THE 7TH DAY OF EID 1447H

Mr. Raja Mohd. Hilmi and his family members came visiting for Eid today. I only taught him English for tuition classes when he was in form 3 and 5, but he seems to be the only one from SMK Kempas who is still keeping in touch now [after he came visiting today]. The last time I saw him during Eid was back in 2017 [READ HERE]. Nine years ago, he had only two children but now there are already four.

I might be seeing him and his other family members next week in Seremban, and hopefully that will happen.

TWO LIBRANS CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS TOGETHER

 

10th OCTOBER 2020 ~ I must be lucky when someone whose birthday was two days earlier than mine asked me out to celebrate. Technically we are only two days apart so the age gap is definitely no issue here. 😀 Mr. Shafiq Suhaimi is an ex-student of my English extra class in SMK Kempas for PMR Examination back in 2003 (if I am not mistaken) and amazingly we are still keeping in touch once in a while. He was back visiting his parents in Johor Bahru and would be going home to Kuala Lumpur the very next day.

We decided to meet up at AEON Bandar Dato' Onn and Secret Recipe was the best option we had for coffee and cake. Many other shops in the shopping mall sadly have already ceased operation and this is how the C-19 pandemic has done a huge damage to our economy.

We did not have a long time to chat so we tried to summarize everything within the approximately the hour and a half to catch up lost time. We had not met for quite a long time; the last time I was still in my previous school. We had to bid each other good bye and I hope to see Mr. Shafiq again when he is back visiting his old folks next time. Thanks Shafiq for the treat, the time and the company - and "Happy Birthday to Us".

EID THROWBACK SERIES - 2003

I managed to get a few photos scanned in the process of cleaning my book shelves and found this collection of pics taken during Eid back in 2003 - 17 years ago. As you can see, the photos are not of good quality but good memories are still preserved. They were taken with cameras which required films to be developed later at the photo shop and the colours had been fading or become reddish.

My students had been visiting me during the month of Eid much earlier before the invention of smart phones and Grab cars. It was not easy back then to get to my place from Taman Universiti. They had to take two buses - from Taman Universiti to the city and then get another bus to my house. It must be the excitement to go for Eid visit with friends and without the prying eyes of the parents. Those who were in their senior forms would ride their motorcycles and would experience less hassle of traveling.

I also had a group of students of SMK Kempas who came visiting. I was teaching them English for their Form 3 extra classes which were held in school at night for 2 hours twice a week.

Well, some people I still see at least once a year during Eid, some stay connected via Facebook while some have completely disappeared. And I could not even remember some people's names anymore.

There are still many more old photos to be scanned and published real soon. School is not going to start yet and I will have the time to do this.

ATTENDING AN AQIQAH EVENT OF PUAN NURUL BARIAH'S BABY BOY

14th September 2019 ~ I was invited by Puan Nurul Bariah Moosa to the aqiqah event for his newly arrived bundle of joy. It was held at her in-law's place in Taman Kobena.

Puan Nurul Bariah was a student in my English tuition class in 2002 (PMR) and SPM (2004) when she was studying in SMK Kempas. She was one of the few people who are still keeping in touch with me, especially when she is now teaching English in SMK Tasek Utara 2.

A present student of mine, a fifth former of SMK Dato Jaafar, Mr. Hassanal, had a shock of his life to see me at the same place. It is a small world after all.

Thanks a lot to Puan Nurul Bariah for inviting me and I pray that the baby boy will bring abundance of joy and happiness to her and her family.

THE 5TH DAY OF EID 1438H

For today, three ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti from SPM batch 2002 came visiting - and two of them are a husband and wife couple. Mr. Azizul Azman and Puan Amirah Razali and the other one was Dr. Azzad Hamzah and his wife who also happens to be a teacher (but not from SMKTUN), and they were all accompanied by their small kids.

I once taught English tuition classes for PMR (form 3) students at SMK Kempas and they were held at night in school. A few of them then continued to be in my classes (outside) when they were in form 5 for SPM examination in 2004. I am still keeping in touch with selective few and one of the regular visitors is Mr. Raja Mohd. Hilmi, who is now married with two kids and lives in Senawang. He was here with his nephew and younger sister.

The number of visitors during Eid might increase as my ex-students are already coming with their spouses and small children. The more, the merrier.

A STRING OF WEDDING RECEPTIONS IN ONE AFTERNOON

Here is a VERY brief report of the wedding receptions attended today. I attended 5, but the one which was held by a neighbour is not documented.

WEDDING #1

FATHER OF THE BRIDE: YB Tuan Hj. Aminolhuda b. Hj. Hassan

[Ex-Senior Assistant of SMK Taman Universiti]

who is now a politician

VENUE: Senai International Airport Mosque

WEDDING #2

THE BRIDE: Noraslinah Abdul Aziz

[an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti]

VENUE: Taman Universiti, Johor Bahru

WEDDING #3

THE BRIDE: Siti Nurulhanija Hj. Md. Tahir

[an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti]

VENUE: Taman Universiti, Johor Bahru

WEDDING #4

THE BRIDE: Nurul Bariah Moosa

[an ex-student of SMK Kempas, who was in my  English tuition class]

and now an English teacher at SMK Nusa Jaya

VENUE: The hall at English College, Johor Bahru

Do expect for more wedding reports real soon.

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.

THE 10th DAY OF SYAWAL 1437H

This evening, three sweet young ladies who are my ex-students of SMK Kempas came visiting for the first time (two of them actually) for Eid. I used to teach them extra classes at school in the evening twice a week when they were in Form 3. Then, the two of them attended my English tuition classes when they were in form 5 in 2004. Miss Bariah is now an English teacher and I regularly see her at Asrama Semai Bakti during class, while Puan Nadiah teaches Science  at SMK Kempas. Miss Jannah is currently working at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

The last visitor was Mr. Aminuddin Sahrom, an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti (SPM batch 2006). He was accompanied by his two friends/classmates, Mr. Suhaizie and Mr. Solleh, who had visited a few days earlier - but the more, the merrier.

I wonder whether more people will be coming on the 11th day of Syawal.