Hello Inverness

First, a bathroom selfie! Because when you take unplanned journeys, unplanned bathroom trips happen.  Also because large mirrors are a solo traveller’s dream come true.

A few weeks ago, I got a free return ticket to Edinburgh, valid until the 28th of February. So the initial plan was to wake up very early today, take the first train out, visit the zoo +/- the castle, and take the last train back home. While planning the trip, I discovered that I would not be able to return on the same day due to many issues which I won't bore you with.

So, Plan B! I decided to try to change the date on the ticket to a more favourable one. Unfortunately, this was not possible and I could not get a refund would also. Anyway, that's how I found myself on a train to Inverness to avoid losing the ticket altogether.

Look what I found in Inverness (minus the warm bread roll I got when I asked for a PANINI :( )

River Ness

Faith, Hope and Charity. Actually, That's Charity on the left (caring for the child), Faith in the middle (with the Bible), and Hope on the right (providing a much needed anchor for the soul). We already know Charity aka Love is the greatest, right?

And I took the best long walk ever. Cue in Jill Scott's a long walk (without the lover :( ) So much Green!

                                                                           
Still a lot of grey and naked trees. Hauntingly beautiful.

And a monument for the brave ones who laid down their lives during the first world war.

Not exactly the right pair of shoes, but I wanted to rest the sneakers.

And I'll be starting my diet tomorrow (side eye yourself), so I bought this! I had the best caramel latte today to warm up for this. Oh yes, I also got a size 8 shirt to inspire me. I kid. I kid.

I really enjoyed my short impromptu visit to the capital of the Scottish Highlands! This country is so fine when the weather is not trying to kill you.

Hope

Hope: A feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen.

I have a lot of expectations and desires. I am hoping that many (good) things will happen to me and for me this year. Three major expectations stand out. These three have somehow moved from the region of things that I want to happen to things that I need to happen. I spend many hours thinking about them, worrying about them and praying about them.

Maybe I spend too much time thinking and worrying, and too little time praying. I don’t know.

Have these things become so important to me that I have lost sight of other more vital things? I don’t know.

In the past week, I have met a number of people with similar desires, people who need the same things that I do. As we talked, many feelings were expressed. Feelings of despair, discouragement, depression, hopelessness, resignation...

I remember asking how the non-Christian copes with this burden because I draw my strength and hope from the promises of God.

But I cannot say these feelings have not crept in. When we feel that we cannot wait anymore, what do we do?

What do we do when our faith is tested?

When all we have to lean on is God’s word even when we cannot see.

When we have to shut out other voices and believe that in spite of it all, God loves us and is always with us.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?

Oh, help me to believe Lord.

But we are not without hope. I guess that’s what makes the difference between the believer and the unbeliever.

We have hope in God. And God never fails.

Psalm 16:9-11

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will rest in hope.

For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

So I'll stand like the tree in winter; shed all my leaves but stay rooted. I'll wait for the rain because surely, spring will come, the rains will fall, the sun will shine. My leaves will be green again.

And one of these days, I will say these words: “I remember when I prayed for the things I now have”.

Picture: http://quotesgram.com/hope-quotes-from-the-bible/

First date diaries – Ida and Tola

Uncle Bola had forgotten his wallet at home. When Sisi Yemisi entered the shop with her cooler of hot soft Moimoi, he had turned so quickly that Stan very narrowly missed nicking his ear. As Sisi Yemisi sashayed into the shop, Stan wondered if Uncle Bola was more interested in the seller than the product.

“Ha! My daughter, how are you doing today?”, Uncle Bola smiled at Sisi Yemisi.

But Sisi Yemisi rolled her eyes and stared pointedly at Uncle Bola’s wedding ring.

“It is two for 150 Naira Sir, things have cost.” She replied.

“Ahn Ahn, you cannot answer ordinary greeting again shey? Okay give me four”. Uncle Bola put his hands in his right pocket to retrieve his wallet. Then he searched his left, back and breast pockets. Then he got up and shook himself, hoping somehow that the wallet would drop to the ground.

Then he remembered.

He had left his wallet on the coffee table after paying the maiguard that morning.

By this time Sisi Yemisi was eyeing him suspiciously, and Stan was regretting the fact that he had not enforced the pay before service rule.

“No vex abeg”, Uncle Bola started, “when I go home, I will ask Tola to bring the money for you, and you too Stan”.

.....................................................................................................

Ida was sick and tired of best man duties.

Ida was sick and tired of being sick and tired of best man duties.

And the rules kept changing. According to the #BenZee17 Groomsmen planning committee, the best man had to buy wedding shoes for himself and the groom, while the groom would buy the suits.

“Which kain scam be that?” He fumed as he drove home.

Anyway, this would be the very last time he would ever agree to be a part of anybody’s wedding party. Ever.

His phone rang. It was Ben, the first (or second) half of #BenZee17. Ida considered ignoring the call as he could not trust himself to be courteous after spending the previous two hours trying to convince the other groomsmen that wearing peach coloured suits was not a good idea.

But he shook his head and picked his phone. Ben was after all his best friend, never mind his choice of ‘other’ friends.

“Ida, please I need a favour. Zee’s car is at the mechanic’s workshop and she borrowed mine after dropping me off at Stan’s shop. She is running late and I know it’s on your way. Please if you don’t mind, can you give me a lift? We need to talk about the wedding anyway and catch up on stuff. Is that okay?” Ben asked

“Sure Bro, I’ll be there in 5 minutes.” Ida replied

.....................................................................................................

It was her eyes, he thought to himself some days later.

She had paused at the door, scanned the room quickly, settled them on him briefly, before making a beeline for the barber.

For a moment, he was puzzled. She had looked round the room almost passively, as if she couldn’t see anyone. Almost as if she just wanted to deliver her message and leave the room as quickly as she had come in. But she had hesitated when she saw him, he was almost sure of this.

He felt certain urgency when she turned to leave the room.

Against his better judgement, he got up, leaving a puzzled Ben, and ran after her.

When she turned and smiled, he couldn’t speak for a moment.

“I was right, you saw me in there, right?” Ida said.

“I saw everyone,” Tola replied.

“Fair enough, but I hope you’ll see me again” Ida replied.

Tola smiled.

They chatted for a while and exchanged phone numbers.

Later that night, Ida woke up with a start when he remembered that he had agreed to loan his car to Ben for a whole week.

His mind had been so occupied with the beautiful girl he had met at the barber’s shop, he would have agreed to anything.

Tola.

#To’Da17

“Haha Ida is in love! Who woulda thunk it?”, he thought to himself as he drifted back to sleep.

Glossary of some terms

Moimoi- Traditional steamed bean pudding.

Things have cost-  Times are hard

Shey- Right? 

Maiguard- Security guard

No vex abeg- Please do not be angry

Which kain scam be that- What manner of deception is that?