Been talking
about the dinner for what, reckon for a year or so. Perhaps since this
present Committee was elected at Glory Bitch. Reckon even before the
Kota Baru gig was on the agenda. Naturally, was a bit hesitant though.
Firstly it’s in KL. And am a certified kolophobia. Though
I love y’all Klopirs just the same. And then there’s this thing about
Ringgit Malaysia. RM290 for a family of
four may not be that much to some. Ain’t that much to me either. But
then again, traveling expenses and lodging and that most important
benevolent fund for what them kiddies might fancy along the way bore
some in the back of me mind. Am not particularly broke but some
straying in the past had depleted me life savings and ended up with
some debts to boot. So am not particularly ashamed to admit that I was
given soft loans whenever I ventured out to meet you guys outside JB(as
both me credit cards had deserted me when I need them most...hehehe.)
by well meaning friends. Am still paying for the Kota Baru getaway.
Enough of them sobs but the thing is, I wanted to be among me buds. The
rest, I’d say, will take care of itself.
Them kiddies
were particularly excited when told that we’d be going to KL. They
unlike me, love all things KL and are there with their grandparents or
the wife a few times a year. Their uncle is staying somewhere in
Kinrara or Puchong or thereabout. Been there once out of courtesy. And
when told that they’d be seeing some of their friends from Kota Baru,
their excitement seemed quadrupled. But things looked grey in the
beginning. Me wife couldn’t get the day off. The children were raring
to go and I would sooner jump from the Second Link then broke them
hearts. Got to get me wife a flight ticket then. And money’s too tight
too mention. So that she could be there as well. Air
Asia then.
Met up with
Chill at his parents’ house around 12.30pm. And with Doc’s map
attempted to confront the kolophobia and left Seremban around
3pm. Left Sg Besi Exit and was ranting ‘Federal Highway, himpit kiri,
Kerinchi Link, Federal Highway, himpit kiri, Kerinchi Link’
over and over in me head some while me eyes were fixated on Chill’s
Serena, which I reckon a tad lovelier than the William namesake. But
alas, we managed to get ourselves into Desa Sri Hartamas. Should’ve
break for tea at Baso Sapi Asli but hey, time was the essence and we
could not let the President and all the President’s men put the show up
by them lonesome. Ended up in front of the National Science Centre or
something before Joe rescued us from further embarrassment. And how we
missed the junction is for y’all to find out and for Chill to know.
Hahaha.
Them kiddies
were little darlings throughout that scary episode and were justly
rewarded with some goodies, compliments of Pengetua AF84, Feisan and
wife Yati after we checked in. KC was already there, manning the
registration counter. And of course the President himself, walking to
and fro making himself looked busier while gesturing and gesticulating
to emphasise his presence. A joke, Boss. After a hiatus, KC seemed to
be among the newer driving force behind this crazy bunch of ours. And
his vigour seemed to grow with his stature. If you catch me drift some.
Then them band geeks showed up, happy as a squirrel with big nuts.
Huhuhu. As always. What beat doing the thing you love, and doing it
among appreciative buddies you’ve know half your life, eh Tembae, Nomi,
Yek, Kiak and Akai? Better than having a cold one with a warm sweet
young thang besides you, eh? Or maybe not. Hahaha. Helped them
backstreet boys unloaded their wares from the MPV onto the stage and by
then familiar faces started to show up. How I wished for some
unfamiliar faces to be there as well.
After helping
Bibik with getting them daughters of mine all made up and dressed to
kill, registered meself at the counter and got them lucky draw cards
for me trouble. 1180, 1173 and 1191. Never win anything thus far.
Reckon the night wouldn’t change me luck any. Me daughters were seated
at table 11 by themselves. They were cool about it. Reckon they are
turning into cool dudettes. Was supposed to sit at table 10 but by then
Kiak and family and Chaup and family had already occupied all them
seats. Was about to bash somebody’s skull in when I saw me youngest
waving and seemed contented sitting with her elder sister who was
trying to figure out where the hell were her friends from Kota Baru
were in the slightly darkened hall, and took a deep breath and waved
back. So for the record I was seated neither here nor there but
everywhere. Mostly at the registration counter, milking every bit of
nicotine from the mariwana.
The doa by Mr
President was short and sweet. A bit rough on them edges maybe. Am not
about to make a fuss but reckon the reciting of the doa should’ve been
assigned to someone else and thus freeing Illya to concentrate on his
other roles. And we are not short of capable people in this particular
department either. It would be more afdal, if I may say so. The
speech was typical Illya’s though I suspected that there might be some
invisible hands giving some extra punch lines. And am not about to
complain. The missing Sdara’s rep was almost expected as we were also
missing from most of their gigs except for a few of us. But hey, Cikgu
Adnan was there. So who gave a hoot whether a Sdara’s rep was there or
not except for a few of us. Sorry Yams.
Cikgu Adnan!
Damn! Unfortunately adik-adik and kakok-kakok, time
really is our worst enemy. No amount of mud bath or cucumber slices
would give back that youthful looks. And I missed that youthful Cikgu
Adnan who I remembered was always smiling. Even when he was supposed to
be angry. Who always talked softly when he was supposed to shout.
Twenty two years can change a lot of people, a lot of things. Even Dr
Mahathir gave up after twenty two years. And like Mahathir, no amount
of regrets can bring back the past. And I felt sorry for Cikgu Adnan,
whom I sensed was a tad conscious about the missing teeth initially but
fortunately as we warmed up to each other’s company was more poised and
back to his former self. Always smiling. Talking ever so softly. Thank
you Cikgu for gracing our gig with your presence. Appreciated that very
much. It would be a blast to be able to welcome more teachers into our
lives. And it would be a blast if we could do this again. That’s why I
tried to make meself available at these gatherings and such, especially
now. For all we know there may not be another.
The dinner
itself was quite nice. The menu was just right. But then was told by
Yati that the menu served was meant for a higher price package. And
with what we were paying we should end up with some fried kuew teow and
a few eggs, sunny side up. Maybe Makcik Apple tarts as desserts. For
Joe anyways. Spent most of me time between the buffet tables and me
daughters’. Was the Pa and Ma some. Managed to get them some helpings
of almost everything while eyeing an empty seat for meself. No such
luck. Wasn’t that hungry anyways. So back to the registration counter
with another group of aimless dudes. Just happy to blow cigarette smoke
into each other’s face with the hope that we could still be buddies
when them nicotine and tar turned our lungs into filthy sponges and
them hearts stop pumping up the jam. Some clot in a coronary artery.
But hey, let Doc Azmi worry about that. And what’s the fucking use of
paying those high insurance premiums and not fully utilising them, eh?
Was finally able to get meself some fried bee-hoon and lamb and managed
to squeeze meself between Ogy and Perez. Table 9 or something. And
managed to get several helpings of them sago puddings between being the
butler for me daughters and them mariwana breaks. Or maybe them
puddings were the breaks and the mariwana was the main event. Need to
cut down on that shit some.
It’s
nine-ish. And me wife hasn’t showed up yet. She was supposed to leave
Senai airport at 7.15pm. The original flight was scheduled at 6.40pm.
Phony Fernandez’s time anyways. Akai and the Band boys were on stage by
then. She’s a big girl. She should know what to do. Me wife, that is.
Off to the concert then. Woo...hoo....Woot Woot.... The music was cool
as always. But the same could not be said about the singer. Hehehe. Too
many open houses and too much rich food. You better get hold of
yourself Kai. If you want to seriously pursue this singing thing, you
got to discipline yourself. No more late nights for you. No more of
them smokes. But then tiga-lima-tujuh calling. Ahaks. Sorry
dude. You were definitely better before but maybe age is catching up
with you too. Don’t hear Hail Amir nor Uji Rashid performing much
nowadays. Kihkihkih. Them musicians? No qualms about them. Good on you
Tembae, Nomi, Yek & Kiak. Rock on like them Stones. And will Yek
look like Keith Richards?
Heard them
rumours about the so-called AF84. Thought it was just Joe pulling our
legs and trying to reach for something dangling between but it came as
a pleasant surprise to see the set-up, them contestants and of course
them sedutans. I know them blows were quite pleasant but these sedutans
and kezutans really made the trip worth coming. It’s not about
talent or the singing. It’s the effort and giving their all by them
participants and actors that I respected the most. Haji Areps would
have felt guilty for not participating. He could’ve been that Doctor
What-his-name, the counselor. Sorry Areps sans. Me daughters
particularly enjoyed Joe’s performance. The three of us voted for him. Tolong
member sekampung la katakan. And being the
badut that he is, reckon he’d do well in another type of
competition, and maybe in another lifetime. Cik Am was quite a
performer, though like Akai, vocal cords need some tender loving care
too, dear. Yazmeen could sing some but reckon she’s more of a performer
than merely a singer. Am sorry that I could not comment much on Kiak’s
and Tom’s performances because them mariwana smokes could really
clouded your senses and the registration counter looked rather
comfortable. But feedbacks that I got all pointed to Tom being on the
right track. His singing, that is.
Me wife
arrived at around 10.15pm. That was some delay. And fortunately some of
them kiddies from table 11 had taken up some of them empty spaces
upfront and she was able to sit with me daughters. Fetched her some of
them sago puddings and by then Mus was up and ready to strut his stuff.
And he did strut some, eh? When he started to sing, me mind began that
tireless, well-travelled journey to the far reaches of me mind to that
vaunted hall in Sikamat, where it all began. Well, maybe he was jambu-er
or maybe he wasn’t that showy with his chest hair back then. Sorry Mus.
But then again, you’re one cool singer. Hope you’re good at other songs
too, matey. I’d hate to label you a one hit wonder. Hehehe.
Tonight
the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Maybe it's better this way
We'd hurt each other with the things we'd want to say
We could have been so good together.......
Was very
impressed with this Kuwau guy. Who was he anyways? I always thought
pilots are just maniacal perverts busying themselves with stewardess’
wares when not talking into some blinking buttons or stroking some
joysticks. Or maybe the RMAF had done a really good job at transforming
this guy into somebody who could really fly our national tin cans. No
offense Kuwau. Am just taking a cheap shot at our mighty air force. You
really are a natural, dude. And it really pissed me off to see people
who are able to talk freely and naturally without any sign of a stammer
or lost for words or ideas. Am really a sore loser. Damn.
It could’ve
been better if a dose of Sdarian84 and some refresher were made
available to the good Cikgu beforehand. Then the ‘My Memory of You’
would’ve been a little bit fluid. But you don’t expect to have all them
cakes and eat them too. But being Cikgu Adnan, I sensed that he too
regretted that he did not take the trouble to get a few pointers
himself but he managed it well. Me appreciation for the Cikgu for being
in control of the situation even though the targeted audience were no
longer a foot shorter and for being so sporting despite his memory
playing hide and seek at an unfortunate time.
The ending
with the School Song was majestic. Reckon it was better then the one we
did at Glory Bitch. There were 27 then. There were 35 of us during the
dinner. Imagine if we add another 15 or 25 to that number. It would’ve
been a definite blast.
So here’s to
all who had made the event a memorable one. To Illya and family and
your extended family and friends and extended friends, y’all are one of
a kind. I’ll never forget such generous hospitality. And them
sacrifices. To the Central Committee who had supported the idea and who
had pulled up your sleeves and dig in deep, thank you friends. To the
Band Boys, Tembae, Nomi, Akai, Yek & Kiak whom must’ve been
coughing up their own funds just to perform for us, me heartfelt thanks
too. To Dolah Ali & Jimmy D, glad to have met you again after all
these while. And hopefully this won’t be the last. And to Biddu, Aimi,
Munas, KC, Doc Azmi, Mus, Kuwau, Tom, Boleng,
Malakut, Badak, Ayam, Amin, Hadi, Chill, MangJ, Man Duyong, Joe, Banjo,
Azizuddin, Perez, Ajib Boot, Chaup, Ogy, Munawir & Manyeop, thank
you all for making me life richer by the experience and making me
appreciate life even more. And to those who would like to attend but
were unable to due to circumstances dictating, the mere thoughts of us
still being your friends and not mere fragments of history, me
appreciations too.
As the
music dies
something in your eyes
calls to mind a silver screen
and all it’s sad good-byes...
Thank you.
