A Week of Tortoise Tales in The Voice Newspaper- Christmas Gift Guide 2014

Christmas Gift! A Week of Tortoise Tales

(You can find it on Page 3, bottom right hand corner)

Happy Viewing!

IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS!

But seriiiiiiiiiiiiiously, where does time go? For those like me, who are still struggling with time management, it only shows the need to set out the things we have to do in order of priority. Doing something is better than doing nothing!

DEPRESSION! Get help!

DEPRESSION! Get help if you can’t cope!

I was completely and terribly devastated when I learnt the passing of a colleague’s colleague. It was shocking already that he passed on. But what was more disturbing was the manner. He ended his life. Apparently he suffered depression and decided to end it all. A young man.  A wasted life. How heavy was the darkness that surrounded him?

I thought to myself, if I’d met this man and told him something positive, maybe, just maybe, he would have changed his mind about this decision he took. Too late now. But it’s not too late for someone else.

According to the NHS,

“The symptoms of depression can be complex and vary widely between people. But as a general rule, if you are depressed, you feel sad, hopeless and lose interest in things you used to enjoy.

The symptoms persist for weeks or months and are bad enough to interfere with your work, social life and family life.”

I’m glad you’re reading this post. If you or anyone you know is experiencing any form of depression, there are many ways to cope…

Get help! Please make sure you see a doctor, talk to someone- a friend, a relative. Pray. (You can do ALL)

Whether or not, you are a Christian, I believe you should pray and tell God exactly how you feel. Tell Him to take away any feelings of sadness, or any dark clouds that seem to be weighing you down. Tell Him to come into your life and take absolute control of any situation that you can’t cope with.

I believe He will. For you will feel a strange kind of peace envelope you. Somehow, the load will be lifted.

Then you can do other things. Start a new hobby or interest.  Begin an exercise, even as gentle as a walk in a park. Talk to somebody again. Don’t think you can do it on your own. Don’t just sit there (or stand) listening to “voices in your head.”

Do everything noble and possible to change the situation. The only thing you shouldn’t do is end your life. It is so precious. Someone somewhere, this minute, cares for you.

Philip Ade-Williams is Back! Nigerian TV Soap -TINSELS

I don't usually get carried away watching TV shows, but Nigerian TV drama -Tinsels is an exception.
A soap which combines drama, betrayal, romance, deception, success and the list goes on...

One of the main characters Philip Ade-Williams (Gideon Okeke) "traveled to Ghana for filming" and has been away for so many months (African Channel Sky 199). I couldn't tell whether he had left the show for good...

The show (in my own opinion) hasn't been quite as solid (good) as it used to be with standard story lines and with the absence of some of my favorites - Philip, Telema Duke and Angela Deide. So, one can only imagine the shock and happiness that overwhelmed me when Philip stumbled back into his house and caught Kwame and a friend in his house (drama of course!).

Gideon Okeke as Tinsel's Philip Ade-Williams

Now, I can sit back and watch the other episodes as they unfold...

#Ilovetinsels #Tinselsisafamilydrama

Skipping as an exercise is fabulous, fun (and free!)

I just started a new exercise--yes skipping or jumping rope! Well, so far, so good.
On my first day, I managed to do 27 skips and was panting like a tired elephant. Second day, I patted myself on the back when I counted 54!
Now, two months down the line, I'm counting (and easily) 1000 skips! yeah me!!!
It wasn't easy one bit. A bit of perseverance, a bit of waking up earlier to start, a bit of "let me skip more than yesterday"...all added to this (great) improvement.

Regular exercise they say, is good for you for more than one million reasons...

Controlling your weight
Boosting your confidence
Combating diseases and other health conditions
Boosting your energy
Fun

So if you can't do certain exercises like going to the gym or swimming due to time constraint or other financial reasons, you can try skipping or jumping rope. All you need is a skipping rope (and a bit of motivation!)

It's fabulous, fun and free too! (I'm not surprised I got interested!)

DORA AKUNYILI REST IN PEACE!

I was really saddened to hear about Mrs Dora Akunyili's death this morning. In the past few weeks, news had been circulating that she was dead, due to her extremely pale appearance. Unfortunately, that rumor has become a sad fact. 

I remembered watching her during the days of Kokomansions, a reality TV show produced by Nigerian artiste, Dbanj. She had come to address the girls in the house about the importance of education etc. The girls were fascinated that such a woman of high caliber could find time to give them all advice that would last a life time.

A very confident and well-spoken woman, Mrs Akunyili wanted the best for Nigerian citizens in Nigeria and the diaspora.

Mrs. Akunyili is considered as Nigeria’s most effective drugs and food administration executive. as the first boss of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). She carried out reforms that helped Nigeria against fake drugs and food products.

She went on to serve as an information minister. Before her death, she was serving as a member of the ongoing National Conference, in Abuja.

Nigeria has indeed lost a rare gem.

We pray for strength for her family at this time.

May her soul rest in peace.



Life! Life!Life! Make the most of it while you can. Don't worry about what you can't handle. Leave your mark on the sands of time. Appreciate good relationships.

Power of Social Media @ #BringBackOurGirls protest, London

Lots of Nigerians and friends of Nigeria and perhaps haters of what's currently going on in Nigeria, gathered in front of the Nigerian embassy in London on Friday 9th of May to protest (quietly) about our still missing 234 or so girls.

Placards of all shapes and sizes were geared towards #BringBackOurGirls - the case for the girls kidnapped by terrorists in the Northern part of Nigeria.

Tweets and 'likes' and 'shares' on Facebook prompted so much response than has ever been seen before. It was a surprisingly good turnout considering the fact that most people live routine lives and are ever so busy at work and what have you.Years ago this would not have been possible.

Social media has helped raise so much attention about this matter that will hopefully translate to the release of those abducted girls.

I don't understand a lot about politics. Way too many questions to ask. Who do you ask? Who will respond and so on and so forth.

My concern really is for those children, whose lives have been turned upside down in a twinkling of an eye. My concern is for their safety. My concern is for these atrocious acts to cease. These girls have done nothing to deserve been snatched and taken away to possibly foreign territories.

Children are the future. God save our future. God save our children.

Late Nigerian musician Sonny Okosun in the eighties sang "Which Way Nigeria?" I wonder what he would sang about Nigeria's current situation if he were still alive.

 

 

Chi zoba Nigeria (Igbo) - God save Nigeria

#Bring Back Our Girls!

It's been more than three weeks since the abduction of about 234 girls from their secondary school in Northern Nigeria. We pray for their safety and safe return to their family and friends. May this atrocious and wicked act never happen again!!

Say no to evil! Say yes to kindness!!!

Alas! A Mother's Day Cake!

A Mother's Day Cake

Curtsy of my sister E, who doesn't really know how (honestly) creative she is and how wonderful her cakes tastes!  Hmmm Yummy!

A Mother is a Good Thing. Indeed!

bookshy: an African book lover: Book Review: Kate Iffy Chukwu's 'A Week of Tortois...

bookshy: an African book lover: Book Review: Kate Iffy Chukwu's 'A Week of Tortois...:   After having the honour last year of reading stories for children (courtesy of the Golden Baobab), I realised that I really did not pay ...

A drizzing day at Camden Lock Market

Editor of Romance Meets Life, Myne Whitman interviews Kate Iffy Chukwu

I was very humbled to be interviewed by Myne Whitman,  author of A Heart to Mend and A Love Rekindled. She's also the founder of the online magazine, Romance Meets Life, where she shares her observations about love and life and everything else!

I was happy to talk about A Week of Tortoise Tales and my other works...

Click here for the interview


Thank you Myne Whitman.

Kate Iffy wishes you a fabulous new year!

Happy New Year to all my amazing readers! Wishing you a fantastic 2014! This year looks very promising already and I'm looking forward to embracing it with a more positive attitude towards everything really.
Part of my new year resolution is to be consistent with posting new stuff on this blog.

So stay tuned and visit this site next time you 're on the web and see what I've got up my sleeves.

Happy New Year!