ATTENDING AN EX-STUDENT'S SON AQIQAH EVENT

    29TH AUGUST 2026    ~ Apart from wedding invitation, I also go to Aqiqah event - now of my ex-students' children. I feel so old already.

Today's Aqiqah event was of the son of an ex-student's [of SMK Taman Universiti], Mr. Syarifuddin Wahid. My friend and I were a few of the early birds who arrived at his father's house in Taman Universiti at about 5:00 p.m.

Aqiqah refers to the Islamic tradition of sacrificing an animal (usually a sheep or goat) to celebrate and express gratitude for the birth of a child. It is a recommended Sunnah (practice of the Prophet Muhammad) that serves as a symbolic welcome for the newborn.

source: AI Overview

Other than Mr. Syarifuddin, his two other brothers and sisters are also my ex-students. I have been attending many events at his house, like Eid open houses, his father is not a stranger to me.

Thanks to the family for the kind thought of inviting me again to their house. May I will have the opportunity to see the children of these ex-students grow up when I come visiting next time.

THE LATE LUCH SESSION AND A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WITH EX-COLLEAGUES

Someone is celebrating his birthday today and initially the idea was to just have coffee with him. We tried to extend the invitation to other friends and we successfully managed to gather six people who used to teach under one roof once upon a time.

The chosen venue: Chamek Kopitiam in Taman Universiti. I was there last week for another reunion session [READ HERE].

Four of us have already retired while the other two are still in service.

We eventually had cakes for dessert so as to celebrate Mr. Azhar's birthday. Too bad, my other friends were too shy to sing the birthday song loudly so I was the one who had to do it solo.

We had to part ways by 5:00 p.m.before the road got congested when people rushed home from work. Thanks to my friends of SMK Taman Universiti and hopefully we can do this again real soon.

22ND DAY OF EID 1447H - PART TWO

   11TH APRIL 2026    ~ A series of Eid gathering took place on the 22nd day of Eid ul-Fitr. After entertaining a group of two people in the morning [READ HERE], it was then my turn to go out for Eid house visit. The first one was at Taman Sri Pulai, at the home of Miss Ezatul Hanim Yahya, and at the same time, her other schoolmates of SMK Taman Universiti [of 1999 SPM batch] gathered at the same time.

The next one was an open house event in Taman Universiti, at the home of Dr. Harith Ismail. I met two other ex-students there, his younger sister and her husband. They all attended the same school, SMK Taman Universiti, as well.

The last open house was also at the house of ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti. By the time I arrived, I was not able to eat much so I just settled for the dessert and coffee.

Other than Mr. Hafizuddin and his sister and younger brother, I also met another ex-student, Miss Valerie.

Other than the non-stop eating activities, Eid also brought people back together and this sometimes only happened once a year, or even once in many years.

THE VERY LAST GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF RAMADHAN THIS YEAR

Just one day before fasting starts in the month of Ramadhan, the plan to go on the very last gastronomic adventure was successfully executed.

Someone wanted to go to this cafe called Aturan located in Taman Universiti so badly. We went there actually a fortnight ago but it was closed. Fortunately, it was operating when we arrived today.

We were there at about 3:00 p.m. for lunch. There was just one group of diners who seemed to be the owner's friends or relatives.

Buttermilk Chicken Rice

Buttermilk Salted Egg Chicken Rice

THE VERDICT: Food was tasty but the portion of the rice was quite small. We had to wait quite long for the orders to be served despite the fact that there were no other customers around. This could surely be improved in the future unless the cook really needs the time to prepare the food so as to make it delicious.

Thanks to Mr. Redzuan, my regular gastronomic adventure buddy for the one last eating out trip before the fasting month. Hopefully we could still meet for breaking fast in Ramadhan.

THE LAST WEDDING RECEPTION FOR THE YEAR 2025

   28TH DECEMBER 2025    ~ This was the second wedding reception of the day, and the very last one for the year 2025.

It was the wedding of another ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti, Mr. Muhammad Mirza Ishak. He is now married to Miss Nurul Aqilah, his schoolmate which should also be my ex-student.

Mr. Syazwan, the emcee

The wedding venue was DCM Hall located at Taman Universiti.

There were quite a number of ex-students around, but the place was quite crowded and moving around could be a challenge.

The only ex-colleague present was Puan Yusidah Md. Yusof.

the younger brother of the groom

Wishing Mr. Mirza and his lovely wife a blessed and joyful journey ahead.

That concluded all the receptions attended throughout the year 2025. May Allah grant me with good health for the year 2026 and many more years to come so I could attend many more wedding receptions.

A COFFEE SESSION WITH TWO EX-COLLEAGUES

Mr. Mohd. Azhar Yahya proposed a coffee session with another ex-colleague [of SMK Taman Universiti], Mr. Jasman Sabtu, after school. I, of course, would never say "no" to such offer.

Getting the venue for coffee was challenging actually and we eventually ended up in Chamek Kopitiam in Taman Universiti. This was my third time here and the last time happened a [very] long time ago.

[CHAMEK KOPITIAM TAMAN UNIVERSITI FIRST VISIT]

[CHAMEK KOPITIAM TAMAN UNIVERSITI SECOND VISIT]

Mr. Jasman will be retiring soon, in January, and he will be joining the club. Meanwhile, Mr. Azhar, was just promoted and transferred to a new school as a Senior Assistant of Students' Affair.

Puan Norleha, an ex-colleague of SMK
Mutiara Rini, was also there.

We had to leave after 5:00 p.m. and looking forward to more meetings to happen soon, when Mr. Azhar is not busy.