Talking of bakery in Gujarat and baby Jesus, makes me let you know this.
Menezes and Sons, Bakers and Confectioners is the first registered bakery in Vadodara started in 1887 and changed owners in 1989. They had a baby Jesus statue that fell and the legs broke but the statue is still with us.

I feel sad when I see people living in these pipes and in equally or worse conditions and am amazed how yet they are so happy and positive towards life.

Regards
Louella

I was weak in maths and will you believe now I am a BSc(mathematics).
My private tutor made me realise that Maths is a subject wherin whether
you are the teachers pet or detested by the teacher she cannot cut your marks. This was enough to make me secure good marks.
I liked this article. Your sense of humour is similar to my cousin Dennis Menezes only that he is more verbal.
I have noticed many people do not teach or take help of colleagues with the fear that their colleague will supersede them.
Being self confident and having a good self esteem really makes one successful is what I have noticed.

as always
Louella.

It was very pleasant and enjoyable reading your article “Goa’s liberated Mermaids”. I do remember the year Goa was liberated or freed, I was still schooling in St. Francis D’Assisi High School & Orphanage at Borivili, Bombay and we had many boarders from Goa in the school who were worried, anxious and disturbed about their parents, relatives and near and dear ones. Having lost my own father in the first Indo Pak war where he was a Lt. Col and 4 years latter my mother. As an orphan boy, I could comprend their saddness and worries, especially some of the boys were afraid that they too would become orphans like so many of us, some dreamt for freedom, but now I wonder if their dreams are still true and happy, seeing what is happening and what has happened to Goa since the days/years of liberation.
By George, you are one of the luckiest man to live 100 and was able to touch a mermaid, even though in your dreams, yes dreams don’t come true until it comes and becomes true. 15 years in the Navy, a young and handsome sailor, did not even get to see a beautiful mermaid, forget about touching one, not even in my dreams. Now all that I dream is about the economy of the USA and will I still be able to retain my job. I only hope just like your dream came true, I wish mine will come too. Take care George, hope to read some more such good ones and God Bless.

I was saddened to learn about Mario Marinda’s demise, it was only after I had read your tribute to one of the greatest cartoonists that I still remember during my young navy days, the others that I still remember are Sadar Kushwant Singh and RK Laxman. I would wait for the “Times of India and the Illustrated Weekly to come on board the ship, when we were sailing, either one of their cartoon’s would make it my day. They kept my spirits high on the high seas and I still recollect the cartoons of Mario and the jokes we sailors would make, especially when we had nothing to do. Unfortunately, after migrating to the USA, I do miss the cartoons and the jokes and the fun and high spirits it gave me.
I appreciate your kind words and tribute to the late Mario Marinda and I hope he is still making his cartoons in heaven with the angels. May his sould rest in peace.

important thing is one must have the ability to laugh at oneself

I tried drawing water from a well and realised that I can only draw the curtains of any window.
Having a good sense of humour helps you to deal with difficult people with ease and even cope with difficult moments.
Not everyone understands good sense of humour.
Bye for now
as always
Louella
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