R.I.P. Donald Maurice Brewart

You Will See Them Someday

when you lose someone it can be hard to take 

the pain that you feel when your heart has to break 

the memories you keep are all in your mind 

as you search your soul for more to find 

the way their skin felt the smell of their hair

as you keep thinking over and shedding a tear 

the years may pass, memories fade to grey 

but your getting no younger you'll see them someday 

unconditional love is never forgotten 

look deep in your heart it is there at the bottom 

alone in the dark sometimes in fear 

voices from loved ones your hoping to hear 

more years pass, they soon fly by 

but your always looked upon from those in the sky 

surrounded by clouds and pure white doves 

they listen and watch sending you love 

just remember one thing as you sit and you pray 

they will be there to greet you, you will see them someday.

~ Stephen Banks ~

A beautiful memorial Mass,

celebrating the life of Donald Maurice Brewart,

was held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church at

Niagara Falls, followed by a gathering of his family,

relatives and friends.

To view the geographical location of this church in Google Earth/Panoramio, please click on the following link:

 http://www.panoramio.com/photo/119706391

Rest in Eternal Peace

Don Brewart

One of Don's favourites singers was Jim Reeves and had numerous of his LP vinyl albums in his possession.

Here's one special song that perhaps Don would like to sing it now. Here's my dedication. Please click on the following link and give it a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ndMZqT6i4I

The Great Jim Reeves - Unforgettable!

                 

Jim Reeves was born in Galloway, Texas, on 20 August 1923. He died in a plane crash during a violent thunderstorm on 31 July 1964. He was well-known for his warm, velvety, baritone voice and often referred to respectfully as ‘Gentleman Jim’. Among his various other numerous hits and touching songs were ‘Adios Amigo’, ‘Welcome to My World' and ‘Am I losing you’. His Christmas album still remains as the best of all time. 

During the 1960's, if one walked into a Goan family home that had a 'radiogram' it would undoubtedly have been a Jim Reeves 12 inch vinyl record spinning on the 6-LP stackable record changer.

                In the 1970's compact cassettes arrived on the scene followed by CD's in 1980's. Some of his recorded tracks were released by his widow, Mary Reeves, after his death with additional instrumental back-up.
Incidentally, MARY REEVES was born on 20 Jan.1929 and died on 11 Nov.1999. 
Today, walk into any Goan home at Christmas time, and it will be Jim Reeves' Christmas album, in all probability, a CD. 

                Forty-fours years after his death, his songs still continue to sell on CD's. The inscription on the pedestal of his life-size statue at his memorial in Carthage, Texas, reads as follows:


"If I, a lowly singer, dry one tear, or soothe one humble human heart in pain, then my homely verse to God is dear, and not one stanza has been sung in vain."

Goan Proverbs & Sayings

Proverb: Soth Sanglear Dukh Lagta.

Lit Translation: When truth is told, it hurts.

Actual Meaning: Truth hurts.

Coming full circle with music.

FROM FAR CORNERS OF THE GLOBE


Seven years to the day, today, my children presented to my wife and myself, tickets to see and hear Anne Murray at the concert in Toronto on Friday, 25th April, 2008, as a surprise gift in advance for Mother’s Day & Father’s Day   


It was way back in 1970 on a test transmission of an FM station in Dubai, then a sheikhdom in Trucial States of Oman, now known as the United Arab Emirates, where I first heard Anne Murray’s songs on the radio. Her records and cassettes, and later, CDs were available in music shops there.In the 80’s we often watched her shows aired on TV in the U.A.E.

Anne Murray’s hits, 'You Needed Me' and 'Could I have this dance' have been the most popular songs sung at weddings and at dance galas in the U.A.E. where many of my FB have lived and worked for many years.  Her songs were also popular in among the music loving community of Goa, a Portuguese colony for 451 years in India till 1961.

When we immigrated to Canada we brought along with us modest collections of Anne Murray's records, tapes and CD's. It has been a long musical journey of sorts for us listening to Anne Murray’s beautiful voice - first on the radio, then cassettes and LP's (45 years ago) and later CD's and finally live in concert.

 

My children grew up hearing her songs that I played at home through the years. I was also a DJ playing at weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and first communion parties and 'Blue Bird' was my signature opening number on many occasions. My youngest daughter, Dahlia Fernandes, is a budding singer/song-writer having produced a CD of her own songs. This is a tribute to Anne Murray, appreciation and gratitude for bringing joy in our life through her songs.

 

Tony Fernandes

Author of: GOA – MEMORIES OF MY HOMELAND
(Poems & Short Stories) Published in Canada

Early Satellite Launcher

TonFerns' Catapult - An Early Concept!

Goan Memories - Konkani Folk Song Group

Goan Memories

Konkani Folk Song Group

Arranged by LUCIO RODRIGUES

45 RPM Vinyl Record

REMEMBERING PROF. LUCIO RODRIGUES

Prof. Lucio Rodrigues

The great Prof. Lucio with my humble self
PROF LUCIO RODRIGUES

born a century ago (April 15,1915)

 One of the most interesting characters I've met in my life.

It was the summer of 1964 in Goa. After appearing for the Secondary School Certificate Examinations of the Poona Board in Mapsa, I was eagerly waiting for the results that were to appear in Navhind Times on the 28th of May, but unfortunately on the evening of 27th May, sad news came over the radio that Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru had passed away. The S.S.C. E...xams results were not published on the 28th as a mark of respect for the great leader, and postponed for the next day – the 29th of May. In celebration of my passing my SSCE, my elder brother took me to Panjim for lunch, and later went to Prof. Lucio’s house in Panjim, when I had the opportunity of meeting the great man for the first time, nearly 51 years ago. I immediately realised that he was truly a very remarkable, impressive and extraordinary personality that made a profound impact and influence on me. I was 17 years old.

The great personality Prof. Lucio with my humble self.

At that time Prof. Lucio was a lecturer at Elphinstone College near Kala Ghoda in Fort, Bombay. I often visited him at his home in Colaba on my way home from college. In later years Prof. Lucio was the Head of the English Department of Dhempe College of Arts & Science in Panjim. During my holidays to Goa, I often visited him. His study and library was massive. He was constantly busy with Konkani folklore music and literary research. I was astonished the way he played the guitar. Plucking was his forte. He taught me the first guitar chords that I ever knew, and as a good gesture I ruled music notation sheets in return for the great virtuoso on my drafting board. He recorded his songs playing on his Hofner Framus acoustic guitar, and a Framus removable electric guitar pickup. Among his electronic collections were a Grundig radio and a flat-bed 5 inch reel-to-reel Grundig tape-recorder.

I was lucky to have been there to attend his wedding at the Tourist Hotel in Panjim and also having stayed at his house in Anjuna where one evening I had the privilege to join him in singing the Litany along with other people in the village. The news of his premature death came as a shock, and his achievements in a life that was cut short, left an indelible impression. I visited his grave in Bombay in 1974.

Prof. Lucio's grave, Bombay - 1974.

The famous novelist Graham Greene met Prof. Lucio and stayed at his house in Anjuna, Goa.

The soil and soul, the Goan folks, their tales and traditions of Goa lived in the heart of Prof. Lucio Rodrigues – one of the finest, most fascinating and enlightening characters that I have ever met in my life.

A function to pay tribute to him is being held at the Xavier Centre of Historical Research, Porvorim, Bardez, Goa, at 5.30 pm on Wednesday (Apr 15). The function is open to all.

Our Loving Santana - First Death Anniversary

A TRIBUTE OF LOVE

TO OUR LOVING 

SANTANA D'CUNHA

on her

FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY

Born: 28 September 1946

Died: 15 April 2015 

We think of you in silence,

We often speak your name,

But all we have are memories,

And your picture in a frame.

Your resting place we visit,

And put flowers there with care,

But no one knows the heartache,

As we turn and leave you there.

In all the world we shall not find

 a heart so loving and so kind,

so soft a voice, so sweet a smile,

an inspiration so worthwhile, 

sympathy so sure, so deep,

a love so wonderful to keep.

Remembering Santana

The Story of my Sculpture of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

The Story of my Sculpture of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

by Tony Fernandes

 (The shortest story ever told, so please read). Thanks.

Dubai - U.A.E. It was late autumn of the year 1991. A three feet tall statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, in transit from the Philippines, arrived in Sharjah, with a broken right hand which was unfortunately damaged and broken into pieces at the wrist, near the lower portion of the tunic from the outstretched arm of Our Lady..

In need of urgent repair of this statue, my sister-in-law, a church member who lived in Sharjah, asked me for help - if I could make a new right hand, and I said I would definitely try. A slab of white sculpting clay was provided to me, and in right earnest I assigned myself a task which I considered as a challenge, an honour, privilege and a blessing, all at the same time.

So, by looking at the left hand of the statue, which fortunately was intact, I had to inversely sculpt a mirror image, and attach the new hand, in situ, with glue and wire reinforcement drilled into the existing sleeve of the tunic. After completion of the new right hand I painted it in matching colours of the left hand, much to the delight and approval of the committee.

Now, here is where the story takes a new turn, and of course, for the better. A small amount of white clay remained from the above project, and a new idea was born; a new thought and a new challenge came into being. I did this by undertaking the work of sculpting an image of Jesus Christ on the Cross from the left-over clay by using holy pictures as references. Then I made a wooden cross and fastened the finished work to it.

Ever since that time this image has adorned the walls of every home that we have dwelt in, and accompanied us into every home that we have moved into. It goes along with our family from house to house, continent to continent. We brought it to Canada along with us, and has also been to India and back to Canada, and presently adorns the wall of the foyer of the house where we presently reside.

Good Friday - Stations of the Cross

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xB6Xl-8pmU

On The Wings of A Woodpecker

Winter, here's a warning!

Via Dolorosa

WAY OF THE CROSS

Growing up as a young lad in Goa in the 1950’s, I accompanied my mother every week to the village chapel in the evening to attend the ‘Way of the Cross’ during the Lenten season. On some days young boys and girls took turns as either the one who carried the crucifix or the candles on each side, stopping at the series of pictures of the Stations of the Cross, also called Via Sacra, Via Crucis, Way of the Cross and Via Dolorosa. These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations in Christ’s journey to Mount Calvary.

Taken in the general sense, the Stations are represented differently in many chapels and churches in Goa. Some may be of stone, wood, or metal, sculptured or carved, or they may be merely paintings or engravings. Some Stations are valuable works of art along pathways leading to chapels or churches on the hills.

The 14 stations are usually ranged at intervals around the walls of chapels and churches. In the open air they can be found on roads leading to a church or shrine.

Bottom far left in the picture above: Fifth Station of the Cross leading to the Shrine of Fr. Agnel, Pilar Seminary hillock, Goa. ~ Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross. Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. All: Because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world.

Goan Proverbs & Sayings

Proverb:

Kanvllean apnak dovo rong kaddlear to parvo zainam.

Literal translation:

If a crow paints itself white, it does not turn into a dove.

Meaning and application: 

We cannot hid, lie or escape from obvious faults or situations.

Goan Proverbs & Sayings

Proverb

Soth sanglear, duk lagta

Literal translation:

When truth is told, we feel sad.

Ash Wednesday

OK, we do penance for forty days because Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness. But did you ever wonder why he was out there for forty days rather than seven or ten or fifty?

Think back to the Old Testament. Noah and company in the Ark watched rain fall for 40 days and forty nights. Moses was up on Sinai receiving the 10 commandments for 40 days. The Israelites wandered around the desert for 40 years.

 

So why all these forties? Probably because it is forty weeks that a woman carries her developing baby before a new life can come forth from the womb.

All these “forties” are a necessary and not-so-comfortable prelude for something new. In Noah’s case, it’s the rebirth of a sinful world that had been cleansed by raging flood waters. In Moses’ case, it was the birth of the people of the covenant. For the nomadic Israelites, it was the start of a new, settled existence in the Promised land.

 

And Jesus? What did his forty days mean? The birth of a new Israel liberated from sin, reconciled to God, and governed by the law of the Spirit rather than a law chiselled in stone.

 

So our forty days? Time to use the tactics modelled by our captain and break the strongholds. Prayer, fasting, humble service. The heavenly bread of the Eucharist and the Word of God. If we make use of them diligently during this season, pregnant with possibilities, we can enter into greater freedom. Darkness can give way to increasing light. Something new and wonderful can be born in us.

 

From: 

 

Happy Valentine's Day

American Classic Cars in Cuba

 One of Cuba's most distinctive anachronisms are the classic American cars from the 1950’s and 1960’s - Studebaker, Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge cars are seen cruising on all streets and highways – giving me the feeling as if I had just momentarily stepped back in time. Photographing these gems were simply a delight for me - a paradise of classic cars - reminding me once again of Goa of the 1950’s.

 

 

Moonrise and sunset at Varadero, Cuba