A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT A CAFE IN ECO BOTANIK

I contacted an ex-colleague [of SMK Taman Universiti], Puan Rokiah Junog, asking whether it was possible to meet up for coffee for her birthday which was today. I was lucky as her husband, Mr. Abdul Rahman, was also on leave so a quick date was set in the afternoon at 3:00.

The chosen venue was Manzanita Cafe in Eco Botanik which I had visited once before this. [READ HERE]

fried noodles

fried vermicelli

crispy chicken chop

The arrival of the cake and the singing staff came as a surprise for Puan Rokiah. Hopefully she had one birthday to remember for a very long time.

AN UNEXPECTED PARCEL THAT ARRIVED AT HOME

Lady Luck must have smiled today as an unexpected parcel arrived at home when I was in school.

It was a gift for Eid ul-Adha from a friend of UPM TESL class of 1993, Puan Zarinamahnum Haji Alias. Thanks a lot my friend for the sweet box of fruit cake that travelled all the way from Kuala Lumpur/Selangor. I will always remember your kindness with every bite I take.

"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully,

everyone is blessed."

~ MAYA ANGELOU ~

THE BOX OF SWEET SURPRISE THAT ARRIVED ON THE 12th DAY OF EID

When I was thinking of what to write in my blog which had been abandoned for a few days, another box of sweet surprise was delivered to me. Another kind soul, Puan Rozaina Abd. Latif, a friend of UPM TESL class of 1993 clan who is now residing in Melaka, got this box of Mamasab brownies sent to my house on the 12th day of Eid.

Puan Rozaina, a.k.a Kak Kaynah, used to do Eid house visit every year with her husband but that could not be done this year because of the partial MCO. I guess the box of sweet and chocolaty brownies was in a way to replace the annual gathering that we miss this time.

Thanks again my friend for the kind thought. Once this pandemic is over, or when the partial lockdown is lifted, we should be able to meet again.

A BOX OF SWEET SURPRISE THAT ARRIVED AT MY DOORSTEP

When I feel I have already lost some weight after the fasting month, a box of sweet surprise arrived at my doorstep this evening. Overflowing with creamy and delectable chocolate, I got to share this with a few other people in school tomorrow. There is no better way to get fat than to find other friends to get fat together. 😊

zooming in

if you are wondering where to buy homemade
brownies

A million thanks to Puan Farah Sabina Safiai, a friend of UPM TESL class of 1993, for her kind thought. She is now residing in Seremban but still managed to get the brownies sent to me. I wish I could send her something else in return but I might have to find another suitable time to do that. Perhaps that will be when she gets to visit her in-law's family who is actually staying at the end of the same stretch of the main road of my house.

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." 

~ Marcel Proust ~

A LABOUR DAY WEEKEND FILLED WITH SURPRISES

When the courier man called, telling me that he had left a parcel at the front door, I did not know what to expect as I did not remember buying anything online.

It was a box of Eid cookies which were nicely wrapped from a friend of UPM TESL class of 1993. The package had traveled all the way from Selangor, I think. Thanks Puan Zarinamahnum Hj. Alias for the surprise and I promise I will eat those cookies when Eid arrives.

Then later in the evening, someone arrived in front of the house, handing over other Eid goodies - pineapple tarts and "Serunding" [dried shredded meat with spices] from another UPM TESL friend, Puan Suhana Abdul Jamal, who is currently residing in Sungai Petani and her sister the delivery girl, Puan Hasanah Abdul Jamal, the one who has become a family friend.

Much earlier when I was in school expecting the visit from the officers from Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia [Health Ministry], a familiar face appeared at the office door on the 1st of May, a Labour Day public holiday. It was none other than Miss Shanu Lingam, an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti [SPM batch 2010]. This should be a formal meeting so I had to maintain professional my demeanour even though I was excited to see an ex-student.

This should be one of the best Labour Day holidays for me, ever. Thanks again to my friends for the Eid's gifts and may Allah repay your good deeds in this holy month of Ramadhan. Even though we stay far apart, generosity and kindness know no boundaries.

THE SWEET SURPRISES THAT ARRIVED THE DAY BEFORE EID

One of the things that I missed the most during this month of Ramadhan was the act of kindness among friends. I used to get cookies, cakes and various other things a few days before Eid. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, movements had been restricted hence we could no longer carry out things we loved to do in the recent past.

Good deeds shall never be stopped though and today a Secret Recipe's chocolate cake was sent to my house by a Grab motorcycle rider.

I was already over the moon but my excitement had not yet ended. A few minutes after that. another Grab driver stopped by and handed over to me a Baskin Robbin's polystyrene container which housed two tubs of ice cream.

I guess I the best thing I could do is to thank my Chinese friends/ex-colleagues of SMK Taman Universiti for their kind thoughts and I pray may God repay their kindness. *tears of joy*

The literally sweet surprises have brought a ray of happiness and tomorrow, all these would be shared with others as well.

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
~ Marcel Proust ~

THE SURPRISE THAT ARRIVED ON ONE MCO DAY

A courier man sent a parcel to my house this morning but I neither bought anything online nor expected anything from anyone. I even told the delivery guy I did not make any online purchase for the fear he might be sending the package to the wrong person. I thought it could be the remaining face masks I did not receive sent by the company which had conned me before this. [READ HERE]

I guess surprises still happened during the MCO period. The box containing "Harumanis" mangoes was sent all the way from Perlis by a dear friend. She is my TESL coursemate of UPM class of 1993.

Thanks a lot Puan Sharon Taty Mokhtar for the fruits, but most importantly for your kind thought. Only Allah may repay your kind deed. And for one thing, the surprise had really made my day.

A SURPRISE ARRIVED ON THE 28th DAY OF RAMADHAN

It is not yet my birthday but there was someone at the door delivering a bouquet of something for me. It was definitely a huge surprise when an old friend who is staying so far away suddenly had Eid cookies (and a chocolate) in a bouquet sent right at my doorstep.

That should be one of the biggest surprises and I could only say "thank you" from the bottom of my heart. Thanks again Puan Sharon Taty Mokhtar, my UPM TESL coursemate (class of 1993) who is now residing and teaching in Kedah, for the kind deed. May Allah shower you and your family with His blessing in this holy month of Ramadhan and only Allah may repay you for your generosity.

A BIRTHDAY CARD ARRIVED TODAY

When was the last time you received a real birthday card in your mailbox? I always think that people do not buy and post a birthday card anymore. However, I must be the lucky one when an ex-coursemate of the TESL UPM group was kind and thoughtful enough to send one to me. I must say it was really a pleasant surprise and I would have to thank Puan Norsaliza Shaharuddin for her card, all the way from Ipoh, I really appreciate it. I will try to be reciprocal but she will have to wait for it next year,

THE END OF YEAR ANNUAL LUNCH FOR JOHOR BAHRU DISTRICT'S SENIOR ASSISTANTS

10th OCTOBER 2018 ~ The senior assistants of Johor Bahru secondary schools were gathered at KSL Hotel for a 3-in-1 event which started at about 8:30 a.m. It was held at Infusion Cafe, a place which I like very much. The first session was knowledge sharing session with the officer from District Education Department, followed by farewell session for the retiree and those who have been promoted as principals. The last part was lunch at 12.00 noon.

  

And I was given the surprise of my life when one of the hotel staff pushed in a trolley with a birthday cake and the birthday song filling in the air. How I wished I could just hide under the table and disappear. Giving a surprise for my birthday was actually embarrassing but then, thanks a lot for the kind thought and I appreciate it so much. This could be something I will always remember for a long time.

an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti, Miss Nurul Izzah

the cafe manager, my ex-student of SMK Gelang Patah,
Mr. Asri Katni

That was one more activity which involved a lot of eating, and it was not the end yet for this year. Believe me, there are a few more similar events coming soon.