Teacher: "What Christmas means to you?" Student: "It's a recycling time. Last year's Xmas gifts received from Toms are given to Harrys this year! We don't have Boxing day, you know!"

James Fernandes, USA, 17/12/2006

Riddle is simple - its me till 2 in four using hands too from then till 75 fine on two strong legs but now need the third in the form of walking stick. Mr Fernandes, the site is vibrant, active some times but not all the times as sukhti / bharti even there for rivers and sea. Sometimes, when I open site and find nothing new - click some old articles POMs, HOFs and Archie's Corner write-ups. Many of these contents are ever green!!! Of course, if these columns are updated with scores of others who deserve to recognized in these sections must be a welcome move. Season of Christmas at the door steps, let's celebrate and have wonderful holidays!!!!

MM Alvares - alvaresmm@hotmail.com 17/12/2006

Me truly feel uneasy to read Mr James Fernandes - fine inputs may be less all agree -the regular contributors may be pre-occupied or may have their own reasons to be less frequent.

Fr Tony, Eisen are sharing their view points. Yourself ready with witty cum informative doses of refreshments, as I requested earlier, others I don’t know, enjoy Archie’s articles, who would have been more regular. ICYM old timers and SPA Mumbai can fill the vacuum.

Lastly, Mr fernandes, and Mr Kishoo, don’t get disheartened - site is still healthy and alive and so it will be for years.

Felciana D'Silva, Kuwait, 17/12/2006

This site is wonderful, I love my birth place, so I’m a regular visitor to this web site. Hats off for a good job.

Indan S, #52/6, Doopanahalli, Indiranagar, Banglore, 560008, 13/12/2006

Silent Barkur, O Holy Barkur All is calm, even in Online.Barkur Around yee Barkur, Sasthan and Brahmavar All Yee Holy Temples, Churches, and Mosques Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in your own splendid heavenly peace.

Silent Barkur, O Great Barkur Since farmers are still at work even at night O Yee Glorious birds from heaven afar Heavenly birds of Barkur sing Alleluia!

All Yee Ravens of Bennekudru All Yee Kogiles who lay eggs in Crows’ nests All Yee White Cranes of Moodahadu Kudru All Yee Eagles who dwell on Palmeira tree tops of Barkur .

All Yee Bats who hang upside down and sleep on Uddalgudde’s Peepal trees O Please, All of Yee, chirp Alleluia, For Christ, the Savior is born Christ, the Savior is born .Silent night, O holy night of Barkur.

Now in Chicago I need, three pair of socks, & boots Two sweaters, a thick heavy woolen coat, Gloves, mittens, shawl and hats, Just to attend a Christmas day time mass. But in Barkur, all I needed was a full sleeve shirt And perhaps a sleeveless sweater And a short pant or a lungi, without any shoes to attend the Christmas Midnight Solemn Mass.

Oh, Yee Barkur, I envy and miss you, anyway, sleep in heavenly peace, While I shiver in minus 10 degrees. Oh, yes, it has had been my own stupid choice.

Merry Christmas to you all folks, who believe in Christmas, if not, Happy Holidays, and Happy, peaceful and prosperous Year 2007.

James Fernandes, USA, 12/12/2006

(By the way, there is no mid-night mass at Barkur, since last year! Christmas service starts at 08.00 pm and is over by 09.30 pm.-Kishoo)

Yes Dear Visitor:

It was day time. Some of us miss the obvious, some of the times. "(Are you ponpalle visitor or a Sanna visitor?)" By responding, did your social standing go up? Or did it go down? Or Did it make any difference in you? By responding, do you feel NOW more intelligent, or do you feel as if your intelligence is lost? I use a candle to light another candle. No light was lost from the first candle. Dear visitor, thank you for sharing your light, without losing any of it!

Just now someone sent me an e-mail, saying "Grow up!" My reply bounced back, no such e-mail user! My reply was, "Not just UP, I am growing sideways too! Thank you."

James Fernandes, USA, 10/12/2006

Congratulations

Antonia Renisha Lobo

Heartiest Congratulations Dear Renisha

For graduating O Levels from St Mary's Catholic School, Dubai with results that have made us so proud of you.Your hardwork and effort has shown fruit.May God Bless you to achieve higher sucsess in tour future.

You have really lived up to our expectations and thank God for the gift of a wonderful daughter/sister like you".

Rony & Jhancy (Parents) and Lawrence (Brother), Dubai,08/12/2006

For the last 50 years, I have been hearing during Christmas season, "Peace on Earth."  Any comments?

Every year I buy gifts for others, but never give though, because, they are never satisfied with my gifts. This year I must remember to buy a present for the birthday boy, Jesus Christ. But what to buy who has everything? Hope He will not be rude to return my gift saying, "I have the same type of gift, already! If I keep it, it will be collecting dust, anyway!"

Oh, Jee...ee What is the relevance of gift giving? The costlier the gift, the merrier the Christmas? Otherwise, I don't respect others? What a waste, indeed?

James Fernandes,USA, 08/12/2006

Perhaps they were all driving in the day time, Mr. Fernandes?

A visitor, Barkur, 07/12/2006

Believe it or not! Not a single street light of any sort, (electric, gas kerosene, or coconut oil) was on. Not a single star could be seen nor its light. No moon nor moonlight visible. No candle, torch or bonfire light at all, nor the road side grass or forest was on fire. But yet, people were driving 80 miles an hour without any accidents, without the vehicles' headlights or dim lights ON, and without wearing any night sight goggles.

The vehicles have no sensors of any sort! Yes, they were driving without any problem. Believe it or not! The question is how could they see?

James Fernandes, USA, 03/12/2006

Happy Birthday

Benedicta Andrade
Better known as Benny Teacher

Wish you a very happy Birthday and many happy returns of the day. May God bless you everyday and grant you good health and joy in your heart. Wish best wishes:

Andrade family, Fr. Tony Andrade and the Parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in St. Paul MN (USA), 29/11/2006

My hearty thanks and congratulations to all those who made this bridge and bridge opening a reality. Where are the flowers, the coconuts, the prayers, the sweets, the mango leaf  garlands, banana tree bandanas, coconut leaf arcades, the bridge floor sprinkled with flower petals?

Oh well, why waste? What a pity, the newly opened bridge puts those two boatmen out of job! The next generation will not be able to learn how to balance in a floating boat, nor will they ever learn how to swim or float on water. They will not learn to sing and row the boat along, "Row Row a boat, gently down the stream.."

Now people have to search their pockets for the bus fare, taxi fare, rikshaw fare, or to rent a bike, otherwise for so long, they could walk easily, and still be 'On Time'!

I still remember, my first journey to Mangalore City, by crossing SEVEN rivers! "Those were the good old days my friends, and I thought they would never come to an end...."

What next? Some mini airports? Air traffic does not need roads, nor road repairs!

James Fernandes, USA, 29/11/2006

Happy Birthday

Baby Benita Fernandes
Daughter Of Gretta and Berty Fernandes,19/11/2006

Dear Baby Benita,

Wishing you a very very happy birthday and many more happy returns of the day. May Lord Jesus bless you and keep you happy always. Lots of love and hugs from

Alice Fernandes, Hosala, Barkur
Gretta and Berty Fernandes, Barkur
Rexon and Caludia Sequeira, Barkur Friend and Relatives, Barkur, 19/11/2006

Hi Barkur

I am Sridhar Shetty form Hosala Nagarmatt. Now I am at Dubai and I remember my home and Barkur always .When I saw this website I was very excited and happy to go though. I studied in Barkur NJC and now I am working as CAD engineer in Dubai.

Sridhar Shetty, Dubai, 19/11/2006

Happy Birthday

Dear Wilma,

Many Many Happy Returns of the Day. God Bless you and have a nice day. With Lots wishes and Love from,

Norbert & Hilda Menezes , Mumbai,
Jameson Mendonca, Mumbai,
Stany Menezes (Ittaba) Mumbai
Jessy Menezes, , Kieth, Maria & Habbu Barkur,18/11/2006

Its really nice to visit your site which is an excellent one. Do update it regularly.
Mr. Herald Monis, 16/11/2006

CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES.

Clerisha Pinto received First Holy Communion on October 8, 2006, at Holy Spirit church in St. Thomas town in Bangalore. We congratulate her on this special occasion in her life and assure her our humble prayers. May the Lord bestow upon her His choicest blessings each day of her life. May she grow in the Love of Christ whom she will receive in the Holy Eucharist. With best wishes:

Andrade family and Pinto family. Father Uncle (Fr. Tony Andrade) and the parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle in St. Paul MN (USA),15/11/2006

Congratulations to the Newly Married Couple 

Nelson and Masha
Son of  Paul and Jacintha Lewis, (Balkudru) Mukund Nagar, Mumbai, Daughter of Victor and Gemma D'Almeida, (Soolkudru),Marol, Mumbai United in matrimony on Sunday November 12, 2006 in St Vincent Pallotti Church, Marol, Andheri East

May your wedding be filled With everything that’s wonderful. A joyous, beautiful beginning Of a married life Filled with endless happiness And endless love. Wishing you a lifetime of wedded bliss !

Lewis & D'Almeida Family, Anirudh, Marina and Kishoo, Barkur, Roque  Albin D'Souza Barkur, Rohit and Blanche D'Souza Dubai, Rahul D'Souza  Kazakhstan,Carol D'Souza Mumbai, Rolbin D'Souza Barkur and Noel pinto  Dubai, 15/11/2006

Hi

I am very happy to hear about the Barkur bridge ,,,,but I guess we should not be too happy about it coz if we allow the heavy vehicles to run across it,  very soon I guess the history will repeat. So its a humble request to the residing Barkurians…

Please wake up and  stop running heavy vehicles across the bridge and let the bridge stand strong happy ever after!!!

Minu Kamath, 15/11/2006

Mr Fernandes,

It is well said " Sankata bandaga Venkata ramana". Now a days the number of people praying to keep what they have also there. After all nothing comes free in this world, so also a proper place to pray also needs maintenance! In Barkur, there are good number of prayer houses, have hardly any visitors, for lack of facilities!

Secondly, the good news of Barkur Bridge is ready now - it is just waiting for big people for its inauguration.

Personally, I am of the opinion, allow people and light vehicles to run as all suffered enough.. and don’t wait till 26th Nov 06. Are there any special programme or new attraction in our Barkuronline while completing FIVE YEARS, Mr Fernandes?

M.M.Alvares, alvaresmm@hotmail.com,10/11/2006

Thanks Mr Kishoo, for your clarifications, of course, my husband has remitted little contribution towards this good cause. By the way if the organizers agree, hence Souvenir yet to be ready for publication, please add few pages in English for the benefit of coming generation, as Kannada in Konkani not read by most of our children abroad.

While on vacation two years ago, we requested the then Vicar Fr. Sylvester about this to have pages in English in the Pedruchi Chavy for which he assured to take care of. All will agree with me that if the Barkurian spirit to continue with generation to come as do the present and past, this will be a positive step. Thanks once again,

Felciana D'Silva, Kuwait.10/11/2006