Thursday, December 21, 2006

I don’t want to have a criminal record

I would like to send my warm wishes to everyone by wishing them a merry Christmas and may 2007 usher in the blessings of the Lord in buckets for you all. Amen.

I was going to put up something inspirational for this time of year, and as I did my blog rounds and after reading belle's blog, I remembered what my youngest sister, who happens to be a lawyer now (but was in law school then – when this all happened) did a while back during this season.

I normally book my family flights to Nigeria, but this year (2003) I left it in the hands of my then boyfriend/fiancé to do. He had booked them in a group to get discounts and was given an upgrade by the travel agency but they failed to tell him that we all had to pay an extra £50 for each upgrade (or he sort of forgot). This was pretty good for flying top class. We were also travelling in groups and on different days. So after we all went to Nigeria, and had a wonderful time – on our way back my family (mum, youngest brother and two younger sisters) were stranded at the airport. When they went to check in their bags, they couldn’t check them in and was told they had to go see the ticketing supervisor. It was a chaotic time of the year, and so they took forever to see them, and by the time they saw them, they refused to let them recheck their bags and told them that the gates were closing. To cut the long story short, they had missed their flights, were put on the waiting list, and could not leave for up to a week. They kept ferrying them from one city to another trying to get them boarded but whenever they got to the different airports the seats would always miraculously disappear. So finally, Virgin Atlantic had spaces for two, my sisters went on it, and my mum gave them her luggages, - 4 in total – and one packed full with her goodies (dry fish, meat – all kinds of cookery stuff).

When my lawyer sister arrived at Gatwick airport – she went straight to the “something to declare aisle” opened my mum’s goodies suitcase and said she had something to declare. She took them out one by one, said her mum gave them to her and was stranded at the airport. The one with her who was only a few years older than her, was gob smacked; she couldn’t say anything (a med student – who also didn’t want to loose her license before she got them).

My mum who after the whole episode was looking forward to consoling herself with her smuggled goods asked her beloved daughters, where her food stuff were, my girls said – “I declared it all because I didn’t want to have a criminal record”. My mum nearly lost it. Only they would think customs officers reported such incidence to the police and criminal records could be obtained from such actions. That’s my family for you.

Please don’t even get me started on my two older brothers and immediate younger sister. They are so principled it’s beyond a joke. Let’s just say my mum has been doing her smuggling herself. At least it will be her criminal record…

On that note I would like to wish you all a blessed time with all your families, I pray that the Lord will grant you all journey mercies as you all travel – both in your going out and coming in, and may His light be ever before you.

Merry Christmas and a very Happy new year.

106 comments:

Anonymous said...

Urghhhh.

And I was dreaming of bringing food back with me. They'd better not try it oh!

Unknown said...

LOL at you all being so scared of having a criminal record!! Only in the diaspora!! I've been lucky on my trips over here. Never been searched but then, I never carry fish only dry egusi, ogbono, crayfish and afang so the case of getting a criminal record dosent arise!!!

How did ur sista escpae ur mum's wrath after that episode? LOL!!!

NaijaBloke said...

Omo I always make it here with "kilishi"(Dried Suya) .. I remember on my way back in January,I told my friend when we got to london,that if I was stopped,I will just tell them I will eat everything while they wait for me cos i cant afford to loose at that sumptuous meat ..

Merry Xmas to u to dear

Naijadude said...

LOL..ARggggggggggggh please tell me you didnt just tell me that? But do that give them a criminal record...abegi jare! you sure cant get away with that with my mum with all ur so-so formality.

I remembered her packing all packables for me, a naive 18 y/o teenager, officer asked what do I carry, I said I am a student so NOTHING...dude randomly opened the first bag, saw "AGBO JEDI", I got afraid instantly but dude was like: "Ooh I know the "LOCAL VIAGRA", you are ready to kill the Canadian girls eh? Laugther made him forget the remaining 4 huge bags!! LOL

Have a good Xmas hun!

DiAmOnD hawk said...

actually in the states...your name goes on a list...if you say you have nothing and they find you do...you will be in their record...i dont think many ppl know about that...i think you also pay a fine...as for me i dont carry food...except one time...for my friend...and i just breezed thru customs...

LOL@ Naija Dude...local viagra..hmmm...

Jennifer A. said...

Lolll...

Cherub (former Bijouxoxo) said...

Kai! See how correct stock fish and all were wasted all in the name of being "proper." Have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed new year.

Doc A said...

hahaha that reminds me of when momsie almost cried at Chicago airport as she watched customs lady thro away her stockfish, snail, udara/agbalumo, my mom was sobbing by the time she got to the house, you'd have thought someone died!!
But since then we've all succeeded in getting thru with no wahala. I made it back 2yrs ago with dried fish and all that.

Anthony Arojojoye said...

Criminal records?!! LOL!

Merry xmas. Ain't you travelling?

LondonBuki said...

LOL @ your lawyer sis, I don't blame her sha - she can't afford to have a criminal record! HaHaHa!!!

I cannot believe she declared all that food, I woulda cried!!!

I am going to carry stuff back from Lagos with me oh! I don't care!

Merry Xmas LOASCM, 2007 will be a year of Beautiful Surprises...

Eagle's Nest!!! said...

Merry Xmas!!!!

Confused Naija Girl said...

LOL that was hilarious. i never try to smugle stuff , too much stress. i woudnt be able to cope. thanks babes for your comment earlier

Anonymous said...

hahahhahah that was funny!! yeah mothers are good at smuggling sha! LOLOLOL! I'm amazed my mother admitted she had meat in her bags. The officer told her it was good she didn't lie because they had already seen it, and would have charged her $300 bucks for lying!

Sweetie, have a blessed xmas! May you be blessed beyond your wildest dreams in 2007!

temmy tayo said...

Lol at your sis and your mum.
Something to declare ke? I can hide kilisi in my panties to enter UK. If they catch me i will tell them it is juju to ward off evil spirit.
Oh my kilishi...

Cherub (former Bijouxoxo) said...

Aunty LOASCM, how's life? Merry Christmas. I trust that u're having a swell time with the fam. Enjoy and God bless u abundantly

Biodun said...

Hope u had a wonderful christmas girl!

SapphireAster said...

LOASCM..I have missed you o. Merry Christmas in arrears..
Your siblings are funny sha..I am bringing everythign possible with me. This reminds of what happened to ny aunt's friend..She was brining \ofada rice and they stopped her in \bmore..the woman sat down and was about to eat but they didnt allow her o...
\nonsense

Unknown said...

Merry Xmas Babe and best wishes for the New Year ahead!! cheers!!!

Anonymous said...

Cool write-up!

Very funny, I could immagine the way your mother would react; I could just see her face right now...

Anonymous said...

LOS, See how good food got wasted!
Criminal record ko criminal record ni! I will order a stove for immediate delivery at that airport, cook it all and eat to my belleful. I will be inviting all my blog people to join me sef.

Anyways, i hope you had a wonderful xmas and a happy new year. This new year will bring wonders that only God can bring.

Doc A said...

aah my dear thanks for the words of wisdom!! I really needed to hear exactly that as simple as it is "take it slow", "allow him to come to you" I'm going to go at his pace, especially since I really do want this to be long lasting and not a quick fling!!

NaijaBloke said...

Happy New year dear and pray all ur heart desires r fulfilled in Jesus name.

Try and listen to this service.The Pastor is Bishop Tudor Bismack from Zimbabwe.He was at the church I went to 2day ..
http://www.yousendit.com/download/k4waJ50wp3l5TA%3D%3D

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to you too!

-- www.romanticaffairs.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year!

A New Year's resolution for you: UPDATE!

Cherub (former Bijouxoxo) said...

Happy new year to u too. Pray this year his filled with God's blessings for u and urs- Amen. YES, madam the McVities chocolate digeatives. Thanks

SapphireAster said...

Thanks for your comment on my blog ...mnade me feel special. Please update your blog abeg! Hope you're having fun with the fam sha..let your mom pamper you very well..I'm sure she;s missed you and you deserve it!
As per a broda update..hmm i dont know whether to put a post up now or wait ill I get back. We'll see how it goes.
BUT...you should distribute digestives to all interested parties aka` ME. Anyways..I'll work it out with cherub...

Happy New Year...

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year luv... hope you're iite... make you update now let us know say you dey iite.. miss you

The Life of a Stranger called me said...

Hey everyone, Im sorry Ive taken along while to update my blog - but guess what I tried to update today and the format was messed up - it wasnt following the format already present. I have been trying since monring - no joy. Will keep trying. Love you all - and hope you all had a fabulous christmas and your new year has started Grand.

Ajike said...

your sister is funny and certainly sticks to her principle...
very nice post...

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