I'migrant
All ova de place. Sometimes nowhere. & safely home.
Sunday 13 October 2024
Pathetic Fallacy.
Tuesday 1 October 2024
Worm News.
Tuesday 24 September 2024
Starting again. Again. Again.
Me dear, dear friends travelling by this way, what to say?
I miss this blog from me heart to the tip o’ me toes. But ever since I find out that Internet Archive does take people writing and drawings and odda tings without permission, I feel cheated.
They should at least ask if we want them to store we mutterings for all of eternity.
To add more bitterness to the gall, they ask for donations for what they do. They say they providing a service. The “donation” bit get to me especially after the foreign company rob me siblings and me and leave especially me high and dry.
And too besides, I think it is a bit high and mighty of the archivey people to decide they saving we work for eternity. Suppose a body don’t want all bodies snooping around they blog anymore, and the body close they blog like Joey? Who is them archivey people to say you ain’t have a right to keep you’ things to you’self?
See me li’l dilemma?
Anyway, I gon turn me brain and think of ways to blog here.
Lemme go look ‘pon this rice and this bhagee (fresh, thick-leaf, green spinach, the type you can cook) that is on the stove this very minute, lemme check before I burn it…
I coming back just now…
Sunday 28 July 2024
Picture this.
“Angel wings jasmine” I’ve been told they’re called. |
Angel wings on an old sundial. |
I don’t know the name. |
Peace lilies. |
Fascinated by the brave little plant on the pavement. |
Imagine calling this weed and trying to kill it. |
A tart fruit that I love…jamoon. |
Refreshing my spirit. |
Tuesday 2 July 2024
Get thee outdoors, they say.
Hello my lovely friends and all strangers passing through!
Sunday morning in this foreign land where my mother dwelling, I decide to trips outside to the front door ESPECIALLY because it grey out there. Who don't love grey? It full o' promise o' rain and thundah and lightning. Drama.
The morning been silent like the whole world still sleeping. Except for one scrawny thrush.
S/he been so joy-full, s/he singing like s/he is the entire band. Like a rock star, s/he leap an' jump.
On to somebody car top s/he hop
S/he drop a load
Plop
White and wet
Then away s/he fly.
Oh my.
I was really glad it wasn't me. I was double-glad it wasn't me staring up in awe in the trees with me mouth open wide and she drop something then.
Can you imagine?!
Anway, I examine flowers, pull weeds and examine the flowers now turning to seed on the old fat-thyme. I pluck the seeds and flowers off the stalk and hold them in the palm of me hand. Mmmm. It smell heavenly...
...careful, missy, remember the lady you' mother did tell you about, the lady who sniff flowers and a bug eat out she nose?
Is okay, man, is okay, I ain't push me nose right into me hand.
I head back indoors and forget me dilemma. "Here, Ma, check out how this smell so nice."
I decide now to take a pickcha and
WHAT THE HELL LOOK SOMETHING MOVING LEMME FILM IT TO MAKE SURE IT AIN'T NOTHING OH ME GAWD LOOK IT MOVING IS A SPIDER A THIN PALE ALMOST INVISIBLE SPIDER.
I run into the bathroom throw 'way the pile in the bin and now I praying me and me mother gon still have we noses.
I lie down to contemplate we fate, we future.
The rain splatta pon the window, sky bang the wind, but that ain't nothing compared to the drama in me head.
That was Sunday. So far, we still got we noses.
How y'all doing?
Sunday 16 June 2024
Dressing for the wedding.
Hello lovely friends, hello strangers passing through,
Y'all please help me answer this: how is it that, when you plan to do plenty creative work, that is when family commitments does pop up one-a-minute, like mushroom in the far-off place me sister live, near The Boonkdocks of Florider?
I know we had a nikkah, that is, a Muslim wedding ceremony, to attend. I plan me clothes, I plan to look eye-catching, not that I want to catch any eye, I want to stay a li'l anonymous so I can people-watch.
Me friend, despite the planning, the day dawn on ignorance. Me ignorance. I already done forget the date. I had a day of activities line-up, I gon sew, read, write.
"Today is the nikkah," me mother announce.
And, in spite of the planning of what to wear, I realise I ain't had nothing. At Guyanese-Muslim functions, them women does wear gorgeous Eastern garments. The full regalia with embroidery, beads, soft wraps. Elaborate dangly earrings, necklace with intricate designs, bangles, bracelets, shoes to match.
Ask me if I had any nah? Go ahead. Ask.
I dive into me trunkful o' clothes and grab me Western garments I been planning to wear. A slinky skirt with orange and gold pattern, a dull-orange top and me hand painted sandals. The piece de resistance was the necklace from Kenya. Ohhh, how it nice. Red beads, brass-looking beads, and a red pendant with delicate metal work.
"Oh wow, you look nice," me mother gush.
I wait in the living-room for everybody else to step out.
A guest in the house was the first to appear. She was, as they say in them romantic novels, ravishing. She look at me, eyes landing pon me skirt. "You're ready?" Which, me friend, is Guyana-talk for, "You're dressed?"
All in all, I decided I didn’t care about the glitz and glam. I had fun chatting…gyaffing…with people I didn’t know.
I better go take a scrub now, I been puttering around in the garden, I come in the house with Einstein hairstyle pon me head. Next week, I gon tell you about the wonderful farm we been to recently! (In the meantime, don’t forget to dig around here: neenamaiya.substack.com.)
My necklace from Kenya. |
Sunday 2 June 2024
Time for good changes.
My lovely friends, if you still pass by this place...
A couple of weeks ago, I had a' epiphany. I realise that I got to start looking for the good in this alien land whilst being caregiver to me Aged Ma.
I been working on me Substack newsletter, Emails From Neena Maiya, which is chock full o' stories from home. No, I ain't dwelling in nostalgia, I am only writing about what I know best...examining life through the people of my country.
I had to think what I want to do with this blog. I ain't want to close it 'cos is a nice way to keep in touch with bloggers.
Right now, I trying to start up a li'l business. If I only share with you the horror story of what a certain foreign company do in Guyana, you gon cry.
Long story short, they leave me hanging on with me pockets empty like some politicians' head. So here me is, trying to start up a li'l business. Hopefully, I can use it to help others too.
Okay, thaz all for now. I would really appreciate if you check out my Substack newsletter, I promise you gon have a great time reading especially if you in the loo. Heh.
Cheers for now, xx.