Archive | PermalinkSchoolmates From A Thousand Generations Ago

Nowadays when I return to Sitiawan for Chinese New Year, I rarely get to meet old ACS classmates. It's because either they're away at the in-laws, or their family has moved elsewhere, or I don't communicate to anyone my balik kampung. This year I had two meet ups!

The first was with Teck Chee and Cheong Lee at the new mall, Aeon Sri Manjung. They were a year younger than me at school. We had a great time talking about old friends and where they are now.

Later that night I met my former classmate Sathya. I met him right at this white wall where I had some sort of coffee and Star Wars talk ensued, as they are wont to be when Sathya is around. Gnana was also present but also via Sathya's iPhone. And initial plans were made for a class reunion in the near future. Who wants in?

Then we said goodbye to the white wall.

Keywords: acs_sitiawan,balik_kampung,sitiawan

Archive | PermalinkWotsit?

Back in secondary school, for some reason that I can't recall anymore we suddenly had this bat as our mascot so to speak. Its name, Wotsit the Confused Bat, also popped up unbidden. It was easy to doodle and we doodled it here and there and everywhere. There was an earlier design where the bat had no moth and bigger shoes, but we finally decided on this design, created by my best friend.

Here it is once again, in  a digitally painted form, for old time's sake.

Keywords: acs_sitiawan,artwork

Archive | PermalinkGuess Hoos Coming to Raya?

On the second day of Aidilfitri (September 11th), the Meis and their family came for a visit. By family we mean Mei Lin, Mei Chin, their husbands, their daughters, their parents, and their little brother Colin-boy. Hoo did you expect?

Hisham and I had to decide which of us would actually write this entry (since Mei Lin was his classmate and Mei Chin was mine). But here's my take on the day!

* Mouse over the pictures for captions

Keywords: acs_sitiawan,alya,friends,hari_raya,irfan,vacation

Archive | PermalinkThe Ting Sisters

It's now 2010, and it's exactly 30 years since I first met Teik Sing in Standard 1. We were a year younger than Irfan is now.

They're back on vacation from Sydney and we went out to meet them at their old place in Puchong, where we first meet Ashley's new sister Emma Grace. Both had the sniffles so Ashley opted to stay at home with his Aunt Ivy as we all went out to grab a bite. But Emma appeared to take a bit of a shine to Irfan during the ride to the restaurant.

Ashley was waving the inked illustration I made of her as a present as Ain took a photo. Obviously she waved it too quickly.

Emma grabbed on to Irfan's hand at the restaurant, then fell asleep most probably exhausted by the runny nose.

Hope we get to meet them again before they leave for Sydney again.

Keywords: acs_sitiawan

Archive | PermalinkYet Another Gathering of Old Schoolmates

And old school, we were.

The school being ACS Sitiawan. The location being the pool level of Mei Lin's apartment building.

Mouseover the pics for captions.

Keywords: acs_sitiawan,family_outings,friends,irfan

Archive | PermalinkAshley's Sister Emma Auspiciously Arrives

Let's all welcome young Emma-Grace Ting ChangXin who was born on 26th October, at 3.555 kg and 51.5 cm. News has it her big sister Ashley-Joan has already requested to carry and help feed her.

Congrats to Michelle and Teik Sing!

Keywords: acs_sitiawan,birthday,friends

Archive | PermalinkAshley and Her Parents Come for a Visit

Teik Sing, Michelle and adorable little Ashley took some time to come over for dinner with us on Friday. They fly back home next Saturday. Clear skies, guys.

Check out the photos:

Keywords: acs_sitiawan,around_the_house,irfan

Archive | PermalinkObjects At Rest

Comrades, some since Standard 1 in ACS Sitiawan way back when the town had one main road running into it and there were swathes of rubber trees between small clusters of houses and stores and buildings. 20 years after I officially left the school, it's time for another gathering in Sitiawan, this one precipitated by none other than Chinese New Year. Apart from Gnana, Sathya and Alvin, I haven't seen this bunch for at least 18 years or so.

Keywords: acs_sitiawan,balik_kampung

Archive | PermalinkA Time of Reunion 2: The Sequel

Last year, we had a gathering up here at the Tenth Floor.

This year we found some time to coordinate another, but this time it was after Aidilfitri. So it doubled as an Aidilfitri open house, although theoretically it was not. Starting from 1900 hours the roster started to fill, starting with Kok Soon, then Yu Hoe, Samsul, Laksh, Anson and finally Mei Lin. Last minute cancellations included Kanesh, Sathya and Ah Bau.

Ain (aided by Cik Emma and Ciksu F) made rendang for lemang, kuah kacang for nasi himpit and a whole pot full of bihun goreng with tomyam paste. Our support troops, Kok Soon brought a bucket full of chicken and Mei brought dessert. Our just desserts.

Images follow below. Mouseover the photos for their descriptions.

Keywords: acs_sitiawan,around_the_house,friends,irfan

Archive | PermalinkManjung District Scout House

Being in the 1st Troop Manjung of the Scouts was great. Some memorable experiences while there. A bunch of us sometimes went down to the district Scout House on Fridays to see if one of the other schools had a camping excursion there. Then we'd sign up to be the camp ground guardians, keeping watch on the campsite all weekend as the kids as they and their respective Scoutmasters went about their work.

Last week I went for a quick drive into Kampung Sitiawan where the old Scout House stood, and was saddened by the fact that it stood no more. The camp warden's house was totally gone. Even the "haunted" trees with the unknown talismans tied to them surrounding the camp ground behind the scout house had been long uprooted.

I wonder where the district Scout Troops are based now. Below are photos of the Scout House from behind (coming up the road incline), and then the frontof it (with no warden's house beside it).

I guess next year there will be nothing left of the building.

Keywords: acs_sitiawan,balik_kampung,hari_raya

Archive | PermalinkChinese New Year, Sitiawan... Some Time Ago

The Nineties kind of rushed by me, as if I can't wait to be somewhere but it looks more, as time goes by, like I will not be reaching there anytime soon. So a lot of the details of the time here were quite blurry. Take the following photos of the ACS gang balik kampung and gathering for Chinese New Year. What year did this occur? I can't rightly remember.

All I remember is that I picked up the gentlebeings in the first photo below, had some refreshment at Woon Seong's house before we all went to Teik Sing's house where the big daytime gathering was planned.

Keywords: acs_sitiawan,balik_kampung,friends

Archive | PermalinkA New Baby For Hanim and Awie

Young Aisyah has a new brother! Abdul Qayyum bin Mohd Zawawi was born to Hanim and Awie at 0715 hours on the 22nd of April. We went a-visiting the newborn and his family and took a photo. Irfan tried to wink at the camera and he's almost got the wink down pat.

Almost.

Keywords: acs_sitiawan,birthday,friends