Back to school

Made a return to the old school yesterday after months of self-imposed semi-quarantine due to the Movement Control Order. Was at the school to give a talk to the new intake of Lower Six students. Very receptive as the new boys and girls listened attentively to the story of Penang Free School. Met a few familiar faces among them too.

Loh Lean Kang was the other invited external speaker. He was the motivator between the two of us; I was just in a supportive role to warm up the students but I don't mind. Meanwhile, I was surprised to find The Old Frees' Association president, Lee Eu Beng, there also. He was there before Lean Kang and I arrived, not to give any talk to the students - he did anyway, after being invited at the last minute by the school organisers - but to look at the Pinhorn Hall's facilities as the OFA may want to hold their annual general meeting there next month instead of at the Association. Social distancing and all that would warrant looking for a bigger space so that the attendees can be seated further apart.

The headmaster, Omar bin Abdul Rashid, is already on leave prior to his retirement on the 28th of next month. His role in the School is being temporarily taken over by Ho Nean Chan, the most senior of their Senior Assistants. But I bumped into Omar all the same. He happened to be around as the School was being audited. So we chatted, all four of us, well until three o'clock. I think he looked very relaxed with the pressures of Penang Free School now off his shoulders. Or soon to be off his shoulders.

Hope we are recognisable with the masks covering half our faces. We tried to practice social distancing for this picture but it was not quite possible. But at least, our face masks were socially distanced. 😁

One of the slides in my presentation