News 1 - 2013
HAPPY LENT and also it is Jack's 65th Birthday on
Wednesday Ash Wednesday please pray for him. x
Dear All
Hope you all are well. Some are probably enjoying pleasant
weather, some mild winter but here in Canada we have had so
much of snow last week and to us it was a real laugh to see how
things came to a halt and poor England gets put down when it
happens in UK. Jack and I had a fantastic day on Friday the 8th Feb.
Snow up to my knee but having proper gear and walking to church
was a beautiful experience. How on earth people do the expedition
in the North pole etc. It was a community spirit while shoveling the
drive and hot coffee time with the neighbor. A lot of shoveling too.
Well on the whole it was beautiful and we enjoyed it.
Now I just cannot believe it is February and it is going to be a month
since I wrote to you from Singapore ending with this
'My nephew Floyd and his lovely wife Cheryl is giving me a
wonderful time. Their 9 month old baby Chloe is a gem and I am
enjoying every bit of her. I am going to miss her when I leave for
Melbourne on Sunday the 13th Jan. night.' Well I do miss them
very much and I do keep in touch and longing to see little Chloe again.
On the 18th Jan at Singapore airport it was total chaos
because there was a flight delay to Melbourne. People were
getting restless but I kept praying JESUS IN THE BLESSED
SACRAMENT PLEASE HELP ME because my sis in law Freda
told me to do so and I must admit it is a very powerful prayer.
I was not worried and next I know an Emirate staff holds my
and and takes my luggage and takes me to the counter.
Floyd who had come to the airport nodded his head to ask me
what is happening? I shrugged to say you can see for yourself. No questions asked and the boarding pass was given to me with a seat in
the Business Class. I am not complaining. I had two Arabs
and they were gentle and nice to talk too. So arrived on
Saturday the 19th Jan at Melbourne Anna came to pick me
up and it was a joy to see her.
Being Saturday and a weekend it was nice meeting all the
family and guests from Perth. I got my tablet (like an Ipad)
working again as Anne's sister Alma is very good at technology. The weather in Melbourne is fantastic. In the past I have always been in
Melbourne for a fleeting visit but this time staying for two
weeks I fell in love with the place.
Sunday Mass at St Patrick's cathedral was lovely. On the
way we found people walking to the Tennis Court as the
matches were on. I was enjoying every bit of the game and
although I could have gone for the games I declined as it was
too hot and I love the comfort of the home.
Impromptu always works with me. Barbara and I had gone to
the Dandenong Plaza to have coffee and chill out being a
Sunday, we decided to go and see a movie called Parental
Guidance. It was a hilarious one and enjoyed every bit of it.
My routine was lovely. Wake up in the morning, walk to
church for the Mass, meet people, come home, have breakfast,
spend time with Papa i.e. my brother Angelo's father in law
Papa Maurice but because I had lived with Angelo and
Maureen since my dad died when I was 18, I lived with them
hence Papa was always there guiding me. I feel close to him.
I needed to go and see him in Melbourne hence this was my
opportunity. It was great being with Anne's mum too who I call
Mama Cooke. She is a loving person and I am so glad to have
all these caring people with me loving me always. I thank and
Praise God for His Love for me.
Then in the afternoon after lunch generally around 3 pm
Barbara and I used to go to one of the Plazas. Thanks for
her company too as I managed to do some shopping - summer
clothes for Brazil holiday, eat ice creams my favourite was
Macadamia nuts and sometimes eat and have coffee. It was
good company for each other. Every day there was someone
who would invite me over for a meal and Anne or Cyril would
accompany me and it was nice being entertained. Met some
friends after 40 years- it was fun. Of course Jack faithfully
kept in touch with from Canada. It was nice to hear his
voice everyday too.
On Saturday the 26th Cyril took Barbara and me to the
Melbourne Zoo. It was cute to see the Baby elephant and
various animals in their natural habitat. Cyril was very
thoughtful and packed us a picnic lunch. He had gone to
visit his friends that live in the area. After the zoo we visited
the The Melbourne City, Fitzroy garden and mixed with the
crowd as they were celebrating the Natives freedom so on..
That evening Cyril and Anne's brother and sister with their
partners went for a 30th Wedding Anniversary party. It was
fun as all the children got together and formed a band, played
music and all were proud of their children's talents. On the
other hand I just could not understand in general how people
dress up these days, practically flesh hanging out, I do
understand if you have a slim figure but oh oh I could not
believe what I saw that evening and I think in general it is
like this every where. I went to see Les Miserable movie
and I would recommend that to anyone.
On Wednesday the 30th Anne gave me two complimentary
tickets to go to Phillip Island. We traveled south-east, heading
to Westernport Vat then to many of Melbourne's affluent
suburbs where I saw tree lined streets and beautiful homes
built in the late 1800s. Then we stopped at Warrook Cattle
Farm going back to 1857. Here the Kangaroos and Koalas
are free to room and we get to feed them too. They are very
tame. These animals were once injured by fire or by cars.
Then a visit to Nobbies Rock Formations - so named for its
unique rock formations. Located at the western tip of the
island, this area has high conservation significance due to
it’s population of penguins and graceful sea birds. In
amongst the gorgeous coastal scenery you may even see
the colony of fur seals and we did see them. Visited The
Koala Conservation Centre and it is fun to see them and
watch them on eucalyptus trees. They go into all sorts of
forms, hanging and their postures just makes you laugh.
The Philip Island is home to the famous Penguin Parade,
This Summerland Beach is something- to witness some
penguin magic. Just as the sun sets, the wild Little Penguins
emerge from the sea after a hard days fishing and waddle
across the sand to their dune burrows. These Little Penguins
are the smallest of the penguin species and Phillip Island is
home to the largest colony in the world. It's easy to understand
why this wonderful spectacle is one of the Australia's most
popular wildlife attractions. To protect these Little Penguins,
all revenue generated from the parade is invested into the
environment and education projects. We are not allowed to
take photos so I have bought a postcard and I shall scan to
show it to you all. I reached back to the Ticket centre after
midnight. On this trip I met a lovely lady called Medha and
what a co-incidence she lives in Andheri too that is where I
come from in Mumbai. Anne was very kind to give her a ride
back home as the public transport closes at 11pm. Another
lovely friend on my list. THANKS TO ANNE FOR THIS
WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. Thanks to Alma for meeting
me there or else I would have got lost in Melbourne city.
My stay was coming to an end and on the last day i..e
Thursday the 31st Jan. Cyril, Anne, Kim and Step took me
out to a Chinese meal and it was a lovely family farewell meal.
I felt very emotional and it is always hard to say Bye Bye.
I grew to love the Cooke Family, my Papa he was so gentle,
Cyril always so caring, Barby it was great company and Anne
is always there for me. I must now not forget Mama Cooke
where we could chat about anything from prayers to my family
life, thanks to her too and in the end thanks to everyone who
came to meet me, take me out, inviting me over and generally
for making my trip to Melbourne a very enjoyable one.
On Friday the 1st Feb thanks to Alma's husband Vasant and
Sandra's daughter Alyssa who came to take me to the airport.
Anne met me promptly at the airport and within few minutes
my bags were checked and off I went for duty free shopping,
had a cup of coffee and burger at The Hungry Jack and my
flight again to London was a pleasant one because I had 3
seats to myself. When I arrived in the early hours of the
morning our friend Manjit with his neighbour came to pick me
and at around 9.30 am Maryann after her night duty came to
see me. Chatted, chatted for over an hour and she dropped
off to sleep. I kept awake because I knew I would not be able
to wake up. You will not believe it but I did go out that evening
to Manjit and Surinder's cousins place for dinner. It was nice
to be with company with such fun people but I thank them for
their understanding when I fell asleep many times. It was
good company and yummy food too.
On Sunday the 3rd Jack's nephew Alex and Khusboo came
to take me to church, then over to their home for breakfast.
John joined us, had something to eat, watched The Hobbit
and met Maryann in Hammersmith for an early Roast dinner
after which she went home. Crazy me, Alex, Khusboo and
John went to see a movie ‘The Flight’ with Denzel Washington
in it. I liked it and when we got home I was really tired but
lucky me I had already packed the previous day.
The next bit of the journey back to Canada will be in the
next email.
Take care and keep in touch.
