BREAKFAST WITH THE MONITOR - MR. RIDWAN [PART 2]

22nd JANUARY 2024 ~ Before leaving Johor Bahru, Mr. Ridwan and family went for the last gastronomic adventure with me. This time, I introduced him to the restaurant I frequently go to get my food in the morning, Anamir Restaurant, in Kampung Melayu.

I met with my secondary school teacher, Mr. Roger, who was in SMK Sultan Ismail many years ago, eating breakfast there too.

That should conclude Mr. Ridwan's trip to Johor Bahru and this time he was staying a bit longer than usual. Hope to see them and other UPM TESL Class of 1993 friends in Penang next month.

OF A WEDDING RECEPTION AND HIGH SCHOOL REUNION AT SHAH ALAM

   16TH DECEMBER 2023    ~ An ex-classmate of 3A Commerce [Perdagangan] of Sekolah Sultan Ismail [SSI], Johor Bahru [SRP batch 1984] held a wedding reception for her daughter. Puan Norilah Ibrahim was kind enough to invite us to the event in the Whatsapp group. The venue was at MontereZ Golf and Country Club in Shah Alam. I decided to attend the event even though it was far away as I had not met with most of my classmates since I left SSI when I was in Form Four to go other school.

Three other classmates were there: Mr. Peter Tai Sui Huat, Mr. Seng Yang Ping and Mr. Shahrir Yusof. Even though there were just the five of us, including the host, this small reunion should at least trigger for other bigger get together for the group soon.

Congratulations Puan Norilah Ibrahim for the new addition to the family members. Thank you for inviting us to the reception and hope to be invited again in the future.

It was really a pleasant moment to get reconnected with my schoolmates after almost 40 years. Do hope someone will start to organize a reunion party for our class soon.

MONDAY WAS MEET YOUR FANS DAY

 

   12th SEPTEMBER 2023   

REUNION #1

The first reunion took place by the roadside, at Jalan Beringin, Melodies Garden. As I was walking out of my car, someone stopped his car and greeted me from afar. And to my surprise, it was an old classmate/schoolmate of SMK Sultan Ismail, Mr. Sen Yan Ping. The last time we met was like 39 years ago when we were still in Form 3. It was this one moment that I shall treasure for many years to come.

By the way, there is some sort of a plan to organize a reunion with the classmates of SMK Sultan Ismail soon, and hope it would be materialized.

REUNION #2

As I was standing outside a shop in Giant Taman Suria Mall, someone approached me and asked whether I was Cikgu Zainal. He was an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti whom, according to him, I taught marching/foot drill 17 years ago. Good news that Mr. Muhammad Afiq, and I got his name right even after the long years of not seeing each other, is now working at the mall and is soon going to stay somewhere there which near to my place so there could be possibility for me to get to see him again for coffee sessions.

REUNION #3

I was with friends in LC Catering for dinner. As we were seated, I could see the female singer of the busking group on stage was smiling towards me. I, however, was not sure whether she was smiling to me so I looked around just to make sure. When her friend mentioned my name through the microphone, then only I could confirm she is an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti. Thanks to Miss Marianah Rahman for the unexpected reunion. By the way, she has a beautiful voice accompanied by awesome  the band that played good music.

Three impromptu reunion sessions in one day which should be a record for me and that should make me extremely happy. 😀

THE 27TH DAY OF EID 1443H

There were still people who came to visit for Eid celebration  on the third last day of the month. The husband and wife couple, Mr. Mohd. Ariff Mohd. Noor and Pn. Siti Nur Ain, who both went to SMK Taman Universiti, arrived today with their three boys.

This should be his wife's first visit to my house after all these years. Well, there is always a first time, and that they will still come to visit for more Eid in the future.

Later in the evening, more ex-students [of SMK Taman Universiti] dropped by. There were three pairs of husband and wife, plus 4 children. Puan Fatihah is one of the regulars who comes to visit every year even though she is now residing in Kuala Lumpur. Then there were her two other classmates, Puan Insyirah Johan and Mr. Suhaizi Jasmani.

And I got my second money packet [filled with money] for this year. And this should be my second money packet given by an ex-student for Eid in my life.

I actually managed to attend two open houses [and a wedding reception] in the afternoon.

The first open house was of Puan Rafidah Ismail, the school staff of SMK Dato' Jaafar, held at her place in Taman Pulai Utama. There were also other colleagues when I arrived there which made it merrier.

The second open house was of Puan Faridah Hanim Mohd. Dom, my ex-classmate in SMK Sultan Ismail [SSI] and she is the only ex-classmate of SSI that I am still having direct contact.

Eating too much in one day is definitely something not good. The whole month of Eid is not the best month to keep watch of your diet and BMI.

VISITING MY ALMA MATER

ALMA MATER ~ the school, college, university where you studied. [Longman Online Dictionary]

B Block

I was at SMK Sultan Ismail, Johor Bahru, this afternoon for an official visit. I received my lower secondary education here from 1982-1984, before moving to a boarding school in form 4.

The Hall in yellow

The school sure has changed a lot. Old buildings were already demolished and replaced with new blocks. 

A Block

I admire all the teachers who had taught me in this school - they were inspirational and really missed them and their classes they conducted when I was at the new school.

SMK Sultan Ismail (known as SSI) is now a cluster school for excellence in the district and has established a high reputation for producing students with good results in public examinations.

SAYING GOODBYE AFTER LUNCH ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON

I was invited by Mr. Muhammad Hanis Hanafi to attend something like a send off event held by his family as he will be flying to India real soon to further his studies. He was from SMK Sultan Ismail, Johor Bahru and I got to know him and his brother, Mr. Fareez Syahmi, who played chess for the district team for many years.

I guess this is "goodbye" for now. Good luck Mr. Hanis in pursuing your dreams and hopefully we will meet again some day.

THE 3RD DAY OF SYAWAL 1437H

The first visitor of the day was my ex-classmate from SMK Sultan Ismail, Johor Bahru, Mr. Shahrir Yusof. He was here with his family members. We were finally reunited after more than 30 years. We went our separate was after SRP (examination for form 3 students) and had no chance to meet up, except communicating through Facebook. We hope to see each other again after this but I actually still have doubt that is going to happen.

Then another classmate, but this time from Budiman class of SMS Muar, Mr. Ahmad Fadilah Md. Aris, came visiting accompanied by his family too. I could not remember exactly when we we last met for Eid but I am quite sure he was not here last here. For one thing, I hope to see him in Medan one day. :)

In the afternoon, I was visited by two ex-students from SMKTUN, Dr. Harith [SPM batch 2005]and Mr. Hasif Ismail [SPM 2008], with their parents and other siblings and this has become something customary already. This time, Dr. Harith was here with his wife and daughter. By the way, the reunion was not complete as someone is already in another part of planet Earth.

Another ex-classmate from SMS Muar was also here with his family members right after that. Despite the fact that he is always in JB almost every year for Eid, he finally made the effort to drop by. I do understand how busy people are during Eid as there are just too many people that need to be visited, especially the relatives.

Two more days of Eid's visiting sessions will take place before the school reopens and things will slow down a bit.