Birthday Gift!!!

Here's a blog brought to you from a lot of your loved ones, with memories, stories, wishes and special moments they have shared with you 💜💕💜💕💜💕💜

Happy Reading!

Dilini / Nangi Boo

I want to wish my sister the happiest of all birthdays!!!

Little did I know that 21 years ago when I was born, the little girl with 7 chins, who fast became my partner in crime, who made magic potions and played pharmacy with, who blew smoke into bubbles with (Whoops now Amma knows), who carried me and tripped over 'Saucy' by mistake and ended up with a lost tooth and I a bitten shoulder with, who when I said a bad word but told the mother it was her would get into trouble instead with(hee hee), who watched out for trees that came out of nowhere when we drove the father's truck with, who comforts me when yucky reptiles get too close, who helped me get out of a tricky saree situation after a few too many sickly blue shots (hiccup) with, who knows exactly what to say and do when my body shuts down in anaphylactic melodrama with, or who asked if I'll be growing a moustache for Movember with (side eye),....that life wouldn't get any less adventurous as we grow and grow....how old are we again?!?

She is a SPECIAL sister, friend, pharmacist, allergist, physiotherapist, contact lens specialist, questionable comedian, nutritionist, daughter, massage therapist, pain in the bum, midnight call partner, drunk buddy, person who sleeps lightly so she can always be there for people around the clock through thick and thin, elaborate storyteller and award-winning conversationalist "Hmm...Hmm...", weird lover of animations, insane quiz master, fruit salad player (rolling eye emoji), Queen of Manchester mayhem, Christmas Chef, Formula 1 freak, sleepy bookworm, herculean nurse to so so many, my one and only Dumbo, and life saver to us all (Literally)!!

As we have grown in life to be older (Hmm Hmm), wiser, and more fabulous with aches and grey hair, my mother, my sister, and I are all best friends. Best friends who laugh 'AT' each other.

I look to my sister for everything in life. I think everybody she knows, does :) Everyone deals with tough things in life, but for me, the quickest cure to making me smile is to spend time on WhatsApp with my mom and sister. Mostly annoying each other, but just bring up who Amma thinks is acting on TV, and you’ll have us all laughing in stitches.

So move over Ghostbusters, we know who we're gonna call! (I haven't watched GOT)

Happy birthday Akki!!!!! I hope you have an amazing birthday. I can’t wait till this pandemic stops being a bastard and I can come home to celebrate with you!

Nangi Boo, DoDo, Boobie, Fatster, Boo 

Joanne

Avanti,

I wish you the very best, inner peace, contentment and happiness with God's blessings. Be happy! 

Joanne 

Savinda

Till very recently I believed Avanti's and my relationship was very unique.

I was always looking forward to seeing her out and about at our local joints waiting for her to scream from the other side of the building "Sexy Savi" and hoping a few females would take notice, which they did. However that sense of false self-esteem quickly disappeared when 5mins later Avanti called out to another dude that just walked in loud as ever 'Sexy whatever his name was".. my ego was crushed and I knew things would never be the same...

Resh, Linusha, Eran and Ravin

 

Shevanthi

Dearest Avanti,

You have the biggest heart in the world. 

Thank you for keeping me in it, dear friend.

Wishing you the very best on your Birthday and May all you hoped and dreams come true

Shevanthi

Mahen

In the 18 yrs I’ve known Avi, she has lost her temper with me only once. And I remind her of that one occasion often. She’s a most even-tempered and tolerant person. And she gets all my jokes, which is probably why she’s lost it only once with me!

King Kesara

 

Sandra

 Happy Birthday - Luca and Sandra x

Sudath

Hey PJ,

Since you're getting so old now and don't want to talk to us anymore, I thought I will remind you of some fun, crazy and completely ridiculous thing we did those days. Should I tell you about the times we endlessly boiled water on a coconut leaf fire for no reason at all except to boil water ? Or how about those estate trips where we made those ambaralla achchar-ru's that we ate and kept the gravy hidden somewhere in an open container until the next time we came back months later and continued to eat the same freaking thing ?? How are we still alive ?? Or the swim in the pool with the frogs and snails both dead and not, and all the insects you can ever imagine and yet having the best time ever. Or annoying Sunethra and Dilini just because! Or the club we formed and did all those ridiculous stunts which I'm sure Jude wanted to join but was upset he was not taken ..... right ? The Proud Hen, you can't forget that one ?

What a bunch of nut jobs we were ? One day believe it or not, even I will become as old as you and start forgetting everything, but this stuff I can't forget even if I want to. Just too much fun. Wish you all the best and hope you have a crazy, ridiculous and insanely fun birthday just like those days !!!

Love,

Sudath

Marque

Wishing you all the very best. Happy Birthday!

God Bless
Marque, Pradeepa, Sean, and Serena

Julie

 I wish you a happy birthday ! 

I love you !!😍🥰😘😋😚😙😗😊

🐭🐶🐹🐰🐨🦖🦎🐍🐢🦕🐬🐳🐋🦈🐊🦭🐬🐘🦒🦘🐎🐖🦥🐇🐉🐲🌻🐚🦮🐕‍🦺🐈

Anton P

Hi Avanti

Warmest best wishes on your birthday from all your friends in Melbourne

We all have very warm memories of your visit and wish you all the very best in these troubled times

Much love Anton and family in Melbourne

Dilani

Happy Birthday Ava!!

I hope you have an amazing day and year ahead. Thank you for all the laughs! Keep smiling.

️ Dilani

Thatha

Some of my fondest memories of Avanti....

1) I remember when Avanti was around one years old, she used to wear her beautiful scarlet, patent leather shoes and come running near the French windows of the No.1 bungalow at Opatha Estate to wave to me, when I was leaving for work every morning. This action made my day!

2) Later on, when I used to come to Colombo for the weekend, Avanti used to come running to me wanting me to take her like a plane and she was thrilled.

3) Another one is when I got my big Kawasaki motorcycle, I used to keep her on the tank of the motorcycle and go up and down Rudra Mawatha, which she and I both used to enjoy very much. 

4) Thereafter, when she was around 5 yrs old and started going to Bishop's College, Eric Rajapakse, her maternal Grandfather used to pick her up daily from school and take her to the Capri Club where she was the idol of all his friends.

5) When she was about 6 yrs old, I was a recipient of a brand-new Mitsubishi Pajero Jeep, and had accidentally locked the vehicle with the key inside, thus preventing entry. We managed to pry open the rear compartment window and Avanti jumped into the luggage area and over the seats to the front area enabling us to collect the key.

Love, Thatha x

Na

Life wouldn’t be

- as avant(i) garde (wearing clothes front to back on her advice),

-half as embarrassing (survive her teasing, you can face a lot later on),

-half as ….??? (no one else has as many pictures of my body parts on their phone).

She’s offered me a great potential for happy polyandry – lost count of the number of “sexy” men who’ve been proposed.

She idolizes men folk and lives independence and feminism by example. And equality: loyal trishaw drivers, old school teachers and formidable family matriarchs are treated with the same respect, and subject to the same bewildering humour.

She, only, is qualified to teach me Information Technology, Optometry, Pharmaceuticals, Massage Therapy and Pubic Policy – Not the alphabet though: her method would  prob start with B, C,D, then hastily remember A, then jump to K, P, S. Innovative method before its time.

When she’s around, there’s

-usually alcohol, and if not visible (while putting kids to bed), just one phone call and VAT and VSOA will appear,

- suggestions out of the hat box: “give her ice cream and her sore throat will be fine”,

- encyclopedic knowledge: try being on the rival team at quiz night!

To spend long hours at book fairs, to come to my help at midnight, to feel calm thanks to her presence when armed men detain our vehicle for hours in the night, to answer my calls like the world wasn’t divided into time zones, …

    I can count on her.

Ravin

Dear Avanti,

Thank you for coming for our batch O Level party in 1993. I think that may have been the first time you and your three friends met me and my sixty batchmates. It's been a fun journey since and I have fond memories of the partying we've done over the years. (Well all of 23 minutes of what I can remember - The rest all lost to alcohol!) 

Thanks for taking the time to keep in touch. 

Oh, and Happy Birthday! Much love, 

Christophe

Only you get my jokes. Stay the same. 

Wish you Happy Birthday.

Kisses.

Jovan

For obvious reasons, this is less of a memory and more a vague recollection; suffice to say that on one of our last nights out together, I may have enjoyed myself a bit too much. What I do remember is that, even though you probably weren’t too far behind me, you were one of the amazing cousins who partied with me, were a great drinking buddy, and helped keep me fed that New Year’s Eve Beyond that, you were one of the main reasons that our last trip there was so great!

Happy Birthday Ava! Thank you for being the amazingly kind and caring person that you are! Hope you have a great day!xx

Zolan, Chenell and Kobe

One of our fond memories of Ava was when she first visited Melbourne to complete her massage course, and during her visit she wanted to watch the movie John Carter on IMAX. Long sorry short: Few mins into the movie Ava happens to fall asleep. Zolan hears her snoring and had to wake her up, Ava denied falling asleep & snoring  ... We thought it was funny as she was looking forward to watching the movie but looks as though sleep got the better of her.
Ava thank you for sharing these fond memories with us . You have a heart of gold and we both love you very much even though cousin gets priority

Much love Zolan, Chenell and Kobe 

 

Jehan Mama

Happy Birthday Avanti!!!

I remember you bouncing on mine and Zola's back as a baby when we were asleep. Wonder how I would feel now if you bounce on my back he he. Wish you the very best! ​

Lots of love, Jehan Mama

Yo x

Happy Birthday Ava - looking forward to celebrating more good time in person. Have a great day!

 

Ranmali

Wishing you the very best on your Birthday!!

Hope you continue to introduce me as your cousin ​​❣

Arnie, Gopan & Pete

Happy Birthday!!!

Have a lovely day, this is going to be a good year.

January kids are the best! X x x

Janik

Avanti, I am disappointed in you. You promised to introduce me to Margot Robbie and yet I'm still waiting! She was even in Sri Lanka and you didn't make it happen (photo evidence attached). In spite of this I should probably wish you a Happy Birthday 🥳🎂🎉

Hope you have a lovely day cousin
Janik xx

Hamish, Valerian, Caena, Laird

Dear Avanti,

'Drink Champagne and dance on the table'

Many Happy Birthday Wishes!

Love, Valerian, Laird, Hamish & Caena

Teddy

 

Alain, Shamalie and Blackbeard

Thanks for always being there for us Ava. You’re the kind of friend, who always offers to help whenever we need it, even if it was out of your way.

You give the best knick-knack gifts. No one can ever get over your chicken curry! We’ll never forget those rooftop parties, you turning up to cook a storm when we’re having a party, or those midnight cemetery walks when you lived in Borella. You’re as fine as a Mercedes gets!

Amma

My Darling Avanti.

As I know you the longest I feel I shouldn't say too much🤫 But have to say that it's an adventure with you💐One is never sure what comes next. Either one is better than the other, and it keeps me on my toes. So keep on making people happy😍 as you usually do 🙏🙏

Happy Birthday.

Love Amma x

Zola Mama

Darling Avanti,

Happy Birthday!!! Wishing you all the very best!!! From day one you stole our hearts. You always put others first. I remember the nurturing you gave to my farther (seeya) when he was sick. You made sure that he took the right medication at the right time. You were just a baby but that’s how you are.  Remember so well Seeya calling you his nurse. You are an Angel that was brought to this world. Wish there are many more like you to make a better world. 

Lol ! Everything is NO PROBLEM with that head wobble😂😂

Love you endless Zola Mama😘

Tito Mama, Champa, Ruvini and Kanishka

Dearest Niece/Cousin, 

Wish you a very happy birthday! 

Stay mischievous, happy, helpful and loving throughout. We love you to infinity and beyond.

Cheers to all the good times! 

Tito Mama, Champa, Ruvini and Kanishka

Candice

 

Shanez

Because of you,

I laugh a little harder, 

cry a little less, and smile a lot more X

Theodore

Habarana lodge, family trip, long years ago, where she asked Priya and Nirmalie whether they were trying to kill each other.

This caused pandemonium and much irritation, even to this day. 

Chandrika

Darling Ava 

Happy Blessed Birthday!!!

May the good Lord bless you and grant the desires of your heart. Jesus Loves You  .. I love you my friend 

Lise

“We were small. We were in Achcha’s house. And you came. My Sister was a baby still and you came and squeezed her cheeks and chubby thighs”.

She’s someone in my family and she has frizzy hair. She lets us watch cartoons and eat smarties.

Every time she calls, she makes me feel happy.

Suba upandinayak, Happy Birthday, Felice Cumpleanos,

Avanti

Gayathrie

 

Aunty Roshan

Dear Avanti

Wishing you a wonderful birthday-  you are one of the kindest and most genuine people I know - always willing to help. You deserve the best 

Lots of love and God bless 

Aunty Roshan

Rajeev, Natasha and Nathan

Dear Avanti

Wishing you the very best on your birthday! 

You are extremely special to us and we hope that the year ahead is a positive one with all you wish for. Hoping to celebrate with you in the near future. 

Much love from us! y

Extra hugs and kisses from Nathan

Bishan

 

Avanti’s Birthday wish

 

Here’s to Ava,

The life and soul of the party,

The bright spark in a dark cloud,

The one who is neither proud,

Nor painfully loud,

Just the best of the Mix,

 

Always ready and steady when there is a friend in need,

Or a cousin’s call for help,

To which she will readily heed,

 

For in Avanti there is something special beyond words,

That sets her apart from the herds,

Of lovely and nice people that we are blessed to know,

 

At least to me,

 

She has always been there, when you needed someone the most,

 

And to this I toast,

A simple ode to make her aware,

Just how much her special people care,

On her birthday, and on every day,

 

Ava the Friend, Cousin, Daughter, Sister, Aunty,

Whatever the role,

Please know that you are loved from your young days until old

 

Happy Birthday!

 

27-1-21

Happy Birthday Avanti  - lotsa love from Bishan , Sanna and Ella 💖 

Ava has been a cherished soul in my life. Not only a loving, caring and fun cousin, but also a valuable friend in need. I’ve had the fortune of knowing her for most of my life, but perhaps some of the most memorable phases have been when I was living in Sri Lanka in 2006-2010, and later coming there on holiday with Sanna, Yo and Sandra, and also when she returned the visiting favour when she travelled to Bondi.

 

When living in Sri Lanka Ava was like my guide and rock- a go to cousin for fun and problem-solving alike – a special gift.

 

Not only was she a guide to the Colombo party circuit -  after all, the party seasons, post NYE, always started with Ava’s birthday celebration (and thank God there was a little time to recover in January between these two events!). In fact, I personally liked the incognito “Ava’s birthday” event much better than the NYE – it was off beat, incognito and a complete adventure. I will try and tell you a short story about one of these events, that has to be called “Tequila on the Dance floor”, but perhaps what I want the story to illustrates is that Ava is the connector for so many people, the person who is always there to help other people have an amazing time, and it was like that for me the whole time I was in Sri Lanka. I never got a chance to thank her for this, and show my appreciation of this rare quality, and I thought what better time than on her birthday – so Thank you Ava!

 

 

 

Tequila on the Dance Floor

-          Actually it’s better not to tell the full story I think, to protect the names of the innocent, (it’s hard to believe/remember what we got away with back in the day, this story is from Jan 2006 I believe?)

-          But let’s just say in brief, I said to Ava – can I bring a couple of friends to your birthday gathering, and she said “of course Bishan”, “no problems, it’s just a quiet gathering, tell them to come”

-          It wasn’t a quiet gathering at all, but a laid-back cocktail party (where there were several bottles of liquor on each table in Ava and Lionel’s front garden).

-          My friends who were from the US and UK , whom I’d met for the first time that evening at dinner prior to Ava’s party, were suitable taken aback by this eclectic group of friendly, interesting and almost straight liquor guzzling

-          Needless to say the spirits lubricated the fabrics of social interaction and we all were getting acquainted in the finest ways.

-          It was only when we headed to Phase B – the inevitable party transgression to the exciting and reputable R&B club down duplication road (if I remember correctly)

-          Here’s where the censorship must kick in for our own reputations… and legality. (Lets just say this is partly fictional). But party-ing in Ava’s crew on this night was no exception to any other night out with her. There was always a whole string of shenanigans happening, and Ava is always there, solid, standing with a glass of rum, or a pint of beer, with a semi-wide cheeky smile. As the night had progressed, the motley crew of party revellers, partly those who had come with us from Ava’s front lawn, partly those who we had met in the club, made our way to the dance floor where the magic began. Who can argue with the Live Music vibes from R&B, the quality of the food, the seating, the entrance, yes there were other comments, but the music and the dance floor  - unbeatable. It was at that moment that an already hedonistic night had gone the next level – for I remember asking Ava or was it Rajeev? – “Shall we get Tequila’s?”.

-          Ava had that same smile, and in a sense was the connector of all this mania, fun and excitement, but somehow the balance that made sure that somebody wasn’t going to get too messed up. I’m not sure if it was true, but I always felt safe in Sri Lanka with Ava around , despite it somehow always feeling simultaneously excitingly dangerous

 

Fast Forward to many years later, after leaving Sri Lanka, when I returned to the Island paradise with Sanna, and also Yo and Sandra, we did a trip together and of course we hadn’t organised anything. No problems because we are blessed to have a cousin like Ava. We called her literally days before arriving, because as we know when you are going on holiday to Sri Lanka, it’s the kind of place that the best things don’t happen as you plan, but rather, they happen as they evolve, based on the friend and family that you are lucky enough to have – also one can be quite slack with organising things so it’s great that there are legendary cousins like Ava who you can say 2 days before;

 

Us:  “Hey Ava, were coming day after tomorrow, any chance of a get together”. Ava’s reply was

 

Ava (quite calmly, and with certainty): “Yes. Of course. No problems, we can do a party.

 

Us: “Are you sure Ava? It’s only 2 days notice!!?”.

 

Ava: “No problem, my mother’s got this roof-top area as part of her apartment, we’ll have a party there, it’ll be great”.

 

Us: “Wow . thanks so much, is there anything we can do to help?”

Ava: “You just worry about getting here, leave it to me will you? It will be fine and fun. Also if you need a sim card I’ve got one you can borrow”.

 

Roof Top extravaganza

-          So instead of having nothing planned we put our bags down where we were staying , changed to our party outfits and went straight to Ava’s party

-          Only to be greeted by what could only be described as an extravaganza of fun, family, friends, old friends who we hadn’t seen for years – all on Avanti and Auntee Ranee’s rooftop apartment.

-          Not only that, there was music, a dance floor, and if I remember correctly live music (or maybe it was just us , or some random people with a guitar – whatever it was , it was fun beyond words)… and the best thing yet – was the cake that Ava had organised with our faces screen printed on the icing! Who would do all this for a laugh, and for love…. Ava would… and Did

-          You are such a legend Avanti!

 

 

There are so many stories, but so little time to write them. I just wanted to share just a glimpse of what Ava has been to me in my life – times that I’ve got into big trouble in Sri Lanka and needed a solid friend as well as cousin. I also know that she’s been there for Yo, Suresh and I, too many times to count. Also meeting up with Ava is part of our ritual whenever Sanna and I come to Sri Lanka, and it’s such a special time.

 

Beyond the partying, and the great person she has been in all of our lives in our family units – I think Ava is an unsung hero in many people’s lives. (I know when my friend from Australia, Kass recently visited for 6 months, that her introduction to Ava led to all sorts of wonderful things that shaped her experience beyond what words can easily express)

 

So with that I would like for you to have the best possible birthday Ava

Wishing you from the depths of all our hearts! Enjoy J

Tanya and Radhika

 

Suranga

Dearest Ava,

🌺 H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y 🌺

We hope you have a great day and year ahead filled with love and happy happy times.

Thank you for being you and for teaching Kiran essential life hacks and the long chats the two of you have.

We love you SO much ❤️🖤❤️
Kiran and Suranga

Jaap

 

James Phillips

Enjoy your party, my love to Avanti

 

Shalni

 

Suresh

Happy Birthday Ava! 

I hope you have a wonderful day bottom half of the chicken! Good times on the rooftops of Colombo! 

Also here’s a great memory of one of our many adventures, when we were in Marissa having a grand old time on the beach at night. We went to dip our feet in the water but because it was dark Dilani got scared and confused, you reached out to give her a hand but instead of just take it she pulled you down into the water soaking you and then ran off! We spent the whole time walking back to the hotel laughing at the scene.

Looking forward to making more great memories in the future cuz! Take care!

Hans Billimoria

Whenever I think of Avanti, I hear her infectious laughter. 

Every time I've met her since, as barely sensible adults, I am transported to the early/mid 90s when we plotted and promulgated in a Colombo that was perhaps easier, more gentle; an echo of what our parents said to us. 

We never really grow up do we.... J M Barrie's Peter Pan was not so much an aberration but insight into this simple fact - we are who we become and we become who we are, and perhaps the trick is to enjoy the endless becoming.  

Avanti may you ever remain a joy to be with.

Jerique

Happy Birthday Avanti! (a.k.a. the best wing woman) ❤🎂🎉 

It's always a great time with you and you are always the life of any party. Can't wait to hit a pub with you sometime soon and talk about life. Hope you have an amazing day and year ahead of you. 

Your favorite cousin :)

Kiandra

Happy Birthday!! ❤️ 

I hope you have a great day and year ahead 🎉🍻 

Remember when you took me to that event (you know the one) that took way longer than expected? I'm glad we went, cause we were so hungry afterwards that we found our favourite Japanese restaurant😂 hahah. Can't wait to go again soon. 

Love you x