Thursday 14 June 2007

Rescue me


Exactly how much is one supposed to pack to take home to Lagos? I understand you can get great furniture there but am being encouraged to go down to John Lewis and purchase everything I feel like I'm getting married and am writing a wedding and gift list.Was also told to buy three spare of everythinhg as NEPA was likely to blow stuff up.why the preference to buy from abroad? would it be price or quality issues or do we just purchase from abroad by habit.I am also told to pack as much washing powder cereal tea coffee and as much dry food products as I can fit in to my container.Erm what about rats and other vermin do they travel on the high seas?

So do I pack everything including the kitchen sink, how about a spare husband !I was also told to keep a close eye on him as he is prime chowder for the Lagos girls.
As they can spot that he has just "arrived" Pray how can they tell? Can they see it written on his forehead has someone stuck a post it note on his butt?Heeelp.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

it will be his WHITE SHOES....
love u and hubby's blog; good luck in Naija....

Toksboy said...

sennyb - you hit the nail on the head oh. Those white shoes just attract them like honey to the bee. You see that container in the picture? That is just for my other "special shoes".

Iyawo- spare husband? Dream on oh. If there is anything besides furniture in that container trouble go dey!

Nonesuch said...

Mandy i feel u. Honestly those lagos girls are something else but dont worry Mr Toks is all yours. Maybe you should pour red paint on those white shoes 'accidentally'
Really you can get almost all you need or a close alternative in Naija.I think you guys will be ok.

PS: Most Niaja guys are very LAZY and not so 'domesticated'so beware.

Kiibaati said...

Nice to discover your blog. Do you still sing?

Only Lagos, don't believe the hype; things are not as bad as it is made to appear.

Anonymous said...

Nice one good luck. My sister, I no lie. It is harder in Lagos to sustain your marriage. Why, in London everybody minds their business, in Lagos everybody is IN your business. Good luck none the less.

Anonymous said...

Mandy

Brave step..your move. You do not need to buy 3 of every electrical appliance. I took along what I had been using and bought some elcheapo ones ( do not but aythig 2 expensive or 2 fancy). My cook still cannot work out my toaster. Then upon arrival, before you so much as plug anything in, buy ‘stabilisers’- about 3000 naira a piece which will guarantee that things will be ok until your cook/nanny/inlawwrecks it! Bought the American style fridge, microwave etc cos I saw what it cost at Game!!

Buy all the tea etcin the world. Esp if you are fussy about such. My kids were addicted to Asda milkshake (knockoff of Nesquik), and milk buttons and milk choc digestives and a certain type of ketchup etc etc…so I chartered. And I mean chartered. Spent 350pds on 2 visits to Asda and I was sorted. Right down to ketchup. People will sneer- we have everything in lagos- yes we do. It is 10x what it costs in good ol blighty and you don’t have to visit 4 different supermarkets to complete your shopping

If there is space…..bring it along. Look up the school list and buy 2 of everything. As for uniforms, buy plenty if they are white. Don’t do JohnLewis o, waste of money!

Bring cheeses, yoghurts, grapes & Kiwis for the honeymoon period. Bring soap, deodorant, facewash, toothpaste if you are fussy. I calculated 1 oilatum per month for 2 kids and bought 36 bottles!

And as husbands. It doesn’t really matter whether he’s just arrived or not. Women in Lagos from orange hawkers to colleagues are mercenary. It’s the grace of God that saves a good relationship.

Out of curiosity, are you settled on housing, schools etc

Jeremy said...

You don't really need to take any furniture with you. There are quite a few places you can get really nice furniture from - Maryland for good quality cane furniture, Colours in Africa for lovely africany-themed contemporary furniture, The Palms (or even Lagos Island) for good quality white goods...

Electricity-wise, you just have to have stabilisers for all your expensive electric equipment - tv, fridge etc. If you have a pure sign wave inverter, this will also protect your electric equipment.

A good cheap investment would to buy quite a few extension leads (with 5 or 7 sockets)- the ones with built in surge protection. Its very difficult to get good quality extension leads in Nigeria - most are Chinese fakes. Also, the low-energy bulbs in Nigeria are fake/inferior - bring them with you. But for most of the things you need, its better to buy in Nigeria.

Mimi said...

LOL @ spare husband. dont worry, leave husband and everything else to God, God will direct and guide him :)

Anonymous said...

Oi, achei teu blog pelo google tá bem interessante gostei desse post. Quando der dá uma passada pelo meu blog, é sobre camisetas personalizadas, mostra passo a passo como criar uma camiseta personalizada bem maneira. Até mais.

ababoypart2 said...

If you are going for good - nothing. On a short holiday - everything...

Unknown said...

"I was also told to keep a close eye on him as he is prime chowder for the Lagos girls. As they can spot that he has just "arrived" ."

LOL!! Best wishes as you both relocate.

Anonymous said...

I wish you the best Iyawo and her Oko.

I'm sure you guys will survive and enjoy every minute of it.

It's just that mandy...next u visit UK, you will be tanned but please keep us posted on events in naija shaa.

Lots of love for you both.

Nnebaby