Goan Voice UK: Newsletter. Issue 2006-45. Nov. 09, 2006

US: Amita De Souza: Get to know me
2 Nov: Campus Times (Rochester, NY). Amita De Souza, a senior from East Amherst, N.Y., is president of ADITI and a member of the one of the most popular dance groups on campus, the Bhangra Team. She is majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in both Studio Arts and Clinical Psychology. To complement her major, De Souza works at the Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory at the Medical Center … My family is from Goa but both my parents were born in Africa, and we are Roman Catholic. This mixture left me more than a little confused growing up, and I figured college was a great time to learn more about my heritage. 473 words. Click here.

Toronto: Prof D’Cruz: The business school option for grads
5 Nov: The Toronto Star. Jamila Jamani, 23, has a bachelor of science degree from University College London. When she came back to Toronto, she checked the University of Toronto's website. The Rotman School of Management was offering a one-month course, called Bridge to Business, designed to help new grads learn the right skills to land their first job. Jamani took the course last June. Today, she's an associate in Pricewaterhouse Cooper … "It's the future leaders of business and industry we have at a very early age," says Joseph D'Cruz, the Rotman professor who heads the program. “These people have already displayed leadership potential by the time they're 20 …” 1083 words. Click here.

New Zealand: Migrant women have mixed experience of birth
6 Nov: Scoop. Migrant women who become new mothers in New Zealand say their cultural needs are often not met or understood by health professionals…. Report author Ruth DeSouza of the Auckland University of Technology’s Centre for Asian and Migrant Health Research has made a range of recommendations as a result of the study. These included making improvements to support services and communication, providing translations of relevant information, and more training in understanding cultural needs. 457 words. Click here.
Ruth DeSouza was born in Tabora, Tanzania and the family migrated to Nairobi in 1967. She has lived and worked in New Zealand, Israel, England, Switzerland and Sweden. Check her website at www.wairua.com/ruth

Roy de Souza: ZEDO Serves Up 500 Billionth Ad, Celebrates 7th Anniversary
6 Nov: dBusinessNews. ZEDO Inc. served its 500 billionth ad as it celebrated its seventh anniversary … ZEDO founder and CEO Roy de Souza has lead the company to become the largest of its kind in Silicon Valley and the third largest in the world. The company now serves ads for hundreds of customers worldwide. De Souza will speak at Ad:Tech New York in the Web 2.0: Predictions and Pithy Analysis session on Monday, November 6, at 2:30 pm. 430 words. Click here.
For the Roy De Souza Supplement click here.

Join the Goan Association (UK) Official Visit To Goa
The Goan Association (UK) is planning a Sports/Social visit to Goa at Easter 2007. The plan is to leave on 1st April 2007 for two weeks. Anybody interested in joining this trip please contact: Bernie Gracias, BERNIEGRACIAS@aol.com or 020 - 8723 1322. Click here.

Goan Voice UK – Reduced Service Ahead
From Eddie Fernandes: I will be in Goa from 18 Nov to 9 Dec. to attend the Film Festival. A restricted newsletter service will operate in the period but if you wish to have anything announced in the period please avoid possible problems by sending it to me ASAP. Thank you.

5 Nov: Benaulim, Goa. ROQUE MONIZ (ex Raia, Goa and Nairobi, Kenya). Passed away peacefully after a short illness. Devoted husband to Mena. Beloved father of Neville (Maria) and Eric (Selma) in England; Mervyn in Australia and Lester (Gracy) in Canada. Loving Grandpa of Conrad, Michael, Ashley and Aaron. Condolences to roquemoniz@hotmail.com

5 Nov: Saligao, Goa. ROSA MAFALDA GRACIAS SALDANHA (ex-London). Beloved wife of Adolf. Loving mother of George /Digna, Aida /Neville Pereira, Ernest /Felicia, Anita and Augusta / Olencio Fernandes. Grandmother of Cheryl / Chris, Melanie, Lisa, Edward, Gavin, Dinise, Robert, Trevor, Allan, Melissa, Charlene and Danielle. Sister of late Carlota /late Cipriano Dias, late Raimundo / Lilia Gracias, late Augusta, late Victor /late Hortencia Gracias, Leopoldina/ Sebastiao Barreto, late Latino/late Veronica Gracias, late Caetano Francisco / late Felecidade Saldanha, late Remigio / late Felecidade / late Augusta Saldanha. Died suddenly on 5th Nov. The funeral cortege will leave the residence of Blanche Saldanha near Saligao Crossing on 9 Nov at 3.45 pm

5 Nov: Bandra, Mumbai. Fr. ANTHONY SALDANHA S.J. of St Peter’s Church Bandra. Funeral was on 6 Nov.

4 Nov: Ribandar, Goa, DOMINIC JOHN LOBO. Husband of Remigia, Father of John /Carmen, Tony/Sonia, Rosy. Grandfather of Craig, Cressida & Ashton. Brother-in-law of Loyala/Palmeira, Cipriano/Marcis and Albany/Julie (U.K)

31 Oct: Taleigao, Goa. MARIA LUIS: Wife of late Emanuel. Mother of Beads/Simon (Canada), Maria/Bosco, Delhia, Shirley/Ashley (Canada), Joyce (Canada), Efrem/Mary, Anthony/Veda (Canada), Ivette/Sherwin (Canada), Elswick/Pamela (Canada). Sister of late Diogo/Annie, Lira/Tony (Canada).

29 Oct: Benaulim. MARIA BARRETO e VAZ. Wife of Late Levy Vaz. Mother of Filomena/Bonifacio Mary/Francis [UK], Anthony/Late Lourdina.

The end of Goa
7 Nov: The Times of India. … an increasing number of Indians and foreigners are seeking permanence in Goa … Many want a piece of Goa as an ephemeral investment. In reaction, land prices in some areas have risen three folds in less than a year. The viral ugliness of India is coming, balding hills and tearing down ancient Portuguese homes … Impoverished migrants in search of construction work are creating slums … If you want to make a Goan walk fast, you have to burn his house … Goans don't want to work as servants. Too much pride. They want other avenues. Easy money … The sudden affluence of some who struck great deals on their ancestral property has created a quiet melancholy in others who were not so lucky. Architect Dean D'Cruz is alarmed by the government's regional development plan that has not been officially disclosed to the public … the government is selling forest lands and fragile regions to private builders … Goa’s infrastructure is under tremendous pressure. The situation of power, water and roads, already in a terrible mess, is expected to get worse. 1735 words. Click here.

Acron, www.acronindia.com Goa's reputed developer are showcasing their exclusive, new developments at Arpora, Siolim and Asagao at the National Mela 2006 Exhibition, Stand no. OZ35 at the NEC in Birmingham from Friday, 17th to Sunday, 19th Nov '06, 10 am to 7 pm. Email : enquiries@acronindia.com for further details.

Two Weeks in Goa ex London. Depart 1 Dec. £353 inc.
First Choice is offering a two-week budget B&B break in Goa for £354 per person. Departing Gatwick, the offer includes return flights, local transfers and two weeks at the tourist class Silver Sands resort in Candolim. Click the link below and enter your dates into the First Choice booking engine. Then sort the results list by price. The first price you'll see is the pre-charge fee of £299. http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/goa/index.html

In search of hidden treasure
3 Nov: Travel Weekly. For families: Park Hyatt Resort and Spa, Goa. Not only is it a mere 15 minutes transfer from Goa Airport, which is a big bonus after a long flight with children, but the hotel has a Camp Hyatt kids club that organises supervised activities for youngsters three to 12-year-olds so mums can indulge themselves in the Serano Spa knowing the little ones are in good hands. The hotel, on a long sandy beach and designed in the style of a traditional Goan village, claims to have the largest pool in India, and there is a separate one where kids can splash away without annoying the grown-ups. When it comes to meal times, there are international dishes, local menus and beachside barbecue that should suit all tastes. See also: The Taj Holiday Village in Goa has a kids club and pool, children’s restaurant, a playground and babysitting on request. Sample product: Kuoni has seven nights at the Park Hyatt from £1,098 per person bed and breakfast next year including transfers in January.

Australia: Flights a Goa
4 Nov: The Courier-Mail. (Australia). Described by Lonely Planet as succulently hybrid and determinedly individual, Goa can now be accessed from Brisbane using a Sri Lankan Airlines code share service with Emirates to Colombo. SriLankan Airlines twice-weekly Colombo-Goa flights, which take two hours, now operate every Monday and Saturday. Details from travel agents

The Guardian: Readers Guide To Goa
4 Nov: The Guardian (UK). Feature on Goa. 2 pages of tips about Goa, Sections on best Accommodation, Beaches, Restaurants, Shopping, Sightseeing and more … Click here.

Tour plans to cost 15% more this season
4 Nov: Business Standard. Despite the tourism season still a month away, the cash registers of tour operators and hotels are already ringing. On the domestic front, like the last year, Goa leads as the travel destination for Christmas and New Year … In Goa the hotel occupancy is close to 80 per cent with a few hotels even levying a surcharge. The five-star hotels in Goa have jacked the rates up by 25 per cent, whereas four- and three-star hotels have increased them by 15 per cent. Though the occupancy is not 100 per cent yet, it is likely to go up with the New Year approaching. 324 words. Click here.

Goa terrorist threat
5 Nov: Sunday Times (UK). India has increased security in Goa after receiving specific warnings of suicide attacks on tourist resorts in the region … British tourists make up the majority of visitors to Goa, with more than 125,000 visiting every year, and the risk of attack will be at its peak, analysts say, when the International Film Festival of India opens in the state on November 23. “We are sensitising people to watch out for any suspicious activity,” said Goa’s police chief, BS Brar. “We are not a soft target any more.” Click here.

Late Breaks
5 Nov: the Independent on Sunday. £369: Spend a week at the Dona Alcina guesthouse in northern Goa with Odyssey Holidays 0870-429 5090. Departs 9 December and includes return flights from Gatwick, transfers and b&b.

International flights make Goa debut
7 Nov: Daily News & Analysis. …Condor will operate a direct flight to Frankfurt and Munich every week … Russia-based Transaero Airlines was first off the block, operating its first scheduled flight from Moscow to Goa … Air Lanka operated a direct flight from Colombo. Singapore’s Tiger Airways is likely to fly in from Singapore next year … The launch of these flights will be a boost to the economy.” Thanks to Condor and Transaero, a window has been opened into Europe. The launch of these flights is also meant to be an incentive for Goans to travel abroad. 287 words. Click here.

Robbing Goa of its heritage
8 Nov: Daily News & Analysis. … a sign in front of a house in Siolim reads: “House to let. Foreigners only.” … At a Mandrem café, we were told they served no local food and drink … they were global and shunned local … like the beach shacks, very few five-star hotels serve Goan fare. Those that do, like the famed Souza Lobo on Calangute beach, temper their culinary heritage with touristy banality. The ambience is kitschy and the food is McGoan … Indeed, parts of Goa are beginning to acquire the sleazy, transient look of these places that have turned their back on their own heritage and have become bastards of mindless tourism and relentless commerce, purveying sun, sand, sex and booze. 768 words. Click here.

Reaping a return on national resources
8 Nov: Financial Express. A time has come to create infrastructure and facilities to get the right mix of budget and high-value tourists … As far as beach tourism is concerned, I would like to sound a word of caution. Goa is rushing towards its own destruction. The beaches are unclean and unsafe, not properly patrolled nor sufficient safeguards taken. There is congestion, haphazard growth of buildings and shacks. Heritage buildings and bungalows are fast disappearing and giving way to hideous modern construction, most of which are anaesthetic and should be unacceptable. Unless there is a drastic policy change and enlightened measures taken, the Goan seaside is likely to be in shambles in the next 30-50 years. Click here.

South Africa: India on the cheap
8 Nov: Independent Online (South Africa). Travel Vision has some really competitive specials to India … there's a terrific holiday package to Goa and Mumbai that offers you six nights for R13 730. This includes five wonderfully relaxing nights at the Cidade de Goa holiday resort on the beach in beautiful Goa … These offers are valid from January 16 to April 15 and exclude departure and other taxes, which will cost about R1 260-R1 800 extra. Click here.

The chess champion from Goa. By Riza Noronha
2 Nov: Riza’s Blog. Ivana is a chess champion from Goa, and she had gone to Georgia and now she has back to Goa. She has won two gold medals and one brass medal. She is a girl, and she's seven years old. She is from Goa. And she's very good in chess. She is our smallest girl in India who won the chess championship. I want to be like her. 420 words. Click here.
Riza (b 1998) in an eight-year-old from Goa, daughter of Frederick Noronha.

Opportunities for change
5 Nov: The Hindu. At the age of 12 Sudha was dedicated to Goddess Yellama and forced into prostitution as a Devadasi at the age of 14. She worked for a brothel keeper in Baina, Goa. The mass demolition of cubicles in Baina's unofficial red light area on June 14, 2004, didn't change her situation, rather worsened it. With no economic rehabilitation in sight, she was forced to travel to other parts of the State for "business" … After nine years of commercial sex work, Sudha now works for a laundry unit at Sancoale Industrial Estate which was set up as part of a rehabilitation programme. 935 words. Click here.

Will Brad Pitt be the star of Goa film fest?
4 Nov: Daily News & Analysis. Brad Pitt, who spent two clandestine weekends in Goa with partner Angelina Jolie last month, has been invited to walk the red carpet at the 37th International Film Festival of India beginning here on November 23? But the big question is, will the Hollywood heartthrob entertain the Goa government’s invitation … The closing film of the festival is ‘Babel’ which has Brad Pitt in it. 558 words. Click here.

Joanne Fernandes: The Voice that Rocks Goa
4 Nov: Navhind Times. Joanne Fernandes from Navelim will be the voice that will rock Goa this year as she won the coveted ‘Kingfisher Voice of Goa’ title. It was Joanne’s lovely voice, stage presence and versatility that made her the ‘Proud Mary’ of this year’s competition. Click here.

Manufacturing heart attacks in Goa
5 Nov: Herald. … the cost of treatment in the private hospitals which is showing an upward trend is causing many eyebrows to rise. Investigations by Herald have revealed that the practices is ‘fee splitting’ which is the payment by a doctor to another doctor solely for referring the patient to a particular surgeon or specialist for treatment … doctors could pay a fee of Rs 5,000 to 10,000 to the doctor who is referring the patient … Private hospitals have different packages for heart surgeries. A bypass surgery costs between Rs 1.1 lakh and 1.15 lakh including the medications required. Valve replacement surgery costs approximately 1.70 lakh, the valves itself cost between Rs 40,000 and Rs 60,000 … 591 words. http://oheraldo.in/node/20252

Giving Konkani Films Due Recognition
6 Nov: Navhind Times. With Goa becoming the permanent venue for IFFI, film culture has come to stay in Goa. A lot of good Konkani films like ‘Shitu’, ‘Dekhni Durai’, ‘Aleesha’, ‘Kanteantlem ful’ and others have been released. But there are many famous Konkani films which should get due recognition at the IFFI and the artistes should also be honoured, writes John Aguiar. 1063 words. Click here.

Goa to have mandatory AIDS test prior to marriage
9 Nov: ANI. The Goa Government will soon pass a law under which AIDS testing will be made mandatory for couples before marriage … The step by the State government assumes importance as Goa is an international tourist destination … 204 words. Click here.

London: Portuguese Music Festival throughout November
1 Nov: Time Out. This excellent festival, organised by the Gulbenkian Institute, was set up six years ago to showcase adventurous musicians from Portugal and its former colonies, commissioning them to collaborate with likeminded Brits … on November 22, new fado songstress Mariza continues her love affair with London audiences when she plays the Royal Albert Hall … Click here.

UK: Adopt-A-Child: Asian Families Urged to Accept More Asian Kids
3 Nov: Eastern Eye (UK). Children’s charities are appealing for more British Asian families to come forward to prevent an adoption crises in this country. Click here.

Forget beer and yoghurt with Indian cuisines! Go straight for wine
3 Nov: China Daily - Hong Kong Edition. The shores of India can be god's gift to match classic wine varietals to spicy food. And the seaside resort of Goa provides the ideal backdrop for that. Like Macanese cuisine, cooking in Goa was influenced by the Portuguese. Yet Goa is unique in that it still bears the unmistakable stamp of Portuguese food preferences: fish, seafood, fresh vegetables, chourico and saffron. All dishes that lend themselves to a variety of wines from across the world, from crisp whites with spicy sausage, and rich vegetarian or meaty stews with gutsy Shiraz and silky Merlot. 800 words. Click here.

UK: Sophie Conran’s natural habitat
4 Nov: Daily Mail Weekend Magazine. Sophie Conran grew up around food – her mother is a cookery writer and her father, Sir Terence, owns more than 20 restaurants. She writes, “With parents like mine it would be pretty surprising if cooking weren’t second nature. But it doesn’t end there. Dad’s younger sister, my Aunt Priscilla, is married to Antonio Carluccio, the chef and cookery writer who has a chain of restaurants around Britain. When Dad invited Priscilla and Antonio to join us for Christmas in Goa a few years ago, Antonio arrived with a pasta machine and fresh truffles in his suitcase.”

Soccer: India to set up national academies with foreign coaches
4 Nov: The Guardian (UK). India will launch a national coaching system next year with academies in Goa and Kolkata staffed by foreign coaches, a senior soccer federation official said on Saturday. Click here.

Battling with the Bumshanka Brigade. By Dom Joly.
5 Nov: Independent On Sunday (UK). … We took an 11-hour train journey down to Goa where another kind of hell awaited us: hippies. If there was one group that I detested in my youth, it was the “Bumshanka Brigade”, public school idiots who went to India and Thailand to take mushrooms and go on and on about how “amaaaaazing” everything was … This was exactly the sort of place I’d been avoiding all my life and now, here I was, and it was worse than I could have ever imagined. I escaped to the internet café where rag-wearing trustafarians were busy begging their parents for more money so that they could finish their spiritual quest … 767 words. Click here.

UK: Dom Joly’s Happy Hour. TV Series from 7 Nov.
6 Nov: Belfast Telegraph. Dom Joly investigates the influence of alcohol around the world in a new travel adventure... Catch ‘Dom Joly’s Happy Hour’ every Tuesday on Sky One from Nov: 7th at 9pm or every Thur on Sky Two at 10pm … he looks to get to grips with the habits, rituals and values of different cultures and examines their attitude to alcohol … He writes, “we visited Goa where trance and dance are fuelled by alcohol and drugs. I took the opportunity of severely annoying some of the more annoying Western inhabitants.” [It is likely that the episode will be screened on 12 Dec 2006]. Click here.

The Hinglish-speaking world
6 Nov: The Guardian. More people speak English in south Asia than in Britain and North America combined. The result is Hinglish, a blend of English combined with Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi … words like chamcha, eve-teasing, kitty party, Stepney, etc. Click here.

Kilimanjaro Trek 7-17 Sep. 2007
7 Nov: Alzeimers.org.uk. Pay a registration fee of £299 and raise sponsorship. Flights, transfers, food, accommodation, etc. provided. Book now as places are limited. Call 0870 417 0192 or click here.

Police crash party for sex 'overdose'
8 Nov: The Times (UK). It was billed as the biggest music festival of its kind in India — a four-day “psychedelic trance” party in the middle of the desert in Rajasthan. But the inaugural Moondust Festival has been shut down on its second day after local villagers complained that the 3,000 guests were drinking alcohol, taking drugs and indulging in “indecent behaviour” … In December the authorities in Goa banned music on outdoor loudspeakers after 10pm, in effect outlawing the all-night beach parties that have made the former Portuguese enclave famous. 511 words. Click here.

Albert D’Souza of Netherlands arrested in Mumbai
8 Nov: Mumbai Mirror. Albert D’Souza, a Dutch national who conned Vijay Lora, a city-based businessman to the tune of Rs 45 lakh in April, was finally nabbed. Albert is a history sheeter and the Police described him as a ‘prize catch’. 399 words. Click here.

Cosmopolitan, India edition.
7 Nov: International Herald Tribune. …Look at the first issues of Cosmopolitan India edition, published a decade ago. Articles offered prim advice on how to live peacefully with your mother-in- law, highlighted "the joys of writing a journal" and praised the virtues of polyester. The magazine's chief selling point internationally - its frank approach to sex and relationships - was dramatically toned down for Indian readers … A decade later, the restraints have disappeared. This month's issue promises to reveal "Bedroom moves that'll leave him lusting for more," and its cover model displays as much cleavage as possible without actually being topless. 1082 words. Click here.

India is facing 'cultural fracture': Naipaul
9 Nov: Times of India. Nobel laureate V.S. Naipaul believes that India is heading for a cultural clash between the city dwellers and the village population. "People in cities are turning their backs to Indian civilization. They want green cards. They want to migrate. They want to go to England. They want to go to the US", Naipaul said. 664 words. Click here.

Points-based system for migrating to UK
9 Nov: Times of India. Moving towards a points-based system to attract more highly skilled workers to the UK, the Tony Blair government announced new rules for aspiring migrants who will be assessed on a checklist of qualifications to merit an entry. The test will be somewhat like the US and the Australian systems. Click here.

CM talks tough on land purchases by tourists
9 Nov: Navhind Times. The Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Rane today said the tourists buying land in Goa through illegal means would be dealt with severely and such land transactions would be considered illegal, and hence would be the property of the government. Click here.

With Christmas round the corner, Goan Voice (UK) readers may well be looking for special or unusual presents for their loved ones. It may therefore be worth checking up on Goanet posts from Joe. He has many details of VCDs with many songs on them and he could also guide one on the best recent and older musical purchases and how to obtain them. Do get in touch at Joegoauk at yahoo.co.uk

Some GV(UK) readers may have wondered how they might transport bulky items like furniture to and from Goa. A number of posts throw light on this issue, including details of regulations, and there are accounts of the experiences of people undertaking such tasks.

The younger generation of Goans may find a Convention especially geared towards them on 14-16 April 2007. This will be held in Lisbon, Portugal or its suburbs.The themes are not particularly research based but are for sharing ideas on the fine arts, literature, music, education, entrepreneurship, media, information technologies and volunteering. The main aim of this Convention is to promote the torch of 'Goanity' among the younger generation of Goans worldwide.

Valmiki Faleiro posted an unusual article on Goanet called the Famous Margao Dindi. It is a fascinating in-depth account of the festival in Margao and its historic origins.

Finally, do read about Ivana Furtado who has just become India's first under-8 World Chess Champion in a tough competition held in Georgia. Ivana has also won several cash awards for her feat and is a source of much pride to her parents and family, especially, as Ivana has generously given away some of her financial winnings to charities.

More details can be found at the Goanet archives at http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/ Or to subscribe to Goanet, send an email to subscribe@goanet.org

RADIO: DOCUMENTERY: The Bandit Queen. BBC 7
Sat 11 Nov 13:00 to 14:15. After 11 years in prison without trial, the Indian Bandit Queen Phoolan Devi was released. How did she become a folk heroine?

DOCUMENTARY: Ghetto Britain. more4
Sat 11 Nov 19:05 to 20:05. Dr Robert Beckford investigates the impact of the Race Relations Act, passed 30 years ago and whether it succeeded in creating the multi-cultural society it was planned to.

DOCUMENTARY: Playing The Race Card. more4
Sat 11 Nov 20:05 to 21:10. A provocative polemic by Asian writer Nirpal Singh Dhaliwal, who argues that "there has never been a better time to be a 'darkie' in Britain. Why? Because racism pays."

DRAMA: Kipling: A Remembrance Tale. BBC 1
Sunday 12 Nov 18:35 to 19:35. A docu-drama that tells the tragic story of Rudyard Kipling.

DOCUMENTARY: 100% English. Channel 4
Mon 13 Nov 20.00-21.00. DNA test throw up surprising results on tests to reveal the true heritage of eight people who believe themselves to be quintessentially English - including Lord Norman Tebbit and Carol Thatcher. Repeated On Channel 4 on Saturday 17th November 4.15-5.15am.

DOCUMENTARY: Uncharted Territory. Channel: BBC 2
Wed 15 Nov 13:00 to 13:30 Juliet Morris and property expert Nigel Leck present a guide for anyone who has dreamed of owning a property abroad. Rajasthan in India is the destination for two Carlisle property pioneers. [The legalities and loopholes apply equally to Goa – Ed.]

FILM: DRAMA: Remembering Bimal Roy: Devdas. Channel 4
Fri 17 Nov 01:50 to 04:00. Devdas loves his childhood friend, Parvati, but cannot marry her because she is poor and of a lower caste. English subtitles, 1955. The Bimal Roy season continue on Fridays and details will not be posted here.

Sun. 12 Nov. St. Diogo's Association (UK)/Guirim/Sangolda. Annual Social at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Rd. Croydon. Starts with Holy Mass at 12.15p.m. Contact: Apolonia DeSouza 020 8686 1876, Jennifer Fernandes 0127 765 1052

Sat 18 Nov. Nelu Rodrigues Memorial Mass. 2.00pm at St Vincent de Paul RC Church, 2 Witham Road, Osterley TW7 4AJ. Followed by refreshments in the Church Hall. If you will be attending, please e-mail dianarodrigues@btinternet.com or normamenezes@aol.com to help us co-ordinate the catering arrangements.

Sun 19 Nov. Navelim Union Feast of our Lady of Rosary Will be celebrated at Bishop Thomas Grant School, Belltrees Grove, Streatham London SW16 2HY. For further details contact Selwyn Ferrao 0208 933 8362, Daniela Fernandes 0208 764 9419, Michelle Staussi 0208 241 0082, Leonard Mergulhao 02085144661

Sun 26 Nov. Fr. Agnelo's Day - 79th Commemoration Mass. St. George's Cathedral, Southwark at 2.30pm. Thereafter at the Amigo Hall.

Sun. 3 Dec. G.O.A. Ruby Feast of St Francis Xavier being celebrated for the first time at St Boniface Church, Tooting. All are welcome to the Mass at 1.30pm and there is no charge. Please do come and enjoy listening to the beautiful choir. The church service will be followed by a Social in the adjacent Parish Hall for which tickets will be required. Adults (17 years and over): £3.00. Children (12 – 16years): £2.00. Under 12 years: “free”. Food and drink will be on sale. Contact: Alfred Rebello 020 – 8337 8022, Diego Pinto 020 - 8767 0663

Sun. 10 Dec: G.O.A. Ruby Children’s Pantomime - Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs at Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1DG Reporting time: 11.30am. Tickets in advance only. Tickets: Members - £10, Non-Members - £14. Parents are welcome to accompany their children at the same rates. Price inclusive of refreshments and entertainment. Please bring a gift to the value of not more than £10 for your child. CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS – 14 Nov. For tickets contact: Bernie Gracias 020 8723 1322, Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 8771 4457

Sat. 16 Dec. St. Diogo's Association (UK) Guirim/Sangolda. Children's Christmas Pantomime "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs" at Fairfield Halls, Croydon at 12.00 noon sharp, followed by Christmas Party with refreshments, games and distribution of presents by Santa Claus. Please report at 11.15a.m. For details contact: Apolonia DeSouza 020 8686 1876, Jennifer Fernandes 0127 765 1052

Sun 31 Dec. 7pm-1.30am. SE Goans New Years Ball. Orpington Hall, 311 Orpington High St, Kent. BR6 0NN, Band & Disco. Contact Dominic 07854 490617; Ron 0208 303 3386.

Sun. 31 Dec. St. Diogo's Association (UK) Guirim/Sangolda New Year's Eve Ball at Civic Suite, Wandsworth Town Hall. For details contact: Apolonia DeSouza 020 8686 1876, Jennifer Fernandes 0127 765 1052.