Among old friends

So how was your extended weekend? For me, it was hectic enough. On the third day of the Chinese New Year, my family spent one whole day on the island and got ourselves caught up in a traffic jam stretching from Pangkor Road to Batu Ferringhi. Came back in the evening and my whole body was tingling from the effects of the sun although we were out of the direct sunlight most of the time.

But one day earlier, I had spent a pleasant evening in the company of my old schoolmates. Yes, after eight long years, we had a big reunion dinner again. Though the attendance was much less than in 2003, we still had a sizeable crowd present. It was good to see all of them again. But in the intervening years, we lost friends like Mokhtar, Pheng Kooi, Beng Beng, Saik Kee and Saik Chuan. I'm looking forward to the next big reunion. It may not happen soon but surely, we are targetting 21 Oct 2016.

Standing (left to right): Seng Oo, Bakke, Ewe Leong, Soon Chye, Teik Wah, Kah Kheng, Michael, Kok Hin, Siang Jin, Tow Keang, Huan Chiang, Seng Chye, Kah Thiang, Abu, Leong Teik, Chun Hoo, Hock Leong, Eng Siang, myself, Chuan Keat and Teong Siew. Seated: Poh Guat Cheng, Hwang Hong Shi, Daisy Chuah, Phang Peng Yoke, Cheng Hin and Tan Joo Sin. Squatters: Errol, Kean Chuan, Choi Choon and Swee Poh. Not in the picture: Sani, Kwek Kong, Kian Foo, Chin Chuan and Cheng Chye.

Actually, we went one step better this year. We tried to touch base with a few schoolmates from the primary schooldays. Not very successful as they are much harder to contact. Nevertheless, here we are, four of us from Westlands Primary School.

Myself, Seng Oo, Chien Cheng and Siang Jin. Missing out in this picture are Cheng Chye and Chuan Keat. Would have loved Keat's Old Farts cap!