ANGKLUNG PERFORMANCE DURING A CONVOCATION EVENT FOR UTM SPACE

23rd May 2014 ~ We were invited to perform during a Convocation Event for Universiti Teknologi Malaysia SPACE. The graduates were awarded with the Dean's list and various other prizes were also given to the invited guests. It was held at the new library: "Perpustakaan Raja Zarith Sofia" which is not in operation yet.

We had to perform during the award ceremony which was just a short one where we played just one song "Fantasia Bulan Madu", a Malay song made popular by the rock band Search.

There was also a "Zapin" dance performance in between sessions.

After that, we played a few songs at the dining hall while the VIPs and guests were enjoying their food.

Thanks Mr. Faiz and Mr. Afiq, ex-angklung players of SMKTUN, who came to give support and help take photos.

an officer of UTM SPACE whose wife is my colleague

Everything went well and I felt that all the hard work that we have put since early January has paid off. Hopefully we will have more opportunities to perform outside after this. 

I would like to personally thank Mr. Amirul Husni Shaarin, an ex-angklung player of our school and now a staff of UTM SPACE, who had helped to promote the group to the people in-charge of the event. Without his help, we would not be able to play our music during the prestigious event.

As for the angklung players, this is not the end yet. We have to keep on practising.

And here's the video recording of our first performance. Same song played but at different venue.

CELEBRATING TEACHER'S DAY WITH EX-STUDENTS

18th May 2014 ~ Why three ex-students who went off to other boarding schools when they were in form 4 suddenly wanted to come to school on Teacher's Day and then went out together, I really did not know but never turned down that kind of offer. So here is the report in point form: :)

(1) Ex-students meeting teacher at school.

(2) Ex-student picked teacher up at from the hotel after the teacher had hi-tea and chauffeured him to the shopping mall. *feeling like a boss*

(3) Ex-students and teacher watched "Godzilla".

(4) Ex-students sent teacher back to school to get teacher's car (and take more photos).

(5) Ex-students and teacher went for late tea break/early dinner.

I have to thank Aqil Muhammad Nasir, Muhammad Faiz and Muhammad Afiq for the fun time on Teacher's Day. If you ask me whether this could be done again next year or the following year, I do not think so as these people will be on their own separate ways after this chasing their own dreams. Hopefully we could do this some other time when they come back for their semester breaks. And I wonder whether they will carry a gopro a.k.a monopod by that time. I must say this was the session when I had the most frequent selfies taken in my life but they managed to take good photos. (I always look ugly in selfies.) But no monopod, long hands, or the right technique, will do.

MOVIE REVIEW - "GODZILLA"

This was the movie I went to watch right after the Teacher's Day Hi-Tea when the tummy was really full and the eyelids were extremely heavy. 

Actually I did not really understand the whole thing in the movie except the early, middle and last part - I was sleeping in the parts I could not really comprehend. The early part: someone discovered the existence the monstrous creature by the name of Godzilla. Middle part: more monstrous creatures emerged by the name of MUTO, and there were two of them. End part: Godzilla fought with the two MUTOs and Godzilla was actually the heroic creature that saved the city from further mass destruction.

All the fights took place during night time and when there was no electricity so not much could be seen on the screen except shadowy movements and something like laser fire coming out of Godzilla's mouth once in a while. I wonder whether they were nocturnal creatures.

I was sure the other people accompanying me had a great time, someone was watching this for the second time actually. It was either the wrong movie or the wrong timing for me to watch. So we should go and watch some other movies some other time, where there are more actions in a broad daylight.

THANKING EVERYONE FOR THE TEACHER'S DAY PRESENTS

"It isn't the size of the gift that matters,

but the size of the heart that gives it"

~ Eileen Elias Freeman ~

This is a special entry to express my appreciation to all the presents, no matter how big or small, expensive or not so expensive, edible or non-edible, given by students, ex-students and colleagues. Thanks a lot and may God repay your kind thoughts and generosity. 

After almost 20 years becoming a teacher, I have a small collection of gifts I have received on Teacher's Days and other occasions. They are just too adorable to be thrown away and I appreciate them very much. Hopefully I could show you the archive of the gifts one day in my blog.

PHOTOS OF STUDENTS AND EX-STUDENTS ON TEACHER'S DAY

18th May 2014 ~ Photo session with my students and ex-students. I wonder where had the rest disappeared?

TEACHER'S DAY HI-TEA AT GOODHOPE HOTEL

18th May 2014 ~ Right after the formal Teacher's Day celebration in school, the teachers and staff rushed to Goodhope Hotel for our hi-tea. It was good to have our lunch outside on this special day because if the function was to be done in school, the committee members of the Staff Room Club would have to work hard while other people would be enjoying themselves.

This time, we were also giving a formal send off to Puan Tuan Mah Tuan Mat, the Mathematics teacher, who will be retiring in June. I will have to wait for about 14 more years. *sigh*

the Chairman of the Staff Room Club and Puan Tuan Mah
delivering their speeches  

Lucky Draw Time

... and I was lucky this time :)

I had to leave a bit earlier, after I did not win the electric oven in the lucky draw and at the same time I had another plan with other people right after that. I knew everyone must have enjoyed the hi-tea before going back to school and getting back to work as usual the next day.

~ to be continued ~