BIDDING FAREWELL TO 2021

TODAY is the last day of the year. All in all, it is another year filled with long days of Movement Control Order because of the pandemic and how it has affected me personally in ways I cannot explain. There are less social activities and contact with other human beings and there is no way digital communication can replace real time and real space human interactions. One of the things I cannot do is travelling to see the world and more other fun thing, like training the angklung group and playing the musical instrument as well. I personally find that working life in school has been more complicated and things get really messy in many ways. I just hope I am strong enough to go through another 2 more years before signing off for my early retirement once I complete my 30-year service in teaching.

It was a solo early dinner session to bid farewell to the year 2021 at Rumah Udang. Still, I am thankful for all the things I have in life - especially the good health and friends who still "talk" to me in times when I am confined to the invisible borders we created. Let's see what 2022 has to offer and hope the coming year will be better and we can live the life that we have missed.

THREE WEDDING RECEPTIONS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON - PART TWO

WEDDING #3

 25th DECEMBER 2021 ~ The third wedding reception of the day was of Mr. Suhaizie Jasmani, an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti [SPM batch 2006]. It was actually the reception of the bride's side which was held in Pulai Sebatang, Pontian.

There were other people whom I recognized so a small reunion with my ex-students took place.

To the lovely couple, may Allah shower your new lives together with His many blessings and a lifetime of love and happiness.

THREE WEDDING RECEPTIONS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON - PART 1

WEDDING #1

The first wedding reception was of the son of Tuan Hj. Abd. Rahman Ngah, an officer of Johor Bahru Education Office and Pn. Hjh. Raja Ainurraziyah, an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti.

The reception was held at one of the wedding halls in Eco Palladium, and this was my second time here.

The only ex-colleague of SMKTUN I met was Puan Hajah Zakiah Abdullah who was accompanied by her husband, Mr. Ebi Shahrin.

The bridegroom is not my ex-student but his other four siblings are. 😃

I had to excuse myself to attend another wedding reception right after.

WEDDING #2

The next venue was Skudai Parade - the place I once used to go to because it was a shopping complex. I just discovered there is a wedding hall on the ground floor of the mall.

I was invited by Puan Rozana Kabil, the ex-Chief Clerk of SMK Taman Universiti who is now actually holding the same post at another school which is just next door to my present school. This should be the second time I was invited to the reception of her children.

Both the bride and bridegroom are police officers. There was some sort of rehearsal going on for the special ceremony for police officers. Guess I was too early for that.

For one thing, I was happy to see Laksa Johor was also served at the buffet table. I had other option than the usual rice like Nasi Minyak or Briyani.

I would have to thank both my ex-colleagues for still inviting me to their children's receptions even though we are not working under the same roof anymore. Your kind thought is very much appreciated.

THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE LAST MINUTE DINNER DATE

It is true after all things that are planned last minute are more likely to happen. And I was meeting my old friends couple, Mr. Ismaznizam J. Azyze and Puan Hazlina Aziz [ex-coursemates of UPM TESL class of 1993], at Azo Murtabak Kampung Melayu which is near my place. It was good in a way that I didn't have to drive all the way to Puteri Harbour/Medini to meet them. 😀

The dinner session this time was shorter as they needed to get the Murtabak delivered to other people waiting at the hotel. It was time to bid farewell and hopefully I could see both of them again some other time, here or in Kuala Lumpur.

"It takes a long time to grow an old friend."
~ JOHN LEONARD ~

THE LAST MINUTE DINNER DATE WITH [OLD] FRIENDS

The [sweet and lovely] husband and wife pair of UPM TESL class of 1993, Mr. Ismaznizam J. Azyze and Puan Hazlina Aziz, were in town with their family members. They were on a short holiday escapade, and this was one rare chance to meet them both at the same time. There was a change of plan in their itinerary to Johor Bahru this evening so we managed to set a last minute dinner date. The venue [chosen by me] was Rumah Udang in Kampung Melayu.

The place was almost full when we arrived, finding a parking spot was a huge challenge but the guests were happy with the food served. It was a short meeting but there will be another supper date the next day.

"You can't make old friends.
You either have them or you don't."

~ Kenny Rogers ~

HAVING BREAKFAST LIKE JOHOREANS

An old friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993, Puan Mariati Salleh, was in town. Since she was going home in the afternoon, the best plan for our meeting was for a breakfast session. I went to pick her and her son up at the hotel and took them to the food court at Kampung Melayu Market.

When in Johor, you must eat breakfast like Johoreans, they had Lontong and Soto Nasi.

It was only a short gathering but I am always happy to get to meet old friends when they come to visit.

ATTENDING A WEDDING RECEPTION OF AN ACQUAINTANCE'S SON

Today I went to the wedding reception of the son of an acquaintance, Puan Hajah Radin Halima Radin Jaffar which was held in Larkin Jaya. I guess many people are now holding receptions and all kinds of events during the school break after the MCO had been lifted a few months ago.

Puan Hajah Radin Halima is currently teaching in SMK Bandar Baru Uda and she was formerly in SMK Sultan Ismail when I first got to know her.

We only used to work together once when we took the Johor Bahru  chess players to a tournament at state level many years ago. I would have to thank Puan Hajah Radin Halima for the kind thought of inviting me even though we had never seen each other again after that. Hopefully there will be similar events for me to be invited again after this. 😀

THOSE WHO DON'T TRAVEL, EAT!

16th DECEMBER 2021 ~ When you do not travel during the school holiday, then the best thing to do is to meet friends over coffee and everything else that is edible. Another date was set with the regular group of gossip girls and the venue chosen this time was Secret Recipe at MidValley Mall.

The shopping complex was beautifully decorated for Christmas and the festive spirit was filling the air. Some people got a bit excited to pose in the mall so I had to join in.

Santa Claus arrived earlier this time and I got my presents - for my birthday which was two months ago.

With 2 more weeks to go, hopefully there will be more similar meetings like this before the school reopens. Please make it happen, girls!

ATTENDING A COLLEAGUE'S WEDDING RECEPTION - THE FIRST ONE AFTER THE LONG MCO

Today was the D-day for Ms. Zaleha Adnan, the Head of Science and Maths Department of SMK Dato' Jaafar who tied the knot. I was grateful as there were four other [male] colleagues who were still around during this end of year school break so I had companies to attend the event.

And there were some other colleagues who were there at the reception, so it was like a school gathering.

This was the first wedding reception attended after the long Movement Control Order [MCO] because of the pandemic. And there are a few others for me to attend these weekends and the coming Christmas break.

Congratulations to the newlyweds and wishing you a lasting and joyful marriage filled with love and happiness.