Diary of a Lagos Working Housewife - Part 3

So about my driver, he resumed on the 2^nd day after I resumed for work. I had been in search of a driver way before my resumption date and I told everyone around to assist with one. My first candidate was a young guy from Anambra who wanted to become a driver because of the ban on motorcycles on some select Lagos roads. His driving experience is less than mine, yet he wanted to collect 50k per month.  While interviewing him, I imagined the crazy drivers that were on Lekki-Epe expressway, the many hazardous roundabouts along the expressway and all the madness that stresses even me as a semi-experienced driver.  It was a definite no-no!!!

I had always wanted an elderly person to drive me though, i.e a man with some form of responsibilities so I can be sure of his going concern ability. Who would blame me? Well my second candidate matched this description, thus I was very excited at the prospect of interviewing/meeting him. He also wanted to collect 50k but I was more inclined to pay him given that he met my requirements.  All this was before I found out the going rates for personal drivers in Lagos sha.  Anyways, he never showed up for the interview/meeting and all effort to reach him on the day of the interview, and the day after proved abortive.  He finally called us a week later but at the time, I was too peeved to even deal with him. Need I say, DH handles all these difficult tasks because, like I mentioned earlier, I am melodramatic.

Diary of a Lagos working housewife - Part 2

Continued from Part 1

I have been accused of the fact that I am very melodramatic. I ran outside to meet him so we can discuss the phone call that I just received. In all fairness, he gave me the phone to receive the call but even at that, I still have to know who Elizabeth is. Abi??? Before I got to him sha, I composed myself, I mean, I sha know the man I married.

Me: DH, who is Elizabeth from Ajah

DH: You have started again abi.

Me: I am serious, I just received a call from her (If only he knew how hard I am trying not to scream and shout!!! How did she get your phone number , why is she calling you on a Saturday, you better start talking!!!!!)

DH: I don’t know who she is…seriously

FRSC Warns: Make Phone Call While Driving and Go to Jail

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has announced a newly adopted strategy that would ensure that any person caught using the mobile phone while driving, would no longer be fined but immediately taken to court and jailed.

Corp Marshal, FRSC, Mr. Osita Chidoka said other offences like speed driving, dangerous overtaking and overloading would equally attract court action instead of the usual fines.
The FRSC boss, who was speaking at a news conference in Abuja, said these new measures are part of a newly launched campaign to reduce the increased spate of road crashes in the country.
Commercial bus drivers are now expected to install speed limit devices in their vehicles so they henceforth should not exceed 100km per hour.

Diary of a Lagos working housewife - Part 1

My alarm rang at about 4:30am, yes, I set the alarm for 4:30am, what I was thinking the night before, I really have no idea but all I remember is I couldn’t even move to snooze the alarm.  It was about 6am before it finally hit me that it was a Monday….I scurried out of bed to start my morning rituals which included getting my darling daughter (DD) ready for school.

You may wonder why I call myself a working housewife, well it’s very simple. I work in Lagos from 8 to 5 and I still have to take care of my home front.  I have deciphered some skills to help me cope with the demands and will share some along the way. Some are hilarious that even I wonder what I was thinking at the time, but the good thing is, it works for me.

Do women have unrealistic expectations???

I have started to brood over whether as women; we have unrealistic expectations of our spouse or spousal equivalents.  Of course, the fact remains that the same rules will not apply to everyone but needless to say, my experience in life, my own expectations of those who surround me and listening to what my fellow ladies expect of their men, I am inclined to say that we ladies have unrealistic expectations.

But seriously who will blame us?? Our nature as emotional beings plays a very big role in this if we look at it. Of course, one also shouldn’t undermine the fact that we grew up watching the lovely prince go through all sorts of ordeal in order to rescue sleeping beauty, so why shouldn't our men do the same for us.

Nigerians will have to pay a £3,000 fee to visit UK

Visitors from Nigeria and other high risk countries in Asia and Africa will be forced to pay a £3,000 cash bond before they can enter United Kingdom.

From November, a pilot scheme will target visitors from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana who will have to pay the UK government a form of cash guarantee or deposit to deter immigration abuse. They will forfeit the £3,000 if they overstay in Britain and fail to return to their home countries by the time their visa has expired.

Another Baby Born With Quran In Lagos

Residents from various parts of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, have been coming to catch a glimpse of a baby allegedly born with a miniature Quran at 9, Oguntade Street, Shasha area of the state.
Incidents like these are scientifically impossible, but residents of the area say it is true even though some of them confessed that they did not see the baby clutching the miniature Quran, the holy book of the Muslims. They were only told about it.
It took efforts for P.M.NEWS reporters to gain access into the one-room apartment of the baby’s parents as a result of the crowd that took over the place.
The mother of the baby, Kabirat Lamidi, a 32-year old hairstylist, said right from the conception of the baby, she had been sick.
She said when the baby refused to come out after 11 months, she went for a scan where it was shown that she had an object in the womb with the baby.

How to cope without a HOUSEMAID!!!!!

Try asking an average homemaker what they think about a domestic help and you can be sure that the response will be– they are necessary evils.  I am still amazed as to how something evil can be necessary.  We have heard different stories of domestic helps looting their boss’ houses, collaborating with armed robbers and kidnappers and some even go as far as seducing the men of the house.  We all pray that such will not be our portion (Amen). Nevertheless, these issues are drawing nearer on a daily basis and if we do not develop means of coping without domestic helps……well God forbid.

Let me say that I understand that the dynamics of life has changed – both men and women have to fend for the family and yet the role of the ‘family caretaker’ primarily lies with the mother.  Also, the same cap cannot fit everybody…thus for those that are lucky to find domestic helps that are just like family, lucky you!!! But for others…well you may just try the tips below, who knows, you may be glad you did.

Here they are:

Employees escape death as bus catches fire in gridlock

There was pandemonium at the Ox Bow Lake Road junction, Yenagoa in Bayelsa State, after a bus went up in flames in a traffic jam on Wednesday.

Our correspondent who was at the scene of the incident observed that the thick ball of flame that emanated from the Mitsubishi L300 bus forced motorists to flee the area.

The scene immediately attracted onlookers and sympathisers, who initially mistook the vehicle for a passenger bus.

But two persons, a driver and a passenger, struggled out of the bus unhurt.

They were, however, concerned about the bus and its content.

The apprehensive young men remained speechless for sometimes.

The driver, who was obviously confused, shed tears as he asked his colleague that he identified as Uche to call their boss.