Double Rainbow

Photo by: Tony Fernandes

Somewhere over the rainbow way up high

There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.

SONGWRITERS/MUSIC: E HARBURG, E.Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN.

Sung by Judy Garland

Photo by: Tony Fernandes

 It's a good thing that when God created the rainbow he didn't consult a decorator or He would still be picking colors. ~ Sam Levenson

Photo by: Tony Fernandes

Someday I'll wish upon a star

Wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Where trouble melts like lemon drops

High above the chimney top

That's where you'll find me.

SONGWRITERS/MUSIC: E HARBURG, E.Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN.
Sung by Judy Garland

GOAN DIASPORA - ONTARIO - CANADA

Photo by: Tony Fernandes

GOAN DIASPORA IN ONTARIO, Canada.

        I consider myself a Goan with basic roots of my ancestors based in Goa with its unique culture, heritage, customs and traditions that have evolved for centuries including its caste system that is rapidly changing and keeping up with the modern times.

        The title 'Goan' is unique and respected in the diaspora. A Goan could be defined as one who is originating from Goa, and who has his or her basic roots in Goa with an established member of the past generations of one's family or people - as ancestors - in all walks of life, having a precursor in a family lineage based in Goa.

         In general, the title defining a Goan can be used to describe the people of Goa, India, who form an ethno-linguistic group resulting from the assimilation of Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Indo-Portuguese and Austro-Asiatic ethnic and/or linguistic ancestries.

        Although I do not belong to any Goan Association here at present, I have patronized and supported various Goan associations in the past, by taking part in helping and participating in social functions, and also as a committee member celebrating village feasts, annual outings/picnics to parks far and near, pilgrimages to distant towns, and annual gatherings of families and friends at Christmas and New Year Functions.

       Yes, the folks who are members of Goan Associations are very much active, dedicating their spare time and efforts in organizing events on  weekends, besides having their regular full day jobs. They are enthusiastic in the role they play in society, in spite of long distances of travel to attend convened meetings in order to organize any function or event. In the past, I have served my tenure for one year as an Honorary President of my Alma Mater - St. Anthony's High School, Monte de Guirim, Bardez, Goa. I was assisted by a team, which 
consisted of ex-students and their families, friends and fellow Goans. It was well attended by over 420 people, both ex-students, their families and friends, raising a charity fund, and the proceeds generated having been remitted directly to the respective School in Goa.  I have also served as a committee member for several years with other volunteer ex-students as committee members from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The cultural aspect at such events is maintained by choreographing Goan songs and dances at such social functions by volunteers, by training young adults, for instance, in the traditional Kunbi Dance, Mando, Corridinho, etc. Konkani dramas (Tiatr) are also held three or more times a year in the GTA with packed audiences.

        A major indoor annual event called 'Viva Goa' organized by the G.O.A. Goan Overseas Association of Toronto has been on-going fixture for many years and has for the last 2 years been held as an outdoor event, once with the Mayor of Mississauga as the chief guest. Famous Goan singers have also made special guest appearances at such gatherings. There are many Goan speciality food stalls set up at these types of venues with Goan folks selling home-made sausages, pickles, dodol, bebinca, etc., and also inter-village soccer tournament being held side by side.

        There is also a very interesting and entertaining live 2-hour Konkani Radio Program entitled ‘Radio Mango’ that broadcasts Konkani and Mangalorean songs weekly in Toronto, every Saturday on FM101.30. This is the first ever weekly Konkani radio program in Canada presented by volunteers who dedicate their time and effort with additional support from Goans and Mangaloreans in making this a reality. Entrepreneurs, enterprising and inspiring Goans, doctors and businessmen, actors and actresses, priests, fashion designers, engineers, architects, writers and poets, sportsmen and sportswomen, musicians and prominent visiting Goan and Mangalorean entertainers have been interviewed on a weekly basis, with a segment of news from home broadcast live on this program since its inception on 29th September 2012. Click on the following link for more details about how to listen to this fabulous Konkani Radio presentation from Toronto worldwide.

http://www.radiomango.ca/about.html

       The Goan community at large is well-known among the general population, acknowledged and accepted, playing its own role in society. Every village is an important one to every Goan wherever he hails from, and is proud of it. And as every village has its own Saint, its feast day is very significant to them. Hence they try and celebrate it with great pomp and fervour. Whoever is interested in his or her village feast will go out of their way to form or join a committee of Goans. Various associations take them in their fold, irrespective of which village they belong to, and without prejudice. Strictly, own village committees also do exist with eager members who come forward to help, oblige and organize any event or feast. To cite an example, one could precede a village name to the word ‘Social', ‘Get-together’, ‘Ball’ or ‘Annual Dance’ for practically every village thus calling it 'Anjuna Social', 'Aldona Social', 'Parra Social', 'Calangute Social' or have picnic and calling it 'Anjuna Picnic', 'Aldona Picnic', 'Parra Picnic', 'Calangute Picnic' etc.

      Many Goan Seniors Clubs, Sports Committees of various football, cricket, carrom and field hockey associations and organizations have been established over the years and with participation by those who are interested in their own particular choice of sports activities by patronizing such social groups.

      The very popular and common traditional Litany - a collection of a form of prayer that is sung at wayside Crosses, Chapels and homes in the vast countryside around Goa - is also sung at some private functions. I have attended sung litany on various occasions in my life abroad and played the violin on two such gatherings.

      Konkani Mass is solemnly celebrated at least once or twice a year and attended by Goans with great pride from all walks of life creating a happy atmosphere, especially in major towns, particularly on the feast day of St. Francis Xavier complete with hymns and a homily delivered in Konkani by Goan priests belonging to own parishes, or other priests invited from other Catholic parishes around the GTA who are fluent in Konkani, followed by a procession as a finale. Such events remind us about our native land – Goa, keeping us in touch and close to home. Masses in English are celebrated daily, and also with extra services on Saturdays and Sundays with full attendance, mainly on the feast days of the Virgin Mary, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Anne, Christmas, New Year and Easter Sunday. My children sang in our local parish church choir.

A true Goan takes Goa with him or her wherever he or she goes around the world.

VIVA GOA.

Tony Fernandes
Author of ‘Goa – Memories of My Homeland’  (Poems and Short Stories)

Faux Stained Glass for You

Glass Painting

Faux Stained Glass FOR You

Village Chapel

My Village Chapel in Goa

at Cumbiem Morod,

GUIRIM

Bardez

GOA

A true Goan takes Goa with him or her

wherever he or she goes around the world.

VIVA GOA!

TonClay Handcrafted Ewer Forever

'TonClay' Handcrafted Ewer Forever

TonFerns Creations

Handicrafts

Goan Gumott

The Goan Gumott

of Mando and song - the drum, made out of clay,

and topped with goat's skin.

Line & Cross-hatch drawing by Tony Fernandes

Goan traditional mandos, dulpods and folksongs are often sung to the percussion beat of the 'Gumott' (Ghumat) and also to the accompaniment of the violin, guitar or harmonica at weddings, São João Festival, impromptu sing-songs after Litany and other occasions.

 The 'Gumott' in local dialect is made from red clay by Goan potters with openings on the two opposite sides, one large and the other small in diameter, with the middle portion bulging outwards. On the larger opening, the edge is conveniently moulded for the stretched fitting of goat skin. The opening at the other side acts like a resonating acoustic amplification port-hole. A cord is used around both openings to sling it over the shoulder or neck to carry or play the instrument. The skin is kept taut by gently holding the instrument over flames or red-hot coal prior to a singing session!

Faith

Free Trip

If the entire world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

If the entire world is a stage,

where is the audience sitting?

Heaven still rebuilds rainbows

For, faithful to its sacred page,

  Heaven still rebuilds thy span;

Nor lets the type grow pale with age,

  That first spoke peace to man.

~ Thomas Campbell ~

Port Hope - Ontario, Canada

Port Hope - Ontario, Canada

When I stand before God
at the end of my life,
I would hope that I would not have
a single bit of talent left, and could say,
'I used everything you gave me'.

~ Erma Bombeck ~ 

What did they do during the day?

If Galileo used a small lamp,

Graham Bell 2 candle lights

and

Shakespeare street lamp...

tell me then,

what did they do during the day?

Bandra Feast - Mount Mary

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

During my years as a student in Bombay, I longed for the arrival of this date - the unforgettable date - that is the 8th of September, the feast of Our Lady of the Mount. It is a great day for all the faithful as well as for the business people. Thousands of peopke from all walks of life flock to the beautiful and religious shrine, irrespective of their caste, creed or religion to pay their annual homage and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

But for me as a young lad, the wait was more for the fun fair that I looked forward to - the games, the giant wheel, the different stalls selling different toys, clothes and snacks.

This majestic Roman Catholic Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, is situated on a hillock in Bandra, Mumbai, India. The week-long feast is celebrated and culminates on birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

During the time when I was in Goa as a young child, I accompanied other boys and girls from our village to St. Diogo's with little baskets of flowers and sang 'Devache Maie, pau to amkam'. During the celebration all children stood in line along the centre aisle and tossed the flowers up in the air over our heads in adoration.

Speed chase - Geese slipstream

Speed chase - Geese slipstream drafting in formation!

Dodge Caravan

MOTHER TERESA - A SAINT IN OUR LIFETIME

IMPACT OF MOTHER TERESA - A SAINT OF OUR LIFETIME

It was a great opportunity, privilege and a golden once in a lifetime chance to visit the Shrine and Tomb of Mother Teresa in Kolkata on the 7th of February 2016.

As soon as l walked in the modest room where Mother Teresa's tomb is enshrined, a shudder suddenly ran through my spine immediately giving me goose bumps. I bowed down and closed my eyes to say a prayer and pay my respects momentarily. Then, when I lifted my head up and opened my eyes, I saw everyone around me in tears and when l touched my own face I found that l was in tears too. Such is the impact of great Mother Teresa's radiance around those who come to visit her shrine in Kolkata. The awe, adoration and admiration was clearly visible on the faces of all those who silently stood and prayed around her tomb.

Although my visit to her tomb and a tour around the shrine lasted only a short while, it was a humbling experience and a great privilege. I will remember and cherish these moments for a long time to come.

Oh! What a joy to the people of the City of Joy and to all the rest around the world to know that Mother Teresa is declared a Saint today by Pope Francis - a Pope of our lifetime.

O Kolkata

Try to remember the kind of September

Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh so mellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow.

Try to remember the kind of September
when the roads in Mapusa town were clean
Try to remember the kind of September
When the market was uncluttered 
and riding the bicycle was routine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUZpjW7QHGo
http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/photos/8896560/

WIND TURBINE IN MOTION

WIND TURBINE IN MOTION

Wind turbine powering some of the facilities at the CNE grounds. Toronto Windmill (Exhibition Place Turbine), is a 91-metre windmill belonging to WindShare co-operative, erected on December 18, 2002. It is the first wind turbine installed in a major North American urban city centre. The turbine production capacity helps displace up to 380 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, which is the equivalent of taking 1,300 cars off the road or planting 30,000 trees each year.

REMEMBERING OUR OLD DAYS AT THE C.N.E.

REMEMBERING OUR GOOD OLD DAYS AT THE C.N.E

http://tonferns.blogspot.ca/search/label/C.N.E.%202013

Sweet is the memory of distant friends!

Sweet is the memory of distant friends!

Like the mellow rays of the departing sun,

it falls tenderly,

yet sadly,

on the heart. 

~ Washington Irving ~

Paper Roses - TonFerns on the Harmonica

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yFDxfmQax8

'Paper Roses' 

TonFerns on the Harmonica

Beautiful GOA - Now Free For All

Moon & Monroe Towers

Moon & Monroe Towers

Mississauga,

Ontario

GOAN - GONE HIS WAY

GOAN WAY

Spending days wisely

Yesterday is a cancelled check;

tomorrow is a promissory note;

today is ready cash. Spend it wisely.

Race Car Livery by TonFerns

VEHICLE LIVERY
in Mississauga, Ontario.
by TonFerns 

 Hand-cut pressure-sensitive vinyl

applied on a car that raced (and won!)

in Las Vegas.

Time for Roe

Time for Caviar

Sturgeon Moon

THE STURGEON MOON

~ 17 August 2016, Mississauga ~ 

Some Native American tribes called the August

Moon the “Sturgeon Moon” because they knew that the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this Full Moon. They also called August's Moon the “Full Green Corn Moon.”

 ~ The Old Farmer's Almanac ~ 

Kanak Vrindavan Mahal - Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Art was a palace once, things great and fair,

And strong and holy, found a temple there.

~ Richard Le Gallienne

Kanak Vrindavan is a garden in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. It is built in a valley surrounded by Aravali hills and is located on the way to the Amer Fort at the bottom of the Nahargarh hill. The place is approx 8 km north of the Jaipur city.

Pics of Fresh Picks

Flower - Rose of Sharon

Flower

by Rabindranath Tagore

Pluck this little flower

and take it, delay not!

I fear lest it droop

and drop into the dust.

I may not find a place in thy garland,

but honour it with a touch of

pain from thy hand and pluck it.

I fear lest the day end before I am aware,

and the time of offering go by.

Though its colour be not deep

and its smell be faint,

use this flower

in thy service

and pluck it while there is time.

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus Syriacus) is a common name that has been applied to several different species of flowering plants that are valued in different parts of the world. It is also a biblical expression. 

The name "Rose of Sharon" first appears in English in 1611 in the King James Version of the Bible. ~ Wikipedia. Shrub AltheaAlso known as the Korean Rose, it is the national flower of South Korea and also called shrub althea.

What's in a name? that which we call a rose

by any other name would smell as sweet. ~ William Shakespeare.

Flowers

TASTE OF UNIONVILLE_ MARKHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL

DAHLIA FERNANDES

Interview

CTV24

Broken Streams - Lost Trails

Broken Streams - Lost Trails

Jet contrails sketches in the setting sun.

Over the Moon's Edge

I was simply over the moon with this shot yesterday!

Great News - Dahlia's Interview on CTV coming up!

Exciting news!

Dahlia (my daughter) will be on 

CP24 Toronto's Breaking News

with super host Jaime G

this Friday, Aug 12 from 7-9am EST

with talented guitarist Miles Finlayson.

Chatting TD Markham Jazz Festival

with Brigit O'Regan and Carolyn Douse,

singing tunes from her upcoming EP

while touching your taste buds 

with the sweet tastes of

Old Firehall Confectionery!!!

Cross across the river crossing - Amherstburg, Ontario

It was evening.

I drove leisurely along the river bank.

And then I came across

this cross

in silhouette

in the sunset

glimmering

at the river crossing

in Amherstburg, Ontario.