This is the third time I’ll be talking about the weather in this season alone, and as it stands, I’m feeling grateful that I didn’t end up buying another body cream as I had wanted to. Because with the way things are right now, it would have been a waste of much-needed cash.

The last time, I talked about how Harmattan had finally come after weeks of being absent. Everything about the weather was random and nothing made sense. But then, harmattan finally came, we got the cold for a bit, and it helped the festive season feel more festive… if you get my drift.

Sadly though, that was not to last the harmattan was only on for less than a week, and I don’t know about the rest of the country, but here in Imo State, the heat is becoming something else. I thought the harmattan would have at least lasted up until the first or second week of January. But I guess the weather had other plans, while I was expecting the impossible, it was up there thinking, dae play, my fans.

I really enjoyed the brief stint Harmattan did, even though it was plagued with whitened feet, parched lips, and dry skin. But at the very least, I wasn’t sweating all that much as I’ve been doing these past few days. The sun is merciless and the heat is unrelenting. As if there’s a score to settle or something.

The harmattan just came to show its face and remind us that it still existed, then disappeared again the moment it could. But then, I don’t think that’s the end of it. I feel we’d still get at least another short stint of Harmattan before the new month of January would be over. And if worst comes to worst, we could have it in February. After all, what’s with the rush?

Double sadly, the weather is not the only thing messing up this season. Our banking system in the country is not making us happy either. I think I made a post talking about the scarcity of cash already. It has become so bad because POS withdrawals are now charged double what they were charging prior to the festivities.

Many people are trying to avoid this by paying via card or transfer, but there is always one network issue or the other. Either the money refuses to leave your account, or it does leave but ends up in limbo. Not getting to the destined account. It’s tiring.

But then, what makes it doubly tiring are the traders who are capitalizing on it. Just like before, they have not changed at all. They are placing charges on all transfers. Be it through card transfers, or through the smartphone. You’ll pay a charge while paying for whatever it is you bought. This is one of the most pointless bills I’ve ever seen in my life because the reason is as clear as day. To extort money. And there’s nothing we can do about it because every trader is doing the same.

If there were some who were more honest and prudent in their dealings, we would have gone to trade with them, but since everyone is embracing this. We have no choice but to do as they demand. This is just like how airtime sellers add N10, to every airtime package during the festive season. Even after MTN themselves said that it’s not authorized and we shouldn’t patronize such people. But when everyone around us is doing it, how then can we get the airtime? We have no choice but to buy it under their conditions.

This is one of the reasons VTU became popular. Not just with the ease of recharging your phone from anywhere at all, but you know that you’re paying N100 for N100 worth of airtime. Not that you’ll pay N110 for N100, or N220 for N200. Can you imagine just how annoying that thing is?

As it stands, I can’t even remember the last time I bought paper airtime. Do they even still sell those things?

Anyway, I see that I’ve digressed from my main point. But I’m sure you all have gotten the gist of the matter. The harmattan is gone, and the heat is back with vengeance. Meanwhile, the traders want to kill us because of ordinary cash scarcity. But no matter, we’d still enjoy the season!!!