Good morning! It is the Sunday after my birthday and I'm feeling good :) Thanks to everyone who sent some love my way.
I woke up to my mum rubbing my back and whispering prayers into my ear and I promise you, that's one of the best things in this world. My day was very chill, I was home with my family and partner and we just ate and watched multiple episodes of "The Good Wife" - yooooo how come no one told me about this show? I love it-. I was pretty upbeat in the morning enjoying the phone calls and just relaxing... then power went out...
The calls kept coming in and my mood started to drop, everybody kept asking "Where the party at" "Where is the cake?" "Is there rice at your house?" As soon as the pattern became clear I began discouraging people from coming over because I really hadn't made any plans.
I realized in Nigeria, your birthday is not a day for you to be showered with presents and goodwill. It's a day for you to celebrate (AKA show your friends and family a good time) and entertain. In fact, saying you didn't have anything planned meant that though you might not be bringing out the champagne, there would be rice and chicken and small chops for anyone who stopped by.
I guess we live and learn, later that evening my partner took me out to dinner at La Mango in GRA Ikeja, I had read about it on the lovely Kene's blog, post here (it was a great review, go have a look, I love her blog!) and I wanted to check it out.
We opted for the Thai menu, I was pleasantly surprised to see how much they had to offer.
Sorry I only remembered to take a photo of our appetizers after we had finished eating them, hey, we were hungry and they were yummy.
The strobe lighting was really distracting, in fact we had to ask them to turn off the one beside me. Also they were playing really loud Nigerian dance music and we could barely talk and eat. Next time I go there will definitely be in the daytime.
Hey! A for presentation (minus those straggly lettuce leaves), Pineapple fried rice
I woke up to my mum rubbing my back and whispering prayers into my ear and I promise you, that's one of the best things in this world. My day was very chill, I was home with my family and partner and we just ate and watched multiple episodes of "The Good Wife" - yooooo how come no one told me about this show? I love it-. I was pretty upbeat in the morning enjoying the phone calls and just relaxing... then power went out...
The calls kept coming in and my mood started to drop, everybody kept asking "Where the party at" "Where is the cake?" "Is there rice at your house?" As soon as the pattern became clear I began discouraging people from coming over because I really hadn't made any plans.
I realized in Nigeria, your birthday is not a day for you to be showered with presents and goodwill. It's a day for you to celebrate (AKA show your friends and family a good time) and entertain. In fact, saying you didn't have anything planned meant that though you might not be bringing out the champagne, there would be rice and chicken and small chops for anyone who stopped by.
I guess we live and learn, later that evening my partner took me out to dinner at La Mango in GRA Ikeja, I had read about it on the lovely Kene's blog, post here (it was a great review, go have a look, I love her blog!) and I wanted to check it out.
Obligatory silly picture, because we are like that
Seafood stir fry
Pad Thai
Prawn yellow curry
The food was tasty, really flavorful and all but it just didnt have that authentic Thai taste I love, I will visit the restaurant again, but opt for a different place if I'm craving Thai.
So all in all it was a good day, thankful for another year. Hey, 24 looks good on me!
Love always,
Sabirah!
Glad you had a nice birthday, was going to leave a comment yesterday but it disappeared.
ReplyDeleteI also always have birthday blues because I get excited because I expect that the day will be special and it doesn't always turn out that way. It's helping me learn about selflessness. I don't always want to plan stuff for the day but I want people to plan stuff for me, lol. Nigeria has a way of setting you straight in that regard. Anyways, I'm learning to enjoy the day as my own, that is, not expecting people to do much for me.
Was going to say in yesterday's post that though I didn't do much for my last birthday, it was memorable because I was home, celebrating it with family, after several years. It was also special, though not in the way I expected. It was special because of the things I had previously taken for granted: Like you, I woke up to my Mom praying for me, hugging me touching my hair, etc. It was very different. My Dad killed a turkey, my Mom cooked, I made salad, my sister made a cake, and a few people came to visit. Though it was very chill, I appreciate the sacrifices they made to make the day special. I also dolled myself up and took pictures to do something special for myself so it was good.
Though I would still like to be surprised or not have to plan anything for my birthday, I still appreciate these things.
kindly ignore my shells, im rereading and covering my face lol
ReplyDeleteLOL! I didnt even notice them, thanks for your comment, it was nice to hear a similar experience
DeleteHappy birthday again. Looks like you had fun and now i am hungry.
ReplyDeleteRe: Good Wife. I love that show. It made the cut in my top 5 shows post.
Thank you!
DeleteI'm hooked on the show
Awww sounds like a good day! Happy birthday again! xx1
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday! I don't really have big blowouts on my birthday, I tend to shy away from throwing parties.
ReplyDeleteI've watched a few episodes of the Good Wife in the past and they were pretty good.
Happy belated birthday. Glad you had fun.
ReplyDeleteI learned a long time ago to just say nothing's happening. Those weho come to my house on my birthday always get to eat, but then when we say all that it doesn't necessarily mean we will be coming over to party. People just generally like to ask. (my opinion)
Hey, I nominated u for the Lebister award on my blog. please check it out.
Thanks.
Awww
ReplyDeleteI've been away from your blog so long but I came today and saw my shoutout, thank you! :)
Happy belated birthday, enjoy being 24!
x