Jade Goody - My take

Jade Goody burst on to our screens via Big Brother 2002 here in the UK. She wasn't the most likeable of women (in my opinion), is from the hard-ass Bermondsey area of South (or Saaaaaaaaarf) London, is the daughter of a convicted criminal and one-armed lesbian mother. Please note, i'm trying to set the scene and i'm definitely not being judgemental.

She didn't win Big Brother, but due to her inate ability to entertain (although admitedly, most viewers were laughing at her, rather than with her) she went on to become one of the most well known and sought after reality tv stars in Britain. She also made a fortune worth millions via book and perfume deals, subsequent reality shows, fitness dvds, and other merchandising opportunities.

I am glad to say that i have never watched an episode of any show she has been on because in my opinion they all employed the lowest common denominator, neither did i find her interesting. I did however, watch the version of Celebrity Big Brother she appeared on a couple of years ago, because i am a Big Brother addict. And like a lot of others i was astounded at her (and her cronies) bullying and abuse of Indian actress, Shilpa Shetty.

She was booted out of the house into a storm of public outcry and hatred, which lasted all of one month, or so. She subsequently announced her plans to go on to the Indian version of Big Brother to make amends for her treatment of Shilpa Shetty.

It was in the Indian Big Brother house that she learnt that she had cervical cancer. The cancer turned out to be terminal and now Jade has apparently been given just weeks to live. Following her return from India, her reality show continued, so did the magazine spreads and without giving it much thought, I continued to switch over. Then the coverage intensified and it began to be minor nuisance and i remember commenting on how tacky it was that she was still trying to cash in despite being ill.

That was, however, until i learnt that her motive was to make as much money as possible for her two sons before she passed away. My opinion shifted immediately. I mean, how can you argue with that? How can you argue with a young mother who knows she's dying, wanting to leave her sons behind with a secure financial future? I must add that many have. Actually, public opinion is divided. To the nay sayers, all i say is 'switch over'. I mean, i no longer condemn her choices, but still have never tuned in to see the show, neither have i seen a single picture of her wedding in OK! Magazine.

My heart goes out to her. No one should have to go through the trauma and pain that she is currently going through. On the up side, there has apparently been a 20% rise in the number of young women undergoing smear tests to detect cervical cancer.

See below for a link to an article that provides a comprehensive background to the story.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090228.ARENZETTI28/TPStory/Entertainment

Investment Banking opportunities in Nigeria and Kenya

Hi guys,

See below an extract of am email i received from an agency if anyone's interested or knows someone who might.

........................
These positions are based in Nigeria and Kenya and are research positions therefore I understand that there may not necessarily be a direct fit with your skill set and in that case I do apologise.



If anyone may be interested in the roles the team will be happy to be in contact with you however please do not call unless you have first applied or responded via email as this will be difficult to track. In addition, should you know anyone who could be suitable for the roles and could be interested in applying please have them/Yourselves apply to Strategy@selbyjennings.com



Due to the location of the roles the hiring manager will only consider applicants who have lived/Worked in Afica however he is happy to re-locate and Ex pat packages are on offer.



The Bank hiring is a large investment Bank with offices globally and is in the top 10 in Emerging Markets. The have huge successes over the last couple of years and can offer you the opportunity to work with many leading clients.

The details below are brief however applicants must have worked in a similar role before as the manager is expecting candidates to hit the ground running.





Positions Available:-



Nigeria:-



Equity Research Editor - Copy edit, proof read and fact check equity research and investment banking research.


-Editing equity research departments weeklyflagship publication, organizing materials in a manner easily understood byreaders.

-Editing prominent equity and industryresearch reports, verifying and cross-referencing financial models (incomestatement, cash flow, balance sheet)

-Enforced legal and compliance procedures,checking reports for inflammatory wording and accuracy

Applicants do not have to have equties Experience however experience in some asset class is essential.

Ideal level of hire is Associate/VP level however this is flexible.



Deputy Head of Equity Research/Strategy

- Assisting the head of research in improving the quality of the products and producing high quality Nigerian Focussed Equity research. Also assisting in increasing the team size from 8-15.

- Regular contact with London.



Equity Analyst – Associate/VP Level

- Working as an analyst within the team covering Nigerian Equities. Significant client contact.


Macro Economist

- Associate/VP level Economist (this is however flexible).

- You must have experience working as an economist to apply.

You will be responsible for :

- Assisting in setting up the Sub-Saharan Africa (ex South Africa) economic research franchise with initial focus on Nigeria

- Liaising with the head of African Research in London with a focus on macro-strategy, rates and FX and the global Head focussing of Equity research.

- Marketing to a large number of clients and contacts in the UK/Europe and the US a about Nigeria’s investment opportunities.

- Taking part in many conferences particularly African Investor conferences and liaising with senior central bank, finance ministry and capital market authorities from African countries.

- Initiating economic coverage of African markets

- Commenting on key economic policy issues

- Extensive marketing to equity and fixed income (local markets, sovereign EM and corporate high yield) clients in South Africa, the UK, Europe/ North America AND regularly gIve bespoke presentations to key corporate accounts.





Kenya


Deputy Head of Equity Research/Strategy

- Assisting the head of research in improving the quality of the products and producing high quality Kenyan Focussed Equity research.


Equity Analyst – Associate/VP Level

- Working as an analyst within the team covering Nigerian Equities. Significant client contact.


Senior Macro Economist (2ND Position available for an associate/VP level Economist)

In order to be considered for the role you must be able to demonstrate:-

- Experience working as and Economist- Economic researcher

- Experience building/updating a Sub-Saharan Africa economic database

- Publishing on the economic and political landscape of Sub-Saharan African countries with a particular focus on Kenya (publication and marketing of economic, rates, FX or Equities research product)

- Successfully developed a model of the Kenyan economy which is used to forecast economic variables

- Provided Treasury/management with economic information and forecasts.

- Applicants who are Native Kenyan and have an interest in returning and have worked as an Economist but have not covered the African Market, will be considered if you show a keen interest in the region and can demonstrate that you have monitored the region.




The team look forward to hearing if these roles are relevant to yourself. Again all applications/Queries please direct to Strategy@selbyjennings.com and not myself as there are various recruiters concentrating on these roles.



I would also like to thank you in advance should you be able to forward this to anyone who may be suitable for the role and interested in speaking to us.







Regards



Natalie Basiratpour



Selby Jennings Limited

London
4 Carlton Gardens,
London

+44(207)0194100
+971(0)42149693
+1 (212) 231 8223
+ (852) 2159 9199

Happy New Year

What? Y'all didn't know i'm Chinese?...Lol!

Anyway, shout out to everyone who came by to check up on me. 'Preciate it...

Hopefully, I will begin full blogging service very soon....Hopefully.

God bless
XOXO

Freaky Stalker Update...

He's getting married (...and no, it's not to me!)


See initial post here

Come into the Light

My last post was actually a reflection on my mood at the time of posting.

CODE BLACK

A Fox Might Bite My Bottom

It's not really a laughing matter, especially given that i am studying towards becoming a Psychotherapist and now have and even greater appreciation of the effect of fears and anxieties on human beings as entities, but i came across this article and found Charlie, 5's entry particularly sweet and endearing.

What children really fear

Elsie, 3 “I get scared when someone says they don't want to be my friend and they don't want to play with me any more.”

Charlie, 5 “In the daytime foxes have gone to bed but when they come out at night, a fox could bite my bottom.”

Millie, 5 “I am a bit scared of carrots. I used to be scared of pear but now I know it is nice.”

Maddie, 6 “I always tuck the duvet under my legs when I go to sleep because I don't want snakes to eat my feet. When I was little the snakes got in and ate my feet.”

Jess, 6 “In the night, when everyone's asleep, I can hear footsteps going up the stairs and I feel scared. I think there's kind of a monster creeping up the stairs.”

Josh, 8 “It's scary to think of the pollution destroying all the rainforest so the animals haven't got anything to eat and then the plants will die and the human race will die.”

Nye, 9 “I don't like burglars. When there's a loud noise upstairs I always think that there's a burglar breaking in.”

Ira, 10 “I'm scared of hookworms and tapeworms. I hate the thought of having one in my body because they worm their way into you and live inside you.”

Tula, 11 “I worry about all the people in Africa dying and I feel I should be doing something about it. I also worry about my house setting on fire.”

Lemar, 12 “I want to drive a car when I'm older, so I worry about petrol prices and more people driving electric cars which are really dangerous and will cause road deaths because people won't hear them.”

Amy, 13 “It scares me thinking that one day I might get so old that I lose my sense of humour and no one wants to be friends with me because I'm no fun.”


See the link below for the rest of the article.

Childrens fears may be fuelled by parents - Times Online

Upheaval

Miriam Webster Dictionary Online:
up·heav·al
Pronunciation: \ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl, (ˌ)ə-ˈpē-\
Function: noun
Date: 1838
1: the action or an instance of upheaving especially of part of the earth's crust
2: extreme agitation or disorder : radical change ; also : an instance of this

I subscribe to radical change...but in a good way.

There's a lot going on right now.

This means i'm juggling several balls.

I can't afford to drop a single one.

I'm trying to figure out where each one goes
and how they all fit together.

I don't want to have to shuffle them around on the ground to get the balance right.

So until I figure out where they go, they're going to have to remain up there,
and i'm going to have to keep expending the energy required to juggle non-stop.

My arms ache, but i can't afford to stop.

When I figure out where they each go, then i'll stop.

And then they'll each drop one by one and fit nicely into their own little receptacle.

And then life will go on.

Lizz Wright: Fire

I need to update, so i've decided to do a Naapali.

This is my favourite Lizz Wright song of all time and that's saying a lot because there isn't a song of hers that i don't love. I love singing this song,but beyond that i love the message in the lyrics (which is about unconditional love) because it challenges me to question if i am capable of such love for another human being (and i'm talking romantic love now, not parental, for example). That is, the kind of love that gives and then says:



Don´t worry about me
I´ll stand here in the darkness
With the joy that HEAVEN promised
To those who live
With open hearts
(see below for the rest of the lyrics)

My honest answer is 'I'm not sure'. I do know for sure that i once was that kind of person, and hence i know that i have the capacity to do so. However, would i want to do so? That's what i'm not sure about. Wouldn't resentment creep in? I guess the crucial element in deciding would be if the same sort of love was being given in return. But doesnt that defeat the concept of 'unconditional love'?

Heraclitus, the Ephesian philosopher is best known for his assertion that everything is in a state of flux. One of his most famous quotes is:

You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.

None of us are the same person from second to second, not to talk of month to month, or year to year. Our experiences change. Our circumstances change, and so on. So, yeah. I once was that kind of person, i don't think i am now, but i can be that person again.

What thinkest thou, my lovely people?
Enjoy...




Are you frightened by the fire in my eyes
It burns for you
And I KNOW you see it too
Your heart was open looking for light
Are you surprised
BABY LEAVE your pride

´Cause I´m gonna burn, right or wrong
It´s all for you to see
Stop hiding your eyes
Take the fire from me
And be warm, life is hard
And sometimes the night is long
Take the fire
You don´t have to give it back to me

It´s a gift to feel this good
Loving you IS enough to bring me peace
Nothing’S perfect
But it´s enougH
To FILL with love
A HEART THAT WAS COLD WITH DUST

And it´s gonna burn, right or wrong
It´s all for you to see
Stop hiding your eyes
Take the fire from me
And be warm, life is hard
And sometimes the night is long
Take the fire
You don´t have to give it back to me

Don´t worry about me
I´ll stand here in the darkness
With the joy that HEAVEN promised
To those who live
With open hearts

And it´s gonna burn, right or wrong
It´s all for you to see
Stop hiding your eyes
Take the fire from me
And be warm, life is hard
And sometimes the night is long
Take the fire
You don´t have to give it back to me

Pieces of Me

If you are patient and tender
I will open drawers that mostly stay closed
and bring out places and people and things, sounds and smells, love and frustrations, hopes and sadness.
Bits and pieces of life that have been grabbed off in chunks and found lying in my hands
they have eaten their way into my heart altogether
you or I will never see them.

-They are me-

If you regard them lightly, deny that they are important, or worse judge them
I will quietly slowly begin to wrap them up in small pieces of velvet
like worn silver and gold jewelry
tuck them away in a small wooden chest of drawers
and close them away.

(Jim Messina)

This is a partial repost which initially appeared here, but just so happens to reflect my mood today...

Tropic Thunder

Ok. Let's face it. Tropic Thunder is probably one of the dumbest movies you will ever see this year. It has to be said, however, that it is also one of the most hilarious. I saw it last night and i had tears constantly rolling down my cheeks, i had to give up wiping them away!

Robert Downey Jr was excellent, but the cameo by Tom Cruise as the Hollywood studio boss alone was worth the price of the ticket.

If you haven't seen it yet, please go and see it ASAP. Meanwhile, here's a clip of TC as you've never seen him before. Pity i couldnt find a longer clip, but this is more than enough...

Join the Debate

Interesting post here

Makes you proud

Thirty-one year old Nigerian Accountant, Adebola Adedoyin representing the motherland on the X Factor

Of Trees and Forests

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

The Lives of Others (or...I am not my hoodie)

I began this post a couple of months ago but it didn't feel quite ready at the time. It does now.


I have a very short commute in to work now. Now that spring’s here (in a way), I’ve started walking in again. It usually takes me about 30-40mins, but this is probably because I walk freakishly fast for a woman (I’ve been told). Continuing the theme of Xena Warrior Princess you forced me to introduce in to my last post (y’all knows y’all selves) you should see me walking with other people – male and female. They are practically always panting for breath as I power on without breaking a sweat! Things to do, places to be, you know?

I was running slightly late this morning so I hopped on the bus as I sometimes do. I settled in to my seat on the top deck and didn’t feel like reading. There’s no point really as, based on past experience, just as I am getting settled into that ‘zone’, all too quickly the ride is over and I have to get off. Instead, I settled down for some guilt free, pleasant spacing out. The top deck of the bus was virtually empty, but at the next stop, a few more passengers got on. A young boy, about 17-18 if I was to hazard a guess, climbs up the stairs and sits about 2 rows in front of me. As he settles down and the bus moves off again, my nostrils are suddenly assaulted by the smell of his ‘cologne’. It’s cheap. And as lads that age are wont to do, he has been rather heavy handed with it. So much so that I can now taste the fumes at the back of my throat. I make a mental note of this, resisting the urge to gag. His phone rings.

‘Hi, Mum’, he says in his white-boy-trying-to-speak-black accent (as made popular by Ali G). ‘I’m on the bus now and I forgot the earrings, mum. Sorry’.
His mum speaks on the other end.
Boy – I was on the phone to the Probation and I forgot to take them
Mum speaks
Boy – Are you sure? Is that ok? I’m sorry.

He says sorry a few more times, and then hangs up and I’m strangely touched by the sweetness of the exchange even though I’ve only heard one side. A number of things strike me:

1. He’s wearing a hoodie.
2. He has some bling in one ear.
3. He’s clearly been in trouble (hence the telephone conversation with the ‘Probation’ alluded to)
4. He possibly has identity issues as demonstrated by the Ali G-esque accent and the fact that he ends a second phone conversation with the word ‘Safe’.
5. He loves his mother.

Suddenly, i'm curious to know his 'story'. Who is he? What has he done? What's his Mum like? Where is he off to? And a myriad of other questions.

I ponder further and it strikes me how disconnected we've all become from each other...Were we actually ever connected to each other? Who is 'we'?

I have a 'big heart' (that's just a stone cold fact, nothing else), and therefore have a strong and compelling need to connect with others on a level beyond the superficial. In my late teens/early twenties, i came to learn the hard way, that 'big-heartedness' is seen as a sign of weakness and it's human nature to attempt to exploit perceived weakness. And so i swung to the other end of the spectrum, and became 'well 'ard' as they say here in the UK. But i could never really deny who i am.

Repeat a pattern of behaviour long enough and it soon becomes a habit. Habits are notoriously difficult to break. These days, i'm learning to not be so hard. If i'm to be honest, it wasn't really a case of becoming hard, as it was a case of choosing to smother feelings of empathy or compassion by refusing to act on them. I realise now that my temperament/personality/character is crucial to fulfilling my purpose here on earth (and i do believe we are all born with a God-ordained purpose), and so i've learnt to love myself and free myself from the chains that come with comparing myself to others or wanting to be like others in anyway. I'm exactly who and what i need to be. Nothing more, nothing less.

I have this bad habit of staring at people. I do stare at people. Not because i have no manners, but because i have this need to look beneath the surface. Always. Don't get me wrong, i don't go around staring at random people. There is a method to my 'staring', i suppose. Being very intuitive and able to pick up on subtle nuances and signs that people give off, when i pick on on something, i need to explore it further and in the process of turning my focus inwards, i may forget that i'm actually still looking at the person as well as looking into them, in a manner of speaking. Yes, i do realise i'm probably painting myself out as some kind of weirdo, but anyway...

Fast forward to the present day though, i often ask myself what i'm meant to do when out of the blue i experience such rushes of empathy towards a totally random youth in a hoodie on the top deck of the Number 30 bus? And the answer just came to me right now - as much as i would love to go up to them, place a hand on their shoulders, look them deeply in the eyes and say something like ' i feel your pain' or 'would you like to talk about it' or something else along those lines...all i can do is pray.

And so tonight, Lord i pray for the youth on the bus, in a hoodie, with a earring, wearing cheap cologne. Be with him and his Mum. Help him get his life back on the straight and narrow. Watch over him and keep him . In Jesus' name. Amen

Update (...of sorts)

No you didn't type in the URL for Afrobabe's blog and land here by mistake (haha!)

I've got to apologise for the haphazardness of my blogging. I have been extremely busy (i never used to understood the concept of being too busy to blog, but now i do!), and set to become even busier as i begin the course i alluded to in the post, The Impostor Syndrome. I had a look at the course syllabus the other day, and i must confess, i was practically salivating and wiping away copious amounts of drool. I sooooooooooooooooooooo cannot wait to start next month!

Also, the beast that is my laptop has resumed its downwards spiral towards the scrapheap! I, therefore, can only blog surreptiously from work these days. Buying a new one is not even an option right now, what with tuition fees to pay, and recent acquisition of my Nikon D40 Digital SLR camera (..at this point, you need to picture me rubbbing my hands together with Smeagol/Gollum-like maniacal glee and crooning the words 'Myyyy PRECIOUSSSS'), and a Nintendo Wii Fit (which i will be returning actually, cos i didn't realise i needed to get a console too!). And just in case you were wondering, no, i am not 'blonde'. Think about it...If i was, i would not heretofore (heyyyy. big word!) have been salivating at the prospect of being schooled in the theories of such luminaries as Freud, Jung, Klein, Rogers et al. I rest my case!

Add to the above the fact that there is just so, so much going on in my head at the moment. My head actually feels full. I don't know if anyone understands that. One of the foremost emotions i'm experiencing is impatience. Patience has definitely never been one of my strong suits. It's doubly hard now, because things i'd previously never even dared to dream about are now within my grasp. I just want it all, like, yesterday! I will reign myself in, and i will slow down. It just won't be easy. However,

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

Peace, y'all...

Should I Stay or Should I Go...

...to lunch?

Lunch ko, brunch ni!

Hi y'all

Since you all enjoyed the first post so much (you know yourselves), i thought i'd give you the next instalment.

August 13th 12:36

Covenant greeting in Jesus

pls can we lunch together

after service on sunday

let me know if you

accept Jesus bless you

I guess i really shouldn't be publishing the poor guys texts on the internet like this for your amusement. However, you have to wonder at the kind of thought process that goes into sending them. I mean, over a period of over four years, i have consistently turned down his 'advances' and he still comes back with an invitation to lunch?!

May i also add that he subjected a friend of mine, whom he also met at the same time (see my response to comments in previous post) to this same treatment. As in, he started on me and i turned him down quite forcibly before it finally got through to his brain (or so i thought). He then started on my friend on and off over the years. She was actually the first to be subjected to the whole 'proposal by text' thingy. She would often lament to me, and though i sympathised, i couldn't help but be amused and poke fun at her...That was until he started on me.

Yeah, so blogging about it is the way i retain my sanity. Please. Enjoy

He loves me, He loves me not. He loves me, he loves me....

....NOT! Euuwww!!!

30th May 2008 0:03

Greeting in Jesus name

undacovasista please I need you to

be my wife it is time to get marry to you

10th June 2008 22:56

Undacovasista I love you with all my

heart and i want you to be

my wife I intend to come to (insert church name) before

the month run end and I will

invite for a date in Jesus

name by (insert name)

11th June 2008 23:28

Thinking of you with all my

love (insert name)

6th July 2008 20:55

Undacovasista please I love you and

I cant afford to marry any

body except you in

Jesus name pls i want to talk

to you it is very urgent

6th July 2008 20:58

I love you and I need you

now before it is too late in

Jesus name

8th July 2008 9:30

You cut off your phone

yesterday that is uncall for

very ride clus e ofyou to

have done that to me

8th Jul 2008 12:30

Undacovasista I want you to be my

fiancee from now on in Jesus

nam take it or leave it

10th July 2008 1:06

I love you by (insert name)

Food Crisis Resolved

Further Hieroglyphics...

...that means more Egyptian characters (feel free to insert Dr Evil laugh here. What? I'm sure Shubby Doo got the joke...lol!).

Well, here goes...

Allow me to introduce you to Liver Man aka Cleaver Man, aka Mahmoud, the Chef.

Each night we had a buffet type meal (hence the purification ritual mentioned in my previous post :)), but in addition to this there would be some kind of 'added bonus' e.g. stir fried vegetables while you waited, or craved lamp (refer to previous post) or pasta sauce whipped up fresh. Anyway, Mahmoud was always in charge of this.

He was actually quite sweet. Very shy, but he pee'd me off slightly very early in the trip when he asked me who TB was i.e. 'friend', sister. I asked why he wanted to know, and he replied with a shrug 'two girls....', and left all the insinuations lingering in the air. I hissed and moved on. Excuse me, do i look like a lesbian? You may think it a bit forward for a chef to be asking personal questions, but in Egypt it isn't apparently! All the Waiters etc were very friendly and flirtatious with the women. By the end of the trip Eddie, our waiter was professing undying love for TB, and freely referring to Diane as 'baby' right under her husband's nose!


Ok, so Liver Man got his name like this - On one of the days, the 'extra' was liver. I can't remember what was being done to the liver 'cos i never have and never will be interested in liver - it's disgusting. Like eeeeuuuwwww. So anyway, TB was wandering around the food trying to decide on what to have when suddenly, she sensed someone standing right behind her. She turns round and is confronted with an unsmiling Mahmoud (he's smiling slightly in the picture, but usually had this deadpan expression on his face), so she's there, looking up into his face, and he goes solemnly 'I have liver' and then turns and walks away.

I'm sorry if the humour doesn't translate, but it was hilarious, at least the way TB related it to me. After many repetitions and good laughs over it, we eventually came up with the possibility that he might have actually been saying 'I have Cleaver', you know, just like in the horror films, before the killer raises their arm and chops someones head off......oh, i'm sorry! Welcome to the weird and wonderful place that is my mind.

Baba Groper 1
On our second evening, we had a Galabiya party, and everyone had to buy galabiyas and come to dinner dressed up. After dinner, we retired to the sun deck for fun and games, one of which was a variation on musical statutes, whereby when the music stopped, Osama (our compere for the night) would call out random numbers and you had to form a huddle consisting of that number of people. Or he'd say something like '1 man, 6 women' and anyone that couldn't find a group would get eliminated. The long and short of the story is that TB ended up in a huddle with an elderly man whose hand began to travel south!

Baba Groper 2
I was standing at the notice board in reception one night, checking the itinerary for the following day when this guy comes over and stands beside me, presumably to also check the board. We get chatting and he asks me if i'm Nigerian too (Ayman, our guide had begun to refer to us as his Nigerian friends). I said yes and he remarks on the fuel situation in Nigeria (he's a long-distance lorry driver). Somewhere in the course of the conversation, he's going on about what a shame the situation is, and how the Nigerian people already have it so bad (i smile and nod) without having to also 'get it in the arse' (his words, not mine) from the government. For some reason, he feels the need to mime the action of getting it in the arse, and proceeds to reach for my arse, i kid you not! Someone walks in noisily at the same moment and i turn to see who it is and thereby manage to avoid the full force of his grubby hand *shudder*, but not all of it. I promptly say good night and beat a hasty retreat!

More pictures here

Next up (final instalment)...
Abu Simbel and the Indecent Proposal.