Hi Radiants,

Hope you are doing well.

So, I have a few things to share from last week. Some little happenings, a few things I've been thinking about, and an update on the series I've been watching. Let's get into it!

A new supermarket is opening nearby! Will we have more options?

Last week, I did a little supermarket shopping, and honestly, I noticed some prices had gone up. Mehn! I don't know if it has anything to do with the renovations they recently did at this supermarket, but things were a little more expensive this time.

To make matters worse, I couldn't even find some of the brands I usually buy because they are more affordable. So I had to adjust my shopping list and make do with what was available.

There was also a little moment at the cashier that I didn't particularly enjoy. I was making my payment through Orange Money, and I asked the cashier to confirm whether the payment code was correct. I didn't really like the way she responded to my question. I mean, I was only trying to make sure I was sending the money to the right place. Anyway, I made my payment and left.

But guess what happened next?

As I was leaving the supermarket and getting ready to go home, I noticed something I hadn't paid attention to when I arrived. There was another supermarket opening right next to this one!

And not just any supermarket. It's a well-known supermarket brand!

Now, the building had been undergoing construction or reconstruction for some time, and when I passed by, I didn't really pay much attention to it. I just assumed they were still working on the building. But this time, when I was leaving the supermarket, I looked in that direction and noticed that the work was already quite advanced. The name of the supermarket had also been revealed.

OMG! The surprise on my face! 😂

I was genuinely happy to see that. First of all, it's another place where we can shop, which means more options for finding the things we need. And secondly, I'm hoping this will bring some competition, especially when it comes to prices and customer service.

You know, sometimes you get used to shopping at a particular place because it's convenient or because they stock the products you like. But then prices change, some of the affordable brands disappear, or you have an experience that doesn't leave you feeling good.

Now imagine having another option just next door. You don't have to keep going back to a place where you're not happy with the prices or the service. You can try somewhere else.

And that's something I like. More options!

Of course, I don't know yet what the prices or services will be like in this new supermarket, but I'm looking forward to finding out. Hopefully, having another supermarket around will be good for shoppers in the area.

I'm actually excited about going there when it opens. Let's see what they have to offer!

An update on The Four of Us: Luthabo, what are you doing?

Now, let's talk about this series again because this week's episodes have left us confused and honestly, a little upset.

If you read my previous life update, you already know that I've been following a South African series called The Four of Us after getting drawn in by the clips I kept seeing on TikTok. I shared a little about Luthabo, Banzi and Bobby, and where things were when I last watched.

Well, things have changed, and I'm not sure I'm happy about it. 😂

Can you believe Luthabo is back with Bobby?

Yes! The same Bobby she spent all those years with (16 years), the father of her child, who was ready to leave her and marry another woman. Now he's back from prison, making efforts to win her over, and somehow, she has agreed to give their relationship another chance.

And what about Banzi?

I feel so sorry for him right now. Imagine being in love with someone, finally getting the chance to be with her, and then having to watch her go back to the man who hurt her. There were even moments when Banzi saw Luthabo and Bobby kissing, and he also heard them sleeping together. Can you imagine?

Luthabo wanted to tell everyone the truth, but she was advised not to because it could tear the family apart. Instead, she was encouraged to forgive Bobby and move on.

But honestly, I have questions.

Bobby is making all these efforts to win her back, but I can't help wondering whether it's because things didn't work out between him and Ndumi, the woman he was about to marry before going to prison. He had already married Ndumi traditionally, so there is quite a lot going on there too.

And now, after everything, Bobby has asked Luthabo to marry him, and she said yes!

A man she gave so many years of her life to, and with whom she has a child, was ready to leave her for another woman. And now she's going back to him? Meanwhile, Banzi is left heartbroken.

Mehn!

There are so many other details happening in the series, but I don't want to make this entire post about it. I think we, the audience, are being rage-baited at this point. 😂

But I'm still hopeful that the LEBANZI couple will find their way back to each other. Maybe Luthabo is just trying to get back at Bobby and leave him at the altar or something. Maybe there's something else going on that we haven't figured out yet.

That's what I'm choosing to believe for now because I really want Banzi and Luthabo together!

Anyway, I'll keep watching to see how this unfolds. I need to know what happens next.

Banana puff-puff has been saving breakfast!

Now, moving away from all that drama, let's talk about food.

Last week and even for part of this week, I've been making banana puff-puff (beignets banane) quite often. I had a good quantity of bananas at home that my grandma gave me, and thankfully, I had also managed to get the flour I mentioned in my previous post on time.

Remember how happy I was to find my preferred brand of flour back in stock?

I've been using the bananas and flour to make puff-puff for the children's breakfast and school snacks. And honestly, it has been so convenient.

For a few days, I haven't had to stress too much about what to prepare for breakfast or what the children would take to school. I already had something I could quickly make, and that took away a little bit of the pressure.

Because sometimes, what to eat is a whole question on its own. 😂 You finish one meal, and before you know it, you're already thinking about the next one. And when you also have to think about what the children will eat at school, it can get a little stressful.

So I'm happy I had those bananas at home and was able to put them to good use.

It's also one of those moments when something you bought earlier comes in handy at just the right time. I'm glad I didn't have to go looking for flour again.

And I finally bought some pawpaw!

Another little thing I've been doing lately is making more effort to include fruits in our meals.

In the course of doing that, I came across a pawpaw that caught my attention, and I decided to buy it.

Now, I haven't bought pawpaw in quite a while. Over time, I've noticed that it has become quite expensive. Sometimes, when I go looking for it, the smaller ones that would normally be more affordable aren't even available. So I just end up leaving it.

But this particular one attracted me, and I decided to get it. The lady sold it to me for 700 CFA because I was also buying other things from her. Normally, I would expect to pay at least 1,000 CFA for something like this.

So, that was a good deal for me! I was so lucky.

Another thing I liked about this particular pawpaw is that it looked like one that had been grown naturally, perhaps in someone's home garden. It didn't have that overly commercial look, and I was happy about that too. Of course, I can't say for certain how it was grown, but it was a nice find.

I'm just happy to have pawpaw at home again. It's funny how something as ordinary as finding an affordable fruit can make you happy. 😂

And that's pretty much what I've been up to lately.

I'm particularly looking forward to visiting the new supermarket when it opens. I'm curious to see what the prices will be like and what other products they'll have. And, of course, I'll be watching the next episodes of The Four of Us. I still haven't given up hope on Luthabo and Banzi!

As for home, I'm happy that I've been able to make use of the bananas and get a few things sorted for the children's meals.

Sometimes, it's these little things that make up our weeks. Nothing particularly extraordinary, but still worth sharing.

That's my little update for now. See you in the next one!

Hi Radiants, 

I believe that paying attention to children's education is one of the important responsibilities we have as parents. And when I talk about education, I don't mean only what happens in the classroom. I also mean what happens at home, the conversations we have with our children, the things we teach them about everyday life, and the little things we help them understand as they grow.

Of course, the school has its role to play. The teachers teach, the children learn, and there is a program to follow. But I also believe that we, as parents, have a role to play in helping our children understand what they learn, encouraging them to express themselves, and paying attention to the things they may not necessarily learn in school.

For me, this is one of the reasons I wanted us to start revising from the beginning of the school year. I wanted to be more involved in what the children were learning and to have time to go over their lessons with them. I'm more intentional about this now, and I'm happy about that. In the past years, I operated in survival mode. I'm glad I'm out of it, and I have more motivation to invest differently in my kids' education. It gets better from here. I also wanted to find ways to help them understand what they were learning, rather than simply memorising things.

But as much as I wanted us to do this, I also had to figure out how to make it work in our everyday life.

When school resumed, I didn't have the after-school routine we have now. I was trying things, adjusting, learning from my mistakes, and discovering what worked for us and what didn't. I had to consider the children's needs, my own energy, the work I had to do, and all the other little responsibilities that come with running a home.

So, with time, we gradually settled into something that works for us. It may still change as the children grow and our needs change, but for now, this is what our afternoons generally look like on school days.

First things first: bath, food, and a little rest.

When the children come back from school, the first thing they do is take a bath or have a shower. After that, they eat.

While they are bathing, I also use the time to do a few things around the house, especially things that will make the next day easier. I wash their lunchboxes, bottles, and any cutlery they brought back from school. I refill their bottles when necessary and get everything clean and ready for the next day.

Depending on what they will be taking to school the following day, I may also prepare a few things in advance.

For example, if they are going to have plantain or potatoes, I might peel and slice them and keep them in the fridge so that the next morning I only have to fry them. If they are having egg toast, I might beat the eggs, slice the bread and put everything away ready for the morning. It depends on what we are having that week and what can reasonably be prepared ahead of time.

I used to leave some of these things until later in the evening, but I realised that it wasn't always the best idea. Sometimes I would forget, and other times I would remember when I was already tired. And honestly, when you're tired at the end of the day, even a small task can feel like a lot.

So I started doing what I could earlier in the afternoon. That way, when evening comes, I have fewer things to worry about. I can concentrate on revision with the children without constantly thinking about what still needs to be done for the next day.

After bathing and eating, the children get some time to rest.

Now, this is one part of our routine that took some time to establish.

When school first resumed, I thought that after the children came home, ate and allowed their food to digest a little, we could simply move on to revision. I wanted us to start from the first day and get into the habit of revising regularly.

But I realised that I hadn't really considered how tired all of us could be by that time of the day.

While the children are at school, I'm also going about my day. I have my work to do, meals to prepare, and other things to take care of. Then I go to get them from school, come back home, serve them food, and sort out the things that need to be done. By the time all of that is over, I also need a little time to breathe.

And if I need that time, the children probably need it too.

I didn't want them to come straight from school and immediately feel that they had another set of lessons waiting for them. They spend much of their day in school, following instructions and learning, so I felt they needed a chance to slow down before we started again at home.

I also wanted them to get used to having quiet moments. My children don't always find it easy to settle down, and I think it is good for them to learn that they can sometimes simply be still, rest and have a little time to themselves.

So I introduced a rest period in the afternoon.

When I say rest, I don't necessarily mean sleep. Sometimes my son falls asleep, but my daughter generally doesn't sleep during the day. Recently, though, she has started getting more comfortable with the idea of simply lying down and resting. There was even a time she fell asleep, which made me happy because I could see that she was gradually getting used to it.

I usually dim the room by pulling the blind and making the atmosphere a little calmer. They lie down on their beds and have some quiet time. They don't have to force themselves to sleep. If they can simply lie down quietly and rest, that is fine with me.

At first, I used to insist that they sleep, but I eventually realised that it didn't have to be about sleeping. What mattered was that they had a chance to rest.

Of course, getting them used to this wasn't easy. There were times when I would tell them to rest and then find them playing instead. I had to go back several times to remind them to calm down and lie down. Sometimes they would come out complaining that they couldn't sleep or that they weren't tired.

You know how children can be when they don't particularly want to do something!

But with time, things have improved. They are becoming more comfortable with that period of rest, and I no longer have to keep going back to remind them as often as I used to. Sometimes, after resting for a while, they even come to ask if it is time for revision.

And that is progress to me.

What about homework?

There is one little exception to our routine.

On days when the children have homework, I usually get them to do it after they have eaten, before their rest time. Once they finish their homework, they can go and rest.

But on days when there is no homework, they simply eat, allow their food to settle a little, and then go and rest.

This is one of the things I've had to figure out along the way. I wanted us to revise regularly, but I also needed to find a way to organise the afternoon without making everything feel rushed or exhausting.

Having that rest period has helped us create a little breathing space between school and revision at home.

Then comes revision time

After some time, when it is time for us to get back to work, we come out and start revising.

Most of the time, I go over what the children learned that day. Sometimes we also revise things they covered earlier in the week, and I try to go back to previous lessons where necessary.

I'm still learning what works best for each child and how to approach different subjects, so I won't go into too much detail about the actual revision process here. I think that deserves a post of its own, especially because there are things I've been learning about helping children understand their lessons, remember what they've learnt and express what they know.

But one thing I can say is that our revision time is not always just a matter of opening a book and asking the children to recite what is written there.

I try to make it interactive. I explain things, write down important points on the blackboard, ask questions and get them to tell me what they understand. Sometimes I ask them to explain something in their own words so I can see whether they have really understood it.

And, of course, there are moments when they get tired or when a lesson takes longer than expected. When I notice that they are struggling to concentrate, I sometimes try to refresh them a little. It could be a fruit, a snack or even a little candy. Sometimes we just need a small break before continuing.

I don't want to make revision feel like something we must rush through at all costs. At the same time, I want us to make good use of the time we have, so I'm still finding that balance.

One thing I particularly like about this time is that it also gives us a chance to talk about school.

Sometimes, while we are revising, the children remember something that happened during the day and start telling me about it. I listen. I don't want them to feel that once we start revising, there is no room for anything else.

Of course, there are moments when I need to finish explaining something first. In that case, I might tell them to wait a little, and then I listen to what they want to share.

I also ask them about their day when they first come home. I want to know how school went, what happened, whether there is anything they want to tell me, and whether there is anything I need to know.

But sometimes, the stories come out naturally during revision, and I like that too. It becomes more than just a time to go over their lessons. It is also a time when we talk, share and learn a little more about what is happening in their lives.

After revision, we wind down.

Once we finish revising, the rest of the evening depends on how the day has gone.

Sometimes revision takes longer than expected. Other times, we finish earlier. It also depends on whether the children are hungry again.

If they want to eat, they have dinner. If they aren't hungry yet, we don't necessarily force it immediately. We try to get through the rest of the evening and go to bed as early as possible.

I'm particularly mindful of their bedtime when they have a test or an evaluation coming up. I want them to get enough sleep and feel well rested, rather than stay up late because we are trying to fit in too much.

After eating, they brush their teeth and get ready for bed.

That is generally how our evenings go. Nothing particularly extraordinary, just the everyday things we do to get through school days while making time for learning, rest and everything else that needs our attention.

We didn't get here in a day

Looking back, I think the most important thing about our routine is that it wasn't something I planned perfectly from the beginning.

When I first decided that we would start revising from the first day of school, my main concern was finding time to do it. I wanted to make sure that we could go over their lessons regularly and that revision would become part of our everyday life.

But as we started, I realised that I also needed to think about when we would revise, how tired the children might be, how much energy I would have left, and how to organise the other things I needed to do.

That is how the routine gradually developed.

I realised that the children needed rest before revision. I realised that doing a few things for the next day in the afternoon could make my evenings easier. I also learnt that introducing a new habit takes time. Just because I understood why I wanted us to do something didn't mean the children would immediately understand it or get used to it.

We had to adjust, and I had to adjust too.

Now, when the children come home from school, I generally have an idea of what needs to happen next. I know that while they are bathing, I can wash their lunchboxes and prepare a few things for the following day. I know that after eating, there will be time to rest before revision. And when we finish revising, we can focus on winding down for the night.

It makes the day feel a little more manageable, especially because I am also working and trying to take care of my other responsibilities.

Of course, I don't know how this routine will change as the weeks go by. The children will grow, their schoolwork will change, and we may need to adjust some things along the way. But for now, this is what works for us, and I'm happy that we are gradually settling into it.

I think that is something I'm learning about routines in general: sometimes you don't sit down one day and create the perfect routine. Sometimes you start with an intention, try a few things, realise what isn't working, make adjustments and eventually find something that fits your life a little better.

And that is where we are right now.

This is a little glimpse into our after-school life. There is still a lot I'm learning about helping the children with their schoolwork, and there are also other things I want to teach them beyond what they learn in the classroom. I'll share more about those experiences as we go along.

For now, this is how we roll on most school days, and I think it works for us.

Today has been quite sunny and warm, unlike last Sunday, when it was raining, especially in the morning. I had to go out last Sunday to collect a bag of food that had been sent to me, and guess what? The rain caught up with me. I had to wait for a while for it to stop before I could make my way back home.

Today, I also went out, this time to the supermarket. I wanted to get a few things for the children to snack on during the school week and pick up some things we needed at home. Nothing too serious, just the usual preparations for a new week.

Two things made me particularly happy during this little shopping trip. One was finding my preferred brand of flour back in stock. It had been missing from the supermarket for weeks, maybe even months, so when I saw it today, I was happy to get it. 

The other was the yoghurt I wanted to buy, which wasn't available. Thankfully, I still have some at home.

Lately, I've been trying to buy a little extra whenever I find certain things in stock, even when I still have some at home. Sometimes, you go to the supermarket looking for something, and it isn't there, and you might have to wait a while before it comes back. So, if I can get another pack to keep at home, why not?

Anyway, that was a little part of my Sunday. Now, let me tell you about something else I've been up to lately.

I've been watching a series called The Four of Us on TikTok!

Honestly, it's been a while since I followed a series. The last one I watched was The Wife, another South African series. I watched it on cable TV, but some months ago, our antenna got bad, and I decided not to rush into repairing it.

At first, I thought it was just a problem with the positioning, but I later realized the antenna needed to be changed. I also thought it wasn't a priority at the time, so I left it. The children have their tablets, and I figured we could manage without the cable for a while. 

Since then, I've mostly been watching movies and other things on YouTube whenever I want some entertainment. I haven't really had a series to follow.

But then came The Four of Us.

I started seeing 10-second clips from this South African series while scrolling on TikTok. You know how it is when people post short clips from a show and everyone in the comments is reacting to what happened? 😂 I kept seeing the clips and wondering what was going on. There was one particular storyline that caught my attention, and the more clips I watched, the more curious I became.

Before I knew it, I was looking for full episodes. I found an account sharing them, followed the account, and started watching.

And guys, this story!

The particular storyline I'm following involves a lady called Luthabo. She has been with a man for years, and they have a child together. From what I gathered, she's been with him for years, but he still hasn't given her the ring. They live in the family house, and his brother is also there. The interesting part? His brother is in love with her.

Now, imagine living in the same house with the man you're in a relationship with and his brother Banzi, who secretly loves you. And this brother isn't just there looking at you from a distance. They have a friendship, they share moments, and there have even been kisses. But whenever he tells her he loves her, he later acts as if he was drunk or didn't mean it. 😭

When I first came across those clips, I was like, what is going on here? This is spicy!

Things eventually got to a point where Luthabo's man wanted to marry another woman. Luthabo was already upset about how things had turned out, and when she discovered something about the woman he wanted to marry, she went and sabotaged the wedding. I don't know if I have all the details right because I didn't start watching from the beginning, but that was how I understood it.

And that incident seemed to push things forward between Luthabo and the brother Banzi. He finally made his feelings clear, and the two of them started a relationship. Of course, they had to keep it a secret because everyone knew Luthabo as the woman who was supposed to end up with his brother.

But just when things were getting interesting, the brother's ex-girlfriend Nstiki came back into the picture. She wanted him back, but he wasn't interested. She tried all sorts of things to get him to accept her again, and when she discovered that he was now with Luthabo, things got really messy.

Let's just say she became violent. And the week ended with the two lovers in a very difficult situation, with this woman threatening them and the family still struggling to accept what was going on.

Then, in the middle of all this, Luthabo's original man came back from prison and ended up saving them from the violent ex. Remember, this is the man she had been with for all those years, the father of her child. While he was in prison, he had apparently told his brother that he regretted what he had done to Luthabo and missed her.

Now he's back, and he doesn't even know that Luthabo and his brother have started dating!

So, what happens next? Does Luthabo go back to the man she's been with for sixteen years, or does she stay with the brother she's now in love with? And how is the family going to handle all this?

Honestly, I am looking forward to finding out. 😂 This week is going to be hot.

I know there are other storylines in the series, and I'm beginning to understand some of them, but for now, this is the one that has my attention. It's funny how a few short clips on social media can pull you into a whole series. I wasn't even looking for anything to watch, but here I am, following episodes and waiting to see what happens next.

A little thought about rest and laundry

Away from the series and my little supermarket trip, I have also been thinking about how much energy household chores take.

Yesterday, I did some cleaning and laundry, and by the time I was done, I was so tired. I had planned to finish the remaining cleaning today, especially the part outside, but when today came, I just didn't feel like pushing myself to do it.

I decided to leave it for another time and allow myself a little rest.

Well, I didn't rest as much as I would have liked because there were still things to do, including going to the supermarket. But at least I didn't force myself to do everything I had planned. And I'm glad about that.

I was also happy that I didn't have to cook today. Sometimes, just not having to think about preparing a meal is a relief, especially when you're already tired.

And you know what all that washing yesterday reminded me of again? My need for a washing machine.

I've been thinking about getting one for some time now, but lately, the thought keeps coming back to me. The more I do laundry, the more I think about the time and energy I could save if I had a washing machine at home.

Honestly, it's beginning to feel less like something I'd simply love to have and more like something I really need. Laundry takes so much time, and when you have other things to do, that time and energy matter.

I don't know when I'll get one, but it's definitely something I'm thinking about more seriously now.

And that's how my Sunday has been!

I'm looking forward to the new week, and I'm also looking forward to watching more episodes of The Four of Us. I really want to know how this whole situation with Luthabo and the two brothers is going to end. 😂

Anyway, that's my little update for now. I hope your Sunday has been good, and if you've been getting ready for a new week too, I hope it goes well for you.

See you in the next post!

I had been seeing people talk about the difficulty of finding taxis in Yaoundé, but it wasn't until I went out myself that I got to experience what they were talking about.

There had been a lot of discussion on social media about the new requirements for taxi drivers in the city. From what I understood, drivers were now required to obtain certain documents, including a sticker with a number and a QR code that could be used to verify the identity of the vehicle or its owner. The idea was to make it easier to identify taxis and their owners, especially in cases involving theft, kidnapping, or other security concerns.

As expected, people had different opinions about the new requirements. Some thought it was a good initiative, while others questioned whether it would actually make a difference. There were also complaints about the difficulty of finding taxis, as some drivers who had not completed the requirements could no longer operate their taxis.

Then came the day I had to go out.

I had an issue with a bill that I needed to sort out, so I went out to take care of it. When I tried to get a taxi, I noticed something I wasn't expecting. The fare for a distance I would normally pay 100 FCFA for had gone up to 150 FCFA.

I was surprised. Even the way the drivers were asking about the fare made me wonder whether something official had changed. I found myself asking one of the drivers if there had been an announcement about an increase in taxi fares.

He explained that the new requirements came with additional costs for drivers. They had to spend more money getting the necessary documents, and according to him, that was why the fares were going up.

I remember thinking, so we are the ones who have to bear the cost of all this?

He agreed. According to him, that was how it worked. The cost starts from somewhere and eventually reaches everyone else.

We had a whole conversation about it during the journey.

On the one hand, I could understand why the requirements might be useful, especially considering the security concerns surrounding public transport. Being able to verify a taxi's identity through a QR code could be helpful. At the same time, I could also understand why the additional cost would be a concern for drivers, particularly if they had to keep spending money to renew their documents.

And, of course, when the cost of providing a service goes up, the people using that service may end up paying more for it.

I couldn't help wondering how all of this would work out in the long run.

Anyway, I got to where I was going and did what I needed to do. But there was another thing I noticed that day.

The roads were unusually clear.

There were fewer taxis around, and you could really notice the difference. I had seen people online talking about how much easier it was to move around, while others complained about having to walk long distances because they couldn't find a taxi. Experiencing it myself made me understand both sides of the conversation a little better.

When it was time to return home, I decided to take a bike.

These days, I don't take motorcycle taxis as often as I used to. During my university days, I would happily take a bike when I needed to get somewhere. But over the years, I've become more cautious about using them, especially because of the way some riders drive. I'd rather take a taxi whenever I can.

But that day, taxis were not easy to find, and I didn't feel like waiting around for one. I had already made a couple of stops, and I just wanted to get home.

So I took a bike.

Interestingly, I wasn't as afraid as I usually am when I'm on one. Of course, the rider seemed careful, and I appreciated that. But I also think the state of the roads played a part. With fewer cars around, the roads were much clearer, and the journey felt less stressful than it might have on a busier day.

I was actually quite relaxed.

It was something I noticed because I'm usually more conscious of my surroundings when I'm on a bike. That day, I just sat there and enjoyed the ride without feeling as worried as I normally would.

A few days later, I went out again to collect something that had been sent to me. I took a bike on my way there, and somewhere along the way, I remembered that earlier day and the whole taxi situation.

The roads were still clearer than I was used to seeing them, and it reminded me of how much the situation had changed the way people were moving around.

I don't know how things will eventually settle or whether the new requirements will make the difference people are hoping for. I can see why a system that makes it easier to identify taxis and their owners could be useful, especially when safety is a concern. But I can also see how the additional requirements and costs could affect the drivers and, eventually, the passengers.

It was one of those days when something happening around the city became part of my own experience.

I'd heard people talking about it, and then I found myself having to adjust my own plans because of it. I paid more for a taxi than I expected, had an interesting conversation with a driver, and ended up taking a bike home without feeling as nervous as I usually do.

Hope you are doing well.

There has been a cooking gas shortage in Cameroon for the past few weeks. Well, I had my own little experience with it recently, and honestly, I didn't expect buying gas to become such an adventure. 😂

Finding Gas Wasn't Easy

I have two gas cylinders at home, but I switched to the second one the last time without getting the first one refilled. So when I needed to refill it, I thought it would be as simple as sending someone to buy it like I used to do.

It wasn't that simple.

The person I sent went to the usual places around, but there was no gas. He had to ask a commercial motorcycle rider to take him somewhere farther to find some.

Thankfully, he eventually found it, but it was 9,000 FCFA. Normally, a 12.5 kg cylinder costs around 6,500 or 7,000 FCFA, depending on what you're used to paying, so 9,000 FCFA was already a lot more than I expected. I expected the price to be higher but not as much as 9,000 FCFA.

And that wasn't even all I had to spend.

He had also spent money on transport while moving around looking for the gas, so I had to reimburse him for that. I also gave him a little extra to appreciate the effort he had made because, honestly, he could have gone to the usual places, found nothing and returned home. Instead, he kept looking until he found somewhere to buy it. In total, I spent 13,000 FCFA to get gas in Yaounde.

I was just happy he found gas.

The thing is, I had been a little worried because I didn't know how long the gas in the cylinder I am currently using would last. What if it finished before he found the other one? Imagine being in the middle of cooking and suddenly having no gas, with the other cylinder not filled. 😅

So when he finally came back with it, I was relieved.

But this whole experience got me thinking about how something as ordinary as buying cooking gas can suddenly become stressful. Usually, you know where to go, how much you're likely to pay, and roughly how long the whole thing will take. You don't expect to spend half your day looking for it or paying extra just to get what you need.

I'd already been seeing people talk about the gas shortage online, but experiencing the difficulty of finding it myself made it feel a little different.

And I kept thinking about what happens when your gas finishes and you can't find a refill. What do you do if you have food to cook and children to feed? Not everyone can keep moving from one place to another looking for gas, especially when transport and the price of gas itself are already eating into the budget.

For me, I was fortunate that the person I sent eventually found some.

Anyway, that's my little gas shortage story.

I hope things get back to normal soon because nobody should have to go through all that to buy cooking gas.

Hope you are doing well.

It's been a little while since I shared a proper life update, so I thought I'd sit down and tell you what's been happening around here lately.

A few things have changed since my last post.

The holiday is officially over, the kids are back in school, I'm trying to get myself back into a few routines, and there are a couple of things I've been working on that are taking much longer than I expected.

So, let's catch up.

And Just Like That, School Is Back

The long holiday went by so quickly.

I know I say this almost every year, but how does a holiday that feels so long when it starts suddenly become over? Lol.

One of the first signs that school has resumed in our house is the living room.

During the holiday, the children's toys seem to slowly take over the place. They spend weeks coming out whenever they want, and somehow there is always something lying around.

Now that school has started, the toys have mostly disappeared to their storage.

They come out on weekends again.

That's how I know we're back to school. 😂

The early mornings are back too.

We're waking up earlier, getting ready, making sure everyone has what they need and trying to get into the rhythm of the new school year.

And honestly, there is quite a bit that comes with starting a new school year.

It's not just about buying school supplies and paying fees. There's also the responsibility of making sure everything is in order and helping the children settle into a new routine.

You want the year to start well.

You want them to have what they need.

You want them to get comfortable with their new classes, teachers and schedules.

And then, of course, you have to get yourself used to the routine too.

After weeks of slower mornings, the alarm suddenly feels very serious again. 😂

I'm Apparently Re-Schooling Myself in Mathematics

Speaking of school, my daughter is now in Level Two of primary school, and I've been getting a little refresher course in primary-school mathematics through her homework.

And honestly, it's funny because there are things I understand now that I definitely did not understand when I was in primary school.

I actually remember struggling with some of these things myself.

I started school quite early, and I think some of the things we were being taught were simply beyond my capacity to understand at that age.

But instead of thinking, I don't understand this yet, I think I developed the mindset that mathematics was just difficult.

And once you decide something is difficult, you can easily carry that belief with you.

So now I'm sitting with my daughter trying to explain some of these things, and I'm looking at the questions thinking, Wait... this is actually not that difficult. 😂

Apparently, I'm re-schooling myself in mathematics thanks to her. By the way, during our time, we called it Arithmetic. We only met mathematics in secondary school lol.

I'm not complaining though.

It's actually been interesting to revisit some of these things as an adult and realise that I understand them differently now.

I Started a 90-Day Challenge

Another thing I've been doing lately is my own little 90-day challenge.

I'd already been thinking about doing something like this before, but then I started seeing people on TikTok talking about their 90-day challenges and sharing what they were trying to accomplish.

It motivated me to take my own idea more seriously.

So I decided to use that energy and give myself a 90-day period to really focus on a few things I want to improve and work on.

The idea is basically to spend September, October and November being more intentional, and then look back at the end of it and see what actually happened.

Of course, getting motivated to start something is one thing.

Keeping up with it is another. 😂

It's very easy to watch a few motivational videos, make a beautiful plan and feel like you're about to transform your entire life by Monday.

Then Monday comes.

And Tuesday.

And suddenly you're like, Okay... let's just take it one step at a time.

So that's where I am with it.

One step at a time.

And Yes, I'm Still Trying to Get Back Into YouTube

Part of this whole "getting back into things" also involves YouTube.

I have footage sitting on my phone from months ago that I still haven't edited.

Meanwhile, we are now in September.

At this point, I don't even know whether to call them old vlogs or historical documents. 😂

But I'm finally trying to get myself back into the rhythm of filming, editing and publishing again.

I'm hoping to start getting them out instead of letting them sit on my phone forever.

I think sometimes the hardest part isn't even starting.

It's getting yourself back into a rhythm after you've fallen out of one.

So that's another thing I'm working on.

Slowly, but surely.

My YouTube Channel.

My Plants Are Doing... Okay

My little plant corner has also been keeping me busy.

The plants I brought back from my trip are now growing, although not all survived.

Some are doing really well.

Some are just surviving.

And some didn't make it at all.

Which, I suppose, is part of gardening.

You can plant something, take care of it, wait patiently and still not get the result you wanted.

But we have new harvests! I'm so excited 😊 

My tomatoes are beginning to get ripe and they are big! I also harvest the last green pepper and hoping it will bear some more of them. I have harvested four big green peppers so far. 

I'm also dealing with a little pest problem at the moment.

Something has been attacking some of my vegetables, especially the tomatoes and green pepper plants.

I've been trying to keep on top of it by cleaning the leaves regularly and removing the pests whenever I find them.

Some of the tomato plants seem to be more affected than others, so I'm still watching them and hoping I can keep them under control.

My snake plants are giving me a completely different problem.

They are growing so much that they're starting to outgrow their container.

And I know what I need to do.

I need to repot them.

Or divide them.

Or separate some of the new shoots.

Something.

But for some reason, I keep overthinking the whole thing.

I look at the container, look at the plants, think about how I'm going to separate everything, think about the soil I'll need, and then somehow I end up doing nothing.

😂

I've been saying for a while that I need to deal with them, so maybe this is the year I finally do it.

I'm Still Figuring Out My Ankara Business

And then there's my Ankara handmade business.

Yes, I'm still working on it.

Well... working on it might be a generous way of putting it because a lot of what I've been doing lately is thinking, planning, changing my mind, thinking some more and trying to figure out exactly what I want to make.

It's taking a while.

Sometimes that bothers me because I really would like to see myself moving faster.

I want to have the ideas, make the things, take the pictures, put them out there and just get on with it.

But I'm also learning that I don't want to rush myself into making things I'm not completely comfortable with.

I'm still figuring out what I actually want this little business to look like and what I would be happy creating and selling.

And I think that's more important to me than simply being able to say, I launched.

So yes, it's taking longer than I thought.

But I don't regret taking the time.

It's not about getting everything perfect.

I just want to feel comfortable and happy with what I'm doing.

And hopefully, I'll have something to show you soon.

That's Life Lately

So that's what's been happening around here.

The holiday is over and the school routine is back.

The toys have returned to their weekend schedule.

I'm apparently re-learning primary-school mathematics.

I'm attempting a 90-day challenge and reminding myself that motivation is great, but consistency is where the real work begins.

I'm trying to get back into YouTube, despite having footage from months ago sitting on my computer.

My plants are growing, fighting pests, outgrowing their containers and generally keeping me entertained.

And I'm still figuring out my Ankara business, one idea at a time.

I'm just getting back into things, paying attention to what feels right, and taking it one step at a time.

See you in the next update. 🌿

Hi my Radiants,

Hope you are doing well. Happy September.

It's been a few weeks since my last post, and honestly, not much has happened. At least, nothing that I thought was important enough to sit down and write about.

But I've been thinking about this blog and what I want to share here, and I've realised that it doesn't always have to be something that happened.

Sometimes it could be something I noticed, I found interesting, or I saw online that made me think, apart from the simple little things that happened in my everyday life that I feel like sharing.

So I'm leaning into that a little more.

And one of the things that has made me particularly happy lately is my little green pepper.

My Green Pepper Finally Grew!

If you've been following my little plant adventures, you might remember this one.

Before I travelled, I had a plant growing in one of my containers and I wasn't even completely sure what it was.

Related: What Happened After We Came Back Home | New Plants, Preserving Food & Settling In

I suspected it was a green pepper, but I wasn't certain.

I had planted some green pepper seeds a while ago and, after waiting for what felt like forever, I eventually forgot about them. I had completely given up on seeing anything grow.

Then one day, this little plant appeared.

When it started growing, I became curious because the leaves looked much bigger than the regular pepper plant I had grown before. The plant's whole structure also looked different.

So I had my suspicions.

Maybe this was actually the green pepper I had been waiting for.

Then I travelled.

Before leaving, I was worried about my plants because I didn't know how long I would be away or how I would keep them watered. I tried to figure out a way to give them a regular supply of water, but it didn't work out the way I had hoped.

So I moved them to the more open part of my balcony where they could at least get some rain if it rained.

When I came back, some of the plants were looking a little weak because it hadn't rained for a while.

Related: Holiday Days, Travel, Family Time Food & Little Things | Life Lately In Cameroon

I watered them and started taking care of them again.

And then, sometime after that, I noticed flowers.

I was excited because I thought, okay, this is it. Now we'll finally know what this plant is.

And eventually, two of the flowers produced fruit.

That's when I knew.

It really was a green pepper!

I was so happy. 😂

There were actually several flowers, but most of them didn't make it. They would appear, start growing, and then turn yellow and fall off.

But these two survived.

And I got to use my very own homegrown green pepper to cook.

The first one I used was fine and tasted just like a green pepper should.

The second one was interesting because it had a surprisingly strong pepper smell. It actually smelled more like the hot pepper we usually use here.

I don't know if that was because it was grown naturally or if that's just how that particular pepper was, but I used it anyway.

I put it in my stew and later used it to make jollof rice.

And honestly, I was just happy that I had grown something that I could actually eat.

I wish the other flowers had survived because I would have had quite a little harvest by now.

But I'm grateful for these two.

Hopefully, the plant will produce more.

The Other Plants

My other plants have been having their own little stories too.

The plants I brought back from my trip have now been planted.

Unfortunately, not all of them survived.

Some tried to germinate but eventually withered and died. Others seem to have settled in quite well, though, so I'm hoping they continue growing.

I also have tomatoes growing.

I didn't even intentionally plant them.

They just appeared.

Now the tomatoes are growing and flowering too, and I'm waiting to see what happens next.

The End of the Holiday

And just like that, the long holiday is coming to an end.

This is actually the last week of the holiday, and school starts next week.

So we're back to preparing for the new school year and putting together the last few things the kids need before school starts.

But honestly, it's been a good holiday.

The kids have had a good time, we've rested, and they've also spent a lot of time at home learning little things along the way.

Sometimes they come into the kitchen while I'm cooking and watch what I'm doing.

They've also been willing to help, which I really enjoy.

There is something nice about watching them learn these little everyday things at home.

So even though the routine is about to start again and we'll soon have to wake up earlier and get everyone ready for school, I'm grateful for the holiday we've had.

It was a chill one.

And I think we needed that.

And Yes, I've Been Drinking More Tea

I've also been drinking a lot more tea lately.

Remember when I took out my teapot again and started making tea?

Well, tea has officially become one of my regular favourite things lately.

I've been having it quite often, sometimes even twice a day.

I travelled with my tea the last time. 😂

And now that I'm back, I've been enjoying different kinds.

I've been making tea from some of the herbs I brought back from the trip, and I've also been making different drinks with the green tea leaves I have.

There's something about having a warm cup of tea that I really enjoy, especially when I'm at home and everything is quiet.

So yes, tea has somehow become part of life again lately.