Roasted Ripe Plantain

Rice, boiled egg, lamb stew,roasted plantain with carrots and broccoli. That was dinner.

I roasted the plantain under the grill. I roasted a bit of yam too(the white piece). Anyway you can have ripe plantain boiled, grilled, fried, spicy fried called kelewele, in fritters, loaves,plantain cakes with palm oil...the list is endless. This is a simple,quick delicious way to enjoy it.

A loc bridge intergrated into sisterlocks

I've tried to enhance the pics so you can see the piece in my locs.

For some reason, the white bits are highlighted with the flash on camera. In real life it's in keeping with the rest of my locs and shows up as just a sprinkling of grey.

This is the actual loc link. As you can see it looks dark brown, not really grey.

So I added the loc bridge/link to my locs. (It's a length of thin yarn, maybe 10in, with locs hanging from it.)This is the result. You can see coloured and greyish locs intermingled with dark brown locs. They are part of the bridge. It has 25 -30 locs on it. It's very easy to put in. It goes from temple to temple in a semi circle across the crown and has 3 points where you can attach by twisting your own loc with a loc on the link. I'm testing it out. So far it seems to be staying put. I've tried to find a solution that will add fullness to locs that can easily be put in or taken out. I very happy with this bc it means I can use it whenever I want and just leave it out other days and I can do it myself without waiting for someone to thread my locs through. ( a bit like an instant weave thingy). In conclusion, for those who want or need more locs, this is one of many options for you. After the Chris Rock movie, human hair is erm a little repulsive, so I used synthetic hair and yarn. We gotta move with the times eh.

How many sisterlocks/locs do you have?

This topic rolls around regularly. I'm writing about it only because I was reminded of the loc number saga on LIU when someone with traditional locs posed a question(unrelated to loc number) and some of the answers focused on loc number. This post isn't about that thread . I'm merely stating that it brought back memories of my own struggles with 'the loc number' when I first got SLS. It's been the bane of many a locers life. Loc number was never important until I got SLS-ed. (Yes I knew (approx) how many locs were on my head when I had TLS.) That was just for knowing sake and proved nothing. But with SLS it became a different ball game. It was one of the means by which you could tell if yours were real or fake, whether you consultant had cheated you out of 400+ locs or not, whether you belonged or didn't etc etc. It's a terrible rollercoaster once you get on it. Folks with perfectly healthy/beautiful locs have taken them down to restart them based on this. Granted some people did actually receive bad installs from someone who didn't know what they were doing. I was chatting with my friend Seiwa about this last year and the impression that something was somewhat lacking if one didn't have at least 400. It made me realise how we can stress about something that's not really important. At the end of the day, many factors are going to influence the number of locs you have. Size of loc, size of head, density of hair, texture of hair, amongst other variables such as thinning hair/hair loss and of course personal preference. I know a popular Sisterlock saying is'...no 2 heads are alike'. This is true. And yet folks are comparing heads all the time. It's as if our eyes lighted upon the number 400+ in SL literature and that was IT. I'm sure this is not what Dr C meant it to be. It was a general guideline rather than writing in stone. I feel for consultants who may be accused and harassed over this. How can you create up to 400+ locs on a peanut head? I've seen a few photos of 800+ locs on people. Usually it's down to the fact that their hair is very thick/dense, and some have a coconut, not peanut head. There's also the lengthy retite sessions to consider, the $$, the fact that maintenance will be a lot higher. I do think they are beautiful when styled. But hanging straight,a full head of thread-thin locs just doesn't grab me. I think I'm probably in the in-between camp. I like small locs, but not too small if you see what I mean. All this to say Your locs are individual to You. No one has the same as you. The number, the size, the texture, the density can never be replicated exactly on another head. The things to pay attention to is loc health, keeping it strong, moisturised and growing.

Kakum National Park -Capecoast.

We visited kakum national park on our recent trip to Ghana. It's deep in the rainforest and habours all sorts of wild animals like elephants,hyenas ,birds,monkeys,gorillas,etc. There are 7 suspended bridges/canopies, each deeper than the one before, 12 storeys high. You get a birdseye view of the forest. It truly is a walk of faith. You must believe that the narrow swinging rope bridge will hold your weight. It's like stepping into thin air. Drinking Fresh coconut from the trees near the forest. This Forest is only about 20km from the coast. The nearest coastal city is called Capecoast. That's cocoa fruit straight from the forest, and raw honey. We bought some. The cocoa is juicy and sweet. The seeds are dried and cocoa butter/powder extracted from them.

On the steps that leads to the canopies. It's a very steep climb.

On the canopy with my 4 kids and my brother.

My daughter on the canopies with a school party behind her. There was 1 guide in front of our party and 1 behind. This pic gives you an idea of the length of the bridges. They are suspended between huge trees several storey high. They swing as you walk on them. You have rope on the sides to hang onto!! Below is nothing but rainforest with loads of birds/forest creatures/insects/ crickets all singing their tunes. Many of the creatures live in the trees and never touch the forest floor. There was a tropical storm after our walk. The heat was oppressive and the rain burst through and came down like sheets! The storm was confined to the park.

This park is 20 km away from my high school(which is a boarding school). Infact, the road leading to it passes right in front of my old school.

Yarn for loc repairs.

I thought I'd share this. I've been using yarn for repairs and strengthening weak locs. Why? Because it's incredibly light weight and when your locs are thin, the last thing you want is extra weight on them. It works quite well. I wrap it round a loc as if I'm threading the hair, just as you would using fake hair. I leave a little overhanging the end of a loc in case I want to pull it off later. I see it as a temporary fix rather than a permanent one.

The story of the collapsing curls

The collapsed curls. The result of all my hard work the night before. I don't think my hair was wet enough. Perhaps it needs some mousse or setting lotion.

Looked nice when I first took out the soft spikes.

my locs rolled on soft spikes yesterday. It took over 1hr!!! How do others do it? I can't be spending so long rolling my hair, aint got the time.

The joy on my face when I finally finished. Little did I know the curls would collapse the very next day.

Afro hair grows.

I was messing around after church and started taking some pics of my hair. I don't often take shots of the top of my head, but I made a simple style with my tomoka's twist, so here it is...

The back . Massive growth. Afro hair DOES grow. You just gotta leave it alone

Side view. Not bad eh? I mean for someone who hardly ever styles....

Longer hair does give more options- at least for me it does

I just had to show my Ghana dress LOL. A young lady made it for me in Ghana

Close up of the style. Very simple. Only takes a few minutes.

New find! STRICTLY ROOTS products.

Look what I found during my trip to Ghana. Strictly Roots. A Product line developed in Canada, produced in Ghana. They have shampoos conditioner etc, but I bought the scalp Stimulator and Moisturiser from Ama SL practitioner. Her locs are gorgeous and if this is what's making it look that way....I didn't hesitate.

Scalp Stimulator ingredients: Grade A shea butter, Allanblackia Foribunda,coconut oil,vegetable glycerine,kombo butter,vit E,Peppermint EO, Patchouli EO.

Moisturiser ingredients: Grade A shea butter,Allanblackia Floribunda,coconut oil, veg glycerine,kombo butter,vit E,orange, mandarine and/or tangerine EO.

I love the moisturiser. It's very light and smells wonderful. I dissolved a little and put it in my spritz. I also rub a little in my hand and apply to damp hair.

Did I tell you I found some VIRGIN coconut oil? I brought back as much as I could carry LOL. Some store bought, some from Kaneshie market. At the moment it not only goes in my spritz, It's my oil of choice for cooking cos it's one of if not the healthiest oil to cook with. I fried some yam in it and...yummy! It was coconut flavored yam and it disappeared in seconds.

Ghana pics-jewelry stall

The pearly bead and multicoloured necklaces were made by my niece for Ara and Mer

The bead/jewelry stall below is on Osu high street or Oxford st as they call it.

Ghana pictures

Ara and I at a popular restaurant in Ghana called PAPAYE

The open air Bar behind our house that tormented us all night long with loud music.

View overlooking the house opposite from the side verander on the 2nd floor of our house.

Front of our House. This house is at least 35 yrs old. It contains many happy memories.

The MOVING markets of Ghana...

...is the name Ara gave to the roadside hawkers. They're on every major road where there's a build-up of traffic - in between cars on the dual carriageway. Sometimes over 30 people on one section of the road, weaving in and out of traffic, including children and disabled persons crawling on the road begging or selling. I saw a little girl selling water, step into the road inches away from a huge truck looking for a little coin she'd dropped. I shouted at her to step back, but my voice didn't come out( I was that stunned) until the 3rd try. Fortunately she went back on the pavement. There have always been hawkers in Ghana, carrying their ware on their heads. You don't go to them,they come to you. It provided income for people allowing them to run their little businesses with no overheads and little start up. It used to be mainly women and children. And they'd have a route in certain areas plying their trade in schools, markets, homes, offices roadsides etc. Now it's a hazard! The danger is to both pedestrians and drivers. You can hardly change lanes whilst driving without some seller in the way. What's worse, it could be a child. They sell everything from water/food to furnishings/electricals. The Govt has tried repeatedly to get them off the streets. But what will they do instead? Some of these kids have to fend for themselves. Some of the women are raising kids single handed. Others are trying to put themselves through school. Many are simply trying to put some food on the table, risking their lives for a few pence.

Locals tightening my sisterlocks

Here, the local hairdressers are tightening my locs with a nappylocs tool and yarn needle. It took them a couple of hours and they charged me the equivalent of $9.00 or £6.00. These are the same ladies who I taught how-to to install and maintain my daughter's locs 4 years ago. They did her locs for free back then cos she was a student. She just dashed them something. Dash means a gift. My plan had been to get Ama to do my hair. But it was not to be due to circumstances beyond my control. One day Ara went off to get her locs retightened by her old friends. It was looking so sharp I decided to use them too as they're like 2 min from where we lived.

And the finished look. My sisterlocks above, Arashia's TLs below. Her locs had an incredible amount of repair work and growth as long as your arm! Ok I'm exaggerating, but the growth was mad. she hadn't tightened properly for 6 mths.

More loc pictures coming soon. Also posts on my Ghana trip. I miss the place and my family terribly.

Travelling tomorrow....

Will try to make a post from Ghana. Till then, see you.

...and what is the world coming to?

LONDON COOING OVER BREASTMILK ICECREAM - this was a headline on Yahoo news.
the icecream costs £14.00, from breastmilk donated by 15 women. Apparently it sold out within the week it was launched. Where are we headed I wonder? When you think about it, we do drink the milk of other creatures, but human milk for full grown adults? isn't that exclusively reserved for infants? Hope they don't start kebabing human flesh next Lol. Also some women might see it as a money making thing and start ignoring their infant in order to sell every last ounce of the golden liquid. What do you think? Is this taking things too far? Would you eat it this ice cream?

preparing to travel to Ghana

We are going to Ghana in a few days for 3 weeks. Before I go any further, I want to give glory to God. He gave me me and my 5 kids the tickets. Last May/June we talked about going to see my ageing parents. Especially bc my mum has been ill and I really wanted her to see my kids again. I got in real earnest about this and we held hands and asked our father in heaven. Towards the end of this year, things looked pretty grim with DH getting ill and no income. He needed round the clock care. I couldn't even see how I could go even if the money was there. God re-assured me that we were on track for Ghana and not to look at my circumstances. We got through christmas by faith. I would gather the kids together every now and again to thank him for his goodness and for our trip(even though there was nothing to show that we were going!) infact DH tried to reason with me to give up this wild idea of taking them all with me cos it's 1000s of £££...but I had heard from God and that was good enough for me. NOTE: The financial situation was, even if I was going on my own - which I do every year - it was going to be a stretch. Taking 5 was def beyond natural ability for the present. We were into January and time was running out. I had to plan the trip around their GCSE exams and there was only a certain window in which we could go. We began to plan for the trip anyway, buying what was needed to go. SUDDENLY, our tickets came! It happened so very naturally that you can miss the fact that it was actually supernatural. They came via DH's uncle. He paid for the lot - just for me. We began to thank the Lord for spending money. A large sum of money was given me from a totally unexpected source and God says there's still some more to come before we leave.
I'm sharing all this to say:
Mark 11:22-24 '...when you pray believe that you recieve it and you shall have it..'
Let's stretch our faith to believe in a God who is full of loving kindness and tender mercies. This was not a life and death matter. He did it just so I can be happy. He knew how much it meant to me. If he took care of this, will he not also take care of all other situations that I have laid at his feet?

Half a century Young!

Today is my birthday. I'm only 50 yrs old today. It's a milestone I intend to mark in some special way. For today I really didn't do much. I got a call from my dear sis-in-law from Ghana and various texts and card from friends. My daughter(no. 2) sneaked into my room with a card and present. Later we went shopping together. I'd been eyeing this handbag, so I got it. Found a dress from the market and bought that too heehee. Sulupops bought some clothes. We went and had a subway sandwich(with my daughter saying 'I can't believe you're having a subway for your birthday') Well how for do? I was hungry. So that's it. Nothing special. But me and God had a nice conversation this morning. And...the best is yet to come.

BLISS! Odour free locs....and braiding/banding again.

braiding and banding before shampooing to keep my locs from slipping.

I did another intensive wash today. This time I put 1 tsp baking soda in my aubrey organics Green tea clarifying shampoo. I diluted with water and dunked my locs in it, squeezing the mixture through my locs in a bowl. The water was pretty murky. Then I did a second wash with BIG from LUSH. Which brings me to this shampoo BIG. It's a clarifying shampoo and these are some of the ingredients: coarse sea salt, sodium laureth sulphate,orgarnic lemon infusion,sea water,seaweed infusion, organic lime juice,extra virgin coconut oil,neroli oil,mandarin oil,vanilla absolute,orange flower absolute. You can see why I overlooked the sls in it cos the rest of the ingredients and the SMELL are simply divine. My solution to negate sls effects is to dilute dilute dilute! The thing with this shampoo is, you need very little. It lathers very well and leaves your locs SUPERCLEAN! I'm not kidding. The smell lingers for ages. If you need a clarifying, try BIG from lush. Oh, I poured some diluted listerine on my scalp and waited 5 min before 1st wash.

Believe it or not, I've gone back to braiding and banding. I don't know if my texture has changed yet again and my hair is slipping, or my hair is growing super fast. I've had so much growth and loose hairs to tighten so there you have it.

Beautiful Young African Naturals-with locs!

Check them out!! They're cousins. Daughter's of Amba and Ama consultant and trainee. I thought this pic says it all for natural hair and locs. Miss Koo (far right) has Sls too, put into a real girlie style with barretts. It just shows locs are ok for young uns. You can leave it be or you can style it. Little girl styles? No problem.

3yrs old and I completely forgot!

My 3 yr locversary was on the 25th jan and I didn't even realise it until a few days ago. I need to do another clarifying wash. The smells 80% gone, but there's a slight lingering odour so I will press on . Here's to a glass of wine, some girlie stuff and relaxation to celebrate a belated loc b'day.

How to get rid of that stale smell in locs-Listerine

I noticed my locs had this stale/smoky smell. It would disappear when I washed it only to reappear a few days later. Lately I've been sweating so much that I abandoned my satin bonnet for a strong hairnet so my locs can breathe. I believe it's the excessive sweating coupled with colouring that created the smell. You've all heard about mouldy locs. Well I didn't want that so I knew I had to act fast. I added baking soda to my shampoo washed and rinsed with diluted acv, but the smell returned. So, I decided more drastic action needed . LISTERINE. I soaked my locs in Listerine mouthwash! For 1 hr. I diluted it 2 parts to 1part water. Then I rinsed it out and washed with diluted washing up liqiud. I did this in a bowl and you should have seen the colour of the water. BROWN! (Ladies, try washing your locs in a bowl or sink. squeeze the soapy water through them. You'll see how murky the water is) Then rinsed rinsed rinsed. My locs now smell of listerine original. But the smell is gone. I will wait a few days, assess and maybe repeat 1 or 2 x more. The side effect is, my locs were really soft. Listerine gets rid of dandruff, clarifies, conditions...it does contain alcohol, but also some essential oils such as thyme, eucalyptus,and mint. Methyl salicylic and menthol. Well, there you have it. It kills germs, bacteria, fungus and is antiseptic. This is why it works. The washing up liquid does a pretty good job of drawing impurities and oils out of the locs. So far, it's a winning combination if you want to get rid of gunk on your scalp and in your locs. I think it's worth having this treatment every 12 weeks. If you have a problem with your locs, you might have to repeat this every week until the smell goes. You will also have to find a way to put moisture back into your locs.