THe RoYaL WeDDiNG

Today,the 29th of April 2011 shall remain a historic one forever as Prince William tied the knot with Kate Middleton.This is indeed another perfect picture to be hung on the interior walls of Bukingham Palace.It’s quite inevitable to avoid posting such news when for a moment the world stood still as these two lovebirds exchanged sincere wedding vows.The occasion was really grand,the biggest in 30 years since Princess Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles back in 1981.The crowd was massive and the celebration on the streets of the UK was too much for mere words to explain.There were guests from all over the world and an anticipated total of 2 billion viewers across the globe was reported by the BBC to have witnessed this special day in history.It has made the top news on broadcasting channels,a trending topic on twitter,status updates on facebook and a picture of the couples’ first kiss replaces a myriad of profile images on Blackberry mobile.Not to mention Kate’s gorgeous wedding dress which was designed by Alexander McQueen,a highly anticipated attire everybody’s peepers have been waiting to see.A myriad of British flags decorated the scenic route and a couple of jets were flown over the palace to help celebrate this extraordinary occasion.There was a grand service at Westminster Abbey,then an escort to the palace in a royal carriage with the couple happily sitting together.The groom saluted and the bride waved at the cheering crowd as they toured the track until they were back at the palace where a reception was to commence.The couple made an appearance at the balcony with their parents and it was there that we all caught the first royal kiss.Viewers shot photos of this euphoric moment with utter enthusiasm.It has been reported that a larger reception which would accommodate a bigger crowd was to be held later in the day.To wrap it up,i’d like to say congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.I didn’t have the privilege of receiving an invitation to England’s biggest wedding,but atleast we could say that i attented in absentia.

THe piLoT (CHAPTER 1)

While we were catching up on old times with my brother in the room two days earlier,he received a phone call from an anonymous number.It was a call to duty asking him to report next week unfailingly.He made a list of the required items he’d need and packed up some of his stuff.This morning,i woke him up very early to prepare for his trip.The destination was Lagos,a place he wasn’t really familiar with.He got ready and came into the house for breakfast in a clean grey suit looking so formal.He had a light breakfast and was soon on his way to the airport.Before he left,he said his goodbyes to the household and snapped a couple of photographs to record the memories like we did every time a member of the family was travelling.He gave me his compact digital camera as a token before leaving and laid out some rules on how he wanted his stuff to be handled while he was away.Next thing,we escorted him to the airport where his queue was already waiting.He placed his luggage on the conveyor belt and after a few jocular comments,we exchanged our farewells.Fly away flying officer,I’ll be in touch.

ALoNg caMe a PLaYboY BuNNY (RETRO)

I used to have an awesome black t-shirt with a tiny playboy bunny emblazoned on the front.It was always my pick when it came to choosing a shirt to sleep in,even though i’ve got a couple of others.There was just something special about this tee that i particularly liked.Perhaps it was the way it made me feel when i put it on.Even when it was time to give out laundry on weekends,i washed it myself,dried it and pressed it afterwards.But one fine day i accidentally included it when i was giving out my laundry and the wrong detergent was used to wash it.When i got my clothes back,i couldn’t believe my eyes;the tee had almost faded from black to gray,it became sloppy,out of shape and some of the threads around the shoulder had already started appearing.Not to mention the cracked bunny logo.It was almost as if my shirt was replaced with some second rate tee from the flea market.I was upset but didn’t worry much as i only wore it before sleeping and not for outings or occasions.I later folded the tee and placed it in a special compartment inside my wardrobe because i didn’t want to give it out.So if i couldn’t have it then nobody could.I wondered where the hell i was going to find another one,but my ideas weren’t even kicking in.A few months after this,my brother was coming home for the holidays from Russia.On a brief stop to grab a simple shirt,he came across two playboy tees:one was white and the other was black.They were of the same size and they both had a large shiny logo in front of them.He purchased both and brought them over when he was coming.The scariest thing’s that he picked the white one and gave me the black one.When he handed it to me,i paused for a second before thanking him.It was almost as if he knew that i was looking all over for a tee just like it.I smiled and felt that playboy tees loved me so much and always found a way to reach me no matter the distance.

POoRLiTics

I was never a fan of politics ever in my life,not even when i was dating a governor’s daughter.And for this reason the news and the papers didn’t really tickle my fancy at all.I was only able to recognize the president,his vice ,then perhaps my state governor and that was it.So anything regarding what was happening in the country remained oblivious to me,unless of course i heard it from a friend.But the situation in this country has reached a stage we could no longer ignore as citizens especially people like me;the youths.A certain intellectual age group of people the country looks up to as potential leaders of tomorrow.I started a little foray into politics early this year by catching up on the news,reading headlines on newspapers and discussing country issues as topics for debate with the folks around me.It didn’t seem boring one bit,so i went on with the new interest and surrounded myself with things that’d keep me current all the time.The first issue i found quite catchy was the presidential elections of 2011.It was a tough battle between the “Fantastic Four” who inspired my song title “a lawyer,a leader,a dreamer,a believer.who will be the winner?” This was a projection of the candidates who were contesting for presidency in my country,where each term described one of them depending on any random observer’s point of view.It was initially “a liar,a leader,a lawyer,a loser” considering the lyrics have a punk rock nature,however i changed it to the former attaching some respect to each one of the candidates.The album’s entitled “POoRLiTics” just like this blog post.A clear sign that i’d fallen deep into the subject and have already started engaging myself.My candidate is General Muhammadu Buhari of the CPC who’s running this race for the third time.I have my reasons for choosing him as a candidate,but i’ll reserve them as its almost pointless stating facts when the minions behind his downfall are always up to no good remaining one step ahead.He is a loyal leader to say the least,an excellent extinguisher of corruption and an impeccable installer of security.I wont sentimentalize as we all have our flipsides and yes this man just like every one of us,did a couple of things in the past he wished he hadn’t done.But that should’nt be a naive reason for declining his offer especially after he’s given us his word that he’d bring about a positive change in this country and take us to that promised land we still haven’t reached.We are almost within striking distance,but 12years of an incompetent ruling party could’nt take us there.It almost seems like a mirage from where am standing,and its so hard to keep believing.But i have a dream and i know my faith is real.There’s still hope for our beloved country if we’d stand up,frown upon the manipulative methods it’s being run by and implement the ultimate master plan our forefathers had designed many years ago.If we persevere,we wont fight fair and surely we’ll make it there…….God bless the “green,white,green” ensign representing the federal republic of Nigeria.

THe NaTioNaL GeogRapHic CHaNNeL

In our long adventure at the outskirts of town today,I saw with my peepers something I’d only seen in documentaries on TV:a troop of primates having a wild time.On the far end of our farm grew a large number of tall palm trees which were preceded by a running stream and a growing swamp.There,towards the fruit vegetation,we found a group of light colored monkeys enjoying a feast before they were interrupted by the loud noise of our approaching truck.When we pulled over,they ran further north and climbed up one of the trees catching a view of us from afar.The smaller group were foraging along furrows of planted corn and stealing glances from within the plants.They were black faced and one of them which could have been the leader of the troop was proving its courage by running towards us with a fruit in its hands then retreating again.As we moved closer,they ran farther away from us.Unfortunately,when I brought out my camera to catch a snapshot,they were too far to be seen even with the zoom button.So I thought maybe next time I’d come a day earlier,plant a hidden camera and then return the next day to replay the previous day’s footage.It sounds like a clever idea and I really wanted to cover something like that and send it to the Discovery Channel or Nat Geo Wild someday.This could be my break through on the route to stardom.

TaLes fRoM tHe faRM

Today we went to the farm in my brother’s new company truck.He had mentioned yesterday that we’d be leaving very early due to the harsh weather,so as to return when the scorching sun begins to burn.But as usual,there was a delay and we didn’t leave the house until 12:00 noon.I picked up a notebook,a magazine and my headphones just incase i got bored and needed to get lost in the music.We stopped by to pick up his friend and drove along the far road which led to the city airport.We got there and pulled in halfway,then dropped and started trekking towards the stream.The specialist my brother was consulting had come to see for himself,our spacious land at the farm so as to suggest the perfect fruits and crops to harvest against November.My brother’s always been interested in farming but without any serious motivation as dad had started losing interest in the whole thing.However,all this changed when my brother joined his current company Notore,an agricultural body which was formerly prominent in the country but changed its name after it was privatised some years back.Now,he had this sudden pique of interest in husbandry so strong that it was all he seemed to talk about wherever he was.For this reason,he got permission from dad to start something in the farm no matter how little and see how far he’d get on the field.They discussed significant matters before we drove to the other side of the farm where we happened to see some of the crops grown by dad over the years.There was some corn,green beans,sugarcane and tomatoes plus a lot of extra space to grow others.They drew out a plan of what they’d like to work on as from Friday,then we grabbed a sack to collect some tomatoes for the house.After that,i caught a few photographs and it was time to go.Funny how i didn’t even remember to open up either of the books or put on my radio head.It was quite hot,but a fun-filled experience i really enjoyed.

TeaRs fRoM tHe sKY

There was a slight problem with power last night,so i had to be up late chatting on the phone until it was time for my weary eyes to call it a night.I guess i dozed off at about 1am and as i was sleeping i kept hearing a continuous knocking sound from the top;it was finally raining on my roof and the weather became perfect for a sweet slumber in the dark.The entire week had been very hot and uncomfortable with very long nights of lying awake and staring at nothing but the darkness.Sometimes i even took a shower before retiring to bed just to beat the heat.But yesterday i could say that i enjoyed every bit from the moment i closed my eyes to the very minute i opened them this morning.The whole environment was cool and the sweet smell of the rainy season had finally returned again this year.

THe faiR tHaT disapPeaRed (RETRO)

Last month was the annual trade fair here in Kaduna state where people from different parts of the country came together to sell and advertise their goods.Cheaper costs and bonuses were often a big part of this fair so a lot of people are always sure to put in an appearance once or twice before it runs out.But the truth is,i don’t remember the last time I set foot in the trade fair ground,as I used to love visiting it as a child even for the sights and sounds of it.Then,I’d make sure I brought home some simple souvenirs to serve as keepsakes.But over the years growing up has changed a lot of things.I lost interest in stuff like that and didn’t really give much thought to it when asked to give them a shot.Usually,we’re not big fans of trade fairs in my house,and just as I vividly remember,it was still the same thing;a bunch of barkers and distributors yelling out to advertise and call you up for things you didn’t really need.To worsen matters,the weather was harsh and scorching hot.So to me that was reason enough not to even attempt going there.The week slowly went by as the final day approached while I remained in oblivion.Not until I heard a cousin of mine planning on going there to just have a look at a few things because the fair was ending the following day.That’s how this year’s trade fair just flashed in front of my eyes and before I could even blink,it was gone….away for good,atleast until next year.

IN tHe mouTh oF a soLdieR

"the mere words that we utter,become brave in the mouth of a soldier"
This is excerpted from my latest lyrics to an album am writing entitled "POoRLiTics" The 6th of April marked a day i’ll live to remember for the rest of my life.It was the day my older brother (Agent Ace Airman of the Aerospace Academy as i call him) passed out of the Nigerian Defence Academy.He’d joined the short service air force team late last year to serve this country in the best way possible,by making the sincere vow of a patriotic soldier.The nine months weren’t easy to say the least but they were worth it according to him.And as every soldier would say “you could never know what our lives are like in this place until you join us” despite the jungle episodes and wild adventures,he held on to the rope tightly and never let go.An experience he’ll never forget indeed.It’s like we watched the sessions through his “army” eyes until the final moment which is what we came to celebrate today.We woke up early to catch breakfast and head to the new site at Airport Road in our convoy of six cars.We got there and trekked for a couple of minutes from the parking lot before reaching the parade ground where the occasion had already started.The seats were already taken of course so we had to find another option.We split into groups as the elders took the straight path while we climbed to the top of the staircase where we caught a fairly nice view from above.We stood there for almost three hours until our feet started aching.Shortly after that,the special guests arrived one after the other and the parade commenced.It was uniform and spectacular,something truly admirable and worth waiting for.I zoomed the camera each time the officers marched towards us to get a snapshot of my brother.After the parade,it was time to leave the ground and head to the old site where pictures would be taken.We got there,visited his room and shared jokes with his friends.As soon as we were done snapping the pictures,it was time to go home and relax.Yes,i know i saw for myself today,what a P.O.P was like.Congratulations to Flying Officer MI Mahmood,you have made your family and your country Nigeria very proud.Goodluck in all your endeavours and make sure you fly with caution.Avoid unnecessary stunts in the air and steer clear of the Bermuda triangle.

THe two L's tHaT coiNed "woNdeRFuLL"

Last year,a friend of mine and his wife were blessed with a beautiful baby girl.Right from day one,they carried her and displayed different pictures of her online to show their love and appreciation.On the seventh day,the little girl was named Aisha Iman but a few months later something unfortunate happened;Iman passed away.It was a very sudden and sad incident though she’d been sick since birth but we all thought she was getting better.Her parents were devastated,it was so obvious by merely looking at their faces.But they put this sad story behind them and prayed for another child in the future.Last week,a miracle happened.The golden news was travelling fast from Dubai on blackberry updates that the couple had been blessed with twins.A boy and a girl,the cutest things ever.God has indeed repaid them with something greater than what they had and they were willing to share this with the entire world.Congratulations to the couple and God bless those two little angels.

ToY SToRY 3 oN mY scReeN

A few nights ago,I was exhausted from the intense reading I’ve been doing in preparation for my upcoming exams.Every second counted as I wanted to clear this horrible course that’s been strangling my neck once and for all.The night was still young and I didn’t want to do any reading,so I decided to check my laptop’s attic for any interesting movie which I’d stored perhaps several months ago and still haven’t set my peepers on yet.My choice was Toy Story 3,one I’ve been anticipating with bated breath.I made myself a hot cup of Tetley and spread some chocolate on 3 slices of bread to create sort of the traditional popcorn/coke scenario in cinemas and then grabbed the headphones.It was a calm night and I enjoyed every bit of this film from alpha to omega.It was so surreal that I didn’t know I was watching at all,it felt like I was actually in the movie but of course without any speech or conversation.The concept is awesome cos Walt Disney Pictures never fails to amaze me,they’re full of surprises.I wouldn’t mind watching this over and over again if I’d have the time for it.

ReTuRN oF veNoM

Its been a while since we heard or saw any one of the slithering serpents who used to lurk around the corners of our house.I believe they were inhabitants in this land long before we knew we would move from our former house.They were harmless,and that was the best thing about them cos on several occasions,we’d bump into them and they’d just hide or change direction minding their own business.For this reason,we never invaded their territory or cause any harm besides killing them when they slid into our domain.This was for our own safety even though they’d never hurt anyone ever since we moved in 1991.Last week,my younger brother was taking a walk out in the backyard when he suddenly heard something rustling in the leaves.He looked closely and found a serpent moving towards our section.It wasn’t a large or average one,rather it was small.Quickly,he called out to his fellow sibling,found the nearest stick and reached for an attack.The snake was quite cunning,it dodged the first strike while rushing towards the gate for an exit.But my brother managed to get the next strike and slow it down before finally laying down a series of combos to make sure the reptile was dead.Having done that,he lifted it up with the stick which he used to kill it and displayed his bravery at the outdoor kitchen before the household.Everyone cheered as the hero dumped the body in a drum to be burned alongside the trash for that day not forgetting to decapitate its head

THe baNds tHaT pLaYed ouR favoRiTe souNdTRacKs

My brothers’ visit for the holidays was surely a memorable one and during the time of their stay,i’d downloaded a couple of songs which i enjoyed playing.Now,everytime i play these songs they remind me of the moments we spent together,either driving around town or just sitting down in the living room with the music playing.The bands mainly comprise of Good Charlotte and Fall Out Boy,the latter being my favorite band of all time.The main anthem was Good Charlotte’s “1979” a track from the punk rockers’ latest album entitled “Cardiology” which speaks about a family that had its golden memories in that year and at the same time faced a series of unfortunate events.But despite the highs and lows,they eventually pulled through.At the same time,it relates to my parents’ anniversary year and some of the lyrics spoke to me like an inner voice i could actually hear.It has a very catchy tune and anyone who listens to it once could actually sing along whenever it’s playing a second time.Sometimes Sufy would request for it like some radio show and have me play it a couple of times while he relaxes on the sofa.The other song which happened to rekindle his love for a certain episode of the TV series “One Tree Hill’ was Fall Out Boy’s “Summer Song” It was on my playlist and he recalled the scene from the episode which brought back the days he had time to sit and watch TV.Their stay was a brief one,so Halil incisted that i make a cool playlist with his favorite type of bands to remind him of me when he returns to Russia in a couple of days.Before he left for school,Sufy introduced me to a band named “Parachute” I saved the album in a folder but didn’t bother listening to a single track until I thought of him a couple of weeks later.That’s when i grabbed my headphones one silent night and pressed play.The band was really awesome,a blend of ‘Goo Goo Dolls’ and ‘Jimmy Eat World’ I liked them a lot.And each time I played their songs,reflections of imaginary scenes would appear in my head wishing the boys were still here.Finally the group Motion City Soundtrack’s “Everything is Alright” became a random song i kind of decided to play as the departure scene melody at the airport on that morning my brothers left.The words from the chorus aptly describe what i want to know right now and as at the time: “I know that you’re alright,so tell me everything’s alright…tell me everything’s fine…” dear brothers,i hope you play this very song and ask the same question cos i know that i do….and really miss you.