The Japanese night

The Embassy of Japan in Abuja held one of its annual receptions at the Congress Hall of the Hilton Hotel on December 6. Inside Track was among those who participated in the event where this photo was taken. With me were Mr. Alex Lamadrid, Consul General, Embassy of the Republic Philippines (left) and Mr. Henri Samosir, Charge d' Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia. See more photos of the Japanese Reception here...

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Eugenia Abu reads at Pen and Pages

A good friend of mine, Eugenia Abu, presenter at the Nigerian Television Authority and an accomplished writer and newspaper columnist, recently presented her book Don't Look At Me Like That to the public. She had a reading at the Abuja Writers' Forum (Pen and Pages Bookshop) last Saturday, the 30th of January. The photos below were taken at the reading, where I also had a little chat with Adewale Maja Pearce and Ken Ike of the Abuja Literary Society. It was a hectic evening as I had to rush to The Clubhouse for a meeting with the members of the Editorial Staff of Inside Track to discuss what's next for the magazine.

Posing with Adewale Maja Pearce (author, editor, and publisher) and Eugenia Abu (author and ace broadcaster)

Click to enlarge

Comic and Illustration Exhibition

To start the year 2010 I received an invitation to the opening of an exhibition of Spanish comic and illustration from the Embassy of Spain. The exhibition was held at the Though Pyramid Gallery on January 18 to 29. The Embassy of Spain is one of the most vibrant organizations in Abuja in terms of art and culture activities, having recently held the 4th Edition of the Spanish Cultural Week featuring a variety of activities including a painting competition and a flamenco dance show.

The photo below was taken at the Thought Pyramid Gallery. I am with two of the artists who exhibited their works (3rd and 4th from left) together with Ramon Ruste (Associate Editor and Co-publisher of Inside Track), and Monica Dominguez and Eva Barta Martin of the Embassy of Spain).

Judging a book

Just before going on leave last year, I was asked by Dr. Emman Shehu of the Abuja Writers' Forum to be one of the panel of judges in the 2009 AWF Literary Competition, a task which I readily accepted, but which also meant I had to read a total of five novels in one go. Due to countless commitments these days, I haven't read a novel in a long, long time, so I was glad to do something that I used to do with gusto in my school days: read novels. I remember those days when I wouldn't go to sleep just because I was reading a novel deep into the night. Lost, that's how you end up once you get hold of an interesting story.

But now things are different. I mean there are more urgent missions to be accomplished.

For instance, I desperately need to shed off at least 5kgs at the moment, or let's just say till end of April. While on holiday last December, I took some time to do a little shopping for new clothes, which is so difficult to do when you don't have the right size and shape. It's frustrating, to say the least. So I just have to do something.

It's not like I want to look like a toothpick because that would also mean you will have a flat ass, which would be quite horrible. (In my opinion, showing off a flat ass while your back is on everyone is a woman's worst nightmare, LOL), but we just want to lose weight, period. The photo above, by the way, was taken at the tennis court of Julius Berger Life Camp during the company's sports fest last October. Boy, don't I look overweight?

Endings and beginnings...

I was going to do some work during my Christmas break – work on my novel NSOL, that is. There are plans to have it re-published because it is now out of print, so I got in touch in October last year with a UK-based professional editor (highly recommended by a colleague in the writing world, Jude Dibia) who agreed to edit the book. Just before Christmas, the editor returned the manuscript to me. This is the work I was going to do: incorporate the changes she made and come up with a novel worthy of re-printing.

But oh well, who can work during Christmas, anyway? Aside from the fact that you just want to sit down with your people and enjoy the season and all its trappings, a couple of other things that needed urgent attention also came up (they always at this time of the year), and that’s how the manuscript stayed the way it was.

Talking of holidays, yes, I had a month-long break in the Philippines and came back to Nigeria middle of this month. Although I wished my holiday could be longer (or endless), it’s nice to be back in here in Abuja. Back to the grind, as a friend of mine used to say.

So what’s up? Oh you mean what’s my new year’s resolution?

Well, I am currently learning photography, so I am supposed to read the Guidebook of a professional camera recently purchased by Inside Track so that I can use it better. That’s one. Two: It’s a secret, but it has something to do with my weight. And three: work on the manuscript. If I can do all only these for the whole of 2010, I’d be a happier person.

Meanwhile, we are now working on the fourth edition of the mag. And that’s a whole lot of work altogether…

Chinese dinner for Inside Track

On Friday, the 27th of November 2009, members of the Editorial Staff of Inside Track Magazine were invited for dinner at the soon-to-open Royal China Restaurant here in Abuja. Hosting us was the MD of the restaurant, Mr. Pitt. Other invited guests were Mr. Alex Lamadrid (Charge d' Affaires of the Embassy of the Philippines) and Aaron, Kathy, and Helen from a Chinese firm based here in Abuja. Top photo shows Aaron, Helen, and Kathy showing off a copy of the current edition of Inside Track Magazine.

A most wonderful and enjoyable night.

ja

Nigerwives meeting

On Sunday, 1st November 2009, members of Nigerwives Nigeria (Abuja Branch) had a meeting at the Afro-Asia Garden in Wuse to discuss, among other things, the upcoming AGM 2010 which will be held here in Abuja. This particular meeting was hosted by the Filipino members of the association (top pic). From left to right are Grace, Lilian, me, Thalie, Adiza, and Maribel - the group to watch!!!

Nigerwives Nigeria is a 30-year old association of foreign women married to Nigerian nationals. It has members nationwide. The Abuja branch of the association meets once a month...