It’s been a while since I wrote something or anything for that matter. We put Dad to rest and I’m trying to carry on with life…yes, it does go on even if the hole is there. A friend of mine asked me yesterday if at times I feel like i wish my dad was still around so I could discuss issues with him… the truth of the matter as I candidly tried to explain to her is that I talked to my dad so frequently when he was alive that we did not have any issues pending… what i miss most is how he used to dote on us… he spoilt us rotten but at the same time showed us what really mattered in life. I could go on and on about Dad but no eulogy can do him justice.

After 7 weeks of slow internet and constant traffic jams and late appointments, I’m back in Sweden trying to figure out my A from Ö. My posts may get fewer or more depending on my stress levels… just watch this space and wish me luck…

PS. Thanks to Eve, Ngigi, Royalty, Maza, Daudi, Victor, Cate, Jinder, Emily and everyone else who made my trip home a lovely one. Miss you all already.

My bags were already packed,

Looking foward to spending my hols…

with you and Mama.

But Alas! tis not to be,

You’ve left for somewhere…

I can only dream of.

I bid thee farewell Dad…

And find comfort,

in your words of wisdom…

Your strength, your courage,

and the Love you showered on us.

It’s been a looong day, but an interesting one for that. My first time to Budapest and so far so good…ok, my the plane I took flew in arrived was 1 hour behind schedule…on the flight, the person seated to me had an enormous coffee spill which as you know is every passengers worst nightmare and you know how little manouvering room is available on these intercontinental flights.

Anyway, met a few interesting people…delays make people talk…about everything. At the departure lounge, it was a Researcher in sociology whose study is centered around policemen and politicians with focus on Stockholm and Göteborg(Gothenburg or as mom calls it GOT - thats the airport destination code). It was interesting to hear how things came popping up and that he is 1.5 yrs behind schedule…hehe…made me think about if i’ll get derailed for a shorter or longer period when i start with mine one good day.

The other person was my seat-mate, a shrewd businessman who just doesn’t know when to retire. i got to hear his life history for the two hrs we were aloft. I learnt a lot about the history of Hungary than what google has taught me. I learnt a few phrases which i can’t recall right now. I also was privileged enough to hear about all his business trips.. from the tailors in Shanghai to the dollar shops in Cuba…it was like talking to my Dad…the information just kept flowing in. His business, Grossist- specializing in designer bags, wallets, shoes, accessories… Now that’s what i call a girls best friend…on a flight:)

The Cab Driver was charming as well, after finding out that it was my first time in Budapest, he decided to show me around the area I’m staying and pointing out places I was interested in and giving me a word of caution as to what places to keep my nose away from. The cab had aircon(thankful for small mercies) and it was 29 degrees outside at 6pm in the evening… now that is what I call summer weather.

Took a walk and got myself a bottle of water…and here I am now..showered and relaxed. Looking forward to the Global Voices Summit which kicks off tomorrow, the reason for this adventure.

Inspite having a migraine throbbing head, yesterday I went out for lunch with a really good friend of mine, Ike. For those of you who don’t know about him, he’s one (really hot but too young for me) guy I bumped into and we’ve been talking on and off since then. It was fun updating each other on our latest escapades and laughing our heads off at things that wouldn’t have been considered hilarious one week ago.

Ike has a way of getting me laugh and that in itself is a feat… he narrates incredible stories in such an animated way with arms all over the place and adjusts his voice according to the character being impersonated… (this guy will make one girl very happy some day… if she knows what she’s getting that is). When we were about to order, I didn’t feel like anything on the menu would go down my throat, and Ike says, “you should watch more Nigerian movies… There was a chief who asked a girl why she wasn’t eating and the girl said, ‘Chief I have no appetite’ to which the Chief asked ‘ And how much is this appetite?’ and the girl says ‘ 20 000 Naira’ and the Chief hands out 60 000 Naira and tells the girl ‘Go get 3 appetites and enjoy yourself’…..” Now it may sound like a very stupid line but stupid lines are funny in certain situations… simplicity in everyday life and the simpletons we are is definitely a good combination for a giggle.

Then came up the spicy topic of relationships and dating…and I ask him, “Ike, you are young and doing well, why is it you are always whining about your ‘love life’?” to which he cocks his head and gives me a sheepish smile “Doing well in this country means no time for a love life… you should know that” to which we both burst out laughing… not that its anything to laugh about but the silent acknowledgement that we are in the same boat and that I whine about mine about just as much. Anyway, needless to say the throb in my head was much lighter when I left.

At times I tend to do things out of a whim. When I visited this website today, I was very irritated by the flashing header and placed a phone call to the concerned party requestiong to speak to the person in charge of the site. As per kawa, the person was not there, but the person who took my call was kind enough to note down my ‘observation’ and took my contact details which was more than I had expected.

I call it an observation because from what I have learnt over the years is that people with Autism spectrum disorders or epilepsy would have extreme difficulty navigating the site because of the flashing header. I have neither of the above (though we are all autistic to some extent) and was irritated by it…so I can only imagine how many other sites with the flashy effect exist in the healthcare field….I’m off to google some more.

Sikujua utapitia hapa lakini hata hivyo, Karibu! Nilichoshwa na mambo ya kusubiri Web-Developer apige hesabu yake mwenyewe nikaanza safari ingawa kwa mwendo wa kobe. Patupu kwa sasa lakini ni mwanzo tu…