Long time i haven't given any sign of life in my blog and i quite missed it. i just turned 28 with a major change in my life and a new responsibility. It feels weird to realise that my birthday would not be the same as it used to be when i was younger...i miss the time the family gathers around and celebrate birthday in the old traditional way. I enjoyed my birthday with Joanna but would be also great if the whole family was there. i have not yet had time to post the picture of another cute baby...so here it is...Mahandry

Our respective lives have taken another turn lately and for the best.

Joanna and I got married and we had a really sparkling wedding, I am so proud of what we both did and the commitment we have taken for life, I am also so proud of the whole family for their creativity, their constant support and the very successful event. Getting married for me is to celebrate love even more in my daily life. What also touched me about the wedding was that it was an opportunity to celebrate friendship, I thank our friends for their support and smile and for understanding that it meant a lot to us to share, some of them even came from Nairobi and the United States. Our honeymoon in Mauritius was so great, I had always wanted to show this beautiful and wonderful island to Joanna and I am so happy we have been blessed to discover it in all its splendour.

Mum now has moved to Cameroon; I know it will do a lot of good to her but at the same time, I am feeling a bit sad to leave Nairobi behind, the best place I have ever been to.

Mahandry has come finally, a big and cute boy with a big appetite. We are now five guys: Naivo, Rado, Enzo, Mahandry and myself and very soon we can have a basketball team. Enzo is still the same with his cute face and smileful face.

Golden memories
Posté par Hanitra le 03.10.2007
Gee, I wish I'd take time off more often, write down and share thoughts with my beloved ones...
Not to mention that I am loosing my english and really should enjoy every opportunity to practice. Well, I daily interact with german people at the office and speak the language but only to talk about reinsurance anyway! It's kind of weird when it comes to talk about simple but not less important things like daily life...(for once not speak bout layers, deductibles, drop down and so on)
Anyway, I felt awful as well the day I heard mum has returned the keys for Duncan Court...It brought back old and golden memories. Kenya was definitely a huge and important step fo us all. I wish I could have gave a tour around to Enzo. Well I guess there would be some occasions in the future but it is never gonna be the same without mum around, plus it would be somehow "painful"...)
Anyhow, thanks to God,life always brings up events and occasions for us to grow and to learn from.
Surely,we have plenty of reasons to be proud of mum.
Hopefully we shall gather altogether (Mahandry and Joanna will be part of the big boat this time) and get to know and tam Douala.
keep smiling!

Saturday, 16th of June 2007

I always cherish moments like this one, when I have time and face myself all alone in front of my PC and then let my thoughts wander in my complicated and messy mind, then write and share… with myself more importantly.

Tomorrow will be the fathers’ day; one of these occasions that sometimes reminds me painfully that I am far from my family. It brings back so many good memories. I was 14 or 15, and as usual it was celebrated a Sunday (duh! Why would it be on any other day?), I was so astounded when gathered for lunch, I realized that there was a cake on the table with a nice writing: “bonne fête dada kely” or “happy fathers’ day to the man of the family.” I was so moved and it really took me by surprise. My mum and my sisters prepared a very simple party for me but with a great meaning of the responsibility that a man would take in a family. Every since then, they gave me a very bad habit  of wanting a party and presents.
As time goes by, my sisters have their own families, and unfortunately or fortunately, it depends on the angle where one would stand, new fathers have taken up the job, and besides mum has done so much that she has the right to breathe and relax, and I have to wait eagerly until Joanna and I move to that next stage.

June, besides meaning that winter is more present than ever during this period of the year, reminds me of my graduation back to the University days. It was the 22nd of June 2002 and it was quite a funny ritual as I had never experienced the big ceremony (I mainly watched it over and over in the movies) with the gown, the cap (God knows I hated to wear it but I had to) and all the rest. It is a very memorable day but like any other prom day, it also sucks because it means you are never going to see again most of your mates.
5 years! That deserves some celebrations. I have gone a long way since that day and I have had to wake up daily and add on to the knowledge I have gathered throughout the years. The graduation day is not and end but rather a milestone that gives a point of comparison; learning never ends as an unknown author puts it so smartly: “knowledge is a way to achieve immortality.”
Last night, I was just thinking of what directions I am planning to give my life, if God willing, for the next 5 years. I still want to take more and more challenges and discover new cultures, environments, situations, and so on.
Also, 5 years after I left Kenya, it is also time for mum to leave Kenya. But just like for any other of us, it is because there are more challenges to take somewhere else. In effect, she is taking over a new post in Cameroon as the number two of the newly opened branch of her company, the PTA-Reinsurance (Preferential Trade Area in southern, eastern and western Africa). She is also going to leave Kenya with so many enjoyable memories but with the firm intention not to forget where we are coming from (Madagascar man!) and what brought opportunities and joy to the whole family, (Kenya!) and who has continuously blessed us (God!). We are all quite sad to move completely out of Kenya but at the same time we are happy for mum as she deserves it but also because she is a living proof of a real fighter, the first person that would show us that hard work always pays off.

No comment...just take a few seconds and appreciate...

It's always a moment to cherish and to remember whenever the family can get together and celebrate every sort of occasion, even the most meaningless.

And there i am standing next to Drogba, striker of Chelsea FC and one of the greatest soccer players in the whole world... Someone who challenged so many people and circumstances, and proved that hard work always pays off.

Today is quite a fun day, i got to meet Didier Drogba and led him to his room, 806..the VIP courtesy was sent with the card of the General Manager, but guess what, i replaced it with my business card.

Drogba is the best African player of the year 2006, the best scorer of Chelsea FC. The guy is really big, the kind of guy Chelsea can not do without...and someone who is the pride of a whole nation.

and talking about that, i really wonder if the malagasy people are not all falling for Drogba.

During the last visit of Chirac in Madagascar, July 05...we had the opportunity to see how much he is such a show man, very comfortable in public and likes to sympathise and give a sense of being really happy when greeting and chatting with people.

...So, I turned 27 last tuesday, time is really running by leaps and bounds, I thank all of you for remembering me on my birthday, it is so nice of you...i had a nice birthday.

Joanna came over at 7h in the morning to wish me happy birthday...i didn't work but unfortunately, she had to ...so i waited for her in her office...chilling. We went to have lunch at this restaurant not far from hilton (since we are eating there all the time, we really do not enjoy eating here on a special occasion).

In the evening, we went to have some pastries and coffee at the competitor's hotel, Colbert (?)..and we played pool (Yes, we really did!), and finally we went to this very fine italian restaurant "Nerone", which i believe is the best restaurant in the city. That was so good...i had hard time to reach home with my belly weighting 100 kg.

The next day, i.e on wednesday, we had both the day off...so we went to swin. First we went to "relais des plateaux", a fantastic place, first time we have been there, but at the last moment we saw our GM's wife and kids...and it was like we were working and at the hotel (again!!!!).so we went to "club du car" where we were all alone. A very nice day that we wrapped up with a lunch at "Aero Pizza". that was a really a great day.