Christmas Octave

Christmas 2024 was a memorable few days together with close friends. This is beautiful time realising' Word became flesh'- marking the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It was a Merry making day after Vigil mass. Invited a few friends to our house.

There were Christmas punch  cake, cinnamon rolls for the festives.

Christmas day with Thomas family. 

On boring day, we spent time with homeschoolers in Nottingham. 

Feast of St Lucy

Advent saints are a nice way to celebrate at home. On 13th December is the Feast of St Lucy. She is 3rd century early marter who died because she was a Christian. One of the legend says, her eyes were scraped and still regain her sight. St Lucy was from Cicily in Italy .

There are some beautiful ways this feast is celebrated especially in Sweden. Eldest girls with lighted candle and white gown n sashes dressed up and serve tea or coffee. Today is the day we can put Christmas lights on.Lucia means light  ideal day to roam and watch lights around.

Saffron buns can be baked and known as lusser kats. Instead we baked cinnamon rolls to mark the day.

      St Lucy pray for us.

Season of advent

Advent is on. It is a time of waiting. Advent means to come. Over the years  we used different traditions at home,preparing Advent wreath eith hollies , fir leaves and candles. 

On 6th Dec, the feast of St Nicholas falls. Gifts were ready for the kids when they woke just reminding of St Nicholas kindnes during the restive season.

I was busy with something else  so little children prepared Advent calendars themselves and hung on the fire place. 

Another one is Jesse tree reminds of the lineage of Christ from the promise of Ssviour uptlll the birth.

Last weekend was busy in Derby as part of Committment day .

Also this weekend the same thing happening in Germany and Jobychayan went to Germany.

Now a days, all blog snaps getting muddled up, couldn't find the reason why it's recurring. Need to find out why?

Birthday My Hubby

It was Jobycha birthday and we kind of had a quiet day.Invited two of our friends. 

Annu made vanilla sponge cake and came out so yummy. All gifted and made their own home made cards. Donor kebab was the favourite for this birthday and thought to dine at home instead of going out..

Wedding Memoirs 2024

Nov 9th was a graceful day in our cousin's family, also for us. Wedding day celebration was grande . It was held in Bedford  Christ the King. It was an auspicious day with Holy Mass, wedding ceremony and welcomed groom n bride with confetti . Many  far and near relatives from India n USA joined for the big day. ...Bride is Antonio and groom is Mathews.

 

Following that was the evening function in Wayes, in Crystal centre. Everything was awesome,   beautiful dances,  champagne, decors,  mix of asian foods,  famílies,  wedding snaps, speeches and so on . 

Some personal moments and snaps.

All Saints Day

This year 2024, we had some avenues to remember and celebrate the saints in the catholic church. Through online and as part of church congregration, was great. Many kids dressed up as saints and shared their stories online. 

Both george dressed up, our george as Juan Diego. 

ALL SAINTS PRAY FOR US

A trip to New Delhi

To visit the capital of India was a dream project for a such a long time and to take children through the heart of India, feel the pulse of the nation  where I am born. We were able to make it this year 2024. Thank God.

Our journey started on 26th September from Alleppey in Jan shadabthi express and onward journey to Delhi began from Ernakulam.in Mangla Express via Konkan paths. Reached and picked us by Vidya my sister in Nizammudhin station.

  One of the dhabha in Connaught Place after visiting India gate and being to underground Pallika bazar. Nan, butter chicken and Tandoori was awesome though waiting was bit much, but worth waiting.

      Pallika Bazar in CP

Two days we were with Santosh chetta family. It was a beautiful experience for us, getting up early morning for H Mass, journey through village of Faridabad , crammed with vehicles going here and there,  herds of cows roaming around, sabji mandis, dusty roads and monkeys hanging around in the roads.

On day 3, we visited Sahara school as part of Santvana. There we had the privilege to meet a group of children from slums, they are getting educated. As a family we were with children, played games, gave some treats. That was a wonderful moment for all of us.

Day 4  we were leaving Faridabad, so we dined together and said good bye. There we enjoyed chowmeen, momoos , butter chicken, nan, rumali roti and so on.Also it was the great feast of St Therese of Child Jesus. We had two children named after the saint from both families.

Some of the North Indian dishes

From there we got Uber drive and now heading to Gurgaon which is about 1 hours 15 minutes . Our route to Gurgaon through Delhi was made in order to get my sister and nephew from Delhi secreteriat. 

Day 5 : In Gurgaon sector 7

This is where my aunt and family resides,  which brought some memories of my AIIMSONIAN life as were passing the metro infront of AIIMS. Roads, fly overs are so great  hard to locate which side of aiims.

There we had aunt's yummy biriyani, roti, paratta and all. Stayed in their top floor so you could see Gurgaon, around with solar cells and garden.

Sector 14, Enjoyed street food and enjoyed shopping in the market. The village looks same but enormous amount of offices came up and the roads, , fly overs on the way....massive lanes.so many offices, conference hotels...

        Delhi Secreteriat 

Next day we happended to meet Jyothy whom some of my friends helped in her studies, Now she works in Gurgaon as a qualified nurse

Tasted some sweets from  Haldiram, also chatts and other stuffs.

On last Saturday- day 7 In Agra

It was the last chance to visit Agra...Booked in for Flix bus from Kashmir gate. Our cousin joined along with us. That was a sweetest memory for all of us including children, journey begun very early in the morning.

, 

Towards Agra in auto

Below are some of the snaps from Agra Fort. Such an epic Fort,with lots of tactics to protect itself.As you enter you see different  defense mechanism against enemies. A wall to pour water  oil over attackers, first set of pool with crocodile to attack the enemies. Courtyard, banquet Hall, private space, cooling room, houses built in Royal helpers.You could view Tah Mahal from Palace, which Shajahan was viewing Mumtaz's tomb.

  Agra peda

Our journeys are mostly by uber or ola and at times in uber auto or cycle carriers. Here in Agra we took auto for a ride from Taj Mahal to Agra Fort.  

Final day we left was bit sad for many. I had a visit to Sarojini Market with my cousin. Bye bye Delhi and made our journey back in kerala express. It was bit boring as train got delayed and everything remains same like 20 years back.Vidya and John dropped us in Delhi railway station and good bye.  Overall meeting dear ones,going back to old memories was excellent. Thank God  we pursued our dream. Most important thing was xhildren were happy about the trip, foods, meeting, drive through Delhi, feeling the pulse of India.