THE 25TH DAY OF SYAWAL 1437H

After the two wedding receptions attended in the afternoon, I had to go to FIVE open houses in the evening, after my class had ended. I really had to compartmentalize my tummy so I could eat at every venue visited. So here is the report in brief.

HOUSE #1: Mr. Sabri Salleh and Puan Hasnah, Pulai Flora

An old friend from SMK Taman Universiti and has become family friend. The daughter who is also an ex-student of mine from SPM batch 2010, Miss Habibah, just arrived from the UK the night before and three of her classmates were also there - Mr. Haran, Ms. Fatihah and Ms. Shanu. So when classmates met, we really laughed loudly even though there were other guests there.

Ms. Hakimah from SPM batch 2015 was also home for the weekend, so I met more people in one session.

[CONSUMPTION:  a few pieces of baguette and stew]

HOUSE #2: Mr. Hisham and Puan Nurhafizah,
Taman Mutiara Rini

The next house visited was the house of Mr. Hisham Abdullah and Puan Nurhafizah, both are friends from SMKTUN. There were other people who were still there when I arrived so I had to stay longer.

[CONSUMPTION: a few pieces of "roti jala"

 (thin pancakes) with minced meat gravy.]

HOUSE #3: Mr. Syazwan Shavarein, Tmn Skudai Indah

Mr. Syazwan is from SPM batch 2013 and I have become a family friend (I think). 5 ex-students were also there so again, I had to stay longer to do some catching up. How a few people have really changed physically!

[CONSUMPTION: Three sticks of sate and a piece of bread pudding]

HOUSE #4: Mr. Shafiq Suhaimi, Kempas

Mr. Shafiq was from SMK Kempas and I taught him English in the extra class programme they had in school in 2002 but a few of his classmates are still in contact with me. I guess the last time we met was during his wedding reception and this evening, it was an open house cum "aqiqah" ceremony for his first bundle of joy. I thought he would be inviting me anymore.

[CONSUMPTION:  4 pieces of small "lemang" (rice cooked in bamboo) and stew.]

When I went back home, I was so full, I felt guilty of eating even though I had disciplined myself so hard not to take too much food at each of the house. Anyway, I couldn't just go without eating, could I?

All in all, I am now officially fat.

ATTENDING TWO WEDDING RECEPTIONS DURING LUNCH BREAK

I had a class to teach on a Saturday afternoon in UTM and at the same time I had wedding receptions to attend. I had no choice but to go during the short lunch break and managed to attend two. The first one was the reception of Mr. Asyraf Shuisma, an ex-SMKTUN from SPM batch 2008, held at Taman Sri Pulai.

Then I had to rush to Taman Desa Skudai to the house of a teacher of SMKTUN who has now (happily) retired, Puan Tuan Mah Tuan Mat. It was her youngest child's wedding reception. As usual, I met a few old friends there, to my delight.

I then quickly drove back to UTM but the eating sessions did not just end there. *sigh* 

THE 23RD DAY OF SYAWAL 1437H

A group of 13 SMKTUN's ex-students came visiting late in the evening. 11 of them are from SPM batch 2010, while two are from batch 2011 and 2012.

Let's just wait how much longer the members of this big group stick together when they come visiting for Eid.

SPOT THE ERROR 91

found in the toilet of a shopping mall

THE 22ND DAY OF SYAWAL 1437H

Three SMKTUN's ex-students from SPM batch 2010 came visiting this evening. Mr. Syarifuddin, Mr. Faisal and Mr. Hafiz were here again, after one year.

Even though we are actually closely connected geographically, we only have the chance to meet during Eid. They could not stay longer as they had to attend an open house after this.

8 more days to go...

ATTENDING A BRIEFING SESSION IN PONTIAN

I was the second to arrive at SMK Seri Bandar, Pontian, to attend a briefing for English teachers - as early as 8:00 a.m. I was not an intentional early bird as the session would only start at 9:00 a.m. The moral of the story: read your letter carefully.

all work and no party makes Jack a dull boy

The briefing was quite short this time [THANK GOD FOR THAT] and I decided to leave earlier as I had made an appointment for a lunch date with an ex-student of SMKTUN, Mr. Suhaizie Jasmani who is now working in Pontian. We had this delicious "ikan asam pedas" [TRANSLATE: fish in sour and spicy gravy] at a roadside stall which was worth skipping the lunch served after the briefing.

Too bad Mr. Suhaizie had a meeting to attend at 2:00 p.m. if not I am sure we could hang out longer. There will always be a next time. :)

PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION FOR PUTERI ISLAM MOVEMENT STATE LEVEL

23rd JULY 2016 ~ I went to judge another Public Speaking Competition organized by the Puteri Islam Movement, but this time for state level. I adjudicated the same competition at district level a few days before [Read HERE]. The competition was held at Sekolah Kebangsaan (P) Sultan Ibrahim (SIGS), Johor Bahru. There were 11 participants and the whole thing ended by 11:00 a.m.

All in all, I was impressed with the participants' gifts of the gab. This would definitely NOT be something I would do when I was still in school. Congratulations everybody for the effort, courage and determination.to be there at the state level. This should already be an achievement for everyone.

THE 18TH DAY OF SYAWAL 1437H

23rd JULY 2016 ~ I was invited by Mr. Assadiq Abd. Manap (ex-SMKTUN from SPM batch) to his open house at Taman Universiti. I had to be in another programme earlier but it finished early and went to his house right away. I was there at about 11:00 a.m. and was the second one to arrive. I had to make my move to another faraway place for another open house invitation.

the mother and the elder brother

After all the effort finding my way to Felda Tunggal, Kota Tinggi, to the family of an old friend who was a colleague in SMK Taman Universiti. That was the furthest place I have driven for an open house as long as I can remember. Puan Siti Adaniah Sarimin moved to her husband's hometown in 2015 but it was kind enough of her to invite me over to her place.

I got to meet two more people who know me, the class monitor who got married to the assistant monitor. Mr. Fairuz and Ms. Nur Nazihah are the ex-students of SMKTUN from SPM batch 2007 and are the the brother and sister-in-law of Puan Siti Adaniah. It was worth all the effort and time to get to see more people in one session.

Later in the evening, a group of  ex-SMKTUN's boys from SPM batch 2013 arrived. There was definitely a lot catching up to do as for most of them, this was like once in a year (or more) meet-the-teacher of meet-your-own-friends session. There used to be more people last time but as they grow older, it is really difficult to get people to gather at the same time.

About two more weeks to celebrate Eid. I still have a lot of cookies at home.

ASRAMA SEMAI BAKTI FELDA AWARD CEREMONY AND EID CELEBRATION

22nd JULY 2016 ~ Asrama Semai Bakti Felda Johor Bahru held its annual Award Ceremony this evening. Awards and prizes were given away to students who excelled in their examinations last year. As usual there were speeches and students' performances, and lastly the feast in conjunctions with Eid celebration.

I think my healthy diet plan to keep myself slim and fit is already going down the drain. :'(