He Remembers

Danial
SPM 2009
It was 4.30pm. The office boy came in to say the ex-student wanted to see me.

Decently attired, he asked for some verifications for his scholarship papers. A JPA scholar, he told me he was doing medical studies in the University of Malaya.

Teacher: So, you went into Asasi Science?
Danial: Yes, I did.
The teacher looked at his handsome face and asked : What's the CGPA?
Ahem, he shyly replied : A 4 pointer teacher.

A good job done I told him.

He quickly said: It's all from here teacher. I learnt from this very school and I am grateful. I see so many new things; the toilet, the History Gallery and it never stops. I am proud of my connection with the school.

He did it. After a tiring day and so many challenges, it is soothing to the ears and soul; his songs for his Alma Mater. This is what matters; he remembers his Alma Mater.

All the best to you Danial and your parting words were; I will come back to help the school.

Mid Autumn Festival

12th September 2012
15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar Calendar

Many countries have this date designated as a public holiday including Republic of China, Taiwan and Vietnam. In Malaysia it is not. But the Chinese community is just excited and take great pleasure in commemorating it. Though I do not believe the religious connotation behind it , I appreciate the culture behind it where families get together for talk and joy.

There are many versions for the celebration of this day . One of them was the success of the concerted effort gathered through the smuggling of the hidden message inserted in the mooncake pastries filled with lotus seed, melon seeds and egg yolks among the rebels to overthrow the then vicious emperor. The great coordination with the help of the mooncakes resulted in the emperor being dethroned and caused massive celebration. Of course the other more romantic version is the eternal love between Houyi and Chang'er where their vows for one another was converged at the moon.

But we were generously given gifts of various forms of mooncakes by well-meaning friends.

So creatively-packed and delivered. Everyone takes opportunity in making money.

Look at the packaging, so 'kingly' and fit for the palace.

Doesn't this seem so royal? Wow, the packaging costs more than the cakes, I am sure.

This one has a harder casing; the tin. Nevertheless just as attractive.

Banks also give their clients mooncakes but perhaps in smaller packs like the ones above.

Lotus, melon, red bean... just name the pastry.

Not forgetting, single yolk, double yolks ...

Also the nuts too...

Oh yes, jelly ones too !

So many of them; how to consume? It's time to pass it around again to friends. Tomorrow I will bring some to school. I cannot handle a piece of cake at one time. It takes me days to finish a piece; so much sugar.

This evening somehow it's nostalgic as I envy others who have children around them. I feel the loneliness without the girls around me; for Sara alone is still not enough.



Grace says she has decorated her flat in this manner... she must be homesick too. Sigh, why can't we all be together? That's part of life.

Tonight we may not have the moon high in the sky; not with the haze we are having now. So, the 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar calendar is dampened by the haze.

By the way this is the chart for the following years.
Mid Autumn Festival is on the following dates:
2012 September 30th
2013 September 19th
2014 September 8th
2015 September 27th
2016 September 15th

But the moon may just appear tonight against all odds.
The Mid Autumn Festival and the moon; an occasion for family and joy.

Believe it or not

September 2001

When your father pleads with you to bring him to meet his long-missed brother in an overseas land, it takes a lot to say no. So some 10 years ago, my sister and I agreed to chaperon my father and mother to Canada to attend the wedding of the eldest son of my uncle; to be exact in Toronto. This uncle, known to us as ' sam suk' (third uncle) was an emigrant from China and landed in Canada on the ticket of my auntie's family ties there. An educationist in his homeland, he brought along his three children in their early teens who knew not a word of English to start a new life there. While sam suk's 2 other brothers sailed to the South Seas as apprentices in the gold business, he decided to go to Canada.
In a foreign land, he strove hard to survive. His good children did him proud though. They turned out to be professionals in accounting, computing and medicine. This humble uncle of mine toiled day and night; first in the dobby business in the daytime and later as a flea market operator in the evenings. He had many jobs except as an educationist. His qualifications were null and void in Canada. That did not deter him from finding his resources elsewhere. He is a good man and is still in Toronto today.
So at his invitation, the family of four including me flew; not to Toronto but to Orlando first to see my youngest brother who had already set up a home there. Florida, the sunshine state is a land of sun and fun. Name it; everything is there from Disney World to Universal World and Chinese gardens and all sorts. So, fun we had there until that ill-fated day.

11 September 2001

My sister in law shouted from upstairs : Is this for real ?

Yes we actually witnessed this life over the box. Was this for real? We stared at one another in disbelief? How could it happen in this era of civilization ? Next it was the Pentagon and the rest is history. "America Under Attack" with Larry King at the helm was the hottest ever topic discussed world wide. Very immediately, tourists were evacuated from popular spots and the malls were depleted of customers. It was a gloomy feeling and fear gripped America and us. How were we going to accomplish our mission? Will we be able to attend the wedding? What an untimely appointment.

The next few days saw us going in and out of Orlando Airport for seats to Canada. Passengers were all over the place and the queues were long. You wondered if you would ever get your turn. Everyone wanted to get out of America. By a stroke of good fortune, my sister's KRIS card from SIA did the trick. We were the last four passengers allowed for the flight to Canada! So it is indeed a privilege to be associated with privilege flying cards.

Though the flight was easy, we took it with much unease. It was difficult to stay cool after the havoc in the airline industry. But we were torn between the devil and the deep blue sea; we either ride the plane or we missed the wedding appointment and of course going back to school on my part. When Air Canada finally landed with her first cohort out of the land under attack, the captain and his crew received a standing ovation from us. We were safe and out of America!

What a day.

The Canadian airport security however did not receive us with wide, open arms. We went under strict scrutiny and when the scanner detected an unusual metal material in my father's arm, he was cordially called aside for further interrogation. Question after question until the authorities were finally convinced that it was a metal rod inserted for a broken arm. Phew!

When we did finally arrive at the wedding banquet , half an hour after leaving the airport, we were greeted with a standing ovation too. Oh the guests from the South Seas had escaped the ordeal and were with them now! Hurray. What an appointment.

Brother was happy to meet brother after being apart for the last 40 years. It was moving to see my father conversing with his brother for days as they recalled their childhood days and family matters and how they lost their parents in their homeland. That much my sister and I could do for them.

May the memory of September 11 be etched deeply in the hearts of many and prayers be many that this will never ever happen again. What a sad day; not meant to happen.

The Girls

Today I saw so many of them; it's JPA time and they need verifications for their papers and so they came.

It was good to see them again after some years. Am glad to know they are heading towards the intended path and may the path taken be what they had always wanted.

This demure lass is daughter to one of our ex-teachers and I virtually saw her grow up right from form 1 to 5. Everyday she will stick close to dear mummy and her days in school are so attached to her. Dear mummy made it a point to see that the girl be groomed according to planned with a lot of hard work, dedication and love. So Seok Kuan finally proved her worth by earning a JPA scholarship to do medicine in Nottingham, UK. This time mummy is not going with her. She has to make the maiden trip; alone. She will make it as she is gritty.




Leong Wai Theng was the top STPM student of her batch in the Arts Stream and she has also earned a JPA scholarship to do Accounting at the local Nottingham campus. She is also a determined child and will go far in the line.


Ms Yeoh Yee Ping was with the school till form 3 and continued her studies at a private school. She was an active, bouncy lass with no moment of quiet. Creative and an extrovert she is into a programme that befits her personality' Media and Creative Arts at the Lougborough University of the UK. Also a JPA scholar she is going to sail through her programme; I am sure. May she find her love for the pursuit as she ventures into the world of communication.




At a gathering last week, I met Esther Kang; also a daughter to a teacher of the school. She is in the last lap of the medical degree and soon she will be a doctor. Kind, gentle and considerate, she will garner much appreciation from her patients. She will have the 'halo' effect of healing on her patients !


The sweet smile is misleading. Don't try her with figures. Some people just have them; that head which is smooth with figures. A first class graduate in the field of Actuarial Science, she has got the boss around her fingers with her quick mind. So she gets increments quite naturally. Trained under the tutelage of UTAR , she is highly competent and is a gem to have around. In school, she, Esther and Sara are great pals. Agnes who is niece to the Mathematics jargon of the school ; none other than Madam Chuah, grew up always first in Maths. It runs in the family; maths and figures. Here we learn that it is important to pursue a course that you are a natural in. It will be enjoyable and plain sailing. Less stressful.



Definitely not a girl; Ellen however loves to hang out with the 3 girls; Esther, Sara and Agnes. Soon to leave for Reading in the UK, he will complete his law studies there. So Sara is mentor to him when they meet each other again next month.

So good to see them growing up in all kinds of fields.
I am glad to have the privilege of knowing them.
They surely are from the school of future leaders.

The Wedding Cake

Sara made her first wedding cake for her mentor.
It took her 3 days to complete her mission with a lot of care, love and support from family and friends. The kitchen was never more messy than this and the poor, devoted Allie patiently wash the utensils over and over again.
But the final product was the pride of the day.

Well refrigerated to keep the cake moist and fresh.

Beautiful roses picked for the decor.

Here is the final product.

Lovely, isn't it? She told me that she may want to open a cake house; one day.

The Special Delivery

From Home With Love

Trained to take and give instructions as well, mama has to think of a way to beat the challenges of the Australian immigration. So here it is Derlyn.

Your friends Joel Lee and Philip say all they want is a confirmation that there are no eggs involved; so mama has cut them one by one.

So all four are cut; I am sorry they are not delivered in their original looks but you are torn between the devil and the deep blue sea. The cakes are specially made by your younger sister; otherwise there's no need for the delivery.

How do we make sure your special friend who will kindly deliver them to you won't get into trouble? To make it simple, mama will just cover them with the aluminum foil; it will be easier to peep at them and convince the officials that no eggs are in them.

Do you think this will do?

A wish that this box of moon cakes will reach you safely. May you have great tea moments with your pals when the cowboy meets the beautiful fairy in the legendary story on 'chong chui chieh' next week.

Have fun.

Selamat Hari Raya

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri saya sampaikan kepada semua kawan -kawan, kawan sejawat dan anak-anak murid sekalian.

Semoga semua yang menyambut hari yang mulia ini sentiasa gembira, selamat dan sihat.

Ketupat yang merupakan simbol kekeluargaan dan satu padu hati sentiasa dipegang sebagai satu tanda hormat menghormati diantara kaum-kaum di Malaysia pada hari yang mulai ini.

Semoga hadiah-hadiah yang indah seperti ini mencerminkan keindahan di setiap rumah tangga.

Saya bersyukur kerana mempunyai sekumpulan guru, kakitangan dan anak murid yang sentiasa mengamalkan kasih sayang, kesederhanaan dan saling hormat-menghormati di antara semua di SMK Seafield. Semoga kita akan amalkan nilai sayang-menyayangi selalu dan menjadikan negara ini disegani orang ramai.

Sekali lagi diucapkan Selamat Hari Raya kepada semua warga SMK Seafield yang meraikan hari yang mulia.