Good-bye 2014 - WELCOME 2015

Hello! 2015

To watch the full video please click on the link below:

MUSIC FOR PEACE

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHWJCzJfuw0

As I reminisce on the calendar of 2014, it seems the world has seen happiness as well as sorrow - killing and abduction of innocent children, wars, shootings, air disasters, floods and tornadoes - as people lost their lives and next of kin. War and hatred between nations have continued unabated in many places in the world.

We cannot change the past, but we can definitely wish, hope and pray for a better 2015 and for many better years beyond. As we usher in the New Year 2015, let us hope for love, not hatred, and pray for Peace throughout the world, especially for those affected by war and natural disasters; pray for the sick, the bereaved, the injured, the afflicted and the poor.

We remember our folks who are far away from us; consider ourselves lucky to have our friends and family near us, and pray for those folks who are no longer with us today.

I am thankful for having had better life than the less fortunate and I hope to cherish the happy memories I have had with my family, and treasure the good days we have shared in the happy times of the days gone by while hoping for a better 2015.

To sum it up I’d like to play just for old times’ sake a short clip of a favourite and familiar tune that we hear on every New Year’s Eve. It's only in recent years with the encouragement from my daughter Denise that I learned to play an instrument I always wanted to - the violin. Still in progress - but nonetheless, I hope this brings home the sentiment that ‘Auld Lang Syne’ has unfailingly always brought to me year after year.

If you're going to San Francisco

IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAN FRANCISCO

(Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP-ggfXT81c

TonFerns Video

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2015

Wishing all visitors to my blog
and all followers on Facebook

A MERRY CHRISTMAS

and

A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015

Thank you for your support and appreciation.

My Bucket List

 

 

On the 11th Day of the Christmas Show

 

On the 11th & last Day

My true love gave to me
A "Pear Chutney" in a Pear Tree.
We are running out of Flavours
Yet there's so much more to Savour
And so less time to sample
But please come back next year for more.

On the 10th Day of the Christmas Show

 

On the 10th Day of the Christmas Show
 My true love gave to me
All exquisite tasters
That came in various flavours
Some are getting sold out
And that 's what Edna's Pickles is all about.

On the 9th Day of the Christmas Show

On the 9th Day of the Christmas Show
Keeping up the tempo
With SWEET BEET CHUTNEY
.... A Runaway success....
..... and the Beat keeps going on!

On the 8th Day of the Christmas Show

 

On the 8th Day of the Christmas Show

My true love gave to me
A Medley of Eight to Savour
'Sweet Lime' Oh, what a flavour!
And Tangy Lime what a craver.

On the 7th Day of the Christmas Show

 

 

On the 7th Day of the Christmas Show,
My true love gave to me
All delicious flavours
Two Books of Recipes
Tony's Book of Goa Memories
With nostalgic Poems & Stories.

On the 6th Day of the Christmas Show

 

On the 6th Day of the Christmas Show
My true love gave to me
6 Savoury Carrots
And all previous flavours
Delivered in 'TONBILT' trucks.

On the Fifth day of the Christmas Show

On the Fifth day of the Christmas Show

My true love gave to me
Five Green Apple Chutney
Four Veggie Medley
Three Tangy Lime
Two Crunchy Gherkins
And a Hot Eggplant in a yellow Jeepney.



On the fourth day of the Christmas Show

 

On the fourth day of the Christmas Show

My true love gave to me
Four Veggie Medley
Three Tangy Lime
Two Crunchy Gherkins
And a Hot Eggplant in a blue truckie.

On the third day of the Christmas Show

 

On the third day of the Christmas Show
My true love gave to me
Three Tangy Lime
Two Crunchy Gherkins
And a Hot Eggplant
In a Pear tree.

On the second day of the Christmas Show

 

On the second day of the Christmas Show
My true love gave to me
Two Crunchy Gherkins
And a Hot Eggplant in a pear tree.

One the first day of the Christmas Show

 

One the first day of the Christmas Show

My true love gave to me,
A Hot Eggplant in a pear tree.

Y-NOT TONY?

"When I used to DJ in my younger years, my name surprised people (particularly those who are not educated on the existence of Catholicism, Christianity and Portuguese colonization in India). I often got asked "TONY!?! Is that your REAL name?" To which I would respond "Y-NOT?"

COACH

CHEVROLET

HandMade Market, Honsberger Estate, Jordan, Ontario

THOUGH POPPIES GROW IN FLANDERS FIELDS

LEST WE FORGET - They shall not grow old...

REMEMBERING THE WAR DEAD EVERYWHERE

Lest we forget - They shall grow not old,

as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun

and in the morning,

we will remember them.

'LEST WE FORGET'

          Lest We Forget - three words renowned across most countries to show remembrance of those who have fought, and those who have died fighting for freedom. It means that we will never forget.

          In Canada, the day is honoured by wearing poppies, a flower that bloomed throughout the fields of battle grounds in France and Belgium during World War I.

          The wearing of the symbol of the poppy was made popular due to the poem, Flanders Fields, written by Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae after witnessing his friend and fellow soldier struck down in the midst of battle in WWI.

In the poem by John McCrae 'In Flanders Fields' poppies are referred to, but why poppies?

The answer is simple:
Poppies only flower in rooted up soil. Their seeds can lie on the ground for years and years. They will sprout only when someone roots up the ground. Battlefields during the war, churned up the soil while dead soldiers laid on the ground and the poppies blossomed.

In Flanders Fields

(my favourite poem)

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Canadian Lieutenant Col. John Alexander McCrae was born in McCrae House in Guelph, Ontario to Lieutenant-Colonel David McCrae and Janet Simpson Eckford; he was the grandson of Scottish immigrants. He attended the Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute and became a member of the Guelph militia regiment. The background of his family is military. Poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during World War I, and a surgeon during the battle of Ypres, a Municipality in Flanders, Belgium. He is best known for writing the above war memorial poem.

MY LOVING MOM

 

My Loving Mom

 Sebastiana Pereira e Fernandes
 

Born: 10th November 1913
Died: 23th August 1974

 She would have been
101
years of age today.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM.

 



THE STORY OF THE VIOLIN (How it came into my life)

THE STORY OF THE VIOLIN

....and how it came into my life.

For me the violin had always been one of those musical instruments that I always wanted to learn to play since childhood, but never really got down to learning it until I was into my early fifties. I remember that I often mentioned this to my children. "Someday I must learn to play the violin", I had often said.

And then so it came to pass that it was the eve of one my birthdays when I was about to go to sleep. Around midnight I hear a knock on the door. It is my eldest daughter Denise at the door. She is about to push a huge cardboard box that has a picture, and all the markings of a barbecue grill. She says "Happy Birthday Dad", and I say "... but we already have a barbecue".

My daughter then insists that I open the taped-up box which, after some reluctance and hesitation, I do open. Placed at a slant in that box is what looks like a violin case. And I am left speechless, dumb-founded and surprised. After all, for sure, I think that it is a violin that is in the box. Then I am handed a birthday card. And I am baffled as to how on earth at my age am I going to learn what is supposed to be a such a difficult musical instrument. Then I open the envelope containing the birthday card and inside there is pre-paid 12-lesson violin course from Merriam School of Music, which once again leaves me wondering and guessing what all the young violin learners at the school are going to think of me when I walk into the music class. Will they think that I am teaching the art of playing violin? Or am I a late starter in learning to play the violin? Or will they think that I am perhaps accompanying someone younger to the school?

The following week after my birthday, it was my first day, first lesson, at the renowned Merriam School of Music in Mississauga. I walked boldly through the revolving doors. As soon as I stepped in, I hesitantly and nervously looked around me holding my violin case in my right hand, and following the guidance from the receptionist and signs leading to the first floor, proceeded to my class.

I was expecting a room full of violin enthusiasts supervised by an older teacher. But I entered into a mid-size room with no one else in there. A minute later, in walked a young girl who I thought was a student, but I soon realised that she wasn't. She was, in fact, my teacher. She was as old as my daughter. She was going to be my teacher for the next 12 lessons. This was a hands-on crash-course it seemed.

After my first one-hour lesson I was quite at ease. I went around the school. As I walked and passed through the corridors of this prestigious school of musical learning, I heard different sounds of instruments apparently seeping out of the rooms. On my way down through the lobby, there were much older people than I was at the time, holding cases of what looked surely like violins, guitars, and mandolins or perhaps other instruments. And oh! my, how glad was I, that I was not alone!

The following 3 months I assigned myself the task of practising, thanks for the basement, where no one could hear the initial squeaks, but myself and the basement walls. And four months later found myself playing at a party.

Thanks to my loving daughter, Denise. 



AUTUMN - A GRAND FINALE TO A GLORIOUS SUMMER, Caledon, Ontario

 

~ AUTUMN ~

A GRAND FINALE TO A GLORIOUS SUMMER,

Caledon, Ontario

 

An early morning drive through the serene country-side, the air is still, the trees seemingly still hanging on desperately with colourful foliage of late autumn hues, thus making up for the dull skies.

 

Prepping for the winter.

 

Bowing to the forces of nature

 

By the forlorn road in the country-side under a cloudy sky, some trees seem to be prepping themselves earlier than others, shedding their leaves, getting ready for winter, lest they should find themselves unexpectedly burdened by snow.

One tree at the cross-roads in a serene area in Caledon, Ontario, seems to have stood the test of time, bowing under the pressures of the wind, while another in its vicinity seems to have succumbed to the brutal forces of nature during the last winter.

NO LOAFING AROUND IN LOAFER'S LAKE - BRAMPTON, ON

Loafer's Lake, Brampton, ON.

 Geese are taking off. No more loafing around. Perhaps due to a sudden change in the weather. The leaves on the trees still in myriad colourful hues, were caught unawares and unprepared, bewildered and perplexed just like I was, as snow fell in the fall this year..
 

 

 

 



MEANWHILE IN CANADA

FAR AWAY IN DISTANCE, BUT CLOSER IN THE ALPHABET

 

Far across the seas in distance,

but close together and almost similar in the alphabet!

 



SHORT WAVE RADIO SHORT MAKES FULL CIRCLE

Our daughter Dahlia Fernandes' song 'Bittersweet' was aired this morning on the English Service of Radio Sri Lanka (SLBC) at  4.05 pm. (6.35 am Toronto time). This was made possible, thanks to the efforts of our friends Dalrine Wijesuriya and Radio Host Kumar Samuel. Growing up in Goa in the late 1950's and early 1960's, as it was known then, I listened to 'Radio Ceylon' shortwave broadcast on 31 metre band, which very much made a part of our lives. Today, around 55 years later, I'm proud to hear Dahlia's song on the SLBC radio. A milestone indeed.

FALL REFLECTIONS

'Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.'

 

Once again autumn hues and reflections come back to the Don River Valley, around the Weston Quarry Garden area, Toronto. ~ 25th October 2014.

 

 

 

 

 



BARNS OF CALEDON, ONTARIO

 

NOBODY TRIPS OVER MOUNTAINS

ONE CROSSING TOO MANY 

'Crossing the hill not once,

but everyday, throughout the schooling years 1953 - 1964,

and yes, there were pebbles along the way and a steep climb.
My Alma Mater on the Hill

called 'Monte de Guirim' -

St. Anthony's High School, Bardez, GOA. India.
View from Parra to Saligao road.

CHARM OF INGLEWOOD - Caledon, Ontario

APPLIED SAMPLING LAW

Sometimes when sales are low at Arts & Crafts Shows, the rains do not help. At one point we were wondering, anxious to know what was going to happen when it started pouring yesterday, but luckily the rain stopped and it was a comfort to see some people walking into our marquee.

So at noon while I was just sitting and pondering what the heck is going to happen to this show after it started raining, with nothing much to do other than look at the cloudy skies, the following occurred to me upon reflection of our condition. It dawned on me what had transpired during the previous three days. As usual, we, vendors, are quite adept in adapting to any situation, and take in stride the snide or odd remarks by the stray or wayward, wandering visitor who had perhaps nothing better to do during the day than have a go at my sanity and try my patience both at the same time!

Here's a sampling for your amusement. I hope you find it funny. Enjoy it.

APPLIED SAMPLING LAW IN A JURIED CRAFT SHOW

1. What does one call a time period of over 15 minutes that is spent in reaching a final decision to purchase one jar of pickles?
~   EXTENDED DELIBERATION !

2. What do you call 2 people trying to arrive in a tied decision to make a final commitment in a vote to purchase a single jar of relish?
~   A TIED VOTE !

3. What does one call a situation when a customer fails to purchase your product after trying about 12 flavours of chutneys and pickles?
~   MISTRIAL !

4. What do you call the questioning of one by others in a group of visitors, trying to discredit his firm belief in his choice of a certain type of pickle that he or she likes?
            
~   CROSS-EXAMINATION !

5. What do you call an instance when a customer tells you that he/she has decided to purchase at the next show.

~   ADJOURNMENT !

6.  What does one call a group of between 6 or 12 persons who fail to reach a verdict to buy ONE jar of relish?

~   HUNG JURY !

© Tony Fernandes - Edna's Pickles

A CLOSE LOOK WITH LONG LENS

 

A CLOSE LOOK WITH A LONG LENS

 

'Life is not what it used to be, so for now I'm taking a long look at things around and above me'.

Moon shot: Niagara Escarpment Area at Ball's Falls, Jordan, Ontario.

12 October 2014 - 8.52 am

Camera :  Canon



The Tony Fernandes Daily

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The Tony Fernandes Daily

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Caledon Moon

St. Francis of Assisi, Patron of St. Anthony's High School, Monte de Gurim, Bardez, Goa

October 4 , 2014

Today is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), one of the best-loved Catholic saints, who was the founder of the Order of Friars Minor (Capuchin) and the Secular Franciscan Order. He is the Patron of the renowned institution of St. Anthony's High School, my Alma Mater, Monte de Guirim, Bardez, Goa. Our present Pope has adopted his Papal name as 'Francis' - after St. Francis of Assisi, who is known for his humility.

 Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi, Monte de Guirim.

Bardez Goa.

Main altar of the Chapel, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.

Twilight view of the Arabian Sea from Monte de Guirim, Bardez, Goa.

The Alverno Friary & Residence

Resting place of the great Capuchin Friars of Monte de Guirim.

Cross of peace and tranquility facing the Chapel on the Hill. Monte de Guirim. An ideal quiet place for prayer, solace, comfort and inspiration.

On the right side of this cross, as one looks at the picture above,  the giant old nunerca tree stood strong perhaps for generations. This tree was a legend in its lifetime. It was like a mother that sheltered and protected her children under her huge arms from the hot sun and rain.  For the physical training exercise, boys lined up for the “drill” under this legendary tree. In the afternoon boys some played, while other read books. Mission Sunday event was held on this mini plateau. Its own branch roots were very cleverly nurtured back into the earth with soil around it round tin pipes, thereby providing support for itself. Though botanists tried to save it, the old tree sadly did not survive. But a new one that was immediately planted in its place soon grew to its full size and provides a nostalgic reminiscence to the visiting scholars of the old days.