mbu- yes there’s a ton of
mosquitoes in that town due to rice paddies and a big river that runs through into lake Manyara. This is
where I spent my last weekend with my work place girls to bid bah-bye to this stage.

There’s a jewel overlooking the Manyara National Park, one Migombani camp- see, I’m even getting
goosebumps! I have driven past the said juncture so many times but never have I thought to venture up
that ka-sharp hill into the shrubs and huge baobab trees that I one see from the road. It’s a simple camp,
lush grass ( I took my shoes off and almost never put them back on!), a backdrop of upright standing
ridge side of the great rift valley, a view of the national park and lake within the basin. The tents are private and cozy, same views can be observed even from the comfort of your bed- and that is what yours truly here did: woke up early, freshened up, read and napped with the tent lapels open, listening to the soundtrack of wind and birds chirping away.

All in all, I hope I paint a vivid image- but words can only do so much. I am beyond blessed to have experienced all this and much more… Until next time..!

Bisous,

Betty!

This past month has been a highlight of the infamous 2020 for me no lie! After the kind of year we have all had its safe to say one would highly appreciate any sort of brake and for me one of them was visiting family and friends over course of the holiday. It was both enlightening, cheering and just what i needed.

So one of the best parts of being on break is you have all the time in your hands and the best of it being with friends that know you want to be out and about too. So the girl time catchups (and most i tell you where over food and drinks in typical girl fashion). Amidst it all we discovered this place “THE MAGIC PLATE”, i say discover because me and my friends had all never been there, few night before that i had met up with a friend elsewhere and so when my other friend passed for me she told me of a place she had gone dancing earlier and that theres a spot next to it that she thought would be bomb, so we both tucked that information somewere because the next time we were going out we suggested to check it out and lo and behold it was everything.

Okey i know its cliche but any one that knows me knows why i even loved it, the creativeness in it was something, the location was in a very quite chilled part and to top it up the bikes upfront as decor (yes i cant bike but whatever) i also realised it a gift shop as well as a restaurant explaining why the huts and mats may seem a bit too much at first glance but to display it in that way was genius and of course they come in handy as accessories for bombass photo shoots on site.

As the name goes, visiting this place was sincerely magical, not only because i did this with some of my favourite people but also because it came at a much needed time when i just needed a minute to recollect my thoughts, look at the things i am grateful for the most and just appreciate everything because, at times we get to swamped up in out day to day lives and troubles, always looking for the imperfections and what’s next, we never really seat down and take a minute and if there’s one thing this past year has taught me is uttermost the importance to do that, and when you look back you realise how far you have come, what youv been through that has also shaped the person you are now and how if .. Just Live!!

Until the next write up……………

“I have been a regular visitor and lover of Zanzibar since i was a child, but everytime i go back its a new experience , i have places that i find different kinds of joy and fulfillment” Carol says…

Once a long time ago she would visit because well i can or to get away, this time visiting was on a new venture that she had decided to take on because life is uncertain and surprises us and all we have to do is adjust so that was what she decided to do, ADJUST!

Hyatt for sunsets is what she says she went there for, but truly my namesake wanted a place to charge her phone and she could get a soft drink that is accompanied with tasty cashew nuts and Park Hyatt Zanzibar yes that should tell you how extra my namesake is but lets not even go there.. afterwards she then visited Forodhani the famous local food market that is to die for, i mean every foodie or non would agree..

Visiting Kendwa was a first, it is absolutely breathtaking and beautiful. The water is as clear as day and clean, very calm and more of an escape spot that is surrounded by beautiful expensive hotels you can stare and ogle for days, me myself having slept at a friends vila apartment myself that was absolutely amazing and a walk away from the beach, ohh and the hosts where warm and welcoming

Later that night she visited Kendra Rocks Hotel it is found in Nungwi, basically when you look at the map this si at the corner of zanzibar this is where they say they make personalised canoes the huge wooden kind, thus the originality. Kendwa was beautiful, this is where they host most full moon parties in Zanzibar, she later went skinny dipping for the first time ever, (yes i have been before and no we wont even talk about it)..

Next on she went to a tortoise spot in a natural like cave with water flowing from the ocean and so you get to swim with the tortoise and it was the best thing because after corona happening there weren’t as many people so she got to enjoy this moment alone and this was the highlight of this trip.

The culture, the people and the scene is why she would always find appealing to go back, people are friendly and trustworthy , as she is starting this new business venture this was the time, Gods’ timing s the best timing. Check out Kitchen_Impresion_tz on Instagram and let her hook you up.

The “Cocktail Adventure” and no it doesn’t necessarily involve drinking alone, sadly so. So this Cocktail hunt was dedicated to a research Carol had to do because she wants to start selling her cocktail collection checkout Kitchen_impression_tz.

The next adventure started off at Tembo house hotel they have an amazing scenery the beach the boast and yacht, and an even more amazing breakfast, i know food wasn’t the main idea but hey..

Then on to Beach house hotel with a nice warm entrance and atmosphere all together, it has a design that’s more homely vibe. I had a pina colada & a strawberry daiquiri , i love anything that has coconut or is wine milky thats it.

A stroll around the streets of Zanzibar, i love how their street are narrow and their buildings tall, spice hunting and of course “ubuyu wa babu issa” is recommended and sweet shops ough they have lovlie ones.

Until next time,

Carol Ciero !

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This means LITTLE KISSES in Spanish! I learned that word from the school of hard knocks a.k.a instagram, yes i know it might sound a little obnoxious but i never take that for granted, i saw it on a post of an influencer i love love so i looked it up an d voila its a new word in my voc.

Woke Up rather on the sleepy side today,i spend hours or forever on the phone with my sister who i have not talked to since she went for a hike trip and decided to cut us all off (I forgive you Betty), but then again that is probably me every work-day until its the weekend and then my eyes pop and i am wide awake, unfortunately these odd encounters are my day to day ones. So a rather dull morning and a talk with someone dear to my heart later i was in a perfect mood, i thought one word that warmed my heart GRATITUDE!

The warm feeling you get because you count your blessings and they are enormous over and over and you are left out of words

From the small things to the oh so large ones, be it random girltime that we never have enough of due to growing up

The dates, a good dip in the ocean or hang by the beach and for us that are not as fortunate to experience such bliss lay by the poolside and outdoor times for our own sanity,

The days we need to do something that feeds our soul be it a good book, a nap, a movie, nature walk, art…

The random kisses from your favourite people be it a lover, a sibling, a friend, or my little godsent nephew

The meaningless chats, the random calls to know if we are well….

The times we share good food conversation a glass of wine and a whole lot laughter and so many more such moments….

the times we choose to experience life through travelling or simply a road trip somewhere..

For my family, my friends, my peeps through every hardle, every laughter, every tear every joy, every experience that shapes us to what we are. These are what gratitude is about for me, the utter most gratitude i think..

BISOUS

Hills, Wine & cheese and Ohh so Many Laughters!!!

Ohhh my, where do i even begin! Okey let me take you back to the weekend before this trip, it was friday night a friend had me meet her up at a place in moshi called ” Bikers” quite cool, cozy, woord work on ofcourse bike themed i mean that is why it gets away with being called bikers right..? So we had planned to do karaoke but the vibe was a little low, my friend (don’t kill me if your reading this) was a little tipsy since i arrived late , that’s a whole other story in itself, yes i inherited that i am always late ish but being a Tanzanian as the saying goes everyone has a “Toyo” guy, in moshi most people also have a “Bajaji” guy (this translates to tooktook or the like) and mine made me wait forever and still didn’t show up smh , btw i am still beefing him at the moment. Anyway so where was i, anha so after a few drinks my friend/colleague texts me that we may have a few days off after monday, ohh my ohh my was i happy, i love what i do no doubt but everyone needs time out to recollect themselves, strategies a new and the like and we badly needed it after the year we are having anh, so a was thrilled and started making mental plans which include me texting my sister, she works almost an hour from Karatu and i have been saying i would go out there ever since forever and this seemed like the perfect time, FINALLY! A couple drinks and a delicious “chicken makange” later we thought we would move spots and so me my friend and the boo ended up spot hopping for the right vibe , this went on till later that night ……

Present Day…. So after work on monday a came packed and ready to go Arusha visit my mom for a day or two before heading out to karatu, that went well and i even got to hangout and have lunch with my friends and nephew, and then the day i was to leave as usual mama almost made me late, just by an hour she said, A WHOLE HOUR.. Anyway enroute i kept texting my sister how these people in the car just wont stop talking ugh, i could tell you in detail what everyone was saying but especially the man seated right in front of me, this man talked the drivers ear off and you could tell the poor guy was not interested but he kept going, ranting about a so and so bus station that was crap serviced and how he was looking for the owner of the bus and wont rest until a certain worker was fired, and he even goes to say unless she is pregnant and that could explain her attitude and all along i grunting and grinting i am so close to telling him to keep quit, or just saying he should consider that maybe he had a nasty attitude towards her and he got it in return, or just saying that between you two maybe she had a bad day why fire her but i am trying to keep quit and mind my business which mr man is making hard as it is, so before you comment under your breath or loud that i was eavesdropping, it isn’t eavesdropping if the whole damn bus can hear you ohh, anyway im runting aint i?…

Anyway back to more pleasant things, i arrive a little late so transport will come for me a little later, i meet really nice ladies at the stop and then later find my way to a cafe my sister had told me to go and wait, so this is LILAC CAFE look it up when your around those areas, thank me later.. The service was great the food even better , the scenery was what i loved best and there was a family that arrived a little after i did and they seemed to have been there way before and where happy to be back, they had a Maasai friends come in later so they went to hide and asked me to act like the bags where mine which i willingly obliged, ad when the fellows came in looking for them i had to act like i didnt know nothing, only for the family to jump in from the back screaming SURPRISE!! ohh you should have seen their faces so warm and happy..

Sooner than later, the transport i had been waiting for arrived and i reluctantly had to go, i mean you have seen the spot, who wants to leave after such?? Anyway paying my bill the waiter goes your her sister? am like whose sister..? and he’s mind searching for my sisters name i can tell and then he says a different name so im like ohh noo and he goes well i must have mixed her name, but then he goes ‘Rasta’ and i cant help but laugh, rasta is more or less saying ‘Locks’ the local way, and so i leave and getting into the car the driver stares at me a good ten seconds and im wondering do i have food on my face of something and he also goes ‘ohh your her sister sister, like blood related and all’ and i just endup laughing, funny enough i didnt think me and my sister looked that alike, anyone that knows us, we are somewhat different to start with i am the thickums as much as she complains she has gained weight i wonder what weight? where? clearly this girl is testing our ancestors

The drive from Karatu was fast, too fast so to speak and at this point, im acting all calm and collected but man that was the furthest from it, i’m holding my breath and texting my will and last words lol okey am exaggerating just a bit but hey it was fast, my sister kept texting me relax smh as if its that easy, on the way we stop for a lady that wanted a ride, its breathtaking the sight and even the fact that people still live that way with one another, helping and all, in town you have to worry about a few things like what if she ends up a con artist, a burglar and the like, but out here its as natural as anything, you have to appreciate that, and then we see a hyena and home girl is ready to scream only that everyone seems as calm as nothing, and i’m like ITS A HYENA FOR GODS SAKE ON THE ROAD AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WALKING TOO WTH!!! I am only thinking this but they assure me or think they are assuring me when they say ‘its normal out here sometimes its even elephant or so’ and am still stuck on the part they say its normal UGH!! Anyway we drive fast and i keep texting my family all these events sha you know just incase, we get to the rough roads and i remember thinking woow, i saw houses at a peak of a hill and i’m thinking how do people even get there, little did i know that was where we were headed ang, you guys the hills and steep slopes i went through anh anh na wao, at this point i am thinking If and when my mom detaches herself from town long enough to come along they should give her sleeping pills because she wont be able to CAN!, these days a little joke and she goes my blood presha guys, so this hilly ride would have her BP shooting to the skies ohhh. So first there was a lot of Hay! then its Maize farms! And the Coffee plantations, and its dark outside, lets not forget the hills, and then we arrive and its a whole home out there or rather upthere, amazing.

In the following days, time seems to speed up and i hate it, it feels like not enough time, but they were full of life, from meeting the kids that live there, they warmed my heart so muc, one reminded me so much of my little brother, but all together the way they welcomed me fondly, almost all of them knew of me before meeting me and where so warm and loving, just bless their hearts hey, and my sisters co-workers who were absolutely amazing and warmly welcomed me, from the gossiping or catching up as we call it, even into late late nights, random memories of our childhood or something we agree or disagree on, long long talks which my sister insists i was doing the talking enough for my mom and grandma, lol shes easy to point fingers and does not recognise she is exactly that way too hehe. I remember one night i had to narrate a part of Shopaholic & sister by Sophie Kinsella, it is an amazing Chick-lit guys i definitely would say you give it a go, anyway so there was this scene were “a merchant passed by as Becky was on an intense yoga session, the goal was to walk on hot coal barefoot, you were to reach a certain state of bliss so much that you wouldn’t feel the burning coal under your feet, then the merchant passed by the Chandra dismissed him, and the goes on to say the merchant wanted to sell gems, and becky is distracted because as the tittle goes she is a shopaholic, and she is thinking what gems, and she hears the man repeat ‘an aquamarine pendant with platinum chain’ and she is trying to focus on the yoga because the Chandra is saying at the level of bliss who cares about gems and everyone is agreeing, so she has to agree, but her inner shopaholic keeps remembering how she eyed one at a store before, and all of a sudden the merchant says at half price, and at the same time the Chandra asks Becky to demonstrate and as she gets up, the level of bliss isn’t there but she still hears the merchant say half price and so she sprints off and next thing people are applauding, and she is wondering why, turns out she run over the hot coals and didn’t feel a thing, as everyone is anxiously asking her what it was like, shes taken back and her husband laughs because only shopping can have her go through that…” Anyway read the book guys you will enjoy it, sp one night i was telling my sister about it and we laughed so hard into the night.. This other time i told her about this short stories book “The Goddess of Mtwara” my college/friend was reading, it is a compilation of several african stories, she had told me one or two and i though that this one dark cold night was the best time to tell my sister, one had a lot to to with shells and i had to because my sister loves collecting them anyhow by the end of it she was so freaked out i laughed, ohh and i might have told her the Hairy baby one, and let me tell you we almost slept with the lights on that night, stuck like glue and she skipped gym that morning hehehe, me and her have watched The nun together and chileeee lets not go there, all i can hint on was it was in the theatres in westlands, Nairobi and we somehow thought that we were the only ones in there, but lo and behold we weren’t, i leave the rest to your imagination…

I napped a lot, i am on break after all right, we shared meals and drinks, i visited the place they all hangout at often, nice place and chilled too, attended a cocktail function the cheese was amazing, we had a game night and it ended in happy tears as my sister decided we where going to sleep but no one was leaving so she chucked all the papers we were using for this game, inside her sweaters my ohhhh my we did laugh, We had an epic karaoke session we sang our lungs out well atleast i know i did, and sooner than later it was time to go back to my reality, i hate goodbyes, i am glad i had shades on because i was a little teary eyed when it was time.

Looking back… It was a wonderful experience all together, i needed that, i needed to let my hair down, enjoy the little things life offers, i needed some sister time, we could talk on and on, laugh on and on, think of how much a mess life can be and wallow in our misery together, dream a little out of reality together,and a lot of rosemary water or castor oil (i still think its sticky eew) those calls to mom who was jealous and said it out loud or with our little brother that is away at university, all of t was what i truly needed deep down, to show me i can go on, i can do anything and deal with anything life throws at me because i have people in my corner that matter so much that i can’t just give up, that’s a lesson learned every now and then find ways to refill your cup because you can’t keep pouring from an empty cup guys, never! ……

Until next time, KARATU you where amazing!!!

To say i have had a few good weeks might be the understatement of the decade or putting it mildly but they have been the most fulfilling, nurturing and memorable ones for so many reasons. Amidst all the bliss and work chaos as per usual,  i spent most of this weekend and last week ish listening to different podcasts and this gave me an idea or rather a different view on a couple things that i can’t really say will be all in one post but might make it in a few posts that i will write on.

I love me a good podcast like the next person i would assume, from listening to Dead ass with Khadeen and Devale which remains my favorite or a good listen to The Casey crew Dj envy from the breakfast club and his wife Gia cut up deep truths hey i would so recommend these raw talks however this weekend one of the major things for me was listening to Vanessa Mdee’s  podcast  Deep dive with Vanessa Mdee if you have yet to listen please do. Everyone knows the Tanzanian superstar from a broadcaster to the ever blazing female musician, an incredible performer and her  appearance on the MTV Shuga amongst other things her name is associated with, she is a legend. So on her podcast she has been opening up about a whole lot but for me it was her talk on communication in relationships that she did with her beau ohhh they don’t call him Mr butterscotch for a reason but let me not get started Aheeeem *clears throat*  so as i was saying , the talk was everything because it truly spoke for me if i can say so myself but i am sure it spoke for a lot f people too.

One of the things they articulately  spoke on was the love language, for anyone that knows me well enough they would know i am super in touch with my feelings, and at some point the world may make you feel like its a bad thing take it from me NO IT IS NOT. It just goes to show that well your human and you have emotions and you are not afraid to show them i guess. So the next best thing is having someone or a partner, significant other or date someone that accepts that as it is. Vanessa spoke on a book i have come across once or so at some point, “The 5 Love languages” by Dr Garry Chapman, where he identifies the love languages as

• Words of affirmation- A compliment goes a long way, 
• Gifts
• Acts of Service
• Quality Time 
• Physical Touch

So as humanly possible no one expects all our love languages to be the same, some may be more than this list and others exactly this while others some of these things aren’t really necessary to them. I think mine fall more or less within these five so to speak, i may also look at things like  attention ,affection and security as an addition too but these are definitely there for me. It is not a bad thing to acknowledge what your love languages are this will not only help someone love you better n in a deserving way but it will for sure be a definition of what you want and need when it comes to loving yourself as an individual before someone else comes along and loves on you.

Words of affirmation go a long way, sometimes a simple compliment may make a very huge difference, with it comes no room for self doubt nor self pity, you always know that without asking you have someone in your conner and hence a bad day isn’t a bad life. also things like gifts and not necessarily on occasions alone but even randomly just a gesture of love and apreciacion to the other person also means a lot, acts of service such as doing a core that they would normally do for them,  make an effort towards something you wouldn’t do or hate doing just so they can have a day off or rest, treat them or even a self massage all these are acts of service that communicate love, spend some quality time with your partner no matter how small or mindless/mindful it is, do things that you both enjoy and just be around each other that alone screams love over and over and lastly physical touch as they say is the magic when its tender intimate meaningful it is twice the love language . I personally would add my three in here too, well what i can think off quickly off my feet, Security when you are with someone just them feeling secured enough be it financially emotionally or physically that alone will communicate how much love is there, as for affection and attention i think they go hand in hand for me, just the right amount of attention, not too much not too little, there will not be a need for space out loud because there is this balance more of i want to be around you but you can breath and do your stuff too, affection sums it up for me. Again we all have different love languages and we all show that differently so its good to know.

I chose to share this because we are going through a time where the world is in a sad place with everything going on, some people are locked indoors with their families and people they love as others are out living life, it wouldn’t hurt to share some light and love in these dark times i thought.

* Cheers!*

Good day everyone.

It has surely been a minute, but come to think of it it’s always a minute or something of late, with the way the times are rightnow the world is rather sad i guess what i really am trying to say is that what truly matters is that I always find my way back here my happy place, to writing and sharing, creating content and living my best life the best way i know how.  I am constantly reminded of how lucky and blessed I am to always be able to bring myself to write and share as I want to, deep down that realization itself is worth everything.

These past few weeks have been crazy so to speak, from COVD constantly scaring us something new everyday, to the fact that we do not no cure yet man oh man to life not being the same really, I choose to look at it this way, this has come with a lot of lessons, disciplining and its beauty too. I have realized things I didn’t even know about me, and how much my faith is built on the right path and how i  can deal with anything that comes my way(at least i believe so) because I have the best and supportive, prayerful and just divine close people, friends and family. If I had a bad day and I was about to loose it one of them always makes me realized it’s a bad day not a bad life, I am so grateful for them. Also most importantly it has helped me open up to love again in ways I didn’t think where possible and for that I am utterly grateful.

During these trying times were we feel like one day it’s  better like we can breath for a second while the other it’s just terrible, not only because of things that the world out there is projecting as what is going on in the world like COVID or BLM movements but also what we go through in our daily lives that no one projects out there, so we don’t know how to process them. Our mental wellness is highly underrated and that is something that we need to work on as individuals, communities and even institutions. This is about to be the new normal for a while maybe there might be better days or worse but we cant act like it isn’t happening, or it isn’t affecting our wellness one way or another, the realisation that this is happening is a step towards finding a new norm and so as we take care of our bodies our environment our neighbors our mother earth we need to remember to always take care of us, we seem to always forget  that is more important .

I filled in a survey on mental wellbeing session we had at work, and how the sharing and awareness has helped me out during these times, and i didnt know the impact of reading the weekly volumes had on me until i expressed myself filling in that survey. I realised we might take it rather lightly but it may be something as little as get enough sleep, talk to your beloved ones, when in duress talk to someone, pray about it, eat well and healthy, exercise, connect with people you hold dear, do something you enjoy, like let’s say read a book, draw, paint, and the like.

I could go on and on and the truth is in a way we are all different individuals and this is a blessing in itself, we all deal with things very differently and knowing that there are things that we could do to help the next person’s mental state that begin with us taking care of our mental state as well is a bonus and a blessing in itself.

   CHEERS!