It's still Quiet but is it the calm before the storm?

Alright, your miss blogger here hasn't had the luxury of blogging time she had a month ago but then change is a good thing so I ain't complaining.

However, I thought I might just sneak in some catch news and gist from yours sincerely. I haven't had a great movie blow me out of my socks so my movies of the month will have to wait a while (you might wanna catch 'Leatherheads' featuring George Clooney, not a bad start). I am definitely ecstatic that 'Gossip Girl' is back on our TV screens, I missed the xoxo sign-off line.

On the fashion scene, prints are popping up everywhere, in light fabrics that just inspire you to change your entire wardrobe, I'll be sharing a few of my favourite pieces in a few days (let's just say I'm still on the verge of joining the dating websites so a few dramatic pieces will come in handy for going on a few dates). I had a question on my last post asking if I would date an older man, and my answer to you would be 'Don't knock it till you've tried it, age nothing but a number.' Who's asking anyway, please identify yourself (just as long as you're single).

I might not have to join the dating websites if something imaginative comes up (can't think what that is). I still haven't turned up to my boxing lessons, so don't be scared of approaching me, I'm not harmful or dangerous, just eccentric and outgoing, ha ha.

I started working with a new employer and I'm still trying to find my feet so please bear with any short absences from this page, blogging is still a love albeit second place for a bit.

Keep up with me as the season blooms into a full Summer, and let's your wardrobe tell some stories you keep within, I'll be back with hints, looks, threads, and trends.

Ciao

Experiencing a dry spell

Alright, I put my hands up and declare that the drought is getting to me. I haven't felt like going out in a while and I haven't particularly put myself out there, however I really do need some excitement around me.

I may have to resort to extreme measures (yeah right, what would that be?) Anyway, I'm really going to have to experiment a little i.e trying online dating. It might mean meeting a lot of people in other countries and from other cultures, or it could be someone next door I never met whilst out and about. After all, it's no different from matchmaking or blind dates as organised by friends and relatives.

Seriously though, many people think online dating is for the desperate (it might very well be) but it also means unlikely people get to meet each other where their paths may never have crossed. I've heard some success stories from people who have met online and they are certainly no different from meeting someone through friends or at a social event. I guess I feel the need and urge to extend my boundaries and explore all that's out there to see and meet with. I Joined an American Christian online dating site last year, for a few months, and didn't meet anyone but that's not going to dissuade me. I might just have my Prince Charming out there waiting for me to get online. I wonder if there are any key tips I need to know before my foray into the land of online dating? I'll definitely be watching out for any suspicious activity around me cos we all know the dangers out there in the e-world.

I stand for the women out there who haven't found true love yet they are emotionally, physically, and mentally ready for the ultimate commitment to the right guy. This isn't because they are 'too picky', 'have a list', or whatever terms are associated with single successful women, the true be told, it's because it just hasn't happened. If the right man comes along, bang! the deed is done, soul-mates are found and the rest is history.

I need to really rant off on the judgemental people out there who feel it's up to them to be judge and jury on the relationship status of single women. It isn't as easy as it's made out to be to find true love, and it isn't any easier to keep the flame of love burning. But I don't know which is worse, being told you're getting old and need to marry the next person who comes along just to meet some archaic notion that age should determine your relationship status, or being told that you are not good enough just because you haven't met your soulmate. That's utter rubbish and nonsense, your emotional and mental state of mind is as important in meeting and keeping a relationship as sharing a bond and attraction to the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. In addition to that, the laws of chemistry come into play so no matter the number of people you meet, you will only truly pursue a relationship with the person you share a chemistry with and have a lot of beliefs and principles in common.

I will sign off on this note, my words are my weapon and means of sharing my feelings and opinions as I ride the tide of life. If (and the operative word being 'if') I go ahead with this so-called foray of mine I'll be sure to keep you posted with my success or lack of success. Any suggestions are welcome, by the way. If you are a tall and cute go ahead and apply, you never know (wink, wink).

GOD DEY

Love this song having just discovered it.

Pick of the Week

CNN Reporter taking a driving lesson in Lagos

As old as I am, I get embarrassed when I have to explain that I don't drive because I don't know how to. However, taking into consideration the fact that I schooled away from home all my life and never had a need to learn how to drive because I knew I didn't own a car and wouldn't have had access to a car, it was never a priority.

Living in UK, the scenario hasn't changed much because there's a fairly dependable public transport system coupled with the fact that I haven't found time to fit in driving lessons in between work and leisure. What else can I say?

However, I decided to try my hand at learning how to drive whilst on holiday in Nigeria two years ago. I started my journey by trying to locate a driving instructor in my area and found a guy who would teach me using a Volkswagen Beetle (the trademark vehicle for driving lessons in Nigeria). It wasn't a rundown vehicle at all, but it certainly wasn't the modern version of a vehicle. I had to enlist the help of some pillows to boost my height at the steering wheel because the seats were sunken into the vehicle and in addition to that I had to constantly pull the seat forward behind me cos the backrest was literally almost the backseat. After a few lessons, I got a handle on how to move the car, drive up and down a side road, reversing, and turning (not bad at all).

With the memory of that holiday still firmly on my mind, CNN's piece on driving in Nig was a walk down memory lane. My flatmate called me at work to inform me about the piece, urging me to catch it (and since I work in a media company, I could) . See it on http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/03/30/purefoy.nigeria.traffic.cnn?iref=videosearch.

All I can say is , I certainly had a better driving lesson experience than the CNN reporter. I didn't have to push the car I learnt with and I certainly didn't have a flat tyre experience. The video report was funny yet it wasn't funny at all because these pieces tend to highlight the need for development in Nigeria but on the flip side, it can create a cynicism in some people's minds about the need to avoid Nigeria.

It's a double-edged sword to see these reports about Nigeria on CNN. But as dangerous as it is to drive in Nigeria, it is certainly no less dangerous driving in UK going by the statistics churned out. Dangerous Driving is one of the biggest problems faced in UK.

Watch it if you haven't seen it already.

World Autism Awareness Day - Reflections on the Week

April 2 is known as 'World Autism Awareness Day' and throughout the week CNN has been showing insightful and really touching stories on the issues surrounding Autism all over the world, see http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/news/autism/.

In recent years, apart from Aids, Poverty, and natural disasters, Autism has become one of the leading biggest issues facing kids around the world. In many countries, it is still considered a stigma and parents don't have the support needed and required to help these kids lead a fulfilled life like any normal child.

Having grown up around some Autistic kids, I look back now and see with more knowledge and information, the difference that could have been made if it had been made clear that an Autistic child isn't cursed or mentally unfit. These children are just like any other child except for the fact that they require different care and attention to help them become socially inclusive and able to communicate in their own way. The families of Autistic children face a lot of challenges to love their children unconditionally and provide the required care and medicines to help them grow up up in the best way possible. Any family with an Autistic individual that manages to keep it all together considering the lack of support from the government, health care system and people around deserves a heroic award because it is not an easy road to take.

As an African, I know for a fact that it is not well publicised nor given the priority it deserves but I hope the awareness given in USA and UK spreads to Africa because there are lots of Autistic kids in the Continent (knowing a few myself) because at the moment (in my opinion) the word 'Autism' does not make the rounds even where the symptoms are as clear and distinct as they can be.

If you need more information on Autism, check out http://www.cnn.com/autism for more information. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the quality of care the child can be given to get a head-start on a normal life given the circumstances. Early autism screening is advised as soon as the child begins to show signs of little or no speech, delayed speech, lack of eye contact or lack of interaction (http://www.paains.org.uk/Autism/traits.htm). If you are worried, go online and do your research. If there is no support system in place in your country, there's information online on the steps you can take to help your child in your own small way, get online. Don't give up on your child and don't give up on their development into normal albeit creative individuals.

If you are able to make a difference in your immediate surroundings, go ahead and raise the awareness of 'Autism'. It is not a cause for discrimination, stigmatisation, or ostracising of these children, they require your consideration, compassion and love just as any other human being.

Look around you and become more aware of these issues around you, don't bury your head in your in the sand.