It's another Wednesday.
Yipeeee! At the Ville, Wednesdays are for celebrating #WomenIAdmire . A lot of
times we tend to admire women who we most likely know remotely; not on a
personal level but stories about them or their works inspires us, hence our
admiration for them.
I hope however to through
these series, open our eyes to women around us who may not be well known around
the world or even make it to the list of
'Who is Who' but still their works, ethics and values are indeed worthy of
emulation. I first wrote about the #WomenIAdmire here and today, I bring to you
the story of yet another person who I not only know personally but is in fact related to me.
This cousin of mine is
someone who as far as I can remember is one with a truly restless spirit as I
have since come to realise is characteristic of creative people. Always looking
for something to do and creating things with her hands. This is however not
even the reason I am celebrating her today and singing her praises to high
heavens. Rather, it is the way she has made freshly squeezed, chilled and
refreshing lemonade which she is enjoying on her own terms, from the lemons
life has dealt her.
I first caught a glimpse of
the strength of steel she possessed when she had to wait out for a little over
a year before she could get into law school at the time as there was a huge
backlog of law students then more than the law schools could admit. During
this period, she remained unfazed and chose instead to plunge herself into
something meaningful; beading and made money from it.
Photo Credit: Google Images
Fast forward to many years
later, she got married at an age we may consider late this side of the globe
and then had to be in God's waiting room for 4 years. Eventually, God answered
her prayers and as it's typical of every first time parents, herself and her
husband celebrated the first birthday of this long awaited precious daughter of
theirs. Two weeks after the remarkable event, life happened. Her husband of
about 5 years, the one whom she believed and trusted God for when every cousin,
friend and associate were getting married and she was continually poked with
the question,
"When are we coming for yours?" died in a ghastly car
accident. You will think that is the end of the story but no, few months after
his death, she discovered she was pregnant with yet another child. A lot for
one woman you might say, but this simply amazing cousin of mine took it all well
in her stride. In the first year of his passing on, she almost died herself
what with the loss, caring for a toddler and being pregnant again. A year
after, she rose from it all like the mythical phoenix and has since chosen to
soar high like an eagle.
She immediately took to
something else aside from her banking job to help her heal and this solace she
found in the world of food. No she didn't take to eating till the point off
tipping over the scales, rather she went on to train as an international chef,
fulfilling yet another ambition of hers. Today, Mrs Temitope
Akinnawonnu (nee Andre) is a lawyer turned banker and now turned chef cum
business woman with her beautiful gifts from God, Temiloluwa and Temitayo. She
is today the Chef in charge at Beyond Veneer, an upscale catering outfit with
both a mobile kitchen literally bringing the cooking to your doorstep and an
Africana restaurant. Beyond Veneer specialises in both local and international
cuisine, desserts, mocktails and cocktails as well as bring their added touch
of glamour and finesse to your event.
Tope and her bundles of joy
Chef Topsy Dre at work
Beyond Veneer adds glam to your occasion
Small chops
Fruit Salad
Office: 51 road opposite customs block by Nepa office
Gowon Estate Iyana Ipaja Lagos.
Telephone: 08151588885
Instagram: @topsy_dre
P.S- Know any woman of virtue
around you worth admiring with an inspiring story? Then send us a mail at
tythotsville@gmail.com . We will be glad to celebrate her with you.
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