Ikeja, Nigeria...here I come again!

Zombie.....yikes!

Dare I tell you...this is for my SIX year old grandson! (He wanted it!!) What happened to Thomas the Tank Engine and Postman Pat?? Little boys have very different ideas of their ideal birthday cake these days...but whatever Andrew wants from me he's going to get. I hope he doesn't have nightmares with this. The head is made from Krispie Treats and padded in some areas with sugarpaste which allowed me to create the teeth in particular and the nose and cheeks. I had no idea what was going to come out of this once I started, but it's amazing how carried away with the gore you can get! Lol! This is far removed from my norm, but we all have to step out of our comfort zones once in a while to be able to discover other things about us. I had fun with this, I surely did, but I'm not looking to repeat it any time soon!

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Figure Modelling workshops in February 2012

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Nigeria...a personal view

If you were asked to name some of the most amazing places you've ever been on holiday...would you rate Nigeria high on your list? In fact, would you even consider Nigeria as a holiday option? Probably not. If we are to believe all that we read and all that we are told then that would be understandable. This account is merely a personal experience and I am not the voice of authority...even though I sometimes like to think I am, I am in the minority on that one! Lol! I got the opportunity to demonstrate my skills for Kogsy Sugarcraft Centre in Ikeja. I told very few about it until the advertisement was public, then I told anyone who asked where I was off to next on my travels. The response wasn't so wonderful, and if I had listened to all the warnings and opinions then I may never have gone. But anyone who REALLY knows me will realise that saying "don't" to me is futile. I can only judge things for myself and I would impress upon anyone to do exactly that, otherwise you may miss out on some of the few things in life that can actually impact it. I appreciate the position I am in for sure...knowing so many people, I was able to arrange my own security for this adventure but I travelled alone to and from the country without issue. Meeting up with my groupies at the airport (thanks lads!) I was immediately treated like a Queen and whisked off to my hotel. After a good night's rest, the next day I was off to do my thing at Kogsy. During the day time is when I first saw the streets....the security....police....beggars and sellers walking in between fast cars with a care less attitude. Through secured gates I go and into the Centre where I am greeted by a mass of eager to learn faces and some of my Facebook mafia! Lol! I take a break and am taken outside to walk around and finally see a little of how life is. Some things shock me...others sadden, but the main thing here is to open your mind and look beyond the things that first catch your eye. Once you realise how everything works, you will soon know that it is only you who has a different view...because you aren't part of this culture. What you witness is the every day life of the Nigerian people and it's every man for himself. You can either ignore it...run from it...or perhaps open your mind and get to know and then maybe you will begin to understand it. When I wasn't taking part in anything related to work, I was treated to the most relaxing experience of my life. Sun every single day...Guiness stout (for medicinal purposes of course...it helps keep malaria away, drink enough of it and you will be biting mosquitos and not the other way around!), beach parties and MUSIC! Nigerian people can move with the beat...and the beat is everywhere you go. I was very lucky to be looked after and never had a moment where I was completely alone. I experienced a very different way of life. Eating traditional foods, never decide you hate something judging it purely on sight. If you can close your eyes and trust all your other senses then you may be very pleasantly surprised. I've eaten with a fork and knife, chopsticks and now I can add to that...my fingers. If the culture requires me to eat off a shovel then I'd try that too. When in Rome do as the Romans do! Lol!

A massive thank you to Kogsy Sugarcraft Centre for hosting me and for giving me such a warm welcome, for introducing me to so many people and allowing me to come into their lives. Also, a huge thank you to my personal security guards...aka The Circle. If you've seen Meet the Parents movie you will know what I mean by that...the circle of trust. If not, then watch the movie, purely for the laughs if nothing else. I was surrounded by my own little circle of trust. Thank you guys, know that I will be calling for your assistance again because I know for sure that I will be returning in April 2012. No disrespect to anyone else's experience at all...but for me, I loved Ikeja and all it had to offer. You can keep your package holidays for me, centred around the most commercialised parts of every country. I want to be taken to the heart of everywhere, where reality bites...life is never the same again afterwards. It makes you appreciate more what you have and it would do some people good to be taken there and left with their eyelids stapled open to make sure they miss nothing and perhaps might just come home and never complain about the trivialities in their lives ever again.