This blog has been created for the new phase of my life. A retired lifestyle. A quaint village ambience. Time to chill out, experience the susegaad life we Goans are so famous for.
A little bit about myself.
I'm a Mumbai born girl, who discovered love in Goa when I met my husband over 35 years ago. I was on holiday with my aunt and her family. My husband's family were their close friends. Destiny and God combined to bring us together in a unique way. Six years later we got married and settled in Mumbai till health conditions compelled me to move to Goa. We had already invested in a flat in Mapusa so naturally we moved there.
Real estate prices skyrocketed a few years after that and our hopes to transit to a home of our own could not take flight. I always wanted a village life but it didn't seem destined somehow. I am not GRUMBLING though. City life does have its advantages - school, market, church were nearby.
Three years ago, we met the owner of the flat we now possess. She was ready to sell but not just yet. So we waited - and PRAYED. I even asked God to put obstacles if this wasn't what we needed. Last year, we started talking seriously about the sale. She was now ready.
So we began the formalities. As a confirmation that the time was right, her aged pet got sick and she had to euthanize it. (She had been stalling precisely because she didn't want to take the pet to a new environment.)
Formalities completed, we became the proud owners of the flat on July 16, the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Our new home is located close to the village panchayat. The village church is a five minute walk from our home. And best of all, Mapusa is a five-minute drive! Who could ask for anything better?
Presently, we are undertaking massive renovation work at the flat. If you are going to be our future neighbours, a huge apology for all the noise and dust. We just want to get everything done ONCE AND FOR ALL.
I am personally very excited to be a village girl - a dream come true! I used to go walking from Mapusa to Bastora during Covid times so I knew how beautiful the place was.
Even though the building (Ganesh Apartments, in case you're wondering) is very old, the flat, being on the ground floor, is a blessing for me. Almost a year ago, I started getting swelling on my knees and ankles. On consultation with my doctor, I was told my weight was putting pressure, causing the swelling. He advised me not to climb stairs or slopes. Now, for those who know Altinho in Mapusa, it has slopes everywhere. And we have a flat on the second floor, no lift! So now you see why I called this blog BASTORA BLESSINGS?
Rains have slowed down much of the renovation work. We had hoped to move in October in order to celebrate Diwali with our Hindu neighbours but we are still deep into initial stages of masonry. Only once the painting work is completed and all electrical and plumbing fixtures are in place, we will be able to move.
To enable better communication with our new family, I have also created a Facebook group called BASTORA - BARTER BUY BLESS which will help the villagers to exchange, sell and donate their possessions and talents. This may result in new friendships and better community bonds, God willing.
Once we settle down in Bastora, I am looking forward to long walks in the evening, daily visits to the church for Mass in the morning and the Blessed Sacrament at noon. And the occasional stroll to Mapusa market to enjoy the Friday market buzz, say hello to my favourite vendors, and have a snack at Café Aurora. Sunday mornings will be spent at MBBS, and evenings most probably with my children, cycling and having some family fun.
So if you live in Bastora, do drop in for some coffee, chai, chatpata and we'll chat. You know where to find me!
Please do comment below and let me know how you liked this post. I do intend to make this blog more interactive so, if you wish, you could also leave your address and contact number. TIA. Shalom Shanti.
UPDATE on reno work (29 Sept)
Porch tiles on the wall almost done. We ran short of tiles on account of the window so three more boxes have to be ordered.
Inside, the granite on the kitchen platform has been installed, still incomplete though. The breakfast table has been inserted, moulding remains to be done.
UPDATE: 2 Oct
Today we visited the flat to click pix and take 'shorts' which will be uploaded on my YouTube channel.
Today the porch railing base, seat for keeping the Christmas tree and garden bed was done. The contractor has delayed work by two weeks. We had hoped to start painting in October.
UPDATE: Oct 6
Porch floor tiles were completed today and moulding done on the kitchen platform.
Tomorrow, hopefully, the steps will be done and the kitchen will be completed. The contractor has designed the railing and gate as per our requirements and given his estimate (Rs 12800). I am looking forward to see how it turns out. Will take a video this Sunday of the flat as it is and upload on my YouTube channel. Link will be here so do check it out.
UPDATE: Oct 12
The contractor has delayed work by almost a month so we decided to hire another one to complete pending jobs.
The total cost for all works completed by the first contractor was a little more than 1.5 lakh. Estimate shown below. Glenn took some pictures when he went yesterday morning of the aluminium sliding windows. The ones in the hall and boys'bedroom were completed and the ones for the kitchen and master bedroom were in progress. The contractor has promised to complete them today by the afternoon.
Some boxes of tiles were intact. These include four of the kitchen wall tiles, one of the steps and one of the filler blue grey tiles. They have to be returned and the money deducted from his estimate.
We still have to put tiles under the kitchen platform. Glenn says that the new contractor should be able to do that.
The new contractor will complete the painting, another is coming in for plumbing and yet a third one for the electrical fittings. I have given Glenn a deadline for full and final completion as 29 Oct, feast of Blessed Michael Rua.
When we visited the flat on Oct 9, these works were done.
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| One unopened box of step tules, one of blue grey tiles. |
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| Four unopened boxes of kitchen wall tiles |
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| Tiles which we will use underneath the kitchen platform |
UPDATE 13 Oct
Glenn went today to the flat. The sliding windows were completed. He said plumbing work begins tomorrow. The painting work with commence on Saturday with workers doing the scrapping and by Tuesday, the painting work will actually begin. We plan to move the cupboards, diwan, folding table and freezer in as soon as the primer is done. That way, any nicks caused by the sharp edges will be patched up before the colour gets slapped on.
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| Master bedroom window |
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| In anticipation of our big move, I got one cupboard ready yesterday |
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| Packed the clothes etc that I use regularly into a suitcase so I could fill up my cupboard with boxes to go with the cupboard. |
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| Kitchen window |
I got busy, unloading the contents of our cupboards into suitcases, and filling them with the boxes full of stuff we don't use regularly. See picture above.
Two days earlier, Glenn went to see how much was done and took these pictures. The boys bedroom windows and the hall ones were done then.
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| Boys bedroom |
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| Hall |
We had to rope in another contractor to complete some pending jobs because our contractor delayed work by a month. We did not want him to delay us further so we decided to hand over the painting, electrical and carpentry work to another contractor. The latter has promised to get the work done quickly so we can move in by the end of this month. PTL.
UPDATE: 21 Oct
Plumbing is going on. Railing n gate still not completed as the contractor had to stop for three days to allow the electrician to complete his work. Today we expect electrical works to be over and then any pending works of the first contractor should be over by Monday. Painters should be able to resume again tomorrow, they too had a break because of the electrical works. Let's pray that everything gets done by our due date 29 Oct.
Some pictures of works in progress.
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| Red oxide put by painters on grilles |
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| Railing fabricated and placed |
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| Gate fabricated but needs to be aligned and latch put |
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| Today, pipes put and attached to external outlet |
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| Attached to external drain pipe. |
UPDATE: 24 Oct
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Primer put,
painting of railing n gate
to be done. |
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| Inlet for water for the washing machine put. |
The painters will be putting the first coat of paint today. Tomorrow the electrician Paul will complete his work. On Wednesday, the second coat goes up. Thursday and Friday will be doors and external painting. So we hope to move in on Saturday 29 Oct.
UPDATE: 26 Oct
Plumbing almost done, cement work has started today. Glenn says one neighbour has expressed concern as they used to park their bikes in that spot. Let's pray that we can find an amicable solution to this problem.
Packing progressing slowly as fridge and open pantry items gets depleted. Today I was able to empty the open pantry and take it out of the kitchen. I was also able to fill up the first of the kitchen OPEN FIRST BOXES.
Painting is going to get over tomorrow. Today the second coat of paint is going up. I sent the wooden kitchen cabinet and the plant stand for painting too. Same colour as the doors.
UPDATE: 28 Oct
Butterflies 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Its finally here! Hours not days!!
Final touches and clean-up going on today. We couldn't start carpentry but that's ok as I would rather be present to watch what's going on.
The electrician and painters were super fast. We were so glad that we switched to another contractor for these jobs. Plumbing got over yesterday and polishing of the kitchen platform will get done today.
We also got the front area next to the porch cemented and I am going to make it pretty with some selected plants.
Here are some latest pictures of the work done.
Will upload final pictures on Sunday. I have also uploaded progressive videos on my YouTube channel. Please subscribe if you like the content.
AURIEL RIBEIRO SA is the name.
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