Blog Archives

Sequel “Ceylon Christmas Cheer” by Des Kelly – by Joe Paiva I read the previous article which catapulted my memory back to the 1950s, with warm nostalgia. I would have been about 11 years old at that time. I and two of my cousins, did part time casual work at my Grandpa’s departmental store, X P Paiva & Sons, 77 Main Street, Pettah, Colombo during the height of the Christmas period in the mid 1950s. Main Street was the premier shopping precinct in the 1950s, 60s.  My grandpa was the Prince, of the first half of retail businesses.  Trams traversed the length of Main Street,  from Khan Clock Tower, northward and return.  Tram drivers and Conductors were attired in Khaki and  colonial style pith hats for relief from the hot noon day sun. ” Mad dogs, Englishmen in the hot noon sun” At the hight of the hectic Christmas period  ...