ATTENDING ONE MORE POTLUCK SESSION IN SCHOOL

  23rd JUNE 2026   ~ A potluck session was held at the Staff Room of SMK Dato' Jaafar, and I was invited to come. The occasion: two trainee teachers had completed their intern period in school.

As usual, the food spread on the buffet table varied and it was not easy to decide what to eat. Eventually, I tried to taste almost everything.

The first time the pot luck was done at the staff room. I realized there were just too many faces whom I  did not recognize. Thank to my friends who invited and welcomed me for the event even though I had already retired for 2 years and 6 months already.

UPM TESL CLASS OF 1993 POTLUCK GATHERING 2019

8th DECEMBER 2019 ~ A pot luck gathering was organized for the members of UPM TESL class of 1993. This time the person playing host was Puan Wan Aisyah Haris who was kind enough to welcome us to her house at Presint 11 in Putrajaya. The last time we met in a bigger group was last year during our Reunion Gathering after 25 years graduating, which was held at  Sunway Putra Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. [READ HERE]

A few people came earlier to help prepare the food for the gathering. 

By 12 noon, food was laid on the tables and more people started to arrive. In the end, there was just too much food for everyone. How could we finish all this in such a short time, and people had to spend the precious moment to gossip too.

I am quite sure the neighbours would be wondering what was happening at the house at that moment when suddenly there were noises and laughter of the highest decibels. But why was I not surprised at all?

I decided to join the gathering as this was the time I could see many friends at one place - which was something not easy to do. Friends need to be cherished and friendship needs to be celebrated. It was not just the food, but to be able to meet one's old friends once in a while is something money cannot buy.

Thanks again to Puan Wan Aisyah Haris and family for the hospitality, and sorry we did not help to tidy up the aftermath after the pot luck.

Thanks to all my UPM TESL class of 1993 who had made the effort to come to Putrajaya for the meet up. May we be blessed with good health so that we could always get together for similar event again soon.

“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.”

~ Elisabeth Foley ~

A POT LUCK GATHERING CUM REUNION FOR UPM TESL CLASS OF 1993 - PART TWO

[CONTINUATION OF PART ONE]

25th AUGUST 2018 ~ More people were arriving after 4:00 p.m. and there was not enough space for food on the table. The chattering could be heard from afar I guess and the neighbours must be wondering what was going on at Dr. Hayati's house. One of the neighbours must be very curious of what was happening and quickly sent her daughter bearing food to investigate. *wild speculation made once I saw the girl at the door*

By 5.30 p.m. the guests started leaving the party and by 6.30 p.m., it was officially ended. All good things must come to an end. *sigh*

First of all, thanks to Dr. Hayati Ismail and Mr. Faizam for hosting the reunion this time. Do offer your place again next time if there is no taker for the next meeting.

Thank you to all my friends who had spent their precious time for this short pot luck gathering. The food was delicious and your company was the best of all. Your presence is very much appreciated.

Let's pray that we will all be in good health for many more years to come and will have more gatherings like this in the future. Friendship remains and never can end.

A POT LUCK GATHERING CUM REUNION FOR UPM TESL CLASS OF 1993 - PART ONE

25th AUGUST 2018 ~ Many would have the idea a reunion gathering has to be done in a hotel or a posh restaurant. However, people of the UPM TESL group (class of 1993) had done it a simpler and smaller scale. A pot luck gathering was carried out at the home of Dr. Hayati Ismail in Putrajaya. A date was set and everybody was informed via Facebook and Whatsapp, so those who were available on that day made their way there, with food in hands.

The pot luck was scheduled to start at 3.00 p.m. but guests started to arrive in stages, which should be a good thing. There would be more time for preparation as the chicken was still in the oven and the "cempedak" and "keropok lekor" were yet to be fried.

The early birds had to start to ball rolling, while the dishes were still hot from the oven/pan.

the first batch of attendees

More people started to arrive and some brought along their family members to join in the fun. For the first timers, I hope they were not shocked with the noise these people could make.

There was more food on the table and no one seemed to mind at all.

T O   B E   C O N T I N U E D . . .