Random Numbers

So I've been away from my house for a few BloNgVille minutes........

My friend (check out his blog) is always quick to rebuke me whenever I say things like 'most people...', almost all the...', 'a great percentage of...'. He says its always better when you can put more facts and figures to statements whenever you're trying to be specific. I agree with him.

Here are a few specific random (very random) numbers:

512
The number of languages currently estimated and catalogued in Nigeria. This number includes 510 living languages, two second languages without native speakers and 9 extinct languages.

100
The number of the first folder of photos in the DCIM folder created by a brand-new digital camera (or after a change of memory card if the camera is set to auto-reset numbering).

Also the record number of points scored in one NBA game, set by Wilt Chamberlain on March 2, 1962.

1,500

The number of stores in South China Mall, the world's largest mall (Although the mall opened two years ago (2005), it still suffers from lack of retailers).

15
Percentage of all food that is wasted or thrown away before the expiration date (I'm guilty).

39.4 Million
Estimated number of people worldwide living with HIV (The figure is rising so, live with care).

60,000
Megawatts of electricity the state of Texas produces on an exceptionally hot day (how much is produced daily in Lagos?).

43
The percentage of USA's share of worldwide military spending (Security no be joke o!)

500
Rank of Warren Buffet's $100,000 salary among the top 500 CEOs (Higher salary is not equal to richer status)

75
Percentage of all firms worldwide that are family owned (only an estimated 5% survive past the 3rd generation).

264
Number of consecutive weeks Tiger Woods was ranked as No. 1 player in golf before he was unseated by Vijay Singh in September 2004.

49
The number of matches, Arsenal FC went unbeaten (did I hear some ManYoo and ChEl$KY buys grumbling? Let's see you beat the number).

250
The anount in Millions of dollars that David Beckham will earn over five years at LA Galaxy as he begins the next phase of his much trumpeted career this summer (Brand it like Beckham).

36,000
average number of flu deaths in the US anually (may God keep you outta that number).

6 Billion
Text messages sent monthly by the Philippines' 28 million mobile phone users (MTN, Celtel and Glo, how many txt msgs do we snd/mnth in 9ja?).

100 Billion
Number of neurons in a human brain (Jaycee, are there more than that in a genius' brain?).

10
The average number of days used in producing a Nigerian film (Currently, 300+ producers churn out movies at an astonishing rate - somewhere between 1000 to 1,500).

1, 2, 3,........., you, ...., more
The number of people that have read and will read this post (drop your own random numbers).

Back To BloNgVille

Back to BloNgVille and will be posting soon.

THE NIGERIAN PROCLAIMATION

Arise O caompatriots,
Nigeria's CALL obey.......

I support THE NIGERIAN PROCLAIMATION.

It's My Birthday

Hurray!

It is my birthday today, May 14th. I've finally arrived at the big three O. There are a couple of things I had always thought I would have achieved by now, but today is no day for regrets. I'll just be happy and rejoice in the significance of the day.

So, send my gifts to my house. I'm waiting.

What's Cooking? - Its Party Time!!!

It is party time today at Babshouse and I'm jumping around already. No, my birthday isn't until another week BUT LondonNaijaChic (LNC) and Favoured Girl (FG) are in the kitchen today doing grubs and I can not wait to assume the temporal role of 'CHOPinson' for the day.

So, you're all welcome. Take a seat if you want to or just enjoy the view around the house. Tminx, I hope you brought your camera (we need you to cover this 'come chop' party for the BloNgVille weekly gossip). I'm heading to the kitchen to see what Favoured Girl and LondonNaijaChic are up to.

[Favoured Girl]

Babs: FG, thanks for coming around to Babshouse, it's your first time in the kitchen and we (ok, maybe I) are looking forward to what you'll be making today.

FG: Well, I'm making Sausage and Bean Casserole

Sausage and Bean Casserole (Serves 2)

Ingredients

- 4 thick sausages

- 2 chicken breasts (optional)

- 1 red pepper

- 1 yellow pepper

- 1 Onion

- 2 cloves of garlic

- 1 can of kidney beans

- 4 tablespoons of olive oil

- 500ml of vegetable stock

- 2 tablespoons of tomato puree

- 2 knorr cubes

- Seasoning: black pepper, parsley and salt

Preparation

- Chop the onion and garlic into small pieces

- Chop the peppers into small strips, removing the core and all the seeds

- Cut the chicken breasts (if used) into small cubes

- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan

- Fry the onions, garlic and peppers for about 5 minutes until they start to soften

- Add the sausages and the chicken


7) Cook for about 10 minutes until the sausages start to brown slightly on all sides

- Drain the kidney beans and add to the saucepan

- Add the stock, tomato puree, parsley and knorr cubes

- Cover and allow to cook gently for another 10 minutes

- Add salt and black pepper if required

- Serve and enjoy!



[LondonNaijaChic]

Babs: LNC, It's great to have you here again. The last time was splendid and we all enjoyed the EFO RIRO. What do you have for us this time around.

LNC: Thanks Babs, this time around I'm making my Special fried rice

Special Fried Rice

Ingredients


- Rice
- mixed Vegetables
- Stock
- Curry
- Maggi
- Salt
- Groundnut Oil
- Prawns and Chicken bits(optional)
- Thyme

Preparation

- Heat the groundnut oil till hot

- Pour in rice as shown below


- Cook at lowest possible heat and add your stock to make rice softer till is reasonably soft and not crunchy

- Then heat very little groundnut oil in a frying pan and fry the mixed vegetables , prawns, chicken, salt, curry, thyme, maggi as shown below

- After stirring and cooking for about five minutes, add to the rice and mix really well. Add more stock and leave to cook

- At this point, it would be appropriate to use a foil so as the let rice steam and leave to cook under medium heat till soft.I prefer putting the pot in the oven so all the flavour enters the rice and I find it doesn't burn at all when it cooks in the oven

- After a further 30 minutes, the rice should be soft and tasty and should be looking something like this


- Food is ready And i am having mine with peppered grilled fish and plantain


So, everybody food is served. Enjoy and drop your comments.

You'll Never Walk Alone!

Thankfully, Ch£lS£A will miss out on champions league final again. I'm so happy.

It was a scrappy game with not much of a good watch for neutrals. Ch£lS£A were punished for their 'sit back' approach in the first half, and were lucky not to concede the game to Liverpool in regulation time.

Jose MOANinho disagrees. He said the better team lost. Olodo like him just says crazy things all the time (Like brandishing Liverpool as a small club). You can't take what he says seriously most of the time.

The penalty shoot out was the high point of the game. The saves that Reina made were good saves, have no doubt about that, and he is the hero.

And it was a fantastic penalty from Dirk Kuyt to finish it off. Rafael Benitez has taken Liverpool to another final and they have a chance to win it for the sixth time.

Thanks Liverpool for putting Ch£lS£A were they belong. You didn't walk alone tonight all real soccer fans were with you, and together we sent the moaners out!

To My Loving Wife

No. Not my wife, someone else's. But I'll come to that soon.

Nested in a quiet corner in my mind are 3 beautiful posts but I'm feeling kinda lazy to even do any thinking now. I've been a little overwhelmed with some projects I have to finish over this weekend. So, proper blogging will resume in a few days.

I'm not too busy to share this funny piece I just read though.

A couple from Jos, Plateau state decided to go to Lagos for a week's holiday. Due to their job schedules, it was decided that the husband should fly to Lagos on Thursday and his wife, the next day.

Upon arriving as planned, the husband checked into the hotel. There, he decided to send his wife an email since she can't receive personal calls at work. However, he accidentally omitted 1 letter in her email address and sent the email without realising his errors.

Meanwhile, in Port Harcourt, a widow had just returned from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of God for many years who had been 'called home to glory' following a heart attack. The widow checked her email, expecting condolence messages from relatives and friends. Upon reading the first message she fainted.

The widows son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor and saw the computer screen read:

To: My loving wife

From: Your Departed Husband

Subject: I've arrived

I've arrived and checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then!

Hope your journey is as eventful as mine was.

PS: Just like we were told, Its so hot down here!

Trendwall starts on BabsHouse this week and its going to be party time on Wednesday, Favoured Girl and LNC will be in the kitchen. You're invited. Lol.

Its 22 today

It is 22 again today
And it is you I'm loving
I know I am no Poet
But I need not drink Moet
To say how I feel.

I feel I can do so much
Because you believe with me

I feel like a million £££s
Because of your support

I feel like I understand how silence sounds
Because you listen like none I know

I feel I know where beauty lives
Because you allowed me look in your heart

I feel like saying so much
But I'll start by saying THANK YOU.

Living Stones

This sofa designs are lovely and I so want them.

Oversized pebbles with varying sizes and shapes that can be arranged according to your mood.

I Am Enough

Its been a tough few weeks. I have taking those life defining decisions. I've left my comfort zone and I'm venturing into the active phase of the dreams I've always had. Like most people who have ever started a something bigger than themselves, raising the initial investment is always an issue. In my case I've resolved to doing something I do for fun (web design and development) to raise start-up funds. Sometimes getting interested businesses is easy other times it isn't.

Yesterday, while talking to myself, I remembered something I read and loved saying to myself from Robert Allen's One Minute Millionaire -I Am Enough.

Here is an excerpt:

Today, I am enough.

I am smart enough.

Wise enough.

Clever enough.

Resourceful enough.

Able enough.

Confident enough.

I am connected to enough people to accomplish my heart's desire.

I have enough ideas to pull off magic and miracles.

Enough is all I need.

Enough is all I have.

I have more than enough.

As I do all that I can do, I am able to do more and more.

I am excited to be alive. I rejoice and re-choice everyday to make my life better.

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

The projects with which I am involved WOW my soul.

I am enough.

I have enough.

I do enough.

SPARTANS!!!!!!!

B-l-o-N-g-e-r-s!!!

AWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.

Great art.
Great art.
Great art.
Great sound.
Tis Gladiator meets Troy.

What's Cooking? - EFO RIRO (Spinach)

I am yet to recieve my share of Nilla's Egg Plant Sauce from all those that tried it out. So, just attach my share to an email and send to my house after reading this.

London Naija Chick (LNC) is in the kitchen today and she's making Efo Riro (I love it). This isn't one of the many things I am good at so I will just hand over to LNC and let her do her thing.

[LNC in the Kitchen]

Welcome to Babs' Kitchen. Today I would be making Efo Riro also known as spinach. You can serve it with different types of food especially swallows.


Ingredients


- Two bunch of spinach leaves

- Assorted meat

- Palm oil

- Seasoning(salt and maggi)

- Tinned tomatoes

- Small hot pepper

- Ground crayfish

- Crayfish and stockfish(optional)

- One large onion

- Red bell pepper


Preparation

- Blend your tomatoes, bell pepper, Onion(leave a bit and dont use all) andsmall hot pepper

- Heat the palm oil and when hot, add the rest of the onion chopping theminto bits.Fry onions till brown and then add your blender content

- Leave to cook for about 15-20 minutes

- Add salt, maggi, ground crayfish, crayfish and stockfish and then your meatleaving to cook for another 15 minutes.If the soup is to thick add water butstock preferably in moderation.This should be tasting pretty yummy by now

- Then lastly, add your spinach and leave to simmer for an extra 15 minutes

Should be ready to eat. Serve and enjoy.

Want to be in the Kitchen?

To all the great cooks and wannabe chefs in BloNgVille, if you fancy doing your stuff in Babs' Kitchen drop me an email - babshouse@gmail.com

So Dazzling Gadgets and Stuffs

I love my house and I am always looking for ways to make it more attractive (don't remind me I've not been doing so much of that lately) but I also enjoy spending time at some other places in the blogosphere (BloNgVille or not).

So, its not strange that I come accross dazzling, conceptual and sometimes funny gadgets, wearables and devices. Here are ten of the ones that made it to my mental SoDazzling list:



USB Rechargeable Battery






Most of the most hyped cool products out there are more cool than useful. The USBCELL is not. USBCELL is a battery which can be used in normal battery applications and can be recharged simply by plugging into a USB port.




The Remote Wrangler

The Remote Wrangler has taken a novel approach to remote control storage that will be sure to take the world by storm, head first. Remote Wrangler can also be used to store Ipods, cell phones and even video game controllers. Currently, only 2 styles are available for this unorthodox headgear but others are sure to follow.

Sony Mouse Phone

Why have two devices when you can have only one?With voice calling via the Internet on the rise, Sony brings to market the VAIO VN-CX1 VoIP mouse, an ingenious device that lets your mouse double as an Internet phone. Just push a button at the side of the mouse and ta-dah!, it flips open to function as a VoIP phone.

The VAIO VN-CX1 functions just like any optical mouse, but offers an 800dpi resolution for greater accuracy. As a VoIP phone, LED on the surface lights up to inform the user if a call is coming in. If you prefer, you can also set up the VAIO VN-CX1 to ring. While taking a call, the scroll wheel is used for volume control and mute functions.For private conversations, just pick up the VoIP phone and talk away. However, you can also set the unit in hand-free mode for conference calls.Installation is easy. All you need is a USB connection to a desktop or laptop that has Internet access and install a required driver.

The Cooling Cap



The Japan Organization for the Promotion of Renewable Energy has created this cool cap to keep you cool this summer. There’s a solar panel on top of the cap and it’s attached to a fan that’s been stuck in a hole on the front. The sunnier it is, the more the fan will cool you down.


Laser Scissors


Cutting a straight line has never been easier. With the Laser scissors you just need to aim the pin-point laser and follow the line. The scissor blades are stainless steel and cut very clean with a micro serrated edge.


Bling Bling Mouse

Yeah I know this may be an unnecessary addition but its quite cool. It’s covered with small bling bling Swarovski strass stones and is made by the German design house ‘Kare design.


Canova - Dual-Screen Laptop





Canova is definitely something new in the laptop market. It has a dual display, dual touch-sensitive screens, an electronic pen, sketch pad and much more. This jewel is made of stainless steel, carbon fibre, ABS and aluminium which sure make it look stylish. It’s perfect for reading online books and newspapers, editing images and videos and of course it will do no harm to your social status.

The $9 MP3 Player

For those who want a no-frills MP3 player, the Evergreen “DN 2000″ is a great choice. It plays music directly from SD-memory cards (1GB max.) and is powered by a single AAA battery for up to 5 hours of continous playback. This player measures 58×60×13 mm and weighs 30g. Best of all, it costs just $9 — so you won’t have to worry about it getting lost or stolen.


Inflatable Massage Chair

I know a number of people who would love to sink into a nice massage chair most evenings after a hard day’s toil, but can’t afford price or space to house same. So don’t. Get one of these cheapo inflatable massage models instead. The chair can be taken anywhere. This massage chair includes three intensity levels, nine functions, timer control, repair kit, and remote. The electric pump (included) inflates this chair in just one minute. When you need your space back, the chair easily deflates and packs away into the storage bag provided.


USB Aroma Therapy

Aroma therapy is one of the latest fads which makes this USB air freshner a must have. This gadget plugs right into your PC’s USB port and can generate three different aromas. Now here’s the cool part, you actually get to choose what scent you want using your computer.


So, what do you think about these gadgets?

Weekend At The Playing Room - One Word Edition

It's weekend again and I'm so looking forward to the coming week. This is the first Weekend at the playing room post so I'm just going to allow it to evolve from here.

I was going to put up my one word responses to Pilgrimage to self's MeMe last week but didn't get to it then so here it is:

One Word Responses

1. Yourself: Creative
2. Your partner: Thoughtful
3. Your hair: Low
4. Your mother: Caring
5. Your father: Late
6. Your favourite item: Laptop
7. Your dream last night: None
8. Your favourite drink: Ginger
9. Your dream car: BMW
10. The room you are in: Quiet
11. Your ex: -?
12. Your fear: Delusion
13. What you want to be in 10 years: Grateful
14. Who you hung out with last night: Moi
15. What you're not: Crazy
16. Muffins: Tasty
17: One of your wish list items: Car
18: Time: Precise
19. The last thing you did: Drew
20. What you are wearing: Zara
21. Your favourite weather: Summer
22. Your favourite book: Internet
23. The last thing you ate: Yam
i24. Your life: BETA
25. Your mood: Happy
26. Your best friend: S
27. What you're thinking about right now: Arsenal
28. Your car: Mobile
29. What you are doing at the moment: Typing
30. Your summer: Beautiful
31. Your relationship status: Engaged
32. What is on your TV: Nothing
33. What is the weather like: Rainy
34. When was the last time you laughed: Today

Babs' Pick Of The Week

Post title of the week - All Shadows Exit Here from Jaycee's blog

Term of the week - Internetification from Omodudu's blog

Website of the week - Skrbl

My VisualDNA

You don't know what that means? Then you aren't part of the 1 million people who have used imagini's new social software that collects together a group of images that summed up how you feel and what you like across each area of your life. They call it discovering your VisualDNA. Below is my VisualDNA.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

The 19 Minutes Mothers

Here I am in the thinking room, browsing through some of my unread magazines and I've just come across a strange (maybe not) fact.

In the words of the UK's Office for National Statistics:

'A TYPICAL WORKING MOM SPENDS JUST 19 MINUTESS A DAY LOOKING AFTER THEIR CHILDREN'.

In a Time Use Survey that studied about 4,950 people, tracking how much time each person allots to individual activities throughout the day. The top 3 activities were sleeping, working and watching television. Activities at the bottom of the lists were reading with 10 to 24 minutes per day and spending time with children with just 19 minutes per day.

This survey comes at a time when there are more working moms than ever. The survey results show that over 12 million moms work outside the house today compared to approximately 8 million in 1970.

In another report by Prima Magazine, (a leading british women magazine read by over a million women) women were asked "In an ideal world, what would you like to be?" 26 percent said they wanted to be a "housewife and mother".

The most popular response, given by 50 percent, was to be a "mum who works part-time" just 6 percent of the women wanted to work full-time.

Many women have done beautifully well as mothers while climbing to the highest rong of the corporate ladder (I'm sure there are many local examples but I'm an admirer of women like Kelly Bennett of P3 Corporation) but some have crumbled under the pressure.

What do you think? Let's haveyour thoughts and tips.

What's Cooking? - EGG PLANT SAUCE

Hi BloNgers, how long have I been away? A second? A minute? An hour? A day? maybe its even a week. Lol.

The magic fingers of Nilla is putting together some (insert watever here) meal in the kitchen today. Meals like this are far too rare to cheapen with too many words. So, I'll lay to rest the grace on my fingers and type no more. I've learnt not to keep hungry men (read as man or woman) waiting.

I give you Nilla.

[Nilla in the Kitchen]

Hello everybody. Welcome to the kitchen in Babs' House where I'll making Egg plant sauce. It can be used to eat boiled yams, and plantains. Today, I'll be boling plantains alongside the egg plant sauce for about 3 people.

INGREDIENTS:

Egg Plant Sauce

* 2 egg plants

* 3/4 of an onion bulb

* Salt

* Palm oil

* 1 maggi cube

* Pepper

Plantain

* 4 Ripe plantains

* Water

* Salt

PREPARATION:

Egg Plant Sauce

* Peel egg plants

* Boil egg plants in water for 60mins - 75mins on high heat
* Drain out water and place eggplant in mortar (bowl) and pound

* Place 1/4 cup of palm oil in an empty pan

* Heat oil for a few minutes

* Place diced onions in pan and stir for about 2 minutes

* Place pounded egg plants in pan and stir

* Add 3/4 table spoon of salt

* Add 1/2 table spoon of pepper

* Add 1 cube of maggi

* Stir and cover pan

* Allow to cook (simmer) on medium heat for 5 - 10 minutes

Plantains

* Peel plantains and cut each one into 3 pieces

* Bring water to boil in a pot and add 1/2 table spoon of salt

* Place plantains in pot and let it boil for 30 -35 minutes

* Drain out water from pot

Serve and enjoy.

Want to be in the Kitchen?

To all the great cooks and wannabe chefs in BloNgVille, if you fancy doing your stuff in Babs' Kitchen (Does that sound as a line from Martha Stewart?) drop me an email - babshouse@gmail.com.

Eminie, Tiwalade, Simply Gorgeous, London Naija Chick and Favoured Girl are you game? Any other person interested?

Alder Survey Respondent Group

Sorry Ms. Zee, I admit your right hand must be aching already (not that you're complaining, shey?) from rasing it for that long. Lol.

Ok, lemme cut the dance. I'm sooooooooooo back this time around. No promises but from here on I'll try to attempt to update this blog 3 times every week (except when I don't).

The first serious employment I got after leaving the university was with Alder Consulting (yes I have worked with some of the best brains there are). It was at Alder I learnt some of the idea progression stuffs I've used in WOWing clients and employers in Nigeria and elsewhere. Some of my friends know I've some bias when it comes to Alder so I wont say much (don't take that to the bank. The cheque will bounce).

Alder is inviting everyone interested to join the Alder Survey Respondent Group (SRG) of Alder Research, an independent research firm and a member of the Alder Group.

As a member of Alder's SRG, you'll become part of a core group who have signified interest in voicing their opinions, thoughts and perceptions on the brands, businesses and organisations that operate in Nigeria. This will be done via surveys that will be conducted by Alder Research from time to time.

Membership of the Alder SRG comes with:

• Access to the results of selected surveys
• Alder publications and reports
• Advance notice of programmes and initiatives of the Alder Group

To the best of my inside knowledge, Alder Research operates ethically and has a history of integrity. As such, all comments, opinions and thoughts will be handled with utmost confidence. To join the Alder SRG, go here.

My first 'Weekend @ The Playing Room' will be posted tomorrow. So, ............

Nilla will be in the Kitchen next wednesday. I have some other goodies planned but I will zip it for now.

See you tomorrow.

Ms. Zee In The House

It feels good to be back to BloNgVille after more than a week away.

Ms. Zee is in the living room today to raise her right hand declare her belief in womanhood.

[MS. Zee]

Did you know that ALL fetuses start out predominantly female until the 4 - 9th week of conception?? yes and some people think women are weak, no good , demanding creatures who are only good for a couple of things, "bedmatics" and procreation.

Did you know that the average woman bears a lot in her life time, sacrificing all she has got so as to continue the human race? then they call us losers.

Did you know that the word WOMAN is WOMB-MAN because the men lack wombs or pouches in which all creation stems from?

Yes, I believe in Womanhood, I stand and breath for the woman, my whole existence is woman;my being, in and out is woman.

Women are beautiful beings who hold the world dear to them, we are the secret to existence and the men know it hence all the violence against us... tick tock tick tock says the clock, the woman is here to stay after all, you (men) asked God for a helper and he gave us to you!

I believe and know women are strong
- we are beautiful
- we are creation itself in all it's beautiful glory
- we are the reason for the world
- we are peace
- we are freedom
- we are hope for now, tomorrow and ever
- we are history forgotten, remembered, written and rewritten
- we are Women!!

Yes, I stand for WOMANHOOD....

What Do You Earn Presently?

Its been somehow hard to find the time to get online in the past few days. I promised myself I would blog (even if its short or boring) today so here I am making good that promise.

I am in the thinking room and there is BIG something going through my ever roaming mind. I'll just rant some about it.

No, I'm not interested in knowing how much you earn presently but your next employer may be interested and your next pay package could be dependent on what you earn presently.
I just spoke with a very good friend who has dedicated almost 2 years working with a small firm while developing herself and participating in diverse initiatives. she had just returned from an interview where the panel of interviewers were impressed by her exposure and knowledge to a point where they started discussing the possibility of having her develop for their organisation some of the initiatives she has worked on personally.

From the foregoing it appears that the company would love to employ her. They asked her how soon she'll be ready to resume and she said 2 weeks.

Then came that ugly question - how much do you earn from your present employment? She told them and they just said okay.

I've had a few friends report similar experiences and its hard for me to come to terms with that question. What is the relation between the payment from a current job and a prospective job. The only explanation I have for this is one word - A B U S E.

They ask you what you are currently earning so they can just up it a little bit. All this in a world where people take on jobs for different reasons.

A previous job could have been taken because of the clout it adds to a CV or just for hands on experience (even if the pay is incredibly low), for such a person how would you reconcile the current job income with true worth.

For me, worth should be based on a lot of factors (qualifications, creativity, experience, ability and so on) and not on what you earn from your current job.

Remember, if you feed your dog with grass DO NOT expect it to bark (it may just bleat or moo around).

I've Been MIA

Hi beautiful people (does that sound like a good ESA? I hope it does) soory babs house its been kinda quiet for a few days. I'll be back tomorrow.

Okay before tomorrow comes, lemme share these pictures:

Yeah he is gently displaying his self centeredness

What are you still waiting for? Possible just got redefined. So, go DO that stuff

...and the most stupid things are more dangerous

I BELIEVE IN WOMANHOOD

The ladies are in the house today. We are in the living room talking. Glass cups are clinging and the grubs are flowing (what do you expect, I won't invite 8 ladies into my house without organising grubs for them) but there are no side talks going on (believe me).

The only talk going on is about our (Yes. I totally agree with them) believe in womanhood.

Our societies (some more than the others) somewhat tilted when it comes to gender appreciation. I read an article some months back and in the writer's opinion - 'we would have better societies when women and men agree on almost everything'.

I DISAGREE

Men's outlook to life is not better than that of the women. Women's outlook to life is not better than that of the men. They are just different. The more we celebrate and allow these differences the better societies we'll have.

Today, our organisations are still overwhelmingly male in the composition of their top management & board of directors. No, I'm not not asking to see a 50 - 50 distribution between men and women. I'm not talking quotas in anyway, shape or form. I'm a pragmatist and I believe if management (or equivalent think tank of any organisation) does not at all resemble the market being served then something (BIG) is (badly) wrong.

Many women have proven that when given an opportunity that is not coloured by gender they can perform as good as any man with the same skills.

So, I am raising my right hand together with these ladies in the house to say:

I BELIEVE IN WOMANHOOD

- I believe women are strong beings

- I believe women make great leaders

- I believe women grow their own colourful environment bit by bit

I DON'T believe women are in all cases responsible for a failed home.

[Bella from Bella Naija raising her right hand]

I BELIEVE IN WOMANHOOD

- I believe Nigerian women are absolutely fabulous

- I believe Nigerian women are exceptionally STRONG & INSPIRING

- I believe women hold the family together

I DON'T believe women need to suppress their femininity to become successful.

[Diamond from Diamond Hawk raising her right hand]

I BELIEVE IN WOMANHOOD

- I believe women are the passage of life

- I believe women are phenomenal (as described by Maya Angelou in Phenomenal Woman)

- I believe women are the backbone of society...we are resilient

I DON'T believe women are Complicated (we're colorful and multifaceted but that doesn't make us complicated).

[Jaycee from Light Her Lamp raising her right hand]

I BELIEVE IN WOMANHOOD

- I believe women are nurturers, the source of life from the womb and even until adulthood - - I believe a woman is the CROWN of her husband

- I believe women are the source of wisdom and inspiration of a home

- I believe women have a special type of patience, enabling them to supernaturally sustain certain experiences and hardships

- I believe proverbs 31 was right when it says a wise woman watches over the ways of her household & does not eat the bread of idleness, her lamp does not go out at night, and her children rise up and call her blessed.

I DON'T believe that a woman is the driving force of a lazy man.

[Jola Naibi from A Colourful World raising her right hand]

I BELIEVE IN WOMANHOOD

- I believe that women have more strength than they are given credit for

- I believe that every woman (no matter your age) is a girl at heart...just waiting for the opportunity to throw her hands in the air and let it all out

- I believe that every woman can pick herself up no matter how low she has fallen

- I believe that if she wants to, every woman should be given the same chances that men are given

I DON'T believe that any woman should be talked down, beaten, abused, broken, ridiculed, persecuted, tormented, tortured or condemned by any one - man, woman or child.

[Shola from Women Connect raising her right hand]

I BELIEVE IN WOMANHOOD

- I believe in the Beauty, Creativeness and Purpose of Womanhood

- I believe every woman has the right to define her life without the dictates of tradition

- I believe women can no longer boxed up in the norms of the society

I DON'T believe its a man's world.

You can read Shola's poem 'My Generation of Women' here.

[Taureanminx from Insight To My Life raising her right hand]

I BELIEVE IN WOMANHOOD

- I believe women are resilient

- I believe women are the backbone of a society

- I believe women are versatile

I DON'T believe women should be shown less respect than men.

[Uzo from Reflections raising her right hand]

I BELIEVE IN WOMANHOOD

- I believe that women are almost super heroes
- I believe that women are blessed with powers of intuition and perception
- I believe that women are the anchors of any home

I DO NOT believe that women deserve any abuse meted out to them.

[Vera from My Life -Uncensored & Unscripted raising her right hand]

I BELIEVE IN WOMANHOOD

- I believe women are the glue of the home; they nurture both their husband and their children, and they bond them together

- I believe that women are naturally ordained by God to be the caretakers of the home

- I believe women are the best multi-taskers out there, and they can do whatever they set their hearts to do, which is why they can cook, clean, bath, talk on the phone, eat, and discipline children all at once.

- I believe woman are specially made.

- I believe every woman deserves to be loved by a man who is not ashamed and/or afraid to love her with all he's got.

I believe in Creation; therefore, I DON'T believe that women are made to be the head of the house. I do not believe that there should be a power struggle between the woman and the man, and I do NOT believe that a woman has to stay in a marriage where she is being beaten and cheated on. Marriage is supposed to be forever, but when she starts getting beaten up and/or cheated on, all bets are off.

Do you believe in womanhood? Raise your right hand and voice out what you believe.

NB: Be sure to check Uzo's Friday installments for the women here and Shola's new Femme Lounge here.

Happy Valentine

For the Valentinos and Valentinas out there...HAPPY VALENTINE from Babs' House.

One General Post

Thanks everyone for:

The link back and post reference from your blogs (makes me feel welcomed on BloNgVille).

The comments and tips on Victoria's secret.

This is one general post and I'll be starting out from the playing room where I've just dug up one of the stuffs (F A C E S) I designed in my university days.

F A C E S

That people go around with a smiling face should not suggest that they are doing good inside.

S O M E A N O U N C E M E N T S

Every week, on Wednesdays or Thursdays, Babs' House will feature guests (bloggers and non bloggers) at different parts of the house.

Starting this week I'll be having some ladies (blogresses and non- blogresses) in the living room talking 'women' and what they believe. So, you're invited.

Also, I'm looking out for someone (blogger or not) who would love to cook in my kitchen (no cereals or rice o! but something a little special). If you're interested send an email to babshouse@gmail.com. NILLA how far?




Playing Room on Friday

The 'playing room on Friday' will include Babs' pick of the week - the term and post title (title only) I'm feeling most for the week. Here is a sample from last week.

Term of the week
Blogituary - T Minx

Post title of the week
Skirting The Signs - Women Connect


N E W R O O M S
My house is almost done and ready swing into full post action. I'm adding 2 rooms - the Boardroom and the TrendWall




BOARDROOM
Invited minds will deliberate once a month on a business concern and the way it relates (or can be related) to the Nigerian market place.

TRENDWALL
Its sometimes hard to keep up with some of the new trends and life hacks and cool stuffs springing up in Nigeria. The TrendWall is where I'll put up trends (and the likes) that I discover and those sent in by friends and bloggers.

Victoria's Secret

No. This isn't about collections of lingeries, bikinis, glamorous bras, sexy sleepwear...... It is about the secret called Victoria, her life's shock which is now in my thoughts.

Vic is visiting Babs' house (my house) today and she's having a short 'BIG' talk with me in the living room.

[VICTORIA Speaking]

One of the greatest things in life is that we get to have choices. Yes. Choices about everything I can think of. I personally chose the guy who became my first boyfriend. I chose the school and country for my first degree. I mean, we all get to make choices, life defining choices.

OK, I'm wrong we don't get to choose everything in life. We all don't get to pick whose semen or egg is responsible for our birth, well, the creator (yeah, I believe in creation not evolution) didn't give me that option of choosing my parents.

Anyways, life gave me the best parents (thats what I grew up knowing). I am an only child (am I?) and I always enjoy the healthy competition that goes on between my parents when it comes to stuffs about me.

ROUND1: I wanted to go to school in England (all my friends were doing that), my father wanted me to go to Stanford and my mum insisted I should stay put in Nigeria.

Verdict: My mum won. (I ended up going to university in Nigeria).

ROUND2: I want to move to England, Dad wants me to go to Stanford (he's gotten me an admission already) and my mum has gotten me a good employment with Transcorp (that way she'll have me around her).

The battle for my next move remains a three way thingy. I just returned from holidays in England (hoping to return permanently in a few months), Transcorp has asked me to resume for work in next month (mum expects me to resume) and Dad continues rapping up his professor friend at Stanford (saying I will be resuming classes in the fall).

Nobody will shout on another in the midst of these, I mean, we are used to laughing off arguments whenever we have one.

I thought I understood the whole scenario about my life until a few weeks ago.

I was in at home watching TV when the phone rang so I reached for the receiver immediately, then I heard my mum saying hello (she had picked up the call from the her room). It was her sister at the other end of the phone, I thought of replacing the receiver but somehow I felt like listening in on what they were saying then break in eventually and we'll all have a good laugh. Their gist moved from topic to topic until they started talking about me.

My mother told her sister that she's sure I won't be resuming at Transcorp (that's true). My Aunty said 'can't you too let that girl be? I know you love her and all but she's 25 already'. They kept going on and their discussion went something likke this:

Mum: Yes she's 25 but I still love seeing her around

Aunt: Egbon mi (big sister) give Victoria her independence o!

Mum: Yeah, I have given her all that. I told her that even if she wants her place she can have it. I just want to see her as often as possible. She's my only daughter ke!

Aunt: As far as your husband his concerned she is his too

Mum: Yeah, I really wished she is. He loves her so much.

Aunt: I think you should tell Richard (my dad). He'll be mad I know but he deserves to know the truth.

Mum: Don't go there.

Aunt: I'm there already.

Mum: He'll be crushed if he knows, Vic will hate me for life and that would mean living death for me. Vic is Richard's. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Aunt: Well, I keep having a bad feeling about this. just don't tell anyone I knew about this.

Mum: Please dear sister, just be mute on this one. I regret the whole thing myself but whenever I look at Victoria I say to myself, 'I deserve her'. She's my joy.

Aunt: I'm still wondering why none of his family members said nothing since they know his condition.

Mum: Only his younger brother know of his condition and he said Victoria is a 'miracle child'.

Aunt: I understand you. I really wish you know were her real father is.

Mum: I don't know. I've never seen him after nite at the that conference. And for all I care he's either still in England or he's gone back to his country.

I couldn't take anymore so I getly replaced the reciever and ran to my room upstairs. It was a long night. The longest one ever.

I've not stopped loving my Dad (I will never stop seeing him that way). My mum gave me a hug some days ago and I didn't know what to feel.

Loving her has always been so easy but its no hard to reconcile the fact that I am a secret. A secret she has sworn to keep, one that I'm finding it hard to live with. But I am afraid my Dad will pass out if he's ever let in on the secret that I am.

Babs can I ever be more confused?

So, y'all visiting my house, what do you think Victoria should do?

House Warming and some Confessions

[Babs @ the door shaking hands and giving hugs]............

Welcome.

Thanks for coming.

Welcome.

Make yourself comfortable.

[Babs to another BloNgVille resident] Oh, did you come alone? Where is your wife and your little boy? Ok, thats great. There'll still be a lot to eat and drink when they get here.

WoW! I didn't know you were going to make it down here. I thought you were busy and out of town [.... heavy handshaking], anyways, you can go in, a lot of the guys are here already.

[Babs rushing into the living room] T Minx, since you're already an effective gossiper of the goings in BloNgVille, please help me direct more people in. I have to go show people around the house. [Uhhh!] Thanks for NOT saying no.

Hmm! Hmm! Hmm! (clears throat - not like Obasanjo o!).

Thank you everyone, bloggers and bloggresses (why do I feel some person's don't like that word? well, it's my house and I SHALL NOT be restricted. LOL) who have come from all around BloNgVille and elsewhere for my house warming.

If you don't mind I'll just take you around the house (only the completed parts of course).

Well, you as can already see, this is the Living room, here's where I'll be entertaining y'all from BloNgVille, catch up with new and stale gists, meet up with a few notable personalities and do every other thing people (right thinking ones) do in their living rooms .

[Enters the thinking room] This is my thinking room. I had it made of marble and glass so it can feel light and roomy as possible. Here is where i will be deliberating on some of the things that I read or the ideas that keep rushing at me. I'll probably bring in some of my friends from BloNgVille and beyond to share some of their deep thoughts or creations.

[Approaching the playing room] I know some people will think a playing room is an unccessary luxury, but if you think hard, you also need to play hard.

[Opens the door to the playing room] I've got some cool electronics, gadgets and toys in here. It is where I intend to ease out from time to time, jump around and have some good time with myself.

[Closing the door to the playing room] I've got the study in this other room but it is still under construction so I will just leave that out for now.

I won't call myself a great cook but where there is a great kitchen, I tend to spend some time taking care of me. Thats why I got this wonderful kitchen made.

There are about 4 bedrooms in here but I'll just show you the master.

Here it is. I love my room spacious and comfortable. I tend to do some thinking on this bed too and here is where I have some of those dreams I turn into writings, ideas and discussion.

If you one to see more of the house, keep coming around and I'll show you some more.

Ok, let's go back to the living room so I can make some confessions just as Cherub and T Minx did on their blogs.

'I' also confess

I confess that I am Babs.

I confess that this is my house.

I confess that I will welcome people into this house.

I confess that I have been bothered by a few things lately.

I confess that I have decided not to be shaken by those things.

I confess that I appreciate the comments that were dropped on the template test post.

I confess that I want you all to drop comments on this post.

I confess that I am done confessing.

Template test - (Bab's House coming soon)

Hi Y'all. Bab's here. Disregard the Lorem ipsum latin below. Still testing my template and making a few changes. Will start putting up proper posts in a few days.


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