Grey haired and bald headed readers may recall the days when going to a Goan dance was a proper class affair with dance bands in attendance. Even the caterers used to serve meals with love and a touch of carrot pickle. Most of us teenagers in those days would have made the journey worthwhile. It was a time when the collar and tie no dollar in pocket ruled. One had to book the next dance only to find that your pint of beer was stolen. That was a long time ago.
Day occasions saw the rise of the village festa dis as it was safer to travel on public transport. Ladies became tired of dancing hence the men retired to this side of the bar working out their next chat lines. Today in 2014 with new arrivals in town, khoito heads, etc. my black pure wool suit jacket was taken as memorabilia from my chair while I was doing the slowcomotion on the floor. At first I thought it might have been someone who had a skinful and was sloshed picking it up in error. This would have meant they will have left theirs behind. If it was a thief the jacket had no valuables, I assume they would have dumped it and I have searched the bins of the venue to no available. It was a good jacket for a job interview and has seen many dinner dances and formal occasions. If the person out there and only they know who they are has deliberately stolen it may I wish you a speedy journey to your maker. For a reprieve and no reward, bringing back the feel good Goan factor, you can return it to the venue or if you live too far away to the nearest police station who can find me under HM Armed Forces Veteran. As a public service announcement in the forthcoming festa dis season while your village and Goan organisation committee members have a difficult job to keep everyone happy, I ask you to look out for each other and if you see or know of a crime try and prevent it or contact Crime Stoppers details on the link below. https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ Melvyn Fernandes Thornton Heath, Surrey, United Kingdom 22 May 2014
