AULD LANG SYNE

Again, we bid farewell to yet another completed year as we usher in another. Each year we wish and pray for peaceful days ahead, free from turmoil, war, natural disasters. Some folks happily attend parties, family get-together, large social gatherings in communities irrespective of caste or religion to celebrate the new year. Some may be thinking of their loved ones who were with them in the last year, and as fate has it, they are not with them today to share in those happy moments of yesteryear.

We remember the good old days when attending a New Year’s Eve Ball was the norm. Today as we are much older, we can’t help but reminisce about the good old days, and the good times we had then shared with our friends, some of whom are not longer with us. Some times I tend to ask myself why we refer to those days as the good old days. Conversely, I believe that the days are the same, the only difference being that we are getting older.

Poignantly though and quite aptly, some of us may reminisce once again in forming a circle with our friends at the Ball, waiting for the count-down at the stroke of midnight and singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

At the same time, in true fashion of “Old Long Ago’ we take time to re-kindle cherished memories of our loving Fredrick and Benny Barboza.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and days of old lang syne.

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

'OLD LONG AGO' - MOMENTS OF YESTERYEAR

With all good wishes for
A Very Happy, Peaceful &
Prosperous New Year 2011

Tony Fernandes

WORDS IN FOND MEMORY

LIFE

The rolling stream of life rolls on.
But still the vacant chair
Recalls the love, the voice, the smile
Of the one who once sat there.


Sent by Edna Fernandes

REMEMBERING FREDDY BARBOZA

Remembering

Fredrick Charles Barboza

SECOND DEATH ANNIVERSARY

The Composer

You once composed
and sang songs
with love,
Will you continue
That labour of love
and sing them
in heaven above?
We ask.

Surely you will,
we guess
as perhaps
there still remains
an unfinished task.

Keep up the tempo,
keep up the rhyme,
in the company of
a heavenly choir
with songs and lyrics
while we cherish
the legacy
you left behind.


An Impromptu Ode

by Tony Fernandes

The ECHO Harp

The ECHO Harp 54/64 M2 C/G

1-026.021-64

Harmonica by M. Hohner

double sided vibrato tone harmonica

in the keys of C & G.

This tremolo tuned harmonica has 32 holes

and plays 64 notes on each side

SILENT NIGHT

Please press play and turn up the volume.

Silent Night

Harmonica (Echo Harp) and Guitar

Played by Tony Fernandes 

in the Key of C 

Photo: 'Tonferns Crib'

THE FRESCOES IN THE CORRIDORS OF ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, Parra, Bardez, Goa

'FRESCOES IN THE CORRIDORS OF TIME'

ST. ANNE'S CHURCH

PARRA, BARDEZ, GOA.

All photos by Tony Fernandes

My first inspiration as a child for art.

As a child growing up I often attended major feasts at this church, walking to the church with my mother from our ward in Guirim at Cumbiem Morod. Also all the more because my aunt and cousins lived in Parra. Among the fond memories of this church that I especially cherish is the feast day of St. Anne, attending the solemn High Mass, and later visiting the traditional fair that was held outside the church compound and then walk to my aunt's house for a delicious banquet for the grand occasion. 

The major feature of this beautiful church, and a very rare one, is the portico of this awesome piece of architectural wonder in an Indo-Portuguese blend. It has an unique facade with steps leading to it from the front. Along with its awesome architectural grandeur, it has some beautiful art - the paintings along the corridors and the frescoes on the ceiling and its gold painted altars. All these have always fascinated me ever since the time I was a child when I also accompanied my aunt and cousins for various feasts and functions that were held at this church. 

In its idyllic setting against a backdrop of the hills behind the church, a beautiful straight road leads to it from Jaknim in Parra with scenic surroundings. Flanked by breath-taking plush green fields in the monsoon season on is a sight to behold. As a child I walked on this road from my house in Guirim, Cumbiem Morod, as a teenager I rode on a bicycle and as a adult on a scooter.

Outdoor masses, Konkani dramas and other special functions are also held in front of the church.

This beautiful stretch of road that leads to the church is one of the most scenic in Parra. As a child I walked on this road from my house in Guirim, Cumbiem Morod, as a teenager on a bicycle and as a adult on a scooter. On my every visit to Goa I simply love to ride on this road and a breath of fresh air amidst the lovely surroundings. 

This regional section of the road forms part of the scenic and winding road passing through from the village of  Guirim at Perxeth Vaddo at the Mapusa-Panjim highway on through Parra Jaknim at the Tintto to St. Anne's Church, Parra Arrady, and onward to the left to Arpora, and right to Anjuna and Siolim for a thrilling ride.

Next to the church is the cemetery with the timeless phrase in Konkani 'Aiz Mhaka, Faleam Tuka' (literally meaning: Today for me, tomorrow for you) inscribed over the arched doorway.

St. Anne's Church, Parra, Bardez, Goa. India.

The Franciscan Rectorate of St. Anne, comprising the villages of Parra, Canca and Verla, was established between 1650 and 1653 and was affiliated to the Parish of Nagoa. This first church of Parra was burnt down by the Marathas in 1683, and was rebuilt in 1688.

NATIVITY CRIB at St. Anne's Church, Parra, Bardez, Goa.

View the above photo by Tony Fernandes in Google Earth

Click on: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/36019546

Photo details: Uploaded on May 26, 2010

• © All Rights Reserved 
  by tony fernandes
• Camera: Canon PowerShot A530 Taken on 2009/12/19 01:24:12 Exposure: 0.002s (1/640)
  • Focal Length: 5.80mm F/Stop: f/5.600 Exposure Bias: 0.00 EV No flash

THE SPLENDOUR OF YULETIDE, Goa, India

YULETIDE IN GOA

CRIB-TIDE !

YULETIDE CRIB SCENE IN GOA, India.

Photo by Tony Fernandes

Please double-click on picture for an enlarged view.

JOLLY OLD ST. NICHOLAS

Jolly old St. Nicholas

Jolly old St. Nicholas, Lean your ear this way!
Don’t you tell a single soul, What I’m going to say;
Christmas Eve is coming soon; Now, you dear old man,
Whisper what you’ll bring to me: Tell me if you can.

When the clock is striking twelve, When I'm fast asleep,
Down the chimney broad and black, With your pack you'll creep;
All the stockings you will find Hanging in a row;
Mine will be the shortest one, You'll be sure to know.

Johnny wants a pair of skates, Susy wants a dolly;
Nellie wants a story book; She thinks dolls are folly;
As for me, my little brain isn’t very bright;
Choose for me, old Santa Claus. What you think is right.

A STREET NAMED GOA COURT IN WEST TORONTO & A STRING OF COINCIDENCES ON GOA'S LIBERATION DAY

A STRING OF COINCIDENCES

A street named  GOA Court. in West Toronto

        Four years ago to the day, my short stories and poems were selected to be added to the curriculum of Lakeshore Collegiate Institute in West Toronto.

        Hence, I was invited to read selected poetry and articles to the 'World Literature' Class of Grade 9 students at the school.

        December 19^th was the date set by the class teacher which, in the first coincidence, happened to be the anniversary when the India took over Goa from the Portuguese rule, but the class teacher, principal or the students were not aware of this. The date just happened to be picked up at random or probably a good available and suitable date to fit in the class schedule.

          My presentation to the students, in the presence of their class teacher, included a short personal introduction to the class, reading of poems and stories. I later took questions from students, discussed past culture and traditions and how Goa fits into the modern world. The entire presentation lasted for 1 hour and 20 minutes - i.e. a duration of one full school period. Copies of 2 poems and 2 short stories were distributed to the class as homework prior to this date. So, they were prepared with many questions.

          At the conclusion of the presentation, Lakeshore Collegiate Institute, while acknowledging me as a visiting writer, presented me with a pen and a gift card from Chapters/Indigo/Coles as a token of appreciation. In acceptance I thanked them for the honour and privilege.

          For me personally it was an absolute great moment - and a long way – as a student of St. Anthony’s High School, Monte de Guirim, Goa, to Lakeshore Collegiate, West Toronto, Canada.

          Now here's the second coincidence. You may be surprised to know that while I was driving around the block to the L.C.I. Campus, as a result of a diversion in the main road due to construction work, I unexpectedly came across a street that ends into a 'cul de sac' of a residential area, that is called "GOA Court'. I saw the sign slightly tilted and my immediate reaction and compulsion that I kept under control was to straighten out that sign, but on second thought I later realized that I should not do that for obvious reasons and that perhaps the tilt in the sign was indication, reminding me that Goa is way far beyond and distant, away to the east and momentarily out of reach, should I get lost dreaming about my homeland.

           I have no idea how that street got its name, but I think it is absolutely remarkable that I should find it on my way to speak about Goa, and more so that it was on the anniversary of an auspicious, significant and historic day - 19th December 1961 - Goa Liberation Day.

And a third and final coincidence of the day was that my article “One cold winter morning – a childhood memoir” was simultaneously published worldwide on the 'Goanet' forum on the occasion of this significant day.

http://tonferns.blogspot.ca/2010/12/blog-post_19.html

In the future what I hope is that the word will spread and I may be

visiting other schools in Mississauga, Ontario.

Lakeshore Collegiate, West Toronto.

ON THAT COLD DECEMBER MORNING OF 1961

Village folks including children waving out to the soldiers on armoured tanks, trucks and jeeps passing through Guirim on the evening of 18th December 1961 - heading for the capital, Panjim.

Drawing by Tony Fernandes

ON THAT COLD DECEMBER MORNING OF 1961

A childhood memoir

by Tony Fernandes

CUMBIEM MOROD, GUIRIM, BARDEZ, GOA: I recall that cold morning. I was 14 years old at the time. I  had risen early to study for my second tri-monthly examinations. My mother was in the kitchen, preparing tea. It was then that I heard ear-deafening noise of what seemed to be low-flying aircraft. A little later, I put out the kerosene chimney lamp. My mother and I cautiously peeked out of the window, but saw nothing.The sun had not yet risen. The pre-dawn sky in the east cast a faint scarlet glow. I could feel my mother's fear, as the preceding days had been quite tense. We were aware of the trouble that had been brewing up. A statue at Mapuca had been blown up a few days earlier, causing anxiety among the populace.

Suddenly we heard a knock on our door. We remained still and silent and only opened the door upon realizing that they were our neighbours, calling out to us in low hushed voices. They had come over to ask my mother whether she had any idea what was happening around us. My mother told them that she thought that the noise came from fighter aircraft, as a result of the political tension prevailing at the time. We all went out when the sun had risen. We could see smoke billowing out from the town in the distance. By noon the word had spread that the Indian Army had reached Mapuca andthat Air Force jets had bombed the army barracks and some government buildings in town. We also learned that the barracks there were in fact empty at the time.

The Portuguese soldiers had probably left the previous night on the orders of the Governor-General Manuel António Vassalo e Silva. He was subsequently considered to be a wise man in ordering a retreat and a surrender that followed. It was the talk in our village that he did not want the Portuguese soldiers to put up a fight, as lives would have been lost in the crossfire -- in the event of bombing and fighting between the armies. I realized that my mother's appearance was one of sadness. I felt sad too as I could not go to school. The Indian Army had occupied my school, pitching their tents on our football field. My father had always said that we would one day be liberated, but my mother thought otherwise. I did not have much to say. I was 14 years young then.

Till today I remember running on the winding path through our ward of Cumbiem Morod - leading to the red mud road that passed through our village of Guirim, along with other boys, to see the Indian Army proceeding slowly, heading for the capital, Panjim. There were certain sections of the main road from Mapuca to Panjim that not were not usable as the bridges were destroyed by the retreating Portuguese soldiers. I saw young boys, accompanied by older folks of our village, waving out to the Indian soldiers sitting on top of their tanks in full battle gear. And I waved out as well! The boys shouted "Jai Hind" and I followed doing the same.

I was fascinated with the artillery comprising of huge tanks, armoured cars, jeeps and trailers, gun carriages with canons of different shapes and sizes towed by trucks, proceeding towards Panjim, They created clouds of dust as they rumbled along. Most of the soldiers had moustaches, beards and turbans: all were smiling. The line of army continued long after dusk and trickled into the night.

A very tense situation prevailed for many days and nights. A sudden hush seemed to hover over our lives. We returned home after playing football in the fields long before sunset. One evening, as we wound up our usual play at our improvised football ground, I overheard some of the bigger boys saying that we now 'Indian subjects'. But as a studious boy of 14, the only 'subjects' that I was concerned about were those of my school curriculum like Geography, History and Religion, that had to be postponed into the New Year!

For many days and nights it seemed like everything had come to a halt. School football tournaments were cancelled as both our football grounds remained occupied by the Army for some time. Our juniors volley ball finals were disrupted. There was no midnight Mass in my favourite church or at any other chapel in our village that Christmas 0f 1961, and no New Year's Eve Dance either at Mapusa 'Jardinha'. Perhaps it must have been the only New Year's Eve when the famous band Johnson & His Jolly Boys - hot favourite of the time - did not play in their long musical career.

It was long before mid-night that the lamps and candles burnt themselves out in the lanterns and Christmas stars in front of the houses in my village during the sad Yuletide of that year. It was literally a cold night, albeit a holy one. Everything was calm, quiet and dark with the exception of the brilliant star-lit sky as I glanced at the heavens above. Everything was silent (including the radio as the only Portuguese transmission station "Emissora de Goa' was put out of action in bombardment by the Indian army) except for the intermittent hooting of the owl - heard but never seen, along with the dogs barking most of night in the neighbourhood, and the occasional howl of the wolf in the wee hours of the morning.

And I remember it just as though it was only yesterday.

CHRISTOPHER LUKE ZWEERMAN

CHRISTOPHER LUKE ZWEERMAN

1984 -2010

A TRIBUTE

We first met Chris and Sarah 3 years ago at the 'Fair November' Arts & Crafts Show while he was studying at the University of Guelph, Ontario.

Chris was one of the volunteer student team members who helped us - the participating artisans - in setting up our booths, unloading products out of our vans on the first day of setup, assisting us with the tear-down on the final day of the 4-day Show and loading things back into our van. He also played an important part with the security at night, keeping a watchful eye on the exhibitors' wares.

Subsequently, we met him at the annual Fair at the University during the following two years, again offering us his invaluable help as a volunteer team member. Smiling and cheerful, he was always eager to lend a helping hand. During the four days of the Show, he passed by our booth several times asking us whether there was anything he could do to help us.

As we bonded so well and our friendship grew with him and Sarah, they both visited us at our other craft shows in Toronto. We last met him at the annual Fair at the University of Guelph in 2009, when he told us that he was going to Australia to pursue his studies. He came to say goodbye to us as we were ready to leave after loading up our van.

We bid him farewell at that time, wishing him well in his future endeavours and career, with the thought and hope that someday we would meet him again. Sadly that was not to be.

This year again we took part in the Show at the University, but just as we were setting up our booth, we were shocked and saddened to hear about his passing away at such a young age.

It was a very sad moment for my wife and myself as we listened to the tributes paid by the family members and friends of Christopher Luke Zweerman at the 'Celebration of Life Service' that was held in his honour at St. John's Church, at Newmarket, on Friday December 17th, 2010.

Just as we had expected, we learned that in his short and eventful life, Christopher had achieved a great deal indeed and touched a lot of peoples' lives.

We found Chris to be a great listener. We were also touched by his down-to-earth approach with his unforgettable trademark smile, his caring and charitable ways, his zest for life, his love for his friends and family, his love for sports, nature, environment and the great outdoors, setting an example and making a lasting impression in our lives with an unique warmth that radiated from his personality.

We will miss you, Chris. Rest in peace.

We send our most heartfelt condolences

to Sarah James,

to the Parents of Chris - Bernie and Gabrielle,

to brother Brandon

and to all his family members.

We hope you are coping up with the sudden loss of the love of your lives. We realize that this is very difficult time for you and your family to go through. We would like to share in your moments of sorrow and pray that time may heal your sorrow, and may you find comfort in cherishing the wonderful memories of loving Chris.

Tony & Edna Fernandes

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The Violin & Music in Goan Culture

To read text in a full-screen view, please click on picture twice.

THE STUBBORN CAPTAIN

“A lighthouse is not interested in who gets its light! 
It just gives it without thinking! Giving light is its nature!” 
― Mehmet Murat ildan

Lighthouse at Fort Aguada, Bardez, Goa, India.

Photo by Tony Fernandes

THE STUBBORN CAPTAIN

A Poem by Tony Fernandes

Adapted from one of the Sunday Homilies

of Reverend Monsignor Terence D'Souza,

Founder Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church,

a Parish of the Archdiocese of Toronto,

in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

A captain of a ship

At sea on a tranquil night;
a faint light, a mere beacon,
flashing on the horizon, he sees.

The prow of his ship
Points in the direction
Of the beacon
And right into its path
His course is set.

In the dark night
Slowly the faint light
Glows brighter
as towards it the ship draws closer.

To the distant light
The ship’s captain a message sends:
“Change your course twenty degrees south
Or else, face the consequence.”

A reply from the far away light
The ship’s captain thus receives:
YOU please change YOUR course
Twenty degrees north.

The ship’s captain angrily retorts
“Change your course, I demand
Admiral John B. Smith, I am,
Solely in command.”

The distant light turns brighter
Its message even more clearer:
“I am unable to alter my course Sir”
I am Bob R. Jones,
Stationed Retired Third Officer,
In charge of Starshine Beacon.

The admiral, in a fury, a reply he sends
“I do not care who you are mister,
I order you to change your course, stranger,
Or at the bottom of the sea you shall lie,
I am the Admiral of the mighty
Battleship ‘Challenger.’

Humble Retired
Third Officer Jones
Distraught and frantic
Radios a final warning
to the great Admiral Smith
as his huge battleship now looms
even larger than before.

“Mighty rocks ahead of you,
Sir Admiral Smith”,
a message the retired officer transmits,
“Sir, you are twenty minutes,
twenty degrees too late,
for a ship this size
to turn either north or south
east or west;
THIS IS A LIGHTHOUSE,

Sir Great Admiral John B. Smith”.
------------------------
Moral of this poem:To listen and understand, is simpler.
To ignore with pride, the fall is even greater.

THE STONES OF BALESAR, Rajasthan, India

SOUVENIR STOP

On a continuing tour of Rajasthan,

we left Jaisalmer soon after breakfast,

heading south-east to Jodhpur.

Stopping at the vast Balesar Stone Quarry

for a tea break, we collected a few stones

as souvenirs and took pictures

before proceeding on our exciting tour.

YAAD HAI TUJHE?

Train chala gayi,

station khali,

camera ready,

lekin phaida nahin.

Yaad hai tuje
Jabhi hamari 'train' chala gayi thi
Lekin achanak dusri mili
Jo puri khali thi?
Sach kahun to uss waqt

maine ye socha tha
Maa ki prarthana Ishwar-ne
Jaroor sun liya hoga.

YAAD HAI TUJHE?

Yaad hai tujhe?

Yaad hai bahuth hansi aayi tujhe

jabhi Rajasthani ‘costume’ pehenkebaddi khuxi-se

hum nach rahe the
aur patloon mere

dhire-dhire

niche aah rahe the?

Foto phool-screen dekhna chahiye to

jarah foto ke upar cursor rakh-kar dabble-clik kijiye. Dhanyavad.

TRYPTIC FOR A PHOTO BOOTH

Tryptic for a photo booth
by Tony FernandesTheme: Winter Wonderland
Acrylic Paint on 2" thick white Styrofoam

(a.k.a. Thermocole)
Size : Overall Height 7 ft. 3 in
Overall Width 8 ft.
Centre panel : 7'3" x 4'
Side Panels : 7'3" x 2'

CALADIUM IN A WHITE VEIN

Picture by Tony Fernandes

CALADIUM IN A PINK VEIN

Caladium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae. Several varieties of these beautiful decorative plants sprout soon after the first showers of rain in Goa, India. Known as terim (plu.) or terem (sing.) in Konkani, they grow is several different colours.
Above picture is one of the pink-vein variety.

Picture by Tony Fernandes

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER

Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa (Goa Velha) Goa. India

Today is the feast of St. Francis Xavier, Apostle to the Far East. His mortal remains lie in the

Basilica of Bom Jesus or Basilica of Good Jesus (Portuguese: Basílica do Bom Jesus) in Goa, India, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church is located in Old Goa, which was the capital of Goa in the early days of Portuguese rule.

'Bom Jesus' (literally, 'Good (or Holy) Jesus') is the name used for the infant Jesus. The Jesuit church is India’s first minor basilica, and is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India.

(Wikipedia) Francis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta (7 April 1506 – 3 December 1552) was a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary born in the Kingdom of Navarre (Spain) and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. He was a student of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits who dedicated themselves to the service of God at Montmartre in 1534.^[1] He led an extensive mission into Asia, mainly in the Portuguese Empire of the time. He was influential in the spreading and upkeep of Catholicism most notably in India, but also ventured into Japan, Borneo, the Moluccas, and other areas which had thus far not been visited by Christian missionaries. In these areas, being a pioneer and struggling to learn the local languages in the face of opposition, he had less success than he had enjoyed in India.

Saint Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits.