OFA coffee table book, part 17

It's D-28 days till the launch of Fidelis, the commemorative book of The Old Frees' Association and I must say that the layout is shaping up very well. It's going to be 208 pages thick bound within a hard cover.

Late last night, I received the first draft from the layout designers. Well, not exactly the whole layout, but I would say it was about 90 percent completed. Missing were the Acknowledgements sections and the messages from the Raja of Perlis and the Chief Minister. It will be another bout of chasing after their offices on Monday.

Today, I've got to start putting on my proof-reader's cap and go through the draft pages. Slowly. Word by word. With a fine-tooth comb. Everybody's got to chip in. Everybody, that is, in the editorial team, plus the one lady who volunteered to help us.

Here is a sample of what you'll see in the book: a page lifted out from each of the four main sections. Top left is from the history of the Penang Free School (since 1816), top right is from the history of The Old Frees' Association (tracing its origins in 1916 until the present), bottom left is a page from the Alumni section and the bottom right consists of essays written by the present Old Frees, wherever in the world they may be. There is a wide selection of stories to satisfy everybody.