Page from the teacher's diary

Playing happy feet with little miss sunshine 

"NEPA!" chorused the room of preschoolers as the TV screen showing Barney went off. Then the screaming began.

I was alone in the classroom with these little monsters, all the other teachers were at staff meeting. As I made to calm them down, I noticed the chief babbler, Anjola was missing. After getting them in their seats and colouring, my search for the missing child began.

"Anjie" I called out as I searched the lower cupboards and under the tables hoping to see her round animated face and short brown twists jump out at me. "Anjola" my jittery voice whispered as I stared door I had locked earlier. As I sank into one of the mini chairs, I text Mo: "I think I'm going to be fired, I just lost a kid".

"Princess open please" the class teacher Miss Rita called through the screen door. "What's wrong?" she asked when she saw the distraught look on my face.

"I can't find Anjola. I've looked everywhere".

"Up NEPA!" chorused the rats when the electricity came back on.

"Did you look behind the inner door?"

"What? No."

And I ran to look behind the door.

"Anjola"

"Eh" she said grinning from behind the door with her crayola smothered teeth.

"Don't say eh say Yes or Yes Miss Princess".

Usually I never lift the kids but I lifted this child and handed her to the matron at the door. "Please rinse her mouth" I said and snatch the left over crayon from her grubby little fingers.

Behind me I heard Miss Rita and the class one teacher laughing. "This ajebo girl wants to give herself a heart attack".

I stepped outside to catch my breath. These children always have it in for me. They find their way to the top shelf and hide items from my bag. They can make out when I'm meeting friends after work and always, I repeat always embellish my clothes with food stains or paint. Wearing clothes with sequin or beads are out of the question, the little 'Edward Scissorhands' will find a way to rip it apart. I wonder if they terrorise their parents the same way they terrorise me.

Memories of my first real job as a teacher's assistant in Lagos.

What's the worst job you've ever had? 

Giedré talks to me about hers. Watch below:



Time to share, tweet at me (@PrincessIre) or drop a comment below. What's the worst job you've ever had?

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Countdown to Christmas

Waiting for dinner at The Wick at Both Ends | Photo credit: Princess Abumere

It's only the 23rd day of June and I've found myself singing songs from Michael Buble's "Christmas" album. I especially like his version of "Santa Baby". (Maybe it's because he asks Santa for luxury gifts I'll never be able to afford on a journalist's salary . . . ). 

Speaking of Christmas, last year, I produced my very first TV package. I stood in the freezing cold for almost 5 hours filming the Christmas lights switch on at Sheffield city centre. Thankfully, my friend Julia was there to help me.  

Changes in spending patterns over Christmas 

With changes in the UK economy and the national debt being up to a trillion pounds consumer spending patterns continue to change. Inflation continues to rise despite fixed salaries and more people depending on welfare. Will this affect Christmas? Princess Abumere has more. 

I admit it's a bit dry, but remember it was my first package. Thanks for watching.  My countdown to Christmas continues. :-)

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5 Things I recently did

Hey guys, the last month has been really eventful for me.  I'll give you a quick catch up of what this Ré has been up to.

1. I resigned from my job.

I miss my desk, I miss my Base fam . . 

Before you scream out loud, keep reading and you'll know why. Enough people have told me I must be crazy for doing this. Well my Base fam were very supportive. Gosh I miss that Base life. (I'm still a Base writer though :-), I couldn't leave completely).

2. I moved to a new city.

The Steel City

It was time for a new adventure . . .  Sometimes you've just got to make that move. I moved to a city in South Yorkshire, England. Loving it so far. Only thing I've got qualms with is the weather. I'm a summer girl; I love the sun.

3. I went back to school.

Looks like a church doesn't it? It's a lecture theatre. 

I'm currently working on getting a master's in Broadcast Journalism. Whoop whoop!

4. I finally found true love.

Brandon and I.  *Insert Beyonce lyrics here { . . . I'll be your baby, now promise not to let you go, love you like crazy}

Love my new MacBook Pro more than a fat kid loves cake!

5. I got a house plant.

Her name is Clara. She's a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Her spines are not as prickly as I thought they would be. She sure brightens up my place.

I'll be honest with you guys, I was afraid of leaving my job, I was afraid of moving to a new city and leaving my family . . . but  I'm happy I took this decision. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr.

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

My name is Princess Irede Abumere, I am a Mongo ma Ndemi native and my journey continues. xx

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Of Life

Image via Giorgio Armani

Looks like everyone seems to be on this "Of Life" trend. Everyone has their own meaning of "of life". Let me try and explain this to you . . . So I've got this friend who's really bubbly, friendly, fun to be around, has jokes for day and loves to enjoy life, next thing I know everyone starts calling him *Pierre of life. And then when Hadi's favourite song was Tunde Ednut's "Catching cold" she called described it as a "jam of life".  You get it?

It looks like even Giorgio Armani is jumping on this Of life trend with their new campaign; Frames of Life. The Frames of Life is an eyewear campaign which was initially launched in 2010 by the brand and now it's back with something new. "In every frame of our lives, there are so many stories meeting, crossing and interweaving." They  and Luxottica are now putting together short films surrounding five characters and their eye wear.

I remember the first designer frames I ever got were by Emporio Armani. I was 17 and cool. Lol! There'll always be a bond between me and Armani (still saving to buy a pair of Armani jeans). Check out the trailer for Giorgio Armani Frames of Life below:

Will be sharing a story of me and my frames "of life" soon.

Until then, I am That Ré of life :-)

*Not real name. 

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The Maju Pop Up Shop

See Below the jump to continue reading.

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