Oh, it’s December already.
Suddenly, those memes start to make sense.
“You go out in slippers and shorts to get mandazi for breakfast, and return home at midnight, sloshed and incoherent”.
Yes, this is the month it happens.
For ethical reasons, I couldn’t share the link to this story here – so here’s a copy paste version.
If you look at our family’s photos for Christmas 2016, you’ll notice that in each group photo, there’s always 3 or 4 people yawning.
Uncanny, huh?
Well, my extended family’s tradition is that each of my dad’s sibling hosts the Christmas feast on a rotational basis.
In 2016, we were marking Christmas in Uncle Mutua’s home in Nyali, Mombasa.
He’s the eldest son in my dad’s family. A day or two before X-mas, he’d booked each of his sibling’s family in assorted hotels around Nyali, all within 15 minutes’ drive to his home.
My dad is the second born, and so had been tasked to marshal everyone to keep time on X-mas Day, and have everyone arrive at Uncle Mutua’s home on time.
My Dad had a watch that showed different times for different time zones across the world, a feature he’d enjoy showing off to everyone at dinner.
On that X-mas Day, we still know not what time zone his watch had been set.
He shakes us awake, then calls every other uncle and commands a tentative arrival at the host’s house in quarter of an hour. No questions asked.
When we drive out of the hotel, there’s barely anyone in the street. Not even stray dogs.
Surprisingly, everyone turns up at Uncle Mutua’s drive way – in 15 minutes. Luckily, Mombasa ain’t freezing in December.
We knock at the door at 5:15 AM.
My aunt opens the door, and groggily grunts: “Oh. The family is here.”
Her tone, well, didn’t sound much Christmassy.
Kind of like, “Oh. It’s cancer”.
On every picture that day there are like four people yawning.
******
All good December stories start with alcohol and fun parties, but in 2020 – that may have to change a bit. The budget has been pretty tight, with little cash flow.
This is the beginning of December, and Christmas is still a few weeks off.
For a memorable time, one doesn’t need to wait for X-mas to have fun, but can slowly start saving for it. One can forgo regular, everyday expenses and save up the amount for the festive weekend.
You can walk to work, and save up the fare. Leave the car at home, and save the fuel money. You can skip weekend nights out, or eating out and save that up.
Digital banking makes this easy.
Introducing the Co-op Bank e-Commerce platform.
Co-op Bank e-Commerce platform allows the use of mobile phones or personal computers to access Co-op Bank accounts through USSD numbers, M-Coop Cash Apps, M-Pesa Pay bill numbers, or the use of Co-op Visa Cards including making payments by swiping at payment points with PDQ/POS machines.
It’s easy to track expenses, credits or debits in real time. It’s fast, safe and convenient. Within moments, one receives account notification messages on mobile phones.
To save up in bits, conveniently use Co-op Bank’s M-Pesa Pay bill number 400200 that allows direct deposits to Co-op bank account.
On the M-Pesa menu, input the Paybill number 400200, then add bank account number on the ‘add account’ section.
To learn more, click here to check online for the Co-op Bank e-Commerce platform, or visit the nearest Co-op Bank branch.
Interesting: https://www.ghafla.co.ke/sponsored/why-on-earth-does-everyone-miss-those-miserable-days-in-high-school/
