Sounds like sound advice to me!

A bit of an unusual day, even help has come in the form of the unlikeliest of people - Ibtisam I think I should give you guys context.. Miroob shaqadiisu tahay inuu cawadaranta gudo iyo tuug dhuumanaya mooyee sanku neefle kale Burco ma dhex socdo. Filanwaa, wuxuu isha ku dhuftay dhadhaabyo, cammuud, guryo, dhir iyo duni dhan oo sidii dermada loo soo laabay oo ku beegan. NG, I bough the books from a Somali Authors fair (part of Somali Week Festival) and I Cige was on the panel .

I've gone and done the unlikeliest of things lately - I bought two Somali books (ok, 3, but I would rather discount Cigaal Shidad as I feel slightly over the target age group!). Today I've started to read the novel - Roge, by Cabdilaahi Cawad Cige and I'm struggling just a teeny weensy bit.. ok, maybe slightly more. But nothing that cannot be overcome with the help of SOL folks. Bal ii micneeya these words: (all from page one and I just have 415 pages to go) - cawadaranta - Mirood - dhadhaabyo - cammuud It will take me month, perhaps years.. but I intend to finish this book so I can claim to have read an authentic (critically acclaimed too) Somali Novel.

I like to think I'm usually tolerant of perverse acts in our community, but this is just sick!

lol@emotionally attracted. I like the subliminal message there. Anyway, you didnt need all the other reasons, no2 would have sufficed. Whats wrong with a contractual relationship anyway? You form all sorts of other relationships on contractual basis, dont ya? What makes a relationship any different?

Johhny, why arent you married? mise you dont need marriage to fulfil your 'individual development'.

^ *smiles a little*. If only I had a penny for everytime someone brough up the subject of my guur (or lack of). Its even worse now that my younger sis has decided to take the plunge! I dont know what she is thinking jumping the line AND taking such a huge risk!

I think I'm susceptible to winter blues .

Abu-Salman, I've noticed ever since u met some of the Nomads, you're not as... uptight. Is this because you realized people behind the screen are not monsters? LOL.

Ducaysane - iska waran? You dont write enuf baryahan. Xiin - is that so? Ma aniga weligeyba PM kuu soo direy, whachu try'in say?

Che - one way to find out with Val, try sending her one. But waxaan ka hadlayey inankan la yidha Xiin. I also noticed Blessed disabled hers! So thought it was the married lot doing it. Anyway, Xiin, there is an ignore option, so come back with a better answer. Just admit it, the wifey found out about your miyaro hunting ways and you had to close it down

Whats with people disabling their PM's maalmahan? Is it the new way to let people know you're married?

NG - rejoice, rejoice... VAL has landed back home!

Hello folks - I remember reading that topic about migraines last night and what do you know - mine remembered it hasnt made an appearance for a while. Johnny - iska waran? Ma guursatay weli?

Originally posted by Ms DD: So Serenity..is there gonna be a second friendly date after this jibe? Only for revenge I would advice. Attack on their raganimadooda only will do.. such as.. "you have beautiful graceful feminine short lady fingers" etc. I didnt see this! DD, you're too funny. I'm mean, but not that mean. To tell a guy he as anything 'feminine' is tantamount to kicking him somewhere sensitive. Nah, I'm too kind for that sort of thing.

NG - I spoke English the rest of the night and felt deprived of showing my Somaliness with choice words here and there. Anyway, he seemed to have an issue with my 'American' (as he called it) accent too - he kept asking me to repeat things. Normally I would dismiss blokes like that as being unable to communicate themselves, but he seemed to have very good language skills in both English and Somali. I could listen to him endlessly. Too bad for him its not reciprocated lol. But its not all so bad - I'm decidedly better looking. And you go further with your looks than any other quality, it’s a well known fact.

You know its winter because we are talking about dates! Speaking of them - I went to a 'friendly-dinner' last night. Anyway, the bloke wuxuu igu yidhi I speak Somali like 'baby' afka baraneysa. Not inanyar, not qof luqada ku cusub.. but baby. I'm just really hurt, I cant get over it.

Just got my invited to GW after waiting for a week (a friend sent it to me). They clearly have alot of stamps to lick! Anyway, havent got any invites to give out (I hope thats coming) but I do need to find users who I can 'wave' with. So nomads - anyone got wave?

^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sVLU8yBN0E

I was NOT ready for that - its 1:25am and I'm alone in my room about to sleep. Heart skipped a beat!

Hello trollers! Has anyone seen or heard of the legendary NGONGE today?

Stoic - your approach is very clever. I think most women want to know a guy will give them anything they ask and do anything for them, they are not necessarily trying to bankrupt him. The only time a girl would make unreasonable demands is when she thinks the guy is tight fisted and she wants him to prove he is willing to go the extra mile for her…. …but I could be wrong, of course. Jamaal and nuune - very naughty! Its usually your types that get taken for a ride, you know

Come on folks, I don’t do subtlety. Waad I aqaantiin aniga, I cut straight to the heart of the matter! Ma waxaad I moodeen Val oo hints kolba been idiin dhigeysa?

Well, I now know the avg UK asking price is 3-5K. But I did genuinely think it was 10-20K... According to Ibts numbers, a girl should get 40% in total of whatever he has saved - but what if he has just 1K saved, would any1 be willing to go for £400?

Hey Nomads, I realize I might be threading on sensitive grounds with this topic but I'm genuinely curious to know what the going rate for dowry in our community is? What factors do people take into considerations? Do things like Qabiil/ education/ qualifications count for the girl? What about the status of the person paying the dowry? Is it less for student and young people and more for the financially capable? The married folk don’t have to reflect on personal experiences - but it would be good to know what you guys observed around you, especially cases of over-inflated female worth The 1st time the situation was in my family, lets just say I 'assumed' it was far greater than the 'average' rate and was sorely disappointed!