The enterprising beingness of our Call Center Operations Head, Placey came to the fore yet again with the successful organization of a small yet very special Valentine’s Day Party in office earlier in the day.
Reaching office post two in the afty, thus pretty late on such a wondrously unique day, was more than made up, as I took to my right to punch in my attendance.
I was greeted by the flavour of love and fragrance of warmth in the air with pink and red balloons decked from the entrance across to the various departments in the office. Most of my colleagues were dressed to the occasion in red or pink. A sweet message and a lovey-dovey poster on Valentine’s Day on the notice board in the Accounts Dept and Marketing Depts. conveyed the aura of love, affection and cheer all around. Entering my department, and to slow romantic numbers being played and my colleagues similarly attired in pink made it all the more special.
Shortly later, I joined the others for a sumptuous lunch. On my plate, was lip-smacking fried rice and chicken chilli. Later on, I topped it with ice-cream.
We also had the gift-giving with us gifting a colleague whose name we randomly picked on the draw held on an earlier day. I got a lovely ceramic mug from the call-center guy, Shannon. So nice of him to give a rather expensive gift with a base price for gifts being set at Rs.25/-
My Valentine's Gift ... teehee
Later in the afternoon, we had the cake-cutting of a heart shaped choco cake on which was writ, ‘Happy Valentine Day.’ Donald as usual, entertained us, while the ladies took the honours at the cake-cutting. It was fun to see Sir Jerry’s and Donald, our marketing manager’s faces’ decorated with the cake. Not just this cake, we also had a ribbon cake to spoil us.
Placey :))
Placey at the cake-cutting
VIDEO: At the cake-cutting :D
Mekhala - Soniya - Vijitha
Shankar & I
Basil
Hello Ladies :P
Sabina with Soniya
Hasina with Soniya
Group Pix
We also had quite a few pictures taken and the odd video.
Thanks a lot Placey Fernandes for the memorable four hours I was at office ♥ You rock!!! Will never forget you ... Ramesh Raja, nice balloon decor :)) Gabriel Pereira, thanks for playing your part ♥ Missed quite a few colleagues though :((
The first year of the month has been going on pretty well, and it only got better with the staff picnic that we had two days ago (24th January). Into my sixth year, with The Hello Group and this was my first official picnic with the said organization. But as they say, better late than never.
Credit goes to the few enterprising individuals as Placey, Gabriel, Soniya .... for making this picnic happen at the wonderful Heera Farm situated at Dhargal, Pernem -Goa. It was only few days before that the venue was finalized and a picnic which was considered official with 42 names on the list saw only 29 turning up. Each citing their own reason before the said date and still others being uncertain (and who came) on the day. The bus which was to pick us up outside the office at 8.55 pm and was to reach by 8.45 was itself quite late. But the delay, was more than made up in the course of the day.
With the bus arrival, we set out along with Sir Jerry's car driven by Allaudin for our picnic. Along the way, our half-filled bus were filled up with other picnickers being picked up. Typical of Donald, it was he who set the mood alight in the bus with his antics. We also had our guitarist, Bosco strumming away.Chilled booze began flowing as our onward journey was well on course. A couple of young women seemed a lil high on their breezers itself while it was good to see another trying out the Jamaican Passion flavour.
Donald up to his antics :))
Dear God,
Thank you for the Blessed Booze
Amen
Pirate of The Hello Group
VIDEO: On our way to Heera Farm
It took us under an hour to reach the picnic spot, longer than the usual with stops along the way. Heera Farm was a place we were fortunate to have entirely to ourselves that day. Settling ourselves in, we explored the place a bit and I took the opportunity to get a few clicks of mine taken at the bamboo plantations. What fascinated me the most was the chicken coop. Reminded me of my childhood days 'A LOT.'
Kombdi Palali :))
It was not long, and with our rumbling tummies to pay heed to, we went to the food hall for breakfast. Not too heavy but sumptuous nonetheless - channa gravy with bread. The chubby tomcat took my fancy there and I fed him tidbits of gravy-dipped bun.
Gabriel Da Assagao aka Hazare
Gabriel Hazare
O Yea .... Breakfast with Budweiser
A rather late breakfast had, it was cake-cutting time for the January staffers. And our birth day boy, lucky fella that he is, Gabriel did the honours (in the presence of seasoned staffer, Hasina ). It was quite a cake-cutting musta say .... cutting a cashew at first, then cutting the cake and sipping the Breezer. It followed up by opening the gift (or was it :P). One box followed by another, each contracting in size as it was opened .... finally a beedi popped out to give an indication it was a prank indeed !!! To the final box, a pack of beedis and ciggies each and match-box which was opened, Denbe needful in our unique celebration helping Gaby light a beedi (not to mention the beedis served us well later in the afternoon/evening).Even the pussycat,seemed to enjoy the attention of being cuddled by the birth day boy,and the envious me was victimized. But thanks guys (and girls) for the concern. Badly scratched on my back but more harm done.No issues at all.... animal lover, ain't I ? ;) ;)
Happy Birthday Gabriel (seen with Hasina)
Ahhh .... ma gift :))
Ohhh Phuck .... Thanks Guys :))
Ram Ram Patil :D
Hazare dude .... wacchu upto ? ;)
Pussy Boy :))
With breakfast done, shortly after, we took to the winding steps up the hill and to the pool for a splash, with booze and nicotine doing the rounds. The tasty Surmoi (King Fish)seemingly being the only edible by the pool-side for us :)) Denbe,was the first in the pool, and Soniya took the lead among the ladies. Most of our hours were spent there. In my book, Shannon and Sabina ought to have given a prize for the 'Sexiest Swim-wear' in the guys and ladies category respectively.
Hey, that's cool .... first fool in the pool. Denbe Fernandes is his blessed name :))
Sabina with Allaudin's son
Chief takes a dip :))
And now for a few strokes :))
Gabriel in the foreground .... Denbe teaching Soniya back-stroke :P
Ramesh & Donald
Roomash (Ramesh) from Jamaica :))
Baywatch Boys :))
Carribean Flavour
Post-pool dip, splash, dive, swim and fun, and hunger returned for the others excluding me whose reservoir was well-served with beverages basically, it was lunch time.
And thereon more fun in the water at the rain dance arena. Refreshing musta say, and I moved from one sprinkler to another for a shower and did a fair bit of dancing. We had two sessions kinna at the thingy ....quarter past two, and again, two hours later. LJ Savio did a good job there :))
LJ Savio
Nice jig ladies
Oh yea .... Vijitha, that was fun :))
Sabina on her way for some Rain Dance :P
That Soniya I tell you .... such a poser anywhere;) ;)
Two hours later, I join in to have fun with the ladies .... after we had a few snacks, drinks and 'Passing of the Parcel.'
Wokay ladies .... the woo-man is here ;) ;)
That is Zangai Zangai ....
And that's Shannon - Mr. Baywatch :D
We had games too - 'Passing of the Parcel' was won by Allaudin and in the game of Searching the black and red ribbons, Allaudin was declared the winner again for being the first to find a ribbon.
'Passing of the Parcel'
Passing a Polo (mint) through a toothpick pressed between our lips to the other participant was held separately among the sexes with Nilesh and Jaykumar being the victors among the guys and Bharti and Sabina triumphing among the women.
VIDEO: Passing The Polo :P
Housie was won by Tanay and Placey with Renita proving that Lady Luck is not just a saying but in fact true by being spot on 'Guessing the number of sweets in the bag.' 'Identifying The Staff' was another game played which was won by Sir Jerry.
The Fashion Show was won by Donald, Manager - Sales & Marketing with his Arabic attire being the show-stopper.
Whoa .... that's some guy familiar .... wonder what those women are doin behind ?!
The Carribean Charmer with the Indian curry :))
Donald 'Arab' with Desi Gals :P
Wa alaikum assalaam bhaijaan :)) Fancy Dress or Fashion Show ?
Reema & Vijitha
Kehte Hai Mujhko .... Hawa Hawaii :D
Renita - Bharti - Sabina
Doing the Lollipop a la Alexandra Stan ;) ;)
Front: Manoj - Savio - Donald 'Arab'
Arif - Jaykumar - Donald 'Arab' - Vijay - Nilesh - Tanay
Sankalp won a special prize for his Mimicry Skills in the Talent Contest. Birthday Boy, Gaby finally had his actual birthday boy presented to him - a neat short-sleeved striped tee from Baron. A special mention and most due and the 'Winner among Winners' was Placey who organized the games and the fashion show.
By late evening, we left the place after a group photo session with hopes of another picnic later in May.
