Introducing: Omanye

Sorry, it seems grief stole my blogging mojo, otherwise I'd have talked about the football, vuvuzelas, crown princess Victoria's wedding and many other things. It doesn't help that so many things are going on right now, with a lot of uncertainties and no time to rest my head. I just thought I'd share a bit of what I've been working on and am very proud of. Hope you enjoy (and please let me have your comments, whether you like it or not)!



And here's hoping there'll be more time to blog in July.

This time...

Ages ago I planned to chronicle the year that just passed but never got the chance to do it. Besides, if I did, it would probably end up being a ten page account as so many things happened in 2008. However, I feel something must be documented in cyberform after Virgo reminded me two days ago that the African Cup of Nations had started exactly a year earlier. I was immediately struck by the conflicting thoughts of "how can it already be a year?" and "but it seems soooo long ago!".


This time last year, between drafting agreements and other stuff at the lawfirm, my fellow colleagues and I (including a certain Poet) would be texting any possible contacts for tickets to the next game, rushing to finish up work by 2.30 to be able to start walking to the Ohene Djan Stadium along with a whole load of other people in our business district.

This time last year, I had one niece who had just turned four years old. My now five year and one day old niece now has a little brother and a little cousin, with another cousin joining them in a few months time.


This time last year, I was, as mentioned, working for the law firm, still doing my pupillage. Now, I work for what will hopefully one day be a major corporation, managing and structuring the business, often working from home in my own time and finding time to do independent legal work on the side.

This time last year, there was hardly any political buzz in Ghana, and yet now we have a new president and a new party in power. Rather, at the law firm, we'd frequently discuss how the hotshot Obama was actually faring quite well against Hillary and may give her serious competition. Could any of us have imagined that a year later we'd be witnessing the inauguration of President Barack Obama?


This time last year I was in a relationship but living with my lovely mother at the centre of the world (that's Tema of course!). Now I am a "newly" married woman living in the heart of Accra, somewhat missing the fresh breeze and cooler air of Tema, but definitely not the commute!


Friends' babies have been born, beautiful, important people have passed, there have been marriages and career changes all around me. What a year it's been!

And you know what? It seems life will only get better in 2009!

My Wedding

Let me first give you some advice: Don't plan a wedding in Sweden when you're in a scorching hot Ghana. Why? It's easy to forget what the temperatures are like when getting towards October in the Nordic regions!

As I landed in London a week before the wedding and immediately froze my butt off from the cold, I suddenly realised how stupid it was of me to choose a strapless dress for my outdoor wedding in Gothenburg at the end of September. Anyway, being the bride, I was the last to arrive and therefore probably suffered the least.

We arrived in a sunny Gothenburg, which (surprisingly to others), as usual was milder than the harsh British autumn. On the Friday when the sun came out strong around 12.30, I smiled, knowing that my one o'clock wedding the next day would be fine, the sun would have had half an hour to warm up the place before the ceremony got going. That evening my friend K pointed out that she'd heard it would be extremely windy the next day, a fact I quickly brushed off. Did I also mention I chose one of the highest, windiest points in Gothenburg, the heights by Masthuggskyrkan (choesen for its beautiful view, not its windy nature)?

The wind turned the whole event into a torturous ceremony for those used to warmer temperatures, but all the same it was a lovely, intimate and very relaxed day with my nearest and dearest.
Windy City



The veil finally manages to escape


Cutiepie A


Then we changed into kente for that Ghanaian touch


Me and my mama


Naturally, Sunday and Monday were warm, sunny and less windy than my Saturday!

Hello...

I'm back in Ghana after a whirlwind trip which took me to London, Pisa, Venice, London, Gothenburg, London, Nice, Monte Carlo and back to London. I knew I looked forward to getting home - after a while the constant travelling gets a bit much - but until we passed airport roundabout, Holiday Inn and those places, I never realised just how happy I was to see my beautiful Ghana again. The reason for the trip, and the reason for most of my stress and lack of writing in the past several weeks was...my wedding!

The wedding was a perfect blend of my roots, held on a beautiful cliff in Gothenburg with, erm typical windy Gothenburg weather, but with a reception where Hip- and Highlife was played in the background and jollof, chicken and kelewele was a staple dish served. More of that later though.

As we landed I realised it was the first time in my life, and bear in mind I've been flying to Ghana since 1980 (although I probably didn't remember those earlier flights), that I saw us landing at Kotoka in daylight! It felt amazing to be able to point out Legon Hill, Action Chapel, the Accra Mall (actually that is seen even at night) and other sights. Perhaps it was being able to see all these places so clearly that lead to the excitement that overpowered me when I got out of the airport.

I had a smile on my face all the way to the house, soaked in the warm, humid air and as I continue to postpone the unpacking of my bags (probably for another week or two), I look forward to, and I am glad, to start my new married life here, at home in Ghana.

Shotgun

Apparently Jessica Alba and Cash Warren got married two days ago. They're expecting their first child, a daughter, in June. I actually feel a bit disappointed, what is it with celebs (or is it just the American way?) that as soon as they get pregnant they need to rush it down the aisle.

In today's modern world, are people still that scared to have a 'bastard' baby? I assume that's what it is as it has happened so many times before. Beyoncé's sister (not a celeb in my opinion but will satisfy for the purposes of this 'study') had a quickie wedding and about six months later her baby was born. If I remember correctly Gwynteh Paltrow and Chris Martin also got married in the early stages of pregnancy. Just a few weeks ago Beyoncé and JayZ got married, followed by Ashlee Simpson and, er, Pete Wentz(?)(I'm having to stretch my celeb knowledge further than I'd like to here). Both couples have since been showered with pregnancy rumours.

With all that goes on in La La land, drugs, cosmetic surgeries, Hugh Hef and his girls, do they really need to protect us from such a scandalous thing as having a baby out of wedlock?! WHat century are we living in?!?

I don't see how these couples actually think a wedding will in any way change the social status of their baby. I feel like shouting at them, "you were pregnant before the wedding, the jig is up!"

To me, it actually questions their real commitment as I can't help but wonder whether they would actually have married if it wasn't for the coming child. 'Shotgun weddings' seem to be just that, a quick cover-up for a 'sinful' existence. I have more respect for those who choose to stay unmarried, perhaps marrying after the birth of the baby, when they are emotionally ready for such a commitment (and of course, respect to those who were married before they had children).

Maybe it's just me and my Swedish ways, the damage ;) caused by growing up in the land of co-habitation, but it all seems a bit rushed to me. What do you think?

I'm going to think over this a bit more as I have a burger at Frankies with Dirty (from now on to be referred to as Dee, she doesn't like the Dirty)