Its all over!

The votes are in. Thaks for voting guys. The judges will let you know the results ASAP. Following in Bukis steps......


1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
I got to see a new country, Sweden and saw Beyonce, Jay Z, Busta Rhymes. LL Cool J, Akon, En Vogue, Ciara, Snoop live and direct lol.

2. Did you keep any New Year's Resolutions?
Yes I did.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, quite a few actually. Congrats Bo, Mrs A, Ngee, Mr O, oh and blog pal Boso.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No.

5. Did you visit any countries? Yes

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A more structured savings scheme, a good spiritual life and a serious relationship.

7. Will any date from 2006 stay etched in your memory forever?
I don't really remember dates, I'm not numerically oriented.

8. What was your biggest achievment of 2006?
Switching jobs and achieving my career goals for the year.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I put everything down to experience.


10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I have malaria all the time.

11. What was the best thing you bought in '06?
My camera...a 350D Canon... Love it!!

12. Did your behavior change over the year?
Yes, I'm becoming slightly more crazy and extroverted from last year. Working on saying NO more often.


13. Where did you spend most of your money?
I really don't know!!

14. Are you happier than this time last year?
I'm always happy!

Thinner or fatter? Fatter I think

Richer or poorer? Using strictly the bank balance.....poorer. Talk about Aso Ebi purchases, bridal showeers, wedding presents, birthdays etc. Everyone please hurry and get married.

15. What song will remind you of 2006?
WHY ME OH WHY ME OH!, Irreplaceable,

16. What do you wish you would have done more of?
I wish I had saved more and made more calls to family and friends far from home.

17. What do you wish you would have done less of? Postponing and putting off stuff I planned to do.

18. What did you do for Christmas '06?
Stayed home and received friends and family.

19. Did you fall in love in 2006? Sigh, No.

20. Did you get your heart broken in 2006?
No, I mostly stayed away from the heartbreakers.

21. Favorite TV program of '06? Grey's Anatomy

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didnt hate this time last year? Nope

23. What was the best book you read and/or movie you saw?
Book - I'll let ypu know when I remember
Movie - A series of unfortunate events...thats what its called right?

24. What was your greatest discovery?
That I love photography and am actually not bad at it.

25. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I turned 24 and went to a very nice restaurant with about 20 friends and clubbing after that.

26. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I am very satisfied with this year and I thank God for all the good things that happened in my life.

27. What kept you sane? Friends and Family

28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2006? Chic, simple, fabulous.

FRIENDS...

29. Who was the best new person you met? Yuwi Babyyy. Met her through a good friend of mine just a few days ago.

30. Who did you wish you did not meet? Gosh, where do I start lol. Just kidding.

31. Who was your best friend? I have never had one, I have lots of great friends.

32. Who was your enemy? If I have some, I don't know them.

33. Who do you miss? Boom, wish you came for christmas!!

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006 - Life goes on.

36. What will you always remember about 2006?
Blogging, Discovering my hobby and now Saddams death.

ASPIRATIONS FOR 2007...

37. What do you want to do in '07 that you couldn't/didn't in '06?
Create and stick with a savings plan, become stronger spiritiually, stick to my resolutions, and develop a business plan for my photography.

38. Any resolutions?
Still working in it

39. Do you want to make more friends in 2007? Friends are always good. Maybe more guys cos I have too may girlfriends lol.

40. Anything you want to change about yourself for 2007? I want to be less critical, more patient and a bit more outgoing.

VOTE NOW!

Thanks to Azuka who tweaked a free software you can now

VOTE HERE BEFORE 31st DECEMBER

For those who already did a list please input them in this survey, sorry for the inconvenience.

AWARDS POSTPONED

SO I'm sorry but I didn't anticipate that it would be so much work and that I'd have little time for blogging. There is soo much to do in one day. I have four wedding on on thursday (engagement) and saturday. I will put up nominees very soon and give you guys more time to vote. The winner will be put up on the last day of the year and Azuka is helping develop a quick programme that will sort out the votes so it will be completely electronical like 2007 elections in Nigeria.

Thanks for voting! Those of you who haven't, guess what ...there's more time!!!

Departure from Innocence

One of the poems I wrote while in one of those pensive moods where you wish everything would have worked out the way you wanted them to.

Departure From Innocence

I forget to breathe when he’s around
My senses are heightened
Emotions swirling all around me

I forget to breathe when he touches me
My skin is electrified
My heartbeat quickens

I forget to breathe when he kisses me
My thoughts fly away
My lips ask for more

I forget to breathe when he walks away
The sorrow engulfs me
No words can comfort me

I start to breathe as I count
The days till he returns

© Taureanminx

Oh my....

Girls check this link out!

I'm an art lover and that sure is art. What do you guys think? How do I know guys are going to do amebo and check out the link too?

Thanks for voting. Keep 'em coming!

Blogger Awards 2006 Categories

These are the categories that were suggested. Please send in your nominees and I will add them as they come in. Thanks to all those who have participated so far. I can see why INEC has issues here in Nigeria lol.

I have also nominated a Panel of Judges-Bella naija,London Buki, Mona and Azuka. Please let me know if you can't be in the Panel. Basically all you need to do is confirm if the nominees deserve to be nominees by looking at the blogs and to eventually select the winner. Thanks

Best blog overall
Most inspiring blogger
Funniest blogger
Blogger I would most like to meet
Best writer
Most thought provoking post
Dedicated blogger award-updates blog most often
Best every day read
Best country centric blog
Best genre centric blog
Best fashion blog
Best foreigner in Nigeria blog
Best poetry/soulful blog
Best intellectual blog
Sexiest blogger
Mr Macho blogger
Most annoying blogger
Random blog- What’s he/she on about?
Best non-blogger commenter - for someone who is not a blogger but consistently comments on blogs
Most scandalous blog
Most entertaining blog
Best political blog
Best religious blog
Best designed blog
Blogger who achieved the most in 2006

Lagos 101- Whats happening this weekend

What’s going on this weekend?

Star Mega Praise Jams at the Palms, Lekki on Sunday

A voice for Ella December 17, 22, 23, 24 at 3pm and 6pm at the Civic Centre, Ahmadu Bello Way on Sunday. Tickets from MedPlus @ the Palms or @ the door. 50% of the proceeds will go to Charity and I think it costs N2000.

Beach Party, Dress Code: All White. Not much info on this, I’m done with getting on those boat thingies in the middle of the ocean lol. If you are unlucky, you’ll get a canoe and it will take ages to get to the beach.

LL Cool J and Akon @ Polo Club, Awolowo road . I saw them @ Saipan yesterday. I was a bit star struck and called out hey LL, to which he responded “Hi” with a cheesy smile. Akon was kind of lost in the middle of the entourage. He smalllll…

Please feel free to let me know what else so I can add it.

What’s up my people? Please participate and send your category suggestions to naijabloggers@yahoo.com.

Blogger Awards

In the spirit of the season and after reading Bella's blog, I have decided that we should have an end of year blogger awards. What do you guys think? Okay so way forward....

Please send suggestions on the categories you would like to have and I will compile a list. Please send suggestions to

naijabloggers@yahoo.com.

The deadline for suggestions of categories is Monday and I will publish the compiled categories on Monday the 18th of December.

We all will then have a week to vote and the winners will be published on Monday the 25th of December.

Merry Xmas all.

Lagos 101- What to do around Lagos

Before I start, it would be good to look for a copy of ‘What’s New’ a lovely Lagos city guide. It has great information about what’s going on around Lagos and addresses etc. I think Nu Metro Bookshop in Silverbird has some copies in stock as well as Park and Shop.

Eating out

Churasco- Brazilian restaurant. Its actually a buffet and the meat is carried around on sticks brazillian style. How much meat can you eat…try it.
Bankok- Thai restaurant. Very good food.
Pearl Garden- Chinese Restaurant
Ocean View – Chinese Resaturant.
Nando’s- Spicy chicken. Yes we have this in Lagos too. I can’t say it’s the same as the ones in London but its good.
Chicken Republic/St Elmo’s- Chicken again. They have the best cone Ice-cream IMHO.
Munchies- Fast food again, try their munchies roll.
Flavours- This reminds me of the flavours behind QC. Its now also at Silverbird Galleria.
Dolphin shawarma- Shawarma from Association Road in Dolphin is yummy.
Yellow Chilli’s- Delicious Nigerian cuisine in a nice environment.
TFC, Tantalizers and Mr Biggs are still Lagosian favourites.
Roberts Café- English and Nigerian breakfast and delicious deserts.
Scarlet Lodge
La Saison
Villa Medici
Calabash Bar at Eko Hotel (also there is a buffet in the restaurant by the pool for N2500)

Entertainment/Shopping

Silver Bird Galleria
City Mall, Onikan which also has a Cinema
The Palms shopping mall, Lekki
Lekki Market- Beads, paintings, cd’s, movies, carvings etc. Not your usual market.
Salsa Lessons at Flamingo- Have fun taking Salsa lessons @ Flamingo on Kofo Abayomi St.
For guys, football games/practice @ the Astro Turf (7219960, 8502435)
Go carting in Onikan..I have to find out the address.

Shows

Stage performances including an adaptation of Cinderella called Ella will be showing at the following venues

National Theatre
Civic Center on Ozumba Mbadiwe
Muson Centre


Bars

Bacchus Lounge- New and more chilled out than the club. It’s next door to Bacchus.
Saipan- A nice lounge/chinese restaurant. Thursday nights are good for live music from every century.
Reeds Bar- Awolowo road
Coconut Grove- Awolowo Road
Soul Lounge- Lekki
The Pitch
Swe Bar @ City Mall Onikan is a nice chilled spot.
Londoners in Ikeja
La Cachette recommended by Snazzy, thanks :)

Clubs

Bacchus
Planet 1
Saga VIII
La Casa
Tanjia


What else would you like to know? Please feel free to suggest more places I may not know of.

Tminx signing out
xx

VOTE

My people

Please, I beg you all to vote. A lot of us in this generation are jaded when it comes to politics.

Yes, your vote may not count
Yes, the process may be rigged
Yes, there is corruption in the system
Yes, it may be a waste of time

BUT you would have done your civic duty and we as a nation would have tried our best, the rest will be up to God.

There are complaints that the registration machines or whatever they are have not been sighted but one has been put somewhere near me so I can't use that excuse.

Those in Nigeria please go and register. Lets not leave voting to 'other people'...if we all do that, then no one would vote.

Lets make 2007 a memorable year for good reasons.

Lagos 101- Getting around

How to get around in Lagos

In Lagos, your car is one of the status symbols. “Did you see Finefaces’ new X5”?. It’s also a pre-requisite for getting a girl. . The fact that he is named Fineface has no bearing anymore. Many a time I have heard the phrase “Does he want us to jump Molue together”?, followed with a loud hiss. What counts is that he has an X5 or a beamer, a jag, a private jet etc.

But really getting around Lagos can be a nightmare! I have been stuck in traffic sometimes and gone into trance where I jump out of the car and do a jig as I pull my hair out like Rumplestilskin. Let’s not talk about the road rage that goes down in the streets of Lagos.


Public transport

Molue- Big huge yellow looking buses. They look like the yellow school buses in America.
Danfo- Smaller Version of the Molue
Okada- Motorcycles (I call them Mosquitoes that need to be slapped)
Keke Napep- A cross between motorcycle and a Tico car. Remember those cars that came from Japan?. Mostly seen in documentaries about India.
Taxi- Regular cars painted yellow and black.
Train- Has anyone seen a moving train lately?

All of these are potential death traps as the drivers have no regard for the law and are reckless and a danger to themselves and the passengers. The vehicles are hardly serviced and are just spare parts put together, the tires are usually worn and most times there are no side mirrors, break lights, breaks even. The passengers squeeze themselves into the cars like sardines and the conductor hangs from the side. If not for condition, I don’t think anyone in their right minds would want to use the Lagos public transport. It’s in shambles.

If you need to take a Taxi, please ensure you go to a taxi park where the Taxi’s are registered and can be accounted for. Your safety comes first, don’t jump into a random taxi and especially unmarked ones.

There are a lot of stories of people never reaching their homes after hopping into a random car posing as a Taxi.

Private Transport

Most people have at least one car in their homes and move around with that. It is necessary to get drivers from a trusted source and make sure you get references and know where they live. There have been incidents of drivers stealing the car and its contents and never being found. This is usually because Nigerians tend to be very trusting and not so thorough in searching out the background of the domestic employees.

Guys often strive to have a car because Nigerian girls tend to be materialistic. Guys therefore feel the need to hustle really hard for a job, money to spend on the girl, a car, and an apartment/house. Once you have these things, you can successfully play the field, dropping hints here and there about all your achievements which will dazzle the girls. Whatever happened to struggling and making it with your man? Everyone wants a self made man. The problem is it will probably be you and two or three others sharing this self made man.

Traffic

Lagos is divided into the Mainland and the Island. There are three main bridges connecting them; Eko Bridge, Carter Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge (very original lol). A fourth Mainland Bridge is in the pipelines. Most of the population of Lagos lives on the Mainland.

There is always some sort of traffic. The only safe day is a Sunday. Rush hour time is between 7-9 in the morning and 5.30-9.0 in the evening. The flow of traffic is usually towards the Island in the morning and away from the Island in the evening.

Lately it’s not been very safe to travel during rush hour except you really have to. In that case

Ladies
-Have a separate handbag ALWAYS in the car filled with stuff you don’t need. It could be an old bag you don’t use anymore.
-A mobile phone no longer in use by anyone should also be placed in the car


Guys
-Have a mobile phone that is no longer in use
-Some cash on you

The reason is that there have been reports of hoodlums aka Area Boys (AB) who go around in traffic (mostly once it gets dark) stealing from people once in a while. I have actually experienced this but only once in my two years and most people have been lucky not to experience the same. The cowards know you have no where to go since you are trapped in the traffic so they move from car to car and then runoff before the police can get there. Now they do this very quickly and fade so they don’t have time to check what you give them. Everybody wins. Another tip is to probably wind the window down if your car is going to be attacked because there have been cases where the windows have been smashed with iron bars. Not trying to scare you guys or anything but it does happen. All they want are phones and bags. You will be bitch slapped if you have neither.

Hot spots (that I know of) are

Eko Bridge
Falomo Bridge (haven’t heard of any incidents lately)
Ozumba Mbadiwe near 1004 flats
Third Mainland Bridge
Lekki Express Way
Airport Road

Caverton Helicopters

The latest form of transportation is using a helicopter to get to your destination quickly. It is quick, convenient and expensive. The helipad is located in Victoria Island.

A note to those coming home for xmas. There will be parties, there will be fun, there will be drinking. Please, those that live on the mainland and go partying on the island should make plans to stay over till its sufficiently bright to go home in the morning. Either stay in the club till then (we know how to party till 6 in the morning literally) or stay over at a friends and catch some zzz's till morning. Also make sure the designated driver doesn't get carried away and have to many drinks. Some people don't know their own limits. Leaving at 2 in the morning to go back to the mailand makes no sense. Stay safe

There you go. Now you know how to stay safe while traveling within Lagos.

TMinx signing out

xxx