To begin with I was looking forward to the long Diwali break. When you work 6 days a week, a 5 day break seems like a vacation!

Left early from work on Saturday and headed to Bandra where I had a spot of shopping to do and had to meet Ajay and Ruth for a dinner date.

We dropped in at Crossword and picked up the first 3 books in the Lemony Snicket’s “Series of Unfortunate Events”

Next we decided to 5Spice for drinks and dinner. Must say that the prices have hit the roof! I still remember how we used to head to the 5Spice outlet in town for any college celebration and it never burned a hole in our meagre pockets! I guess the pricing caters to the area and was justified for ‘upmarket’ Bandra! We ate and drank a good deal. The drinks and dessert was up to scratch but the food left a lot to be desired

Spent a lazy Sunday at Ajay’s place and went for a wedding reception in the evening.

Tuesday was lunch at my place and as always I make an attempt to try something new.  This time, lunch was Mushroom Wraps in white sauce, Ceasar’s Salad, Chicken sauted in tomato and garlic sauce and Pulao. Managed to get through most of the cooking and then headed to Brandra and picked Ajay up and then went to meet Priyanka and Ryan to have a look at the paper for the liturgy booklets.

After lunch we headed to Big Bazaar to redeem some vouchers. I rarely go to this place because of constant disapointment and this time proved to be no exception. The place was teeming with Diwali shoppers and sales but as far as quality and choice goes it was a big let down. We spent some time at Barista and then headed to Mahalaxmi station on my way to my next engagement

Reached Sacred Heart Church just in time for mass (which proved to be entertaining ) and then piled into Sean’s car and headed to his place. We had a nice family evening and yummy dinner.

Spent Wedneday with Ajay. Cooked lunch and caught up with some movies and TV serials.

Thursday, the last day of my mini vacation was spent catching up with some reading at home and studying.

Well its back to the grind today

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I must mention the lovely Seema and her adorable son who kept us well entertained with his antics all afternoon

Headed home at around 5. There was the family mela in the parish in the evening for which I was in no mood to go for. So gave Bernard company at home.

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I’ve always got super excited about my birthday and this year was no different!

It started with a bunch of us sitting down and making birthday wish lists. That added to the excitement (did I mention I love getting presents) and diluted my resolve not to have a party. Boy! I’m so glad I did

Since I didn’t really have the time to make invitation cards I decided to send virtual ones instead.

Here’s a sample of the invite:

A lot of people promised to be there but I didn’t dare get my hopes too high because I have been badly disappointed in the past. But anyway arrangements had to be made and so the family sat down and put plans to paper. Ruth and Mum agreed to handle the games and Dad and Nani decided to look after the kitchen. I was left with the co-ordination, cake, logistics and decorations. (I think I should consider event management as a career option)

I decided to bake the cake on the 14th since it would be fresh and had this elaborate plan to ice in like the witch’s house in the fairytale “Hansel and Gretel”

The 15th came really quickly and the hours before it was a mad flurry of activity! I picked up my clothes from the tailors. Then Dad and I set up the hall and the verandah to fit in all the people and I still had the cake to bake, which I began only at around 10pm and by the time I put it into the oven it was 11pm!

I usually switch my phone off at 11:30 on the 14th night so that my family gets their night’s sleep but had no such luck this time. My nightly conversations with the techie resulted in my talking on the phone till the wee hours of the morning. Well since he was not going to be there on the 15th I thought might as well talk while I could;)

Ruth gave my the customary midnight present:) Thanx darling, the earrings were beautiful. Managed to get to bed by 2 a.m.

I had to go for 8:30 a.m. mass so was up by 7. The youth group was also having a cafetaria after each mass to raise funds for their activities so had to go help out a bit there too. Managed to do both. It’s a nice feeling to know that people remember my birthday and make it a point to wish me.

Lunch was an interrupted affair with the phone ringing off the hook. Thought I’d take a short nap but there was no hope of that as the cake still had to be iced.

Somewhere at around 3 p.m. I got the bestest present ever! (though I must say I did get an inkling of it when his roomies called earlier in the day with inconsistent stories …… these guys must pay more attention to the amount we speak on the phone) Ajay decided to surprise me by coming down from Pune. While I was hoping he would be able to make it, I decided not to get my hopes up. I think I was in a state of semi shock for quite a while (apparent in my inability to string words together into coherent sentences!) But he was here!!!!!!!! and I must add was an immense help ….. I’m sure if he was going to be in Mumbai for longer he would have helped clear up after the party (u know do the dishes and stuff!) (what say? )

Folk started streaming in by 6.30, with the Jesuits being very punctual. By the time it was 8 we were a house full:) I’ve never seen so many people in my house at one point in time! But like the saying goes, “The more the merrier.”

Th games were super fun and my sister and Mum did a funtastic job. Thank You.

This is what we had:

• A round of introductions with one good and one not so good quality about each one

• A miscellaneous Quiz

• Baby I love you, will you smile for me? ( to which the person approached had to reply “Baby I love you but I just can’t smile for you” without smiling)

• Queen of Sheba (with a wide variety of demands like a yoga aasan, a quiz, etc)

• Belly dancing (On this count I must say that Christopher, Crispin & Rixon caused a real riot ….. I hope their girlfriends didn’t mind or ended up seeing some of their fantasies being acted out:P)

  
  

• A Tag dance

  
  

We could not have too much of dancing because of space constraints but I managed to dance one jive number.

Dinner which followed was yummy. We ordered the biriyani from out but the rest of dinner was home cooked. Here is the menu:

Vegetable Biriyani

Pepper Pork

Cold chicken and potato salad

Corn Salad

Ice cream (for dessert)

It was post twelve by the time everyone left. It sure was a day of fun and I’d do it all again anytime any place! For those who could not make it …… u’ll missed an awesome party

Here are some pics from the party and a link to the rest

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We were woken up early as we had to pack to leave. Crispin went to Badem to pick up a parcel he had to take back and came back with a huge box of mangoes – which he had to lug all the way back home.

After we were done with the packing, Ajay and I trimmed the garden, while Ruth and Crispin and Ruth were having duals with the trimmed branches!

After lunch we surveyed the luggage and found that there was no way we could manage it by bus to the station.

However it being lunch time there is a dearth of conveyance unless you have already arranged for it. We decided to take our chances.

Wished Grandma goodbye and headed for the station with 6 packages and Ruth and Dora for porters. Fortunately we managed to get hold of a rick which took all the luggage to the station. The rest came walking over the mountain to the station. Valley met us there.

The train was 40 minutes late which is rather unusual. I managed to get a seat in the same compartment as Ajay and Crispin. Had a comfortable trip back.

Uncle Antony picked us up at Dadar and dropped me home before heading back to Andheri. Unpacked the goodies and hit the bed.

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I didn’t plan on going into the water and so decided against taking a change of clothes. Sat on a rock like the little mermaid (while my prince charming was splashing around in the water) for a while but then gave into temptation and jumped into the water. I never regretted the decision.

However I had no intention of coming home all wet. So decided to dry off the best way I could think off – clothes on a rock with me sun bathing. It sure was an experience!

A little puddy cat decided that he wanted to spend time with Ajay and so kept walking up to him and purring……. I don’t think that he quite liked the attention the cat was paying him. Fortunately for him we had two cat lovers who whisked the little fellow away -Ruth and Dora.

I felt a wee bit sad leaving the spot as there was still a lot of light but it was some more time at the beach at the risk of missing our last bus back to Mapusa.

We made our way back to Mapusa and treated ourselves to Gadbhad ice cream after which I was still feeling hungry and so had a chickoo milkshake.

We got off the bus to find it drizzling quite hard and threatening to pour, so we stopped at Andrea’s house and got treated to watermelon.

It was back home then, a quick dinner and the sack. The holiday was over but not quite. We still had some of Monday to enjoy ourselves.

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Ajay’s neck was hurting him so he got a quick fix from the local ‘witch doctor’ (just kidding) This woman massages with her toes and both Ruth and Ajay were happy with the results.

We always make a visit to St. Christopher’s Church, which is the parish to which we belong. Like St. Michael’s Church in Mahim, Mumbai, this church too has a miraculous picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. Unfortunately by the time we reached there the Church was locked and bolted. Was rather disappointed but said a small prayer while the “photo-man” took some pics of the church and we headed back home (I didn’t even get my customary ice cream – making the lip here …. hint hint!)

We got off at Cansa Board to get some provisions and treated ourselves to Super Orange (the Zen was better)! It is the local fizzy drink.

On the way back, Ajay wanted to play the “home maker” and so to prove that he was good at the job drew a whole madka of water by himself!

And he also discovered his lost love …… playing with the touch me not plants!

The evening was another story ……………….

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Aunty had a feast prepared for lunch which we washed down with mango shake.

Came home by about 5 and began the preparation for the barbecue. We were going to have chicken and fish if Valley was able to lay her hands on some.

Ajay helped a great deal with the preparation and cooking and I’ve come to realise is an excellent accessor of when the chicken cooked over coals is done!

It was a nice evening with good food and singing.

It was a long day and by the time we hit the sack it was 1 in the morning! We had to be up in time for 8 a.m. mass the next day.

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I was a bit apprehensive about lugging the boys around with the huge list my granny gave me. But decided to take the risk anyway. Ruth had to stay at home as she had a bad throat and it was worrying her.

We took the bus to Mapusa and boy was it crowded. We planned the route we were going to take and tackled the list. We picked up the veggies, and headed to the fish bazaar. I was shell shocked when Ajay agreed to come along. He actually walked through it and held the bag after the shopping was done. (Now wouldn’t his mother be interested to know this?)

Then came the cold cuts where I left the two weary travelers to pick up some groceries. Crispin had to pick up some masala which is where I caught sight of a gypsy lady selling jewelery. Picked up a necklace apiece for my sister and me. Got a good bargain.

Picked up the rest of the stuff for Mumbai and headed home very bravely by bus only to get a firing from grandma about why we didn’t take a rick home.

Settled down to some lunch and a short nap. Valley and Dora came to take us to a spring located about 2 hours away. We set off very enthusiastically taking some snacks and water with us – A jay being snap happy all the time!

When we finally reached the place of the spring I was so disappointed to see a 5 foot by 5 foot cement encasement. I could have yelled.

Then we braced ourselves for the long walk home. It was a tiring day but got our lungs filled with a lot of fresh air.

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Usually there are no cattle in the field at this time of the year. But because of the tender green grass and plants we saw herds of buffalo and some goats and a feisty lamb. Reminded me of Mary had a little lamb ……..

While Ruth, Granny and I went to pay the Ferrao family a condolence visit, Ajay and Crispin got some internet work done by sitting at the grotto of Our Lady outside Church. Reason it is at the top of the hill so the network is stronger.

We picked my some bread and the boys and headed home. We needed the rest for the Friday Bazaar at Mapusa. But that is another story.

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Ajay made breakfast for us ( I always knew he could cook to save his skin). It constituted of frankfurters tossed in eggs (the pepper
was missing though through no fault of Ajay’s) accompanied with coffee (though Ruth and Crispin
helped with this).

We finally left at around 10 and agreed to meet Dora at Panjim. The bus journey was uneventful.

At the prass (bus depot) we treated ourselves to the first of many many glasses of nimbu soda/pani. We then hopped onto a mini bus to Miramar beach. This time we kept worrying the conductor with “Are we there yet?”

We were rather unprepared for the trip to the beach. So we ended up with tonnes of sand in our shoes and socks! But it was a hot day and the sea never looked more inviting.

Ajay went snap-happy again and took a lot of shots of the landscape. While we sat on the sand (yup to get a partial sun burn!) Ruth and Crispin went in to dip their legs in the water. Which is where Ruth surprised me with her eye for a good photograph when she took this picture.

We then began our pursuit of the Goa museums. After walking all around Miramar we were told that any Museums would be found in Panjim.

So we decided to take a ride back to Panjim. On the way we spotted the L & T holiday home. Ajay was convinced that he would have to be 50 and still with L&T to be able to have access to the bungalow.

We were now back in Panjim asking around for the museums and were given conflicting stories. One guy said it was about a kilometer away. Another lady told us that there were no museums in the city but there were plans for the setting up of some.
Frustrated and hungry by this time we fortified ourselves with some more nimbu pani and decided to get some lunch.

Crispin promised us a lovely restaurant with a fish platter et al. The man actually delivered. We lunched at the Ritz Classic. The place was extremely crowded but we managed to be given our seats in about 10 minutes. (The boys seemed to think the tiny shorts helped) We ordered the fish platter, Goan fish curry and two servings of steamed rice. That was one fulfilling meal.

On our way back from lunch we spotted a paan valla selling sweet (the variety that does not have the tobacco in it) and Crispin, Ruth and Ajay sampled some.

We then wandered around Panjim still looking for museums or anything that resembled them. One enlightened soul gave us more accurate directions. After walking for what seemed an eternity we reached the Directorate of Assistance! They gave us some more directions which involved some more walking.

As a rule I enjoy long walks but this was pushing it. It was the middle of the afternoon and extremely hot and sticky. So much to Ruth’s disappointment we called it a day and decided to head to Mapusa. We did however stop at and exhibition on Buddha.

After some more grocery shopping at Mapusa, we sat down to have some Gadbhad Icecream. This seems to be a specialty of Goa. I have seen the item in a menu in Mumbai but cant for the life of me remember where!

We then came home quite exhausted. Ajay decided to check and see if his reliance internet connection was working so we headed up to Andrea’s house. Thankfully it worked and he managed to get some work done as also a wee bit of cycling.

Wednesday night was an initiation night for Ajay who was introduced the pleasure of burnt feni. (this for a man who never touched alcohol). Feni is a local drink brewed from the cashew fruit. The nuts we eat.

Here’s the recipe for what we served Ajay

Ingredients:

1 wine glass feni

1 teaspoon sugar

2 cloves

a clay/glass soup plate

matches

Method:

Stir together the sugar, feni and cloves in a soup plate. Set light to the mixture for about 30 seconds. Stir continuously. Blow out the flames and serve in a wine glass.

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