MY HOMETOWN GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - IKEA'S MEATBALLS AND PASTA

My third time in IKEA Tebrau and I eventually went to eat its famous meatballs, with pasta. Initially I just wanted the meatballs but the huge number of meat pieces for the Swedish meatballs would be too much for me so I opted the menu with the spaghetti.

The plate of food, plus the tasty mushroom soup and free flow of coffee cost me only RM11.90. No wonder many Malaysians just go to IKEA to eat at the cafe instead of buying any items in the furniture mall.

MOVIE REVIEW - "RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET"

Why did I watch "Ralph Breaks the Internet" in the first place?
1. I had TGV Cinema membership points to redeem before they expire in December.

2. I had a lot of time to kill before visiting someone in a hospital nearby.

3. That was the movie which was shown at the right time.

How was it? It was an informative and educational show - with detailed explanations how the Internet works. It talks about e-bay, web search engine, advertisement, trending, advertisement and marketing, video, getting likes to gain money, gaming, spamming, virus and security - everything that is related to the IT world. In a way, it was too educational until it was not entertaining anymore, to me at least.

I just realized I watched the first movie entitled "Wreck-It Ralph" back in 2013. No wonder he looked so familiar. ☺

... AND AFTER SERVING FOR 25 YEARS

A ceremony was held today in Johor Bahru District Education Office where letters were handed over to teachers who were given increment from grade DG48 to DG52.

two ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti, Asma and Aida
(siblings) and their mother

This should be an achievement for me who have been serving for 25 years as a teacher. I just hope that God will give me more strength to face whatever may come in the future.

A FAREWELL GATHERING FOR THE JOHOR STATE EDUCATION DIRECTOR

A professional dialogue session with the Johor State Education Director cum a farewell gathering for his upcoming retirement was held by the Johor Bahru District Education Office (PPDJB) today at Trove Hotel. We had to pay on our own to attend (or rather, asked to attend) this session, if you are wondering if it was free.

Many of us were already there before 11:00 a.m. but we started to eat lunch after 2:00 p.m.

NOTE TO SELF: For my retirement gathering (if there is any), my speech will be very, very short. Oh, I don't have a lot of things to share anyway.

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*FOOTNOTE: Trove Hotel was known as Selesa Hotel before this. I guess there is a new management taking over the premise.

AS YOU SOW, SO SHALL YOU REAP

25th NOVEMBER 2018 ~ I met Puan Lisa, a mother to an ex-student, at SMK Taman Universiti, as she had to pass to me a present. THE REASON: Her son had recently graduated from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia with a PhD in Physics. She must be a proud mother and I am glad to share her happiness.

Congratulations Mr. Se Kuan Wei (SPM batch 2008 - if I am not mistaken) for your outstanding achievement, and may you continue to excel in whatever field you are in. I am very happy for you even though I had never taught you in class at all. I was there just to scold people. ☺

Thanks a lot for the present and the kind thought. And as what I had commented on someone's post on Facebook on his graduation day, something like: "... and he was once a naughty boy". I am always amazed to see who these students have turned up to be after many years of leaving school.

INTRODUCING ABC KAMPUNG MELAYU TO TWO VISITORS

24th NOVEMBER 2018 ~ Someone from Kuala Lumpur was in Johor Bahru attending his friends' weddings. Even though he studied here in UTM many years ago, he had never tried the famous Kampung Melayu ABC, a short form of "Air Batu Campur" [translate: mixed (ingredients) shaved ice].

So how am I related to Mr. Amirul? He is an ex-student of my English class in UTM back in the second half of 2011, when I taught part-time there. We sometimes met to play ping pong during weekend and are still connected on Facebook. He was here with another friend whom I had not met before, Mr. Irfan.

It was really a very short gathering but hopefully there will be a next time.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT UHB SECTION 58 GROUP 2011 HERE.

A COFFEE SESSION WITH A (HANDSOME) DOCTOR

23RD NOVEMBER 2018 ~ My end of year school break was started with a coffee session with a doctor who is literally tall, dark and handsome. Mr. Haran Mohanadas, an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti from SPM batch 2010 was kind enough to ask me out for a coffee date at 7 Spice. He just graduated from a medical college, Manipal University if I am not mistaken.

It was just a short chat over brewed coffee, masala tea, naan cheese and butter chicken but we managed to get ourselves updated with who's doing what and where. Thanks Haran for the time and company. The next outing will be on me. We better do it fast before you start your houseman soon and get very busy.

ANGKLUNG PERFORMANCE DURING SMKTUN'S PRINCIPAL'S FAREWELL GATHERING

A collection of photos and videos of the angklung performance during the farewell gathering for the retirement of Pn. Halimah Ahmad, the Principal of SMK Taman Universiti, Johor Bahru. The event was held in school on 8th November 2018.

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MY HEART WILL GO ON

A COFFEE DATE WHICH HAD BEEN LONG OVERDUE WITH AN EX-STUDENT

Finally, we managed to meet up for coffee (and cakes) after work. The location chosen was Secret Recipe at Plaza Angsana as it was the central meeting point for us at that time. I was glad to meet up with Mr. Muhammad Afif Farhan Zulkiflee, an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti of SPM batch 2010. It was just a short meeting but we hoped we would be able to carry out the activities that had been planned during the chat after this.

Before that, we met Puan Rafidah Abd. Samat who was an ex-colleague at SMKTUN and is now attached to SIGS who happened to be there at Plaza Angsana. The world has become smaller and smaller for me as time passes by it seems. But I am always happy to meet and greet people I know or have forgotten who they actually are, all the time.

MY HOMETOWN GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - BLACK CANYON AT AEON TEBRAU CITY

16th NOVEMBER 2018 ~ Someone wanted to introduce to me Black Canyon Coffee and I would never say "no" to good food and company of a friend. So went to the Black Canyon outlet at Tebrau City after the movie for dinner.

We had the same choice of food: garlic fried rice with grilled chicken and tom yum. My verdict: the tom yum was delicious but I think there was too much barbecue sauce on the grilled chicken which had overshadowed the real taste of the grilled meat. The coffee was no doubt good, but because it was a bit too sweet.

Overall, I was happy with the food and the fast service. And thank you Mr. Wan Mohd. Nazri for the treat and the company. We should try other restaurant for our next outing.

ATTENDING A HALF DAY MEETING AT JOHOR STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Today was historical as it was my first time sitting in a meeting chaired by the the Director of Johor State Education Department, with other high ranked Education Officers of the Johor state. The most difficult thing was to keep myself awake throughout the session so I had to make myself busy typing some notes. Luckily, my seat was stationed right at the back of the room so not many would notice if I dozed off.

It was such a big relief to be seated next to a colleague so there was someone to talk to.

I was earlier greeted my ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti (SPM 2013), Siti Nurhanisah Mohd. Said, who is now doing her internship there. My day was hence started with a positive vibe when I saw someone who smiling brightly and waving at me from afar.

Then there was a reunion session when I met an ex-classmate of Sekolah Temenggong Abdul Rahman (2), Mr. Mujahid Ahmad, who is now attached with Johor Religious Department. We have not met since we left primary school 37 years ago.

It was a half day session so I guess it was not that bad at all. This was just the beginning which means there will be more meetings to attend next year.

SPOT THE ERROR 120

Spotted at a shopping mall in Johor Bahru.

(1) Spelling error of "handicap".
(2) The sentence below the big words: one long sentence without any punctuation signs.
It should be written as:
Unauthorized car parked will be clamped and fined RM100.00.

ATTENDING MR. SYAFIQ KAMARUDDIN'S WEDDING RECEPTION

I attended a wedding reception of Mr. Syafiq Kamaruddin held at his parents' house in Taman Universiti. The groom is an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti, from SPM batch 2008 but he left for a boarding school after form 3. I managed to get his ex-classmate to go together with me and met the groom's younger brother, Mr. Syazwan Kamaruddin, who is also an ex-student from SPM batch 2011.

Wishing the bride and groom everlasting happiness throughout their married lives together.

MOVIE REVIEW - "FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF THE GRINDERWALD"

I remembered watching the first movie of "Fantastic Beasts" but I just could not make head or tail what the story was about. People said this should be the earlier era before "Harry Potter", and unfortunately I only enjoyed the first two movies of "Harry Potter" series. The other sequels were too dark and complicated for me to understand. So if you are a Harry Potter fans, and love magic and wizardry, monsters and elves, this should the movie you would not want to miss.

TGV Tebrau City

I must confess I slept during the early part of the show. Everything seemed to be too dark and slow, and the air conditioner was quite cold.