A Pot Luck Luncheon in Mississauga That Went On All Day!

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Mississauga, Ontario

A Pot Luck Luncheon in Mississauga That Went On All Day!

Today was a very relaxed day and one in which all we did was socialize and have a good time with friends with whom Llew goes back at least six decades! Yes, indeed, we were scheduled to meet for a Pot Luck Lunch at the home of our friends, Teresa and Sennen, who live in Mississauga, a Toronto suburb.

So right after breakfast, we relaxed a bit and then showered and got ourselves ready for day-long partying. As Sylvia does not drive, friends Bryan and Avril came along to her home to pick us all up at about 11.00 am for the hour-long drive to Mississauga. We piled into their car and were off.

An hour later, we were at the very large home of Teresa and Sennen, where a huge group of Karachi friends had already gathered. They also happen to have a perfectly proportioned, beautifully-designed back yard and deck. Covid has much to answer for in terms of the fact that it induced everyone to spiffy up their backyards for socializing. They created a large wooden canopy over their existing deck and then extended the deck outwards into their lawn. This has made the deck extra-large and fully shaded. The weather, fortunately, was just perfect. I can imagine that it would not be as comfortable on a really hot day.

Anyway, the attendees were Tony (Fernandes), Sylvia, Bryan, Avril, Corrine, Carol, Merwyn, Belen, John, Dolly, Romina, Dominic, Jennifer, Anna, the hosts Teresa and Senen and Llew and myself plus Elaine who traveled from Montreal to be present with us. We were sorry that Lester and Joyce (also invited) could not join us as they had a previous engagement—nor could Charmaine, Stella and Gemma. Most of this crowd were teenagers together in Karachi and were members of the CYC (Christian Youth Club) where they first became friends and cemented their relationships. Over the years (and mainly in the 1970s and 80s), they majority of them emigrated to Ontario or Quebec (Montreal), where their lives took different directions. However, they remained very close friends and have socialized together over the years, being with each other through good and bad times. The many occasions on which Llew and I have visited Toronto, over the years, have been excuses for them to get together at large pot-luck parties such as this one. Today, mostly in their 70s, they are retired very comfortably and have lives filled with activities of children and grand-children, most of whom live in the vicinity. Getting together with them in an opportunity for us to catch up on their lives, tell them about life in India and find out about their extended families. Sadly, it is also an opportunity for us to realize how many of them have passed away and are no longer with us. Margaret and Alcuin, for instance, related to me through a relative of mine, are no more (and I miss them). Lionel (Gemma’s husband) is gone. Most recently, of course, we lost Tony (Pinto), Sylvia’s husband, and the whole lot of them got together to attend his funeral. For this reason, we did not start eating our lunch before Elaine read out a lovely tribute to Tony as well as a poem she composed. All of us realized how much Tony meant to this group and how deeply they feel his loss.

That aside, there is a great amount of laughter and joviality when this group meet—which, I am told, is now getting rarer. However, as they are all fine chefs (the males as much as the females), there is always wonderful food at these gatherings. The table on the deck was laden with Veg. Patties, Veg Samosas, Chicken Sandwiches (Bryan’s specialty), Chutney Sandwiches, Ham and Cream Cheese Sandwiches, Pistachios and Mixed Salted Nuts as drinks did the rounds. Sennen was a wonderful host and there was Prosecco available too for those who craved some fizz. Looking at all the appetizers, I wondered how anyone would find space for the Main attractions. But by the time the food was placed on the buffet island inside in the kitchen, appetites were whetted again for a more substantial repast. And so, Lamb Biryani, Lamb Curry, Chicken Curry, Tandoori Chicken, Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza, Cutlets and Salad, made their appearance in a lovely East-West menu blend that had us salivating. We filled our plates and returned to the deck to eat and to take a bunch of photographs. Since I have been married to Llew for a such a long time, most of these friends are now my dear friends too and I feel fully at home in their company. Hence, I had a fantastic time too.

When this round of food items were done, desserts were brought to the buffet island. I must add that this meal went on for a few hours—so by the time dessert was laid out, it was already about 5.00 pm. with no one showing any signs of leaving. The array of desserts, for those inclined towards a sweet tooth, were Crème Caramel, Ambrosia, Daal Dose, Jalebi Pudding, Apple Blossoms (mini Apple Pies), Neapolitan Ice-Cream and, of course, Indian mithai. And, of course, don’t ask me how, but we found the room to sample those delights too. All the while, we chatted about old times—always a revelation to me as it is fascinating for me to know about Llew’s early life in Karachi and to realize how similar it was, in so many ways, to our growing up years in Bombay.

It was well after 6.00 pm that folks finally showed signs of departing—and that was simply because most of the drivers wanted to reach home by 7.00 pm. Night blindness has hit us all, as the years have galloped on, and no one now fancies driving in the dark! And so, gradually, the long goodbyes were said, as the crowd trooped out after thanking our generous hosts and taking their leftovers with them.

We piled back into Bryan and Avril’s car and, an hour later, we were back in Woodbridge, after a day of happy camaraderie and really terrific eating and drinking. All that was left to do was to say Goodnight an get right into bed.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.