ROYAL RUBIES

A pleasant afternoon to you. How do you do? On today's post, knowledge is said to be appealing. Here's why... Sound knowledge is a venture not everyone is willing to invest in . Knowledge, they say is power, but what are you willing to pay for its acquisition? Everyone, or rather, majority of folks love to be associated with individuals who are vast and deep versed. However, we fail to make enquiries as to how such a feat was acquired. We would rather appreciate the outcome, than emulate the means. Recently, I confided in a friend my inability to prepare 'starch', a native meal of my motherland. He did well to remind me of the wealth of knowledge embedded in Google. Shamefacedly, I promised myself to look up the recipe for the meal. Don't ask if I have looked it up. How many opportunities to accumulate knowledge have we passed up? Or just when would you realize how powerful a person with knowledge, is? The means of acquiring knowledge is a process ...

Having a good day, dear ones? I crave your indulgence as I introduce today's message. Growing up in the 90's afforded me the opportunity of listening to a great variety of music. Birthday parties, school parties and almost every occasion was agog with peculiar genres of music which we danced to. However, over time some of these legends either passed on or fizzled out and didn't find music marketable enough, thereby handing the reins to the younger artistes who littered virtually every city. Likewise, I faintly recall using coins as a medium of exchange. What became of this metal piece is still unbeknownst to me. Whilst growing up, I was told 5 naira used to be someone's paycheck. Well, several events have altered the economy of our country . . . and now, 10 naira is almost nonexistent in the market. Industries spring up on the regular with arrays of flavours. And melodious jingles are made to extol yet another condiment with promises to titillate not just t...

3, 2, 1. . . Blast off ! Welcome to the second half of 2020. Forgive my delay in reaching out. However, I trust you've been in good health. When the wait lengthens, When all you feel is regression, I hope you remember Him who makes the wait remarkable. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• This period has been filled with unforeseen delays. Several weddings and events were postponed. Some organizations took to the social web in order to keep relevant. Kudos to them. Church halls reverberated with long silence. Classrooms weren't left out as they piled up cobwebs. Oh my, libraries were also deserted. Recreational parks hungered for some merriment. Cinema houses suffered abandonment. Alas, many homes now have steady occupants. During this period, some took out time to develop themselves. Others were not afforded such an initiative. Then we realized that in spite of the events (and what we made of them), time still marched on. Even while we wa...

In a certain year, I was coached by Pa. He coached me in several subjects including the English language. While coaching me for the external examinations in English, he focused more on article and letter writing. However, I detested writing articles. After a topnotch preparation, I went in for the exam. I steadied myself as I read through the English essay questions which were a repetition of some previous years. I carefully noted my points for each paragraph for the letter and article writing as I had been taught. I was ready... Boom! Of a sudden, my eyes flashed downwards to the last question which asked me to narrate a story. My joy knew no bounds because once a storyteller, forever, a storyteller. I happily narrated the story using myself as the persona and submitted. On getting home, I narrated to Ma how my exam went. She picked up the question paper and inquired, " Which did you answer - article or letter writing ?" I answered almost immediately and sai...

And sometimes, Our scars are emblazoned, For they need to be reference points. "Mummy, look! She's got the stripes of a tiger etched on her skin. Can she possibly pass for a tigress?" Jake's mum looked up puzzled and mystified. She mouthed I'm sorry to me. She was visibly shocked at her Son's rude utterance. Responding to her charge, she said, "Dear Jake, she's a normal human." Politely, I smiled at Jake's mum as though it were no problem. My heart sought to speak the language of freedom. My mind refused to be sober. Tears tickled my eyes and I knew I couldn't let out, at least not just yet. Gathering every ounce of respect left in her, she walked to me and spoke softly, " I'm sorry ma. Please forgive my son's crude joke. He had asked me to take him to the zoo so he could see wild animals, but somehow, I failed to create time for that". I smiled deficiently and told her, "It's OK. At least, he v...

" Wait, it's not yet time!" I walked into the air conditioned office. A pleasant looking receptionist ushered me to the settee. My feet rejoiced at the release to sit. My already aching ankles screamed for joy. My eyes wandered and settled on several faces in the reception arena. A lady was ushered into the conference room and not too long after, she was done with her appointment. Same thing was the case with some others two. Of a sudden, a superfluously dressed woman walked in and was immediately showed into the office we all waited to enter. The facial reactions that seeped from the faces of people seated was priceless. As an avid reader, my eyes began scanning the environment searching for what to keep my mind occupied. It took note of several ads that were placed around the reception arena. Several faces emitted hisses and disgruntled remarks. I studied the puzzled glances that escaped the faces of people waiting and shook my head. " Na wa o !...

"The eagle has no fear of adversity. We need to be like the eagle and have a fearless spirit of a conqueror! ” — Joyce Meyer The dark night slowly emerged, shadows stealthily walked in. The shadows seemed to dance with the sparkling stars. The moon stood still observing her frail form beneath. Her fears gave way. The trees suddenly shuddered in fright and the air became tense. Several unpleasant images conjured in her mind. A growing incertitude plagued her heart. What if he came tonight? Will he swallow me or salute in reverence? She banged the door but no answer came. She buzzed the intercom impatiently but received silence. The leaves rustled and she knew the hour had come. The heavy leather boots plunked the ground and shook. "Flee!" Her heart told her. Her feet failed so she stood, waiting and waiting for "its" arrival. The footsteps drew closer and her feet finally obeyed the gentle nudges from the heart. She fled, leaving it all behind. He...