TWO EX-STUDENTS CAME VISITING

The initial plan was to have an eat out session at Kampung Melayu but the offer was made at the eleventh hour so it was convenient for me. Then the two girls decided to just pay me after their ABC [shaved iced with variety of other items like syrup, red beans and jelly] dessert and I welcomed my two ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti [SPM batch 2006] with open hands.

It was only a short meeting someone has to go work the next morning. Thanks Ms. Khaulah Abdul Rahim and Ms. Noorul Nasuha Atan who was back in JB from KL for the weekends (because of work related matter).  Please make sure for a gastronomic adventure will happen for the next gathering.

THE 11th DAY OF EID 1441H

Another group of ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti cam visiting this evening. They were from SPM batch 2006 and were regular visitors during Eid. Even though the directive circulates only allows Eid visit only to be done on the first day of the month, how could you say "no" to people who wish to come and see you once a year?

Thanks Mr. Hamzah Hamdan, Mr. Suhaizie Jasmani and Mr. Amin Shahrom for dropping by. Let's just pray and hope for the normal Eid for next year.

MY HOMETOWN GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT SECRET RECIPE AND THE PINGGAN

18th JULY 2019 ~ Sometimes, it was not easy to decide where to meet up for a gastronomic adventure. We wanted to go to other places actually and it so happened three of the places we had planned to go were close on that particular day. The best thing to do was to get coffee and a cake for the birthday girl at the nearest Secret Recipe restaurant in Plaza Angsana and continue with the discussion on where to eat.

After the birthday cake cutting session, then only we decided to go another restaurant called "The Pinggan" [translate: the Plate] for real food.

Thank God the restaurant was in operation when we arrived and we decided to go western this time. Our dinner comprised of burger, nachos and chicken chop, and we were happy with both the taste and quantity of food served.

The restaurant was quite spacious and would be a good hang out place. I would love to come back here again to try the other food in the menu.

Despite a rocky start, it all ended well. Happy birthday again Ms. Liyana Mohd. Nasir [ex-SMKTUN SPM batch 2006]. May we continue our gastronomic rendezvous with Ms. Khaulah Abd. Rahim and the other friend if she is back in Johor Bahru.

ATTENDING AN "AQIQAH" EVENT AFTER SCHOOL

21st JULY 2019 ~ I was invited by Mr. Ahmad Firdaus Ahmad Shahlan [SPM batch 2001] to attend his sister's aqiqah event which was done to welcome the arrival of her new bundle of joy into the family. Coincidentally. Firdaus is married to his schoolmate, Puan Noor Al-Iman Madzlan [also of SPM batch 2001]. So I have already a few ex-students in just one family. It was held at their parents' house in Kampung Melayu Kangkar Pulai.

*NOTE: AQIQAH is an event held to show gratefulness for a baby being born. Usually an animal like a goat will be slaughtered and cooked for guests. At the same time, there are prayers, hoping for a blessed life for the baby.

I was not expecting for another reunion session of ex-students SMK Taman Universiti to take place as I arrived quite late but it happened. So there were Ms. Irma Marlis [SPM 2004] and her younger sister Ms. Minarti Marlis [SPM 2006] and I joined at at the table after getting my food.

Then I met Ms. Raubiyah and an ex-colleague, Puan A'liah Hussein inside the house.

Before going back, Dr. Syazni Rosli [SPM batch 2002] whom I had not met since she left SMKTUN in form four, arrived with her family.

I got to thank Mr. Firdaus for inviting me and he will be going back to Saudi soon. It was an afternoon after school well spent.

THE POST EID VISIT 1440H - PART ONE

Even though Eid was already over, there were people who still wanted to come over to visit, which I would never say "no".

The first guests who came in the afternoon, all the way from Kuala Lumpur were Puan Noor Fatihah Hamid and her other family members - the husband, both the parents, her younger sister and the niece. She could not visit during Eid as she was still in confinement during the month of Syawal. Puan Noor Fatihah is an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti and her sister Miss Liyana Hamid is from SPM batch 2010 but it was her first time visiting.

I was glad to get the chance to meet the new addition to the family and hope to see her grow up every year as she grow older when they come visiting for Eid.

The next guests to arrive were an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti, Puan Rokiah Junoh, and her husband, Mr. Abdul Rahman. They had not visited for quite some time actually but they no strangers to me and my family.

And there is a bigger group who would be coming later in the evening.

TO BE CONTINUED...

THE 9th DAY OF EID 1440H

A group of ex-students of SMKTUN SPM batch 2006 were here this evening for the customary annual Eid visit, They brought food to my house as they were straight from their work places and must be terribly hungry whereas I only had Eid cookies and chips to offer.

We started with the main dishes first and then only with the cookies as dessert/snacks after that.

It was kind of them to bring food for the Eid gathering, but was the thought and effort to visit after leaving school for 13 years, is of the upmost important. Thanks again Ms. Khaulah Abd. Rahim, Ms. Noorulnasuha Atan, Ms. Liyana Mohd. Nasir and Mr. Voon Yee Yung for coming. Hope to see you again for many more Eid to come.

THE 6th DAY OF EID 1440H

A group of ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti set an appointment for the Eid visit after work. Fortunately the in-house training session in school finished by 4.30 so I had ample time to rush back home. The regular visitors were all from SPM batch 2006: Mr. Suhaizie Jasmani, Mr. Zahari Kamal Afandi and Mr. Hamzah Hamdan. The other one, Mr. Syahir Kamal Afandi [SPM 2012] is the sibling of Mr. Zahari.

By now everybody has either already worked or finished studying. Just imagine, I first saw the three of them in school 17 years ago.

Thank you for setting away a little of the precious time for this year's Eid visit. Hopefully there will still more visit for many more Eid to come.

THE 4th DAY OF EID 1440H

t h e   s u m m a r y

Today on the 4th day of Eid, many people came visiting but there was none the day before. Those who came were my ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti and their family members.

SPM batch 2006 reunited

HIGH SCHOOL REUNION
left to right:
BACK ROW: Sharudin, Nishen [2006] Shafiyah [2013]
Huzaifah [2009]
FRONT ROW: Khaulah [2006] Maghfirah [2016]
Sakinah [2004] Farhah [2018]

Then, Mr. Sharudin Mazlan and Mr. Nishen of SPM batch 2006 arrived to join in the crowd.

We then decided to go out for supper/dinner outside. That was when another ex-student, Mr. Idzham Ibrahim [SPM 2008], called up and said he was already in front of my house so I asked him to join us first at the restaurant.

He still had to get inside the house to eat the Eid cookies because only then the mission was accomplished.

And one more day before school reopens on Monday...