NOVEMBER RAIN

 Honestly, I don’t have much to write this November. I have plans for a date with myself, something I have been wanting to do for a while. It will be a picnic, simple but intentional. I am searching for a beach that does not take a gate fee. Why should I pay to go to the ocean? If not then I will do it in Valco hall. I plan to bake pizza, have my novel, and buy a few drinks. If anyone wants to join, please come with drinks. I will handle the food and pastries myself. I only need two people, only two.

Most of my days recently have revolved around cooking and reading. Those two things have become companions. I did not expect my blog to gain this much attention, however I keep noticing the numbers rising. I appreciate everyone who takes time to read because it makes me want to share even more. It feels like I am talking to a group of friends, and now that I know you are all listening, I will not hold back my words. Shopping this month has been a whole new adventure. I used to go once every month to Shoprite & Melcolm at Accra Mall, but somehow, I have gone there four times already. I discovered that some items are actually cheaper there. For instance, I bought full cream whole milk for 31 cedis at Melcom, while at Shoprite and All Needs it was over 80 cedis. Shoprite food sections are also cheap too by the way!(Depends on what you're buying). I like the prices of non-dairy milk powder at All Needs, but their Cowbell milk powder confused me. The shelf said 48 cedis, but when the cashier printed the receipt, it read 76 cedis. I just stood there wondering what happened between the shelf and the counter. I also decided to buy the original shortbread biscuits because I wanted to test myself by baking something close to that taste. It turned out well. The taste reminded me of the kind of cookies I bake, so I felt proud of it. Those who have tasted my cookies before already know how they are, so I do not even need to explain. In between the cooking and baking, I found time to read My Sister, the Serial Killer. The story was captivating. It might be my second favorite novel after Death of Vivek Orji. It made me think about what crime fiction could look like in an African context. What would it mean to read a crime story that takes place in our cities, with characters we can actually recognize and settings we can picture clearly in our own world? African crime fiction could bring out so many new experiences, from the tension of local investigations to the everyday mysteries that already exist around us. It would be exciting to see more writers explore that direction, creating stories that speak to our realities while still holding that thrilling edge. As for my kitchen experiments, I have made chocolate chip cookies, bread, waffles, and a few other small treats. Those who follow me on Snapchat might have already seen them. For those on my WhatsApp, I will post the pictures/videos when the time feels right.  Before I end this post, I have one small request. Please comment on my blog. Write something, even if it is silly or unexpected. I like reading what you have to say and also feel it connected to life. My next post will be about the music scene and the songs that have been speaking to me for the year. I always do that so this isn't any different. I hope you check it out when it is up. Until then, take care of yourself, and if you ever get the chance, take yourself out too. You deserve your own company.