FINALLY THE CARNIVAL AT ST.PAUL'S CATHEDRAL GROUNDS WAS HELD YESTERDAY, SATURDAY-NOVEMBER 10 FROM 12 NOON - 8 P.M. THE HOPE HOME CALCUTTA PUT UP A STALL DISPLAYING ARTS, PAINTINGS AND CRAFT PRODUCTS PREPARED BY THE CHILDREN OF THE HOPE HOME CALCUTTA - WITH MUCH HELP FROM JOYDEV, OUR ART TEACHER. WE WERE THERE BY 10 IN THE MORNING SETTING UP THE DISPLAY PORTION AND THE REST OF THE KIDS  JOINED US AT 12 NOON. OUR STALL HAD A VERY HIGH FOOT-FALL AND WE WERE ABLE TO SELL SMALL ART AND CRAFT ITEMS, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS ONLY BUYER FOR THE GLASS-FRAMED PAINTINGS (ALTHOUGH WE HAD PRICED IT AT ONE-FIFTH OF THE PRICES USUALLY RESERVED FOR SUCH PAINTINGS (MANY PEOPLE,WHILE APPRECIATING THE PAINTINGS DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE CARRYING GLASS-FRAMED PICTURES IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT!). THERE WAS FOOD GALORE...AND EVEN TWO LIVE BANDS...ONE OF THE INDIAN ARMY BELTING OUT FIRST HYMNS AND THEN OLDIES FROM THE 60'S AND 70'S (LIKE ''(YOU LOOK) WONDERFUL TONIGHT" AND OTHER ELTON JOHN, CAT STEVENS, STEVIE WONDER NUMBERS!

BY THE TIME WE GOT BACK HOME AROUND 10 P.M. - WE ALL CRASHED STRAIGHT INTO OUR BEDS/MATTRESSES...SWEET DREAMS!

 setting up the banner for our display staff...

 some of the children at the close of the carnival

  Leah with Anjanli dancing to the music of a live-band

display with arts and crafts

 crowds throng our stall...

Ruth, our stall manager did an excellent job...

displayed paintings...

Grace and Abigail managed our food counter...

Samuel taking a shot at the 'post-the-ball'contest and WON!

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IN 9 MONTHS THE CHILDREN AND STAFF HAD A FUN-TIME IN  CALCUTTA :-)