#Random Thoughts

Random thought: You are watching a relatively normal movie, funny and interesting, probably romantic and it’s been family friendly. Then your parent(s) walk in to see what you are doing and immediately or within a minute or 2, it switches to a scene showing prolonged kissing etc or some other scene with a compromising position or extreme violence. What do you do? Responses please... :D 

Sweet Bread Rolls without yeast

So, looking for a quick recipe to make sweet bread rolls perfect for soups or just to eat as breakfast or a snack? Well look no further. My mum had this amazing recipe that made fluffy little bread rolls and I have tried for ages to find it. Made some but it didn't quite come out the same. Until, I came across this recipe which I adapted and it came out very delicious. So here's my adaptation:

You need:

125g Plain flour
1.5 tsp of baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp of sugar
25g/ 5 tsps of butter or margarine
1/3 cup of milk

What to do:  

1. Preheat the oven to 220^°C
2. Sieve together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt and mix.
3. Rub in the butter/ margarine until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
4. Make a well in the centre and pour in the milk, then mix together with a round bladed knife or table knife.
5. Mix into a dough with fingers, lightly flower the bowl or a board and turn dough in it.
6. Divide into 5 or 6 portions and shape into rolls.
7. Place on a greased and floured baking tray, brush with milk and bake near the top of the oven for about 20 minutes.
8. Eat warm and enjoy!


  
NOTE
-  If you are making a roll to serve with soups you can omit the sugar or if you don't want it sweet. You can also slightly reduce the sugar if you don't want it too sweet.
- It can be a bit heavy, I actually used a bit more baking powder than the recipe called for and it came out fluffy inside not heavy. I will try it with even more baking powder, so I suggest if you want it to be a bit lighter use more baking powder, but do be careful.
- Best enjoyed warm from the oven but still a bit okay cold.
- Great accompaniment to soups or served with meals.

Hope you enjoy this! :)

The FINAL HOURS: OBAMA vs ROMNEY, who said what.

I am firmly in Obama's camp. The US economy today is not good, agreed. But it hasn’t been quite what it used to be well before Barack Obama was sworn into office as the 1^st Black President of the United States. Unemployment is too high for comfort, well I think if you ask anyone they will tell you they prefer that 1000 jobs are saved rather than creation of 200 jobs. Lots of politicians these days simply tell people what they want to hear and sadly, people are not so smart as to actually analyze what is being said. Let’s look at their views on a few of the key issues:

EDUCATION: Romney says, use money earmarked for poor and underprivileged students and instead subsidize the cost for Rich people’s kids to go to private school thereby saving costs for...the RICH. Obama says, no, if you can afford to go to private school pay for it yourself, we will instead build up our Public Educational Institutions so that they are of comparable standard to Private ones. How? Ensure free/ affordable education for all so that people who eventually come back to teach the next generation are actually well educated. Sensible, I think. Also, educate people well, they will eventually set up their own business thereby CREATING JOBS.

FOREIGN POLICY: Obama says let’s end this war in Afghanistan, the work is done, let’s get our boys out and bring them home. Romney says let’s keep fighting, we’re cowboys. Mitt Romney, quick question, are any of your children in the Army, Navy, Airforce? I thought so. Moving on, Obama says we will partner with Syria to get Assad out (much like they did with Ghadaffi)...with minimal loss of American lives for a fight that is not ours. Romney says, come on let’s go get Assad, like the cowboys we are, shoot first, ask questions later (this seems to have been Romney’s style for much of this campaign). Let’s start a war like we did in Afghanistan with Saddam Hussein and loose unnecessary American lives. Obama says I will tactfully deal with China in a way that stops them encroaching on our ground and see how we can take some ground back. Mitt Romney says lets shut out one of (if not THE) world’s largest and still growing industrial and technological economies. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. Romney says instead of spending money to create jobs, let’s build ships.....FOR REAL? Mitt Romney to EARTH, calling Romney to Earth...HELLO haven’t you heard, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Only by doing so will you learn their weaknesses and be able to manipulate or checkmate them so to speak. It’s called being diplomatic. The fact that I don’t like Adolf Hitler doesn’t mean I should go shoot all Germans down. No, I may not like Adolf Hitler’s attempt to exterminate Jews but who says all Germans liked it. SO cut off ties with these countries and thus cause more hardship for the poor and underprivileged and again, the RICH are fine. Seriously now, Mitt Romney GET out of that Bubble you’ve been living in. If anyone is wearing Rose tinted glasses, it’s you.   

EMPLOYMENT: The Republican party criticises Obama’s administration that much has not been done. They seem to expect miracles of this mere man. Let us not forget that the high unemployment that Obama's term has been marked by is due to a deep recession that began under President George W. Bush. Yes, Obama is stuck fixing another person’s mess. So basically the Republicans under Bush created this unemployment mess, Obama’s been trying to fix it and they – the Republicans – are not satisfied with his progress? Pot Kettle anyone? Also don’t forget that Obama has proposed a solution to reduce unemployment, one that for reasons best known to them, the Senate comprised mainly of ‘Republicans’ has refused to pass. Sabotage anyone?

WELFARE: In addition, Mitt Romney and the Republicans don’t care much for people who either due to circumstances, fate and through no fault of their own are forced to rely on welfare. He said, and I quote:

"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it -- that that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. ... These are people who pay no income tax. ... [M]y job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

So Mitt, what about the good people of New York, New Jersey etc who have been devastated by Sandy, many of whom will now have no choice but to rely on welfare. Or what about the many servicemen and women who have given their lives and limbs to fight a war that is not theirs personally to fight but who out of patriotism have sacrificed and who now have to rely on welfare. Or those who have worked hard all their lives and still need help supplementing income in their old age. Hmmm? Yes, there are people who are lazy and rely on income but I sincerely doubt that they are up to 20% of the American population let alone 47%. That speech, to me, smacked of a rich person who has never had to suffer hardship and frankly a pompous self-conceited person. Mitt as a Mormon, if you truly are that, you should remember that Jesus in the Bible said the people he would receive are those who ‘fed the hungry, clothed the needy and gave shelter to those in need’...in other words welfare. Some of what you say makes me question your faith.

IMMIGRATION: Very briefly, let me touch on immigration. Obama sees the potential in people, long story short, based on his background. Mr. Rich wants only the best to come to USA, who doesn’t want the best for their country? Can he not see what this sort of attitude cost UK and still is when they started reducing occupations because they wanted only the best and now they are looking for people to fill in those gaps because people started leaving. Making getting student visas tough, Universities complain because like it or not most ‘1^st World’ countries make their money from people who come from ‘3^rd world countries’ seeking better. The modern form of slavery....well willing slavery in a sense any way (and before anyone kicks up a fuss, I confess I am in a sense, guilty of this). Seriously, have they not seen time and time again stories of people who were told they wouldn’t amount to anything becoming incredibly successful? Mitt your policy on immigration smacks of someone living in a bubble and totally unaware of what is going on around him.

As far as I am concerned, Mitt Romney and the Republicans are a government of the rich, for the rich and by the Rich. May God help the Unites Dtates of America if Mitt Ronmey wins this election ‘cos y’all are gonna need a heapin’ helpin’.

THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE – OBAMA Vs ROMNEY

I will confess, I didn't watch the First presidential debate but I happened to watch the second and third debates and thus my interest in American politics was piqued. I thought I’d give a brief commentary about my view of the candidates and their performances. I will be focusing on debating style and to an extent the substance of their responses.

In a debate, one of the most important aspects is portraying to your audience why your point of view is more right and applicable to the situation and therefore better than your co-debater’s point of view. One of the most effective ways of doing this is to pick up on a point your co-debater has made, pick it to pieces and show why it is wrong in the circumstances and then show why your own is right. This was what President Obama did and what Mitt Romney wrongly viewed as President Obama attacking him. No, dear Mitt, Barack was simply using one of the most basic tenets of debate. One used by Mitt in the earlier debates albeit more aggressively, it is surprising how short your memory sometimes is Mitt.

While their responses especially in the third debate were more balanced and eloquent, I would opine that Obama’s use of this method gave him a slight edge over his opponent, an edge that may just prove costly to the Romney camp. I will use a simple example. Person A likes Orange and Person B likes Mango, now in order for either person to get me to go for either Orange or Mango they have to tell me what one has that the other doesn’t. What advantage one has over the other. That is the same principle used in debate and one that President Obama used to perfection in the last debate.

With regards to responses, Mitt Romney did a poor job of presenting himself. I noticed several occasions when Obama would point out a failing or something Mitt had previously opposed and 5 or 10 minutes later Mitt would ‘take the opportunity’ to stress his support of or clarify the issue. The debate to me took on a feel of a boxer who keeps getting hit, goes back patches his wounds, gets hit again, goes back etc. It was just like a child whose parent points out areas of improvement and the child goes back to improve as each area is mentioned. Mitt Romney seems to me like a man who lacks conviction and direction. He is unstable and will change his mind and go with whatever he feels is the trend du jour. This is not what you want to see in a leader.

In terms of how they answered, both candidates were on a level playing field. However, in terms of technique and the substance of their responses, Obama had a clear edge. If Mitt did not keep going back to try and cover his tracks he may have had a fighting chance. But too many contradictory statements and gaffes have marked Mitt Romney to me as a man that can not be trusted. If I were American I would cast my vote for Barack Hussein Obama. ‘The devil you know’ they say, ‘is better than the angel you don’t.’

Crunchy Nigerian Chin-chin

So, here I was trying to make chin-chin. I made one batch and while it was nice it certainly wasn't as crunchy as I liked it. Tried again, no difference. Then I came across this recipe, and it made the tastiest crunchiest chin-chin ever and guess what? I didn't use egg! I am munching as I type and enjoying it. This was my first time trying chin-chin without egg (first time I'd heard of it even) and it came out really nice (not my words!.) This took me about 1hr 30 mins to 1hr 45 mins no joke. So...Here it is, enjoy!

What you'll need: 

800g of plain flour
60ml of milk or 1 egg & 40ml of milk
160g of granulated sugar (ground finely in a dry mill)
100g of Margarine
1.5 tsp of nutmeg
Vegetable/ Sunflower oil (for frying)


What to do:

1. Mix the sugar and milk (and egg if using) together and leave to soak. (Original recipe I used said without egg, I used egg and milk by second attempt and it came out crunchy still!)
      


(egg, milk and sugar)                          (milk and sugar)

2. In another bowl, mix the flour and ground nutmeg.

      

3. Then rub in the butter with your fingers until the flour is smooth and there are no lumps.

      

4. Add the sugar/milk mixture to the flour and mix until it forms a smooth dough. The dough will be a bit hard/ stiff. Do not add more liquid no matter how tempted you are, maybe just a few drops to ensure the dough forms if it still seems crumbly.



5. Roll out the dough gently using a rolling pin until it is flat.

6. Cut the dough into sizes as you desire.

7. Line a colander with newspaper. Fry in hot oil and drain in the colander. 

(without egg)

(with egg)

Leave it to cool, store in an airtight container and enjoy at your leisure!

The London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony...a question of culture.

So, the long awaited London 2012 Olympics is under way. Gold medals are already being won and controversies have already cropped up. I just think some of these controversies are sour grapes but that’s not what I’m discussing today. I’m looking at the Olympics opening ceremony.

Now, I will agree a few bits didn’t quite interest me such as the readings and some of the music. However, credit to where it is due, I think Danny Boyle (Emmy award winning Director of Emmy Award winning movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’) did a fantastic job. From the changing scenes, to the lighting effects and the fireworks, Mr. Bean and the Queen’s arrival and of course the delicious sexy dish that is David Beckham on a speedboat. it was stunning in quite a few bits. I fully applaud his effort to pay tribute to the people who while the in most vital of professions are often the most underappreciated – the National Health Service (NHS), Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) even the Creator of the world wide web...who I must confess I never knew was British. For me by far the most poignant and significant of moments was the choice to hand over the torch to the ‘next generation’ to light the cauldron. That showed to me that Danny Boyle ensured that the people who mattered participated.

While I agree that it could potentially have been a bit more entertaining in bits, certain statements I have heard about Brits lacking culture actually make me laugh out loud. Let’s look at it this way, what makes up culture:

• Family, social classes (occupation, rank, status): Most family structure today is father, mother and children except for same sex couples, and of course extended family. Then the social classes. Every single country in the world has upper-class families, middle class and lower class families). Guess who pioneered this? Well the first ever documentation of the term ‘Middle class’ was in James Bradshaw’s 1745 pamphlet Scheme to prevent running Irish Wools to France. Guess what nationality he was....shock, horror – British.
• Rules of behaviour: there are so many ‘polite’ things you must do. For e.g everyone stands for the singing of the Hallelujah chorus the world over, guess why? Well, according to Wikipedia, <<the custom of standing for the "Hallelujah" chorus originates from a belief that, at the London premiere, King George II did so, but there is no convincing evidence that the king was present, or that he attended any subsequent performance of Messiah; the first reference to the practice of standing appears in a letter dated 1756.>> A British tradition among many that is replicated the world over.
• Language: This one is obvious ‘innit’? Majority of the world speaks the British traditional language ‘English’, it only fairly recently that French started gaining prominence but still not on par with English. Also the ‘normal’ shirts and skirts and trousers you usually wear if you were not aware are typical English attire. Most of the ‘so-called pop music’ you listen to is composed by British musicians...the Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney, Elton John, Spice Girls etc. That is their traditional music that is listened to the world over.
• Religion: Well most people again are Christians and quite a few nations e.g US and Nigeria’s constitutions and anthems among others are based on Christianity. If you were not aware Christianity was spread by the British missionaries.
• Forms of government: again quite a few countries including Nigeria base their constitutions on the British constitution.
• Economic systems: Well every country has a stock exchange, office/ blue collar work etc. That’s based on ancient British ‘customs’. Banks are typically British.

(Now before you ask ‘what of the US?’ note that the US of A was colonized by England...yes. The true owners of North American land are the ‘Native Americans or ‘Native Indians’. Pretty much all you see in America is English and amix of other cultures)

Also, culture is changed in a variety of ways one of which is technology. Were you aware that one of the greatest technological advancements of all time (arguably the greatest) – the world wide web – was designed by a British Man?

What am I getting at? Look around you. Without realizing it, you live, speak, eat (sometimes), operate and act British. This somewhat unassuming island that is UK has pretty much succeeded in indoctrinating the world in British culture – even USA – and the world does not know it. So next time you go accusing the British of having no culture, take a deep long look around you, yep, you are living English at least 50% of the time. I have to doff my hat to their ancestors they were smart. So stop being ‘ethnocentric’ (judging other cultures by the standards of yours). Their culture may not be as flamboyant as some but it has shown itself to be the most adaptable and widely known and accepted. #Food for thought.

(And for those who want to bring the slavery argument here, no-one forced your ancestors to trade their people in for goods, did they? Yes some were kidnapped/ captured but much as is done today all that was needed would have been some way of ensuring better preparedness against the captures and if necessary for war much like the Native Americans fought not just lying down and giving up. You see one can not take from you what you don’t give them authority to. Even a thief or a robber coerces you to give up authority by force before he can steal. It is easy to blame them but please tell me why the ancestors didn’t plan and fight back? Oh yeah...GREED.)

For me, London 2012 opening ceremony was a show to celebrate the best of British. The wonderfully bonkers, sometimes funny (I have always loved Mr. Bean), imperfect as is everyone, seemingly understated compared to others but still deeply cultured country that is Great Britain. I may not subscribe to everything that is British, but I do respect the nation for the strides it has achieved and urge them to vote in somebody else as the Prime Minister post-haste!

Someone...(or someTHING) has the Olympic spirit!

Dear Husband...a word if I may (part 2)

Yes, protect her because as strong as she is, if she breaks it will be fatal or very debilitating. If a rib breaks you can almost be sure that it will puncture one of the internal organs. Men, if your wife breaks, you can be sure you will feel the effect and it will be painful. If the rib is bruised it will inhibit movement and be very uncomfortable. If she’s uncomfortable, you should be, if she’s hurting, hurt with her and care for her. Be careful what you say because as strong as she is, hurt her enough times and she will eventually break.

Men, if your rib is bruised, the whole body will give testament to the pain. Same. You want to know the value of your woman? Look at how your house survives when she is ill or away or down. If your rib is hurting, you don’t start saying why did you allow blah blah to happen, you simply sit or lie down and take it easy till they are healed. If you have a rib injury there is always an external force responsible and you will always attribute the injury to that external force. Dear husband, why then do you insist on blaming and berating your wife for everything? Sometimes, an ‘I hope you are ok’ is better than’ But I told you not to do that’. It takes two to tango, you know? From time to time she also needs to relax and have a vacation. She needs a break sometimes. Don’t forget to thank and appreciate her. Do you know that being a mother and wife is about the most thankless job you can ever imagine.

We want to please you, so please appreciate us. Let us know that our labour of love is appreciated. There is nothing so sad as an under-appreciated woman. Sometimes, all we need you to do is hold us in your big strong arms and we’ll be alright. 

And, hey don’t forget...Love conquers all!


And for those of you men who think the perfect man doesn't exist, here's irrefutable proof that he does! 

LOL!

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned...

No, it was not a clever art piece. The female of the species is definitely more deadly. Just be thankful she didn't put them all through 'HIM'! 

Ow....that's gonna cost a lot!

oh-kay 

eek....

Erm....

 Sorry but the reply to this made me lol...

So, gentlemen, the moral of the lesson is:

Dear Husband, a word if I may...

If you’ve read my previous posts, you’ll see that I’ve been talking to Ladies. So now, guys...it’s your turn. Now, I am a sort of old fashioned person, however, if you were waiting to hear ‘a woman’s place is in the kitchen’...you will grow a very long white beard and the moon will turn green and you will still be waiting, even after hell freezes over...not a chance. I would have said when pigs fly but well just a couple of days ago, a pig flew on a US Airways flight, so there goes that one...it seems pigs do fly now. Well, if you insist her place is in the kitchen, like someone said...remember, that's where the knives are!

Where was I? Yes, I am quite old fashioned in certain beliefs but while I am, I also believe that a woman’s place is most certainly NOT in the kitchen. As far as I am concerned that was the statement of a very chauvinistic excuse for a man which some men, because it was more convenient, decided to take as law. Before you start hyperventilating, let me finish. A woman’s place is where her husband needs her. Why do I say that? As a Christian, the Bible says God decided to create ‘an help, meet’ that is to say as I explained in my previous post

                 ‘an aid that would be a counterpart/proper for the man’.

That means that if man needs help in raising finances for the home at some point or the other, that’s her place (i.e. going to work) at that point in time. If he needs help raising the children (at some points dear husband, you will be the one disciplining or laying down the law so her help is not needed at those times), or help to raise support for a campaign e.g Obama, or like our ancestors if they needed help in the farms...that is where her place is. You see a woman does not have a fixed job description. She is not confined to the house yet she is not confined to outside the house (all ye feminists, take heed). She is not just a cook, or child bearing machine, or a nanny or a Laundromat or a lover...she is all that wrapped in one and then some. But so that she does not have multiple personality disorder (of which I am convinced men think all women have...:D), she is each of these and more at different points in life when they are needed.

Now that you understand her place in your life, dear husband, I just want to tell you that just as we have our roles to play, you also have 3 roles to play:    

      

            1.   Protect her

            2.   Protect her

            3.   Protect her

(to be continued...)

The Ugly Face of Domestic Abuse/ Violence

(This was originally written Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 6:24pm)

I am very sure everyone has heard about the Chris Brown-Rihanna saga. Chris Brown beat up Rihanna, the whole world is hanging on to every tit-bit. Millions of viewers tune in daily, in fact by the minute to check the latest details while the more technologically-inclined ones browse the internet. Everyone is taking sides, it’s Chris Brown’s camp versus Rihanna’s camp. The tabloids are having a field day and the rest of the media world is treading carefully, it’s a ‘high-profile’ case.

Hold up a sec, am I the only one missing something here? Chris Brown beat up Rihanna, SO WHAT? Yes, so what? There are millions of women who suffer this same fate day in day out but because a ‘celeb’ is involved, the world must come to an end. I am not belittling this case in any way, not at all, I am saying people let’s put this in perspective. Instead of focusing on the ‘one’ woman that we know is a victim of this ugly menace, let us consider the millions out there that are still suffering this abuse.

I must say, I have heard about Domestic Abuse, I have read about it but until this incident, I never considered the enormity of it. It has happened, it has happened, it’s not time to take sides or cast recriminations but a time to sit up and take action to ensure that this does not happen again when it can be stopped. I really am embarrassed with the LAPD handling of this case. I respect them and applaud them for their efforts daily and their handling of this case but as far as I am concerned, they too have seemingly lost focus on this issue, they are too concerned with the fact that it is a celebrity and the fact that they have jurisdiction and all the facts and ‘we must be shown to be efficient in all we do’ to consider the full implications of this.

First of all, when the news first broke, a wise step would have been to say that the issue was under control but also that this was a reminder of the evil that is domestic abuse that goes on everyday and they would have gone on to say that they are calling out to people to watch out and be their neighbour’s keepers; and if they know people that are suffering this to get them help and get them police protection. Then when her name and the picture came out, a wise step would have been to say of course we are investigating this leak as it should never have happened but it was bound to happen. They would have said let’s not focus on the fact that it leaked or whether or not it is Rihanna (Robyn Fenty), let us look at that face and not just see a possible star’s battered face but the face of millions of women around the world on a daily basis; women powerless to stop it; Women whose neighbours are too busy ‘minding their own business’.........but not too busy to ‘mind celebrities businesses’. The LAPD would have used this as an excellent opportunity to set up or if one exists, advertise a helpline for victims. This is the most effective advertisement that anybody will find to fight Domestic Abuse. This is because people will associate it with someone they admire and respect, see the full implications and stand up to help and thus reduce this. I am not saying exploit the case, I am saying use this as an opportunity to fight for the millions of faceless women out there going through this.

Some people will say ‘ma momma told me, leave it be, you can’t help’, or ‘this is only one person out of millions, it makes no difference’. LIE. IT does make a difference. As a wise gentleman known as Lao-Tzu said, ‘the journey of a thousand miles begins with ONE step’. “Little drops of water form a mighty ocean” says a children’s adage. It is true, this was proved by the election of the first black president in America and this can be proved again. I will borrow from President Obama’s statement and say, Yes we can stop domestic violence in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia; YES WE CAN stop domestic violence in the world.

BUT FIRST IT BEGINS WITH ONE LITTLE STEP. WILL YOU TAKE THAT ONE STEP WITH ME?

The Art of Wifehood - lessons from a 'rib' (part 4)

           3.  Woman, you are your husband's SUPPORT and sometimes you will have 

               to support your entire family.   

            The rib may provide support and protection for the entire body in some 

            animals.

Support him, be his biggest cheerleader. You may not always like it or agree with it, but remember we just talked about covering, support him. (So long as it is not evil). Sometimes, you may have a better idea which he may not want to accept, support him in his idea and in time he will see the benefit of yours. If he doesn’t and it becomes obvious you were right...remember, shut it. Do not say ‘I told you so’. I have a personal policy with all my friends, no matter how many times I may be right, I never ever say...’I told you so’ to them. They've already realized it - sometimes too late - but there's no need to rub it in, that’s just petty.

Support his dreams and his aspirations; support his hope, his ideas, and his initiatives. Stand by him. Be a stalwart support. An example (I love using examples ‘cos they explain far better sometimes) is the Obamas, whenever Barack Obama was on the campaign trail, you can bet it that Michelle would be there always. She was constantly voicing her support for him wherever she went. I mean if a man’s wife was not supporting his convictions or dreams and ambitions, I’d be worried. You may not realize it woman, but there is no greater affirmation or expression of confidence that a man can receive than one from his you, his wife. Your words, woman, matter A LOT to your man. Make sure you are speaking LIFE and encouragement to your man. But you know, the rib does this particular function in some not all animals, this means that sometimes (with wisdom) you need to fall silent. Ever hear of Herman Cain, Candidate for the 2012 U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination? He withdrew from the campaign. Want to know why? Well, it seems allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him by 4 women. He said his decision on whether or not to withdraw would be based on his wife. He withdrew. She couldn’t support his campaign anymore obviously and he withdrew. For whatever reasons, that was her choice. Woman, YOU can make or mar your man...which is going to be?

Also, protect the family, your husband and children, that God gives you. In prayer, love, caring and nurturing. Again, this function is carried out in some not all animals. That means that you protect your children as much as you can but there will come times when you have to LET GO and let them make their mistakes, even when they are little. Example, my nephew is always jumping off the stairs or running and no mater how many times he is admonished he keeps at it. You know, some lessons are best learnt by yourself. He has tripped while running indoors, and was cuddled while crying. He still runs sometimes but the hurt from falling while running or jumping and hitting his leg on a toy he left around remains with him and he listens much much more when admonished now. It is the same, mama bear, sometimes...just step back and watch but with arms open wide waiting to pick them up. Like the lioness, you have to go through her to get to her cubs but when the lions are grown and go to form their own prides, she lets them go. When they say they are going to uni, moving out or getting married, shed bucket loads of tears, hug them, kiss them, bless them, wish them well and let them go; and just keep loving them from where you are.

Dear Wife,

Step into your role today and watch your man and your babies become people to be reckoned with. Take lessons from the rib and watch and see the change in your family. I wish you a blissful marriage and home as you step into this realisation that the power to make a successful home lies in your hands. And I wish you unending strength and patience and above all love to deal with whatever the man and the babies throw at you, you’ll need it!

Lots of love Ngee

(Now...guys..you’re up!)

The Art of Wifehood - lessons from a 'rib' (part 3)

    2. Woman, you are your husband's PROTECTOR.

    The Rib protects the heart, lungs and other internal organs of the thorax.

Woman, protect your man especially in prayer. Protect his weaknesses, his fears, his deepest darkest secrets. Protect his interests and his vulnerabilities. Just as in order to harm the heart you have to go through the ribs first so also woman, before anyone can get to your man in any way, they must go through you and through the shield of prayer and protection you have erected around him.

Protect the core of his being, protect and thereby nurture his dreams and inspirations. No matter how inconsequential it may seem now, protect it. Remember, never despise the days of little beginning. Remember Samson and Delilah? Now she is not a prime example of a good wife, BUT they had to go through her to get to Samson. She did not protect his secret and that was what was used to get to him. Do not underestimate the power God has given you, woman, but DO NOT abuse it. Your true power lies in submission (another topic entirely!). The rib protects the heart, woman protect your man’s identity and the essence of who he is.

The rib is constant, never moving, never leaving, and never changing except to grow in line with the rest of the body. Woman, stick to your husband’s side and grow with him as he grows. As you pray for changes in him you also must change and grow...it is and will always be a 2-way street. When the rest of the organs are falling apart, the ribs do not follow suit. If your man seems to be falling apart whether due to a loss or difficulties, whatever it is, cover him and stand by him. Hold him, comfort him, love him and where necessary give him space to get himself back together. Like it or not woman, sometimes you will have to be the one to hold it all together when all around you seems to be falling apart. I wish for you the strength and the discipline to do so.

(one more to go...Guys, I'm coming for you after that!)

The Moses Effect

The Art of Wifehood - lessons from a 'rib' (part 2)

And while we are on the subject, WOMAN shut it! I mean it, put a cork in it. 

Let me explain a bit what I mean by covering and why I said shut it. When you have laundry to do, you don’t go yelling and announcing that all your clothes are dirty and you need to launder them. Even to a close friend the most is probably ‘oh I was just doing some laundry’ or I’m about to do my laundry if they catch you doing it, or I will be doing laundry so I can’t make that time etc. You do not list every item of clothing you are laundering or why. When I was in Uni (I feel old), I would put my laundry in the prettiest bag I could find and go to the laundry room, wash and dry and REPLACE them in the same bag. Ladies, note the prettiest boys are usually the ones that are full of it and need a lot of work, but do you know what, the prettiest ones when they get their act together with the right person with the right conditions and timing have the potential to also be the best. NOTE: After you wash clothes, you leave them to dry. When you talk a little bit, (shut it) leave the man to God and leave him to sort himself out. If you keep checking the clothes they take longer to dry out and may not dry as well as if you'd left them to run their natural course. Keep prodding hubby to change and don't be surprised if he gets irritated and/or it seems to take a lifetime and then some before you see any change. Also when baking a cake you NEVER open the oven halfway even if to check the progress else it will fall and never rise properly even if it had risen. When you see a change or something important is happening, sometimes the best thing you can do for hubby is to shut it and pray that it gets better and is sustained . Don't mention that he is neater now on day 1 of him picking up after himself, give him time to improve himself his own way, Then appreciate the effort and praise him, don't go trying to make him change another thing. YOUR HUSBAND IS NOT ANOTHER HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

People seeing me walking with a pretty bag never knew I had laundry to do. It’s the same, people seeing you should not be able to tell that you feel like strangling him at that moment (it happens...lol). Wait until you are both together indoors and then privately have it out. If someone comes by, you don’t pull out the laundry from the machine or the bucket, you stop and hide it in the bathroom or leave the machine on and close the door of the laundry room and then when they go you get back to it.

Again, if you have a visitor when you both are having a heated discussion, no matter how close to you and your hubby, they should not be able to tell. Now, I don’t know about you, but when I wash, I generally don’t dump everything in and wash, I separate colours, textures, type of materials and I use a specific amount of soap depending on volume as well as specific temperature of water AND it lasts for a specific time. Deal with whatever it is appropriately, don’t make a mountain out of a molehill and stop trying to squash a mountain to look like a molehill. Ladies, keeping a grudge just makes you bitter and petty and very unattractive. Hash it out, argue, sort it and MOVE ON. Stop reminding him every argument after of what he did before. Oh and the only way your clothes will stay clean is when they are never worn, the only way any human being is without fault is if they are dead. Only God is perfect, DEAL WITH IT! And when you are hashing it out, the whole world does not have to hear. When a washing machine is on, if it is a good one, the only way you can tell is if you see it running. The only way a neighbour can tell you’ve been doing some washing is usually when you have to spread your clean clothes to dry and even at that you don’t spread your delicates for public viewing. The only thing people should see is a man (and a woman) who has gotten better and matured like fine wine. You see when you give him room he will keep improving (as should you because it is a two way street) and the evidence will be seen by all around. But it not every improvement the world has to know (e.g he makes love to me so much better than before...please we really do not need to know that!). You see when you are wearing proper underwear, I may not see it but I can tell. Same thing. When everything in your private relationship with hubby is going well, it will reflect in him and his work, his friendships and activities. (He doesn’t have to drink to a stupor or constantly visit restaurants).

NOTE: The Right Conditions and Processes will always produce the Right Results.

(That being said, any man that lays a finger on a woman is not a man, make sure you check out all the signs and labels before you pay the price. Don't cover or condone a man who lays his finger on you. If he does, don't let it progress to marriage, you cannot change this, only God can)

(There's more....)

Laugh a little - Football humour

HAHAHA!

Well...this says it all really....lol!

The Art of Wifehood - lessons from a 'rib' (part 1)

After God created the man, God decided to create ‘...an help, meet for him’. Not a HOUSE help but a help, meet. That is to say ‘an aid that would be a counterpart/proper for the man’. (I used the Hebrew translation to see meaning of original words used). Now to do this, he caused man to fall into a deep sleep and took out a ‘rib’ and from this fashioned a woman. (Note: the Rib is a pretty curvy bone...ergo...:D) Now, God is a deliberate God and there was a reason God chose the rib, he did this as a way of portraying the role of a woman.

          A woman has 3 specific roles:

   1. Woman, you are your husband's COVERING.

    The Rib surrounds the chest enabling lungs to expand thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity

It covers everything. It hides every deformity, every defect, every weakness in the organs, the rib covers. If someone says they have a heart defect for example, the rib does not open up to show it. No matter how bad, the protective ribcage remains and even after it is fixed it still stays. Woman, cover his faults just like the ribs protect a defective heart. Now, I didn’t say accept it, I said cover it. The difference? Accept means to regard as proper which is in effect, pretending   a problem doesn't exist, Cover on the other hand means to protect or conceal or to defend meaning you are aware there is a problem but rather than airing dirty laundry you choose to cover it while it is sorted out. Woman, don’t go blabbing every single fault your man has. Don’t go castigating and criticising him, after all you chose him and you saw the faults. Instead cover him and speak well of him.  Take a leaf from Abigail's book, even though Nabal was wrong, she took off after those who would do him harm, she covered him and thus saved his life, she didn't sit around calling him names. The Proverbs 31 woman, the bible says, ‘...she will do him good and not evil’.

BUT in covering him or his faults do not make him feel it is all right to be lazy or rude or whatever. See, the rib surrounds the chest but in a manner that enables the lungs to expand. It ensures that the lungs have enough room to expand but it does not dictate the level of expansion it simply gives it room to grow. Cover him but give him the room to grow ON HIS OWN.  When you cover bread dough, because of the ingredients in it under the right conditions, it will rise without your interference. Same principle, cover him, speak good of him ALWAYS, in private mention with love and respect to him any areas you feel he can improve on and then give him room to act on it in his own way. Woman, you have no right whatsoever to demand change from any man. Who died and made you God? Give him room to grow into the man he is meant to be. 

The rib in carrying out it's function also enables breathing. This, I'm sure you will agree is vital for life. In covering him, DO NOT smother him. Abeg, please, let the guy breathe and relax. If he says ‘Sweetheart, the guys and I are heading out’...give him a kiss full of promise, call the girls up and go hang out or settle down and catch up on the sleep you've missed (*wink*) or just do something on your own, whatever it is do not begrudge him time on his own. As John Gray (author: Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus) says ‘Men are like rubber bands. When they pull away, they can stretch only so far before they come springing back.’ GIVE HIM SPACE, space to miss you, space to value what he has with you, space to reassert his autonomy and space to remember why HE chose YOU. Space. Stop calling every second ‘just to make sure he’s ok’, stop checking his phone and please STOP CLINGING. In time you’ll make his skin crawl. Tell me ladies, if you bought two face creams to try out and one felt really oily and sticky, but the other felt airy and light...which would you keep? I know which I would choose. If he truly loves you, you have nothing to fear, he’s YOURS....

(to be continued)...