The NOVICE MASTER|Welcome to Uncle Che’s NOVICE MASTER. This blog is all about Science and Technology, Business and Economy, Home and Family, Personality and Self Improvement as well as personal opinions, reviews and lifestream

I used to complain about outages but I guess I was wrong about the severity of the tag I placed on the situation. Now is really the time to complain and tag the outages a more serious name. The outages are so rampant that they are expected to occur at any moment and last for as long as possible. I blog like a thieve, you know, write a on aper, type it in word (while saving) as soon as power is on and quickly hit the publish button on my wordpress post page.

Even at this stage, I shouldn’t be complaining much. My mum says, “Never you complain because the situation is not yet at its worst possible state/stage”. Wise mum, huh? Semi-educated though . If she had even a tenth of the education I have now, I guess she would be the one teaching me how to knob a tie. Oh! Let me not pretend here. I never put on one. I feel very uncomfortable in suits. Noela always asks “How would you dress up on our wedding day? “In tennis shoes, jeans and a T-Shirt? Ha ha ha.

Oh! This reminds me of a discussion I had with Lainy a few days ago. They were just musings, you know, a little this and a little that and we got to the point of my upcoming wedding. I was talking about Noela planning to be very classy and Choosy about the wedding and Lainy told me every girl is. They always want the best. Lainy asked me if she was invited and I replied a firm “NO”. When she put on a sad emoticon, I explained to her that no wedding planner gets invited to a wedding. Whop invites the one running the show? Ha ha ha.

When she asked me what my idea of a perfect wedding would be, I really didn’t know what to say. I really have never been to any wedding except Simon’s Wedding with Lidwina. I told her division of labor and specialization must take it’s course and in this case, I am the provision minister of the financial department. Nothing else

After the word “financial” I paused and many things came to my head in a rush. I found myself telling Lainy a part of my history never narrated to her before…

Without the street lights, everyone felt it was OK. The whole city was kind of used to it. No one ever imagined improvements like street lights in the city of Buea so soon. Even when the poles were being planted and the cable works done, most still thought it was just a campaign move against the upcoming elections.

The first time the lights went operational was on the eve of the University of Buea’s Convocation ceremony. Everyone harbored the conception that the street lights were meant just for the convocation ceremony and that they will be put off the next day. It was easy to think like that since the convocation ceremony of the students of the University of Buea has always been the greatest occasion in that small town.

To everyone’s surprise, the street lights were not discontinued as speculated. People started hoping that it was a permanent situation but most believed that after some other public holidays like X-Mas, New Year, 11th February and the mount Cameroon race of hope, the street lights will be history.

Why did people have such conceptions? Is the city council too poor to afford for street lights. Oh, I don’t think that is the appropriate question since they already have them. Are they considered to poor to pay the bills? Maybe not. Is it politically impossible for the Anglophone minority to enjoy such privileges? Is there anything bad about development except meeting up with accompanying responsibilities?

The initial assumptions that the street lights were put in place just for the public holidays may be correct. If so, then why did they allow the lights on several days after the Mountain race and trade fair? That may be difficult answering but logically, they may have added some days of grace just to blindfold the masses. Last night, the street lights went into extinction. I will wait till it is night time. My conclusion on this story will depend on whether they will be on this night or not.

GRRRRRRRH

What’s this? I was mad. How could I just as for a 15mins permission from Lainy to go get some soft drinks and immediately I came back into the room, there was an outage. I could no longer continue the instant messaging with Lainy over yahoo messenger. Though we didn’t have much to say to each other again, I guess some emotions of hugs and bye-bye was worth the extra minutes. The outage started at a few minutes to 11pm and ended at about 3:40pm today. Before I came online, Lainy was already off for bed and I could only read some offline messages. Frustrating!!!

Over the past three weeks, the outages here have gone back to “normal”. When I say normal, I it ironic. I mean frequent interruption of power. Outages in Cameroon are as frequent as greetings. Even with the intervention of one American energy company, I guess the only thing that has changed is just the name of the electricity corporation from SONEL (Societe National d’Electricite) to AES-SONEL. I don’t even know what the AES there stands for and I don’t even care. All I know is that they are a mess.

Someone asked me not to put any blame on the American company. He explained that despite the fact that they have an influence up to the level of a change of name, they run less than 50% of the show.

Cameroon, as they rightly say, is Africa in Miniature. We don’t only have everything here but we have everything in abundance, especially when referring to natural resources, food crops and cash crops. Even the electricity that the masses are constantly deprived of is well enough to power at least 5 African countries. Yeah, you heard me. Five!!! However, politics always has a place to play. For political reasons, about 4 potential sources of power generation are being ignored.

I really don’;t have any problem with all of the above. The bills. That’s my problem. Why should my bills almost double when I use power for less than 80% of the time I need it.

I really felt pity for Noela. She had three assignments to complete and submit today and was still on the second when the outage occurred. I am not sure she had a sound sleep. She must have been dreaming about the unfinished work the whole night.

Sorry, baby. Never mind them

Let’s just pretend the day after the 28th of February is the 29th of February. So, today is the 29th of February and if it is the 29th of February, then it is certainly my birthday. He he he. It is difficult handling birthday issues when you are born on February 29 because you get to see that day only during leap years. However, you must somehow remind yourself you are one year older. Today is that day for me.

Lainy did some calculations and kept reminding me that it will soon be my birthday and after that day, someone won’t be calling someone Ate for a very long time. Ha ha ha. We always have funny ways of expressing ourselves. However, one thing remains clear; once an Ate, always an Ate. Before could even talk about my birthday publicly, she blew it up on her blog by inviting me to a Birthday Wis Tag. Later, Ate Vilma made a very wonderful post about me, wishing me happy birthday in a very special way. To be honest, I was so much carried away that I read that post four times in one sitting before I could think of what to say. Then, came lainy again with a summary of how we got to know each other, how our friendship has been moving on till date and also added February 29th on her Calendar just for me. She says today is A Special Day for a Very Special Man Ha ha ha. Thanks very much, Lainy

As if Lainy read my mind, I was waiting so that I could pass on the birthday tag on my birthday.

Here are my wishes

1. A longer, happier and more successful life for Ivy despite her loss
2. Lainy giving Scott a “physical” hug before the end of this year.
3. Noela having good grades in her Masters program and ACCA exams
4. Good health for my mum
5. Better opportunities for my Sister Adeline while she struggles to fully establish herself in Yaounde city
6. Gaining admission into a foreign university to study Web Development or Sound Engineering
7. Success in my plans to do business at Ebay
8. Greater Google Pagerank and Alexa Ranking for my blogs and projects
9. Earning more from blogging so that I can save dome pocket allowances against my studies next year
10. Getting married to Noela before the end of 2009

Extending this tag is not just an obligation but my pleasure. Out of 1,000 possibilities, I have randomly picked up 10 friends. Please extend this tag also and link to the person who tagged you. Thanks.

1. Vilma of A Maiden’s Testimony last blog post UNCLE CHE, Happy Birthday!
2. Bill of My Piece of Paradise last blog post Perpetual Smiling Blogger Award
3. Liza of Moms… check nyo last blog post Egg-cellent!
4. Allena of In the Eyes of the Beholder last blog post Kalilangan Festival 2009
5. Grace of “We Live to Tell God’s Amazing Grace” last blog post Successful Marriage (part 10)
6. Lala of Coastal Commentaries last blog post Coastal Kaleidoscope Part 1
7. Joyoz of Ozlife Begins last blog post Toy with numbers
8. Shinade of The Painted Veil last blog post Scenic Sunday & Mellow Yellow Monday ~Sunset The End Of Another Day: Never Forget to Sing With Praise~
9. Lynn of My So-called Life last blog post Much Sought After Beauty School
10. Irel of My Drama last blog post Step Forward

What was the best part of my birthday? No celebrations or parties. No cake at all!

However, I got a birthday kiss at midnight and I am looking forward to supper outdoors.

January 1st is general. It is the new year according to the Christian Calendar. That is the day when you are supposed to take a break and reflect on your successes and failures recorded for the fading year while preparing to start another year with greater dreams and hopes.

I believe a new year at the personal level can also be your date of birth. That is the day mother earth first welcomed you to the planet and that obviously is the day your personal year starts.

I was born on February 29th 1980. That’s a leap year and that particular day is one that I can’t see till after three years. Ha ha ha. That sounds like fun, but is actually no fun when you are thinking about throwing up a small celebration. When do I celebrate? Today 28th February or tomorrow 1st March.

According to my lovely Baby Noela, 28th is more appropriate since it is in the same month. “How can you be born in Feb and you decide to celebrate in Marc”? Well, I guess she has a point there. On the other hand, however, the 30th is logical since it is the day after the 28th. I am supposed to celebrate on the 29th and that is the day after the 28th.

Oh! Keeping aside all the logic, I will be 29 years old very soon.
I guess I am already getting too old. I should be married by now.

There are many times you feel like asking yourself if God actually receives those numerous letters you send, requesting for one thing or the other. Many at times, you see people far “less” than you having “more” than what you have and what you dream of ever having. You may find yourself in some situations where “only the wicked prosper” and that might even push you to do terrible things to meet up with your demands.

Have you ever heard or sung this rhyme?

The hot sun shone down ever day upon the just and the unjust fellow but more upon the unjust just because the unjust had the just’s umbrella.

Sounds so unfair, yeah, but I will like you to look at this in another way.

Here in my inbox features a forwarded mail from a dear friend. You might already have it in your inbox too, but I plead you have a second look at it. I would like to thank the original author of this piece. It is worth silver and gold.

..and now, the story.

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night
In the home of a wealthy family.
The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in
the mansion’s guest room.
Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold
basement..

As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel
saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.

When the younger angel asked why, the older angel
replied,

‘Things aren’t always what they seem.’

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a
very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.
After sharing what little food they had the couple let the
angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good
night’s rest.
When the sun came up the next morning the angels found
the farmer and his wife in tears.
Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income,
lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel
how could you have let this happen?
The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she
accused.
The second family had little but was willing to share
everything, and you let the cow die.
‘Things aren’t always what they seem,’ the
older angel replied.
‘When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I
Noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.
Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling
to share his good fortune, I sealed the
Wall so he wouldn’t find it.’

‘Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the
angel of death came for his wife. I gave him
The cow instead.
Things aren’t always what they seem.’
Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things
don’t turn out the way they should. If you have
faith, you just need to trust that every outcome
Is always to your advantage. You just might not know it
until sometime later…
Oooo
Some people ( )
Come into our lives ) /
And quickly go.. (_ /
OooO
( ) Some people
\ ( become friends
\_ ) and
stay awhile….
Leaving beautiful Oooo
Footprints on our ( )
Hearts… ) /
( _/
OooO
( ) and we are
\ ( never
\_ ) quite the same
Because we have
Made a good
Friend!!
Yesterday
is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That’s why it’s called the present!
I think this is special…live and savor every moment…
This is not a dress rehearsal!
(\ /)
( \ __ / )
( \()/ )
( / \ ) TAKE THIS LITTLE
ANGEL
( / \/ \ ) AND KEEP HER CLOSE TO
YOU
/ \ SHE IS YOUR GUARDIAN
ANGEL
( ) SENT TO WATCH OVER YOU
____
this is a special guardian angel…. you must
passthis on to 5 people within the hour of
receiving her, after you do make a wish….
if you have passed her on, your wish will
be granted and she will watch over you forever…..
if not, her tears will flow and no wishes
will be granted….

Now don’t delete this message, because it comes from
a very special angel.
Right Now -
-somebody is thinking of you.
-somebody is caring about you.
-somebody misses you
-somebody wants to talk to you.
-somebody wants to be with you.
-somebody hopes you aren’t in trouble.
-somebody is thankful for the support you have provided.
-somebody wants to hold your hand.
-somebody hopes everything
turns out all right.
-somebody wants you to be happy.
-somebody wants you to find him/her.
-somebody is celebrating your successes.
-somebody wants to give you a gift.
-somebody thinks that you ARE a gift.
-somebody loves you.
-somebody admires your strength.
-somebody is thinking of you and smiling.
-somebody wants to be your shoulder to cry on.
SOMEBODY NEEDS YOU TO SEND THIS TO THEM

Many times, over the radio, TV, magazines or websites, one can get news of people involved in a strike action demanding one thing or the other from their “superiors”. Angry people use strike actions to present their problems and call for a solution. I was very surprised when I learned that strike actions are “legal” within certain conditions and limits. But I keep asking myself. Is a strike action the most suitable means of communication in the midst of anger and despair?

Getting involved in a strike action is some sort of habit that one nurses right from childhood. A child, as young as three, is already aware that he/she can refuse to eat so that his/her problem can be taken serious. Maybe because the child needs a new doll, he/she decides not to eat until his/her parents provide one. This habit is gradually developed as the child grows up. Students in secondary schools can be found using a strike action as a means of telling the public that their laboratory or library is not well equipped, or that they don’t want a particular instructor. This continues when students get to the university. They may use a strike action to declare their rights of forming student bodies, or condemning teaching and evaluation methods. At job sites, workers use strike actions to ask for better working conditions or salary increment. At the level of the nation, citizens don’t hesitate to go on the streets marching, shouting or singing with placards carrying demands for the government to fulfill them. Most of these demonstrations are usually for human rights or development.

“All diplomatic measures have failed, nobody wants to listen to us, so we saw the streets as our last resort”, said a perpetrator of a strike action. Most strike actions usually start as a peaceful demonstration but latter turn into violence for one reason or the other. This violence is always characterized by destruction of property and even killing. Sometimes, government officials make things worse by sending the forces of law and order to suppress the people involved in a strike action.

Most officials claim that responding positively whenever people get on the streets is not correct because the people will always be encouraged to do so whenever they have problems. This might be true to an extent, but it does not justify armed policemen shooting at unarmed citizens. Is it easier to attend to their problems when they cry or stand against them when the get on the streets?

Strike actions are no good since they usually result in loss of live and property. Humans of the 21st century must be informed enough to prevent them. However, the fight for freedom still remains a vital tool for development and better living.