The End of an Era (but the start of bigger things)

So, today arrived, my good friend William Cunningham is leaving Sunderland for the last time, over the last two years we've had a blast. He's had legendary and not so legendary house parties. We've engaged in various philosophical and theological debates all the time keenly observing Sunderland life through our African viewpoint.
While he heads of to Edinburgh this fall, I'll be going to Newcastle University, so we'll only be an hour apart, even though we're in two different countries (as the Scots would love to emphasize)
Anyway, he's still in the air now, so I wish him a safe flight.

With Friends Like These

Today was an absolutely beautiful day, headed down to the beach with Marta, William, and Ashmawy, these were some results:

(Click images for larger results)

I Funghi, I Gamberetti, il Porco e la Pasta

My former classmate Marlene is leaving for China in August to study in Hainan University. As she is going to be eating dogs, cats, rats and pandas for the next year, I decided to send her off with a dinner- Julian style (Italian cooking- as all my recipes are pasta based- due to the fact that I cannot cook rice up to the required standard)
William Cunningham had never met Marlene before so he was invited as well.
I christened the meal "I funghi, I Gamberetti, il Porco e la Pasta"- figure that out yourself!
The taste was heavenly, in some other life I might have been a cook. The ingredients included- pasta (obviously) Mushrooms, Prawns, Onions, Pork sausages- all these fried in honey tinted oil, as usual a chicken accompanied the meal, with some Australian Shiraz wine to wash it all down- Scrumptious
A friend of mine got me some plantains from London, cheaper in London than in Sunderland. I haven't had plantains as a student, so this was special.
Since Marlene was the guest of honour, she got the honour of eating with my sqaure plate- the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a guest.

Unfortunately, the only pics that exist of this meal are really unflattering and do no justice to my culinary skill, but I will make do with what I have



Click for a larger picture

Eating in Persia

Where to eat? that was the question..Cunningham, Ashmawy and I took the trip by Metro from Sunnyland to Newcastle in order to taste the flavours of Lebanon. We reached the restaurant and walked in, the smell from the kitchen was heavenly, I don't know what spice it was, but it was tantalizing, the kind of smell I want to smell forever (okay...maybe not forever, but you get the point) The problem was the the Lebanese restaurant was booked out, it was a small place, and it was packed full! We were told we had to wait 45 mins in order to get a seat...we couldn't wait that long, we were absolutely famished. Ashmawy decided to speak to the Maitre'D in Arabic..we thought we might get special treatment by culturally aligning ourselves with him: That didn't work!
We didn't have the patience to wait 45 mins, so we decided to look elsewhere, we passed by a Spanish restaurant with absolutely no one inside. Passed an Italian, but the last time we three dined together it was Italian, moreover we had an apetite for the flavours of the Middle East.
The closest thing we saw was Greek! Not the Middle East, but still found in the Bible so it counts as 'one of them' We entered without properly looking at the food prices....we were shown our seats and were about to sit down before William (who had his characteristic worried look on his face) quipped 'Guys, we gotta go', but how? It would be slightly embarrasing to just up and leave when confronted with the menu! So we came up with a story, we said we had to go fetch more friends, so we'd be back in a bit. And off we went.
There it was, a diamond in the rough! 'Ali Baba' restaurant (forgive the rather childish name) serving the finest Persian dishes (Persian is Iranian for those that don't know). We went inside, the ambience was lush, I loved it, we loved it, we sat.
The waiter had bragged about the size of the dishes, challenging us as to whether we could finish it. The starters were huge, well at least William's and mine were (we ordered Koofteh..lamb meatballs) Ashmawy had stuffed Vine Leaves..and he wasn't stuffed (bad pun, but it had to be done)
My main course was a meal called 'Ghormeh Sabzi'...absolutely amazing! leek, parsley, spinach and coriander. This mixture is cooked with kidney beans, green onions, chives, dried limes, and lamb meat. It is then served with Basmati rice. I thoroughly enjoyed it!..I'll definately be going back
The price was right as well!


Ali Baba Restaurant
7-9 Bigg Market
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1UN

Happy Poetry

It has dawned on me that my recent poems have always been gloomy, talking about the dark part of humanity, and the nasty aspects of people. Not just my poems, but that of people in my circle of poets.
So I put pen to paper to write a poem that was happy, or at least about happy things, what else brings as much joy as the great Sun.
Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you my latest poem:

Sunshine and Daisies
by Julian Obubo

The bright rays of the Sun
they beam themselves through the slits of my blinds
I, blinded by the light
make my way to the window
to let in the Sun
Vishnu has awoken
Amun-Ra asserts his presence
Peace on earth
The little plants begin photosynthesis
That's what our teachers tell us
The Sun
Source of all Power
The earth is but a little sphere
hurridly making its way around her
Great Hot Mother of all
and at night, rest she does
so her children, the stars, come out and play
under the watchful eye of their sister: Selene
Morning will come
Morning always comes
and rise she must

and as for Daisies?
They are pretty

Loo of the Year

Yesterday when Cunningham, Buff and I went shopping in Newcastle, we went into a plaza called 'The Gate', when we went to the toilet for our oddly synchronized peeing patterns (actually Buff had to do a Number 2) we noticed a sign on the wall, it read that the Toilets had been named 'Loo of the Year' for two years running. That's right, LOO OF THE YEAR. We were expecting to see something special, like bidets, or gold plated seats, but it was just your average toilet, save for the motion sensitive taps...
The funny thing was who judges the quality of toilets, and whoever that is, it must be a very sorry job. Going around England, seating on toilet seats and scribbling on a notepad. What are the criteria? Comfort of the seats, urinal heights? Size of mirror?
As William and I rested by the sinks and spoke to Buff who was in a cubicle, some people came in to use the facilities, they must have found it quite intimidating to see two men just relaxing and having a conversation in the toilet.
When one young man came inside to use the urinals, Buff started making funny noises from the cubicle, like he was pushing out a brick, the man tried to remain civil and not laugh, but the sounds became more like childbirth than toilet use. As he left the toilet, I asked "Buff, you alright in there?" the man couldn't help it, he laughed and left.
Yep, that's our adventure in toiletville. As we left we asked a cleaner who gives the awards for Loo of the Year...she had a confused look on her face. Enough said

Shopping Therapy

Wednesday night was amazing, I had handed in my last essay, I had every single reason to celebrate, every single reason. Went out with William and his friend Buff. Let's just say it was a classic night! Suddenly all the beautiful ladies who had been hiding away emerged on the club scene, much to our delight. Went back to William's (partly coz there is a murderer on the lose in Sunderland, and the polcie helicopters are searching for him..Sunderland is turning into Compton)woke up today, chilled and went shopping. Shopping at outlet stores. Basically they sell top Brands, Next, Puma, Reebok, Nike for reduced prices, and not cheap quality stuff, No, basically what you'd see on the high street.
We went into the Reebok store and Cunningham showed me this pair of G-Unit's, I was not impressed with the shoes, nor the brand, he'll no I'm I gonna promote Fiddy. As I talked to William, I glanced behind him and spotted a pair of Reebok Derrty One's, Nelly's shoe. I could not believe it, a big Nelly fan that I am, I ran toward them, grabbed them and admired them, basically I had to buy them, trouble was there were none in size 13. Highest was size 12. I tried a size 12 and it was hell to wear, I nearly cried, I was this close to getting Nelly's sneakers for £19.99 and they were too tight. I had to concede, I decided to get Lupe Fiasco's sneakers instead...not dissing Lu' by the way.
But something in me said I should try a different pair of size 12s, my inner mind said it might just be a bit lose. So I picked up a box and voila it fit perfectly!!!! Yes, yes, some Nelly merchandise!! I rushed to the till and told him how much I wanted to get them. For 19.99, it's a great deal. Buff got some G-Units.
I then decided to keep up with my Military look, by getting a Green Army jacket from NEXT. It feels just like the ones in World War II in the museums. A reduction from £79.99 to £30...I could not resist.
Next thing Buff went to the Nike store to get some Jordan's for 35 pounds, a great deal, on the high street it'll cost you more than a hundred. Anyway, we go to the till thinking it's £35, only for the cashier to scan it and say it was SEVEN..TEEN Fifty..at first we heard SEVENTY pounds, we were like excuse me, a pair of Fresh Jordan's for £17.50 God is to be praised!!!
Basically it was a great shopping experience, will definately be going back many more times. This has actually motivated me to get a job!! at Nando's restaurant, Hell Yeah!! We went home, grabbed a whole chicken from my crib, went over to William's and devoured it.

Pics of my items below. Laura, you can expect something, come Spring, what's your shoe size?

(Click on pictures for a bigger size)

New Year, New Julez

Yes Yes Yes, Guess who's back in the town, Me. I just spent Christmas over at my cousins in London, spent most of it: waking up at midday, eating chocolate, turkey,chicken, and beating Christopher in PS2 boxing...till my thumb couldn't move. Christmas was lovely. New Years Eve wasn't!
Mos Def William was over in London and we were supposed to meet up at the London Eye to watch the great fireworks. Well lets just say I've never seen so many people in my life, the streets of London were packed with people walking in different directions, mostly going toward Big Ben or The Eye. I was on the tube, hoping to connect and meet up my friends, only for the driver to announce that the following stations were closed due to overcrowding. Dammit!! Damn you Murphy, Damn You!! So I get out, it's about 23:30, I start walking towards the Eye, thinking I'll just stroll through, Oh how wrong was I, all of a sudden I was met with a sea of a thousand heads, English, American, French, Nigerian, Japanese, all of the world had gathered in different parts of central London to welcome the New Year. But I don't wanna see a darn clock, I wanna see fireworks!! There I am, unable to move any further, it's 23:50 now..I am by Big Ben, If I attempt to go toward the eye, I'll be welcoming the New Year while walking down a lonely street.
I had to concede, I texted William, told him I couldn't make it. I brought up my weary head and watched as the Hand struck twelve. Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008. The crowd were jubilant, champagne and beer were sprayed. Children and infants were in the crowd, they got their first taste of alcohol.
As expected the police presence was heavy, but fights erupted. Crowd + Alcohol = Fighting.
The fireworks started, I could only hear sounds and see a bit of light. I brought out 'Sophie' (my camera, I changed her name, since 'Shaniqua' was too 'ethnic') and took a few shots of Big Ben.
After that disappointment, I walked back to Victoria to get a bus back home, long story short, I waited for 2 hours to get a bus. Finally got home at 4.00am.

That was my New Year. The next day I met Mos Def and his friends and we went to an Italian restaurant, after much debate whether to go Italian or Indian...see the two restaurants were side by side, and we stood outside, debating if Rajeev or Antonio had better food. We settled for Antonio, and it was Goooood!! Run by real Italians, not British counterfeits (and they had accents!!..lol) anyway the food was great, my starter was a bunch of small dead fishes....I'll post the pics when I get my hands on it.

And here I am, back in the North East, back in cold Sun-derland. My laptop cord is acting up, have to get a new one tomorrow.....work begins again!