nilichoandika

A little bit of you

February 18th, 2017

If there was a time when Mercy could have smiled, it would have been at her engagement party; instead, she was on her balcony watching guests stream into her two-bedroom apartment.

Thank you Gratisography 🙂

Her sisters were not coming.

Grace had simply sent her a text message ‘I am not for this.’

Noella, the baby of the house, smiled when she’d told her the news, “Well, are you sure? I kind of find it a little bit rushed, you caught him cheating, like a minute ago and the now, he goes on one knee? But, if you’re sure sawa sawa, I’ll be going out with my friends though.”

Her fiancee, Henry, was welcoming the guests.

He had a wicked smile, the one that made women commit all kinds of sins in their minds, and sometime when she looked at him, she saw little bits of her dreams splattered all over his face. Sometimes, like right now, she felt like she could fly from her balcony and land on the ground a beautiful mess…sometimes she asked herself, ” what happened to the little bit of you?”

Her thoughts danced around her, and then she heard him call her name, and somewhere in that moment, she looked down…and there he was, the little bit of her, the one who made her simmer…dreadlocks, tatoos, caramel…and a smile. He had her dreams all over him, and he stood there…hands in his pockets, his eyes asking the only question she knew “why?”
Inspiration for today

February 15th, 2017

Writing takes time, and most of all it takes patience. If there is one thing I am grateful for, is knowing that ‘you have to put in the time and work to get the results.’

A Writer writes.

You’ll never get that book done unless you sit down, grab a pen and paper or a processor and start writing, like they say in business ‘if it’s not written, it never happened.’

Have a lovely day.

Keep writing!
My kind of love

February 14th, 2017
It is a day unlike no other, the price of chocolate has tripled, red dresses are sold everywhere, sloppy music is playing and restaurants are busy preparing menus for ‘table for two,’ and the best part is ‘I am single!’

Thank You Gratisography

Well, it’s not my fault, it’s just that I am picky.

I do not appeal to anyone out for a visual treat. You’ll not catch me in a dress, heels or make up- especially make up! I have no idea what the difference is between a concealer and foundation and why they have to cost more than four books at #BooksFirst.

I’m the one you saw walking with a spring in her steps. The one who has read earphones on and a backpack the size of a suitcase.

Yes, that one in sketchers, black shorts and a red-tshirt…yes, that’s me.

But, the hype around Valentine’s has never been my kind of love, not even when I was in a relationship. It’s a beautiful feeling to be in love and be loved in return, but to spend and demand for so many things on one day, reminds me of a two year old throwing a tantrum in a candy store, we can’t buy all the candy!

My kind of love is:
1. Reading a book (in peace) and this would sometimes involve listening to Emeli Sande or Rebecca Ferguson…while sipping some coffee
2. Writing, this depends on inspiration, you might be telling me something and I might just reach out for a notebook and start scribbling, or you might turn in bed at night and find that I am seated on the bathroom floor writing something…please do not interrupt me when you find me like this.
3. I do not like confrontations and if you love to argue a lot…may the heavens send me a daily dose of tolerance, because I walk away just as fast as I smile.
4. Eating chocolate cake. Please, let’s not argue about this!
Celebrate Valentine’s at Java House and enjoy 50% off cake and ice cream on February 14th!

*Offer limited to 2 cake slices per person. pic.twitter.com/qMSi0LoZHL

— Java House ☕ (@javahouseafrica) February 12, 2017

5. I have some kink in me, and I don’t know if it comes from reading all those BDSM novels but there are many ways to enjoy champagne, cream, and grapes.

6. Getting on the road, simply carrying a change of clothes and getting on a bus or train to an awesome destination.

7. Children, there is something about spending time with toddlers that gets me smiling and when I am off to volunteer at some childrens’ home, please do not interfere.

8. Chapati. We shall not argue about who makes ISO Certified chapatis.

9. Fried chicken, mine’s finger licking fantastic! End of story.

10. I’ll listen and watch a football match with you…I will swoon over the handsome players, before the game, and after, I will wonder who does their laundry…and that’s about it, kindly do not involve me in your #SportPesa predictions, if you lose, you do so on your own, and if you win, you share your spoil with me.

11. Ignore everything and you’ll be in trouble, but allow me some kink and writing time 🙂

xoxo
Motivation

February 10th, 2017

Have a lovely Friday.

Writers keep writing 🙂

Readers, keep reading 🙂
Happy anniversary

February 8th, 2017
The 5 am club

February 7th, 2017

Have you heard of the 5 A.M. club? It is all about getting up early to have the perfect head start to a productive day. I had done this in July 2013 (read about it here) and it helped me set a great pace for writing The Currents Series. I am having trouble writing my latest manuscript and I thought why not focus and get in those two hours before leaving for work every morning.

So, I decided to join the 5 A.M club and set my alarm for 5 o’clock every day and let’s just say that I need all the motivation to pull through.

Picture courtesy of Google Images 🙂

I started on Sunday and so far I can only focus for thirty minutes before the Muezzin makes his call to all the faithfuls. We are surrounded by three mosques and a catholic church, so after five-thirty I find myself drawn to all the calls. I look outside my window and watch out for those who are awake like me, the boda boda drivers, children going to school, the street lights, vehicles and before I know it, it’s already seven and I have to get ready for work!

So, I’ve got ten days to put in some work and get this manuscript going and maybe then I’ll have an update on what’s good.

Until then, have a lovely afternoon.
Quote of the day

February 4th, 2017
What’s in my bag 2017

January 28th, 2017
Saturday is here!

Hope your week’s been awesome and if it hasn’t- would you believe me when I say that no matter how bad any day has been, you lived through it. You made it through twenty four hours and to me, you are amazing and strong to have endured it all.

I hope you sail through any tough seas.

So, what’s in my bag this year? I have always wanted to post something about that, but I had my reservations:
1. I never carry a handbag/ ladies bag
2. I’m afraid that my bag is full of junk no one would be interested in seeing.
So, I gathered some guts and here’s my bag and what’s in it today:

Have a lovely weekend!
Jabali

January 25th, 2017

If ever there was a man, a man made when the skies were full of light, and the seas were calm…if ever there was a man without a nose, then it would be Jabali.

My eyes are closing but my heart refuses to be calm even as I tell you about him.

When I saw him as a child, there was something in eyes, a certain kind of evil that struck me as odd in a child. His mother had just laboured in vain to bring into the world the tenth son. Her husband was seated on the mat in the corner looking at the tiny creature wriggling in his wife’s arms, wondering when he will ever plant a feminine seed that would grow into his old age.

It is true that a man can walk for miles but never get to his final destination.

Jabali’s father might have seen it that day. His mother, well, let us not talk to a goat while she is eating.

I will tell you about Jabali but not now because to speak of him requires a certain calmness that my soul has never had since the day Neema introduced him to me.
What I learned about 2 A.M calls

January 21st, 2017
Never answer a phone call past 2 A.M!

If someone calls you and starts by saying ‘did I wake you up?’, please ‘hang up,’ and go back to sleep or else you will take part in a confession that you will regret four hours later.

It’s almost 10 A.M and I am here writing this, and thinking of how much I need an Editor for this, but the truth is I brought it all upon myself. I stayed up yesterday because of three reasons and they are strictly in this order:
1. Twist of Fate on Zee World
2. It was 31 degrees hot
3. I was reading the book- ‘The Shadow Prince.’
So, there I was reading The Shadow Prince by Stacey O’Neale and thinking to myself that I am better off being who I am and not part of some royal family when this guy I used to like sent me a message on Whatsapp.

I looked at it and set the phone aside until I’d finished reading the book then I sent him a message ‘hey, you, I’m good. Hope you’re awesome, have a goodnight.’

He did not respond. I went to bed at around midnight…now, people, two hours into my sleep I hear ‘hey I heard you are a wild one…oooh, if I took you home’ and I’m thinking, who is this? (You probably think that I should change my ringtone, and you are right, it changes with my mood…I need that song by RedOne featuring that cute Arsenal player with big teddy bear eyes)

So, if you said that guy up there, well, you are right, it was that guy! I look at that phone and think of all the things I could do including pressing the power button and switching it off, but you know how cunning that little devil is. I understand why Eve ate that apple and shared it with Adam, because I knew I was not supposed to answer that call, but in a split second I did, and in a voice dipped in honey.

‘Hi.’

‘Oh, hey there, for a moment I thought you’d not answer, lakini, how are you? It’s been days, mbona umenyamaza hivyo?’

I held my peace for a while, but in my mind the answer was : ‘Well, you did not like me like I liked you and so you went for someone else, and gave me the silent treatment, for a year.’

What came out of my mouth was ‘Aki si hivyo, you know what happens nikiwa on the road and all that, but thanks for reaching out to me, how have you been?’

‘I have been good. I have missed you sana.’

‘Yeah…well…( and here is where the devil did a number on me) I missed you too, when will you come visit Kisumu?’

‘That’s funny, I was thinking of the same thing, but I just got here today, and you are the first person that came to mind. What are you doing over the weekend?’

‘I haven’t made plans.I can’t believe you are in Kisumu.’

‘Well, I am and I want us to meet up, say Sato afte at Java? I know you love that place and besides, we have a lot to talk about.’

‘This Saturday?’

‘Yes, this Saturday, are you working or something?’

‘Yes, but only until midday and then after that I’ll be free, so how about 2pm?’

‘I’ve missed you so much and it will be nice seeing you again.’

‘Yeah, me too.’

‘So, you get your beauty sleep, and we’ll catch up.’

‘Goodnight.’

‘Goodnight.’

I set the phone aside, it was almost a quarter past two in the morning. How did I do that? I mean, why did I do that? The truth is I couldn’t sleep after that because I kept asking myself why I replied his message. Why did I answer his call?

Do not, and I repeat, do not answer phone calls after two o’clock in the morning. Why?

One, you are drowsy and will probably regret everything you say.

Two, chances are that out will have to follow through on what you say or agree to because you were half asleep.

Three, if you are the type to call people past midnight just to catch up on old times, please don’t, they’re drunk with sleep, and aren’t that coherent,aye?