For Suedonim

[Clarinet60]

Are you in Nigeria?
Did I read that on another thread, or just dream it? If so, what's it like?

I am indeed in Nigeria, Droile. 'What's it like?' Um...er...trying would be the best description. Anything I can help with?

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Hehehe, I'm not sure Philly is even available atm, Fio! I did pay £6 for a box of Cocopops last week.

IOt's best not to look at the prices Suedonim!! That is what your hardship allowance is for!!!

Lol, BB, that's true! I did scan the receipt this week as my bill was about twice the usual amount. But dd came shopping with me, hence the Cocopops and other pricey items. I was feeling indulgent towards her as she'd just spotted a dead body by the side of the road.

Message withdrawn

at dead body!

Rats and cockroaches in the market would be enough to send me straight to the shop that sold all the expensive imported stuff!

Hi, Shosha. We're here on a posting with dh's work connected with oil. Lots of S Africans here - it's a burgeoning market for them.

I don't really 'do' markets, BB, though I go to the fruit and veg ones. The body was of a beggar who'd died, poor chap. His body had been there since early morning, apparently, and was still there in the evening, after a day of 90deg temps. If a body isn't claimed by family the council eventually clears it away but only once it starts decaying. And if anyone goes to help, eg put a sheet over a body, that means they're assumed to have taken responsibility for it and will have to pay for a funeral etc.

bump FAO Droile.

Eh! Are you sayin that you are not going to Yaba Market, Suedonim? For buy nice clothes to fit you well well?

Nope, am holding out re Yaba market! I can't see the point in getting all hot and sweaty and discombobulated when I don't need to. Anyway, personal shoppers are the way to go in Lagos nowadays, so I'm told.

Sorry - I had a massive amnesia attack that only affected the word Nigeria in my brain.
Remembered I'd asked you today
Do you know a place called Aba near Lagos? It's where my dad came from.
(A thousand apologies)

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Lol @ memory loss!!

No, I don't think I do know Aba but dh has just acquired a superwhizzy new map of Lagos so I'll have a look and see if I can spot it.

I'm a bit busy atm as we moved apartments on Saturday and we're going home to the UK on Sunday for Easter. Life seems to consist of endless packing/unpacking/packing atm!

Hope you're having a nice time out there. Is that possible?

I'm having a much better time than I was last week, now we've moved. This is soooo much better, we have power, water and a proper kitchen. We are definitely not missing the defunct swimming pool, the barking dogs, the night-fighters or the chickens(!).

As expats we have a much better life than most Nigerians will ever experience, sadly, but it can be hard being in another culture and away from family and friends. Dh is the only person in his company who is resident and it sometimes produces waves of in me to see folks trolling off home after just six weeks. I make the most of it, though, and give them shopping lists of stuff to bring back for us.

Good, I'm glad you are ok .

Having power and water must feel like a novelty over there - from what I've heard.

How long are you there for?

Until December, at the moment but there may be more work coming up.

The national power provider is a disgrace; there's been virtually no mains electricity for six months now. People buy their own generators, if they can afford one, but the fuel for them has gone up a lot. And this in a country which is so rich in natural resources.

It's bad, isn't it. Must be so frustrating.
Is the countryside beautiful?

NEPA = Never Electric Power Anywhere or Not Enough Power Anywhere.

"NEPA done quench..." I remember it well well...!

Sue are you living near where I used to live?

Do the Nightfighters on VI still flash their tits at you when you drive past?

Droile, there's countryside here?? Sadly, the furthest we ever go in any direction is about five miles! If we were to go elsewhere we'd need a police escort as it's not safe to be on the roads esp with the elections coming up. I can't wait to go home on Sunday, for a change os scene.

MrsS, Never Expect Power Again. NEPA is now NPHC or something - National Power Holding Co? but they're no better than NEPA. Our new apartment is 100% run on generators, they haven't even bothered install NEPA/NPHC! We're on Banana Island, off Ikoyi, which may not have existed in your time as it's been reclaimed from the lagoon.

I wouldn't know about the nightfighters tits as I'm too old to be norty, staying out late, hehehe.