Extra Curricular Activities

During our school days, one of the avenues of making new friends apart from those in your own classes is the so-called co-curricular activities.

For myself, there was only ever one club that I REALLY wanted to join, and that was the Computer Club. But more on that later :)

There are basically two types of activities we could join then, sports, or clubs and societies.

A "kaki bangku" like me could never really be good at any games or athletics, but I still remember Bro. Albinus trying out the entire Form for rugby when I was in Form 2. So, there I was, weighing a paltry 45 kg trying to run with a rugby ball and passing it to the guy beside me. It came as no surprise that I did not make the shortlist :P

Nevertheless, I still managed to join the cross country and the 1500 m when in Form 2. I think the route we used to take for the cross country is now covered with houses and shops.

On the clubs and societies side, the big three then were the Red Crescent, Scouts and Junior Jaycees. There were numerous smaller ones like Kelab Lukisan, Kelab Fotografi, YCS, Legion of Mary, Chinese Society, Kelab Puteri, Kelab Catur, etc. From I saw during my last visit to the school a few years ago, most of these clubs still exist to this day.

So, anyway, back to my story of the Computer Club. I was aware of the club since Form 1, back then the computer room was situated in a room next to the SHS Primary School canteen. I used to hang around outside, just hoping to catch a glimpse of what's inside whenever someone opens the door.

The club was originally open only to those in Form 4 and above, but in 1986 me and Stephen Chung made an appeal to Mr. Ong Chin Kim to let us in, and all credit to him, he did! The Form 4 boys (Alex Sim and gang) were very surprised at this, but nevertheless welcomed us with open arms. After the SRP exams, Mr. Ong agreed to let me and Stephen run a series of classes for our peers while waiting for our results. I still remember some of the members of that gang - Paul Ting, Ngieng Sii Jing, Wong Yii Chiong, Kong Lieng Tee, Frankie Jeffrey, Eng Kia Hock. Apart from learning about Basic, DBase II and Wordstar, we were also exposed to the pleasures of Fruity Frank, Commando and Bomb Jack on the Amstrad.

The exposure I had during the three years I was in the club greatly influenced me, and today, I still do not wish to be anywhere else except in the IT industry.

Which, of course, made me a natural target of being asked to set up a website/blog for our alumni. But that is a story for another day :)

Young & Sweet, yes we were (and still are!)

This was the Girls' Club trip to Bintulu. There were only 9 of us from Form 6, with Mary Wong's 2 younger sisters (Theresa and Jenny) tagging along. Don't know why only so few participated, and how come we went ahead with the trip although the number was so small. But we had GREAT fun!

Inter-class Basketball Competition

I remember I was at the basketball court just to jump up and down and scream my lungs out to support our class....so short, tak kan lah you expect me to play.

How do you like this one....

I've been contemplating for a long time whether to post this photo on the blog. Against the risk of having one of the girls in the photo skin me alive for showcasing them and myself at our purest and most unprententious age, I'm letting everyone have a good laugh.

This is our kindy photo (can't remember year 1 or 2) at St.Elizabeth Kindergaten which used to be right beside the current Catholic Church at Jalan Lanang in Sibu. I think an eating place sits on the land now.

There are at least 5 of the girls, including myself, in the photo who was in Form 6. I can't recognise everyone in the photo....have fun guessing which 5 of us were your Form 6 schoolmates!

Our Physic's Guru - The "Ralat Mulat" King

Hi guys/gals, I met Mr. Lopez this morning at Aloha Coffee Shop, Sibu. This is by golden chance I would say...as I have not met him since 1990 and though there were some news learnt about him in the 90s.

He has indeed grown old but still have a fitter physical than myself (Hehehe). I told him about our reunion gathering 2 months back and he said he did learnt about it and he suggested that the next time, the organiser should organise transportation to pick teachers especially him as he could not drive at night due to poorer vision. I think it is a valid request...I hope the OC for 2009 gathering does take note of this.

Last but not least, we did exchange contacts...(I will sms to Pat for update in our contacts)

Wow...what a priceless met up..

2nd Sibu Boy Scouts & Girl Guides

Calling out to all 2nd Sibu Troop scouts and 2nd Sibu Company girl guides! An e-community site has been set up by one of our seniors (Thomas Ngu Sing Hieng) especially for the 2nd Sibu Group at www.2ndsibu.org Please self-register at the website to log in.

Plans are on the way to organise a reunion for all SHS/SES boy scouts/girl guides to be held on the 1st day of CNY 2009, 26th January. So far, I've only seen 2 other names from my year, so I'm on a desperate search for my comrades once again!

For the information of those who were neither a scout or a guide, SHS and SES scouts and guides were a tighlty knitted group back then, both coincidentally being the 2nd Troop and 2nd Company respectively in Sibu. We always had a lot of joint activities together and the traditional annual Christmas Gathering was always a highlight of the year. There were joint trips, joint campfires, joint outings...you name it. Some even joined in holy matrimony!

The above photo was taken in 1987 (I think) after the Inter-School Sports event (again, I think). Look at Thadeus' and Soon Shu's modeling skills!

Blood Donation now & Organ Donation in Pipeline

My first blood donation was way back in 1990, the moment I was eligible to have that big needle draining 450ml from my veins. I have since donated 60 times for the past 17 years plus and by calculation based on the maximum age allowable plus with good health condition, I can give another 88 times (provided no lapses in between).

Lately, I am interested to learn more about organ donation (other than blood) especially there has been free movement to promote such noble acts. I personally felt that it is a worthwhile act the least when we are longer able to live on and any parts of our organ that can still be usable to other needy patients, they can still continue their fruitful journey. Frankly, I still have the fear and yet to discuss with my family members on how they felt about this organ donation ? For blood...no issue as my father encourages me and he was the one who brought for the "maiden" draining session at the legendary Lowe King Howe Hospital, Sibu back then.

Any one of you had already pledged ? May be you can share the experience and encourage me and the rest.

Anyone wanted to have this pledge together ? (of course only after I have consent from my parents/wife..hehehe less chaos later in need).

BTW, my next blood donation is due on 4th May 2008 (3 months after the last drip) and I am thinking of organising small joint blood donation among friends at the Kuching General Hospital. Anyone interested ?

Remember, our blood can save many lives and bring hope to many...

Catching Up With Friends

Our daily activities especially our job responsibilities at times is too much a stress. Getting in touch with friends is one of the many good actions to release some of the toxins which over time may kill the determination of oneself.

Between friends and I am saying true friends, we can actually discuss a lot of issues without been afraid of any hidden agendas as may compare to others. The fact is genuine get together will help to keep our life more flowery and fruitful as the road to the last day is definitely not just rosy but have a lot of bouncy and wandering challenges...

Rushing now for one lunch appointment with Heroes and Ivy. ..
***

I am back and I must said a well spent hour chit-chatting and catching up. We can in fact keep hitting the drum if not because of responsibilities awaits for us at office.

One of the topics that was chatted...is about our blog, how to make more alive ? ...many ideas indeed popped up...but then again we need time to put up those actions. Any suggestions from our dear friends ?

Can't believe

I can't believe Wong Ho Leng didn't win.

I voted DAP in 2004, I voted DAP again yesterday.

Without BN reps from Sabah and SARAWAK, BN could not have formed the Federal Government.

Talk is cheap.

Viruses and Comments

Dear friends, as some of you may have noticed there has been some strange comments on the blog recently. These comments are actually spam or viruses and should not be clicked under any circumstances.

Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent these comments, unless we set the blog to accept only comments from registered users. Most of the contributors agreed a long time ago that we should continue to keep the comments function as open as possible.

So, what can we do then? Well, I can delete these comments manually whenever they pop up, while anyone who sees these comments should avoid clicking on the links shown on these comments.

Our New OC for 2009 Reunion

I could not recalled anything was mentioned in the previous blogs after our grand 20th reunion about the new OC.

Thus, do allow me to have the honour to introduce to you our SHS 88-90 Alumni organising chair person for year 2009 - 21st Anniversary, Bartholomew Wong...fondly called by girlfriends..as "Ah Bart" (not the same as Simpson's series.. though the hair does have the likeness...hehehe).

As Heroes and I were busy filling our perut outside (so we didn't vote)...we have learnt that Ah Bart won the 3 corner fights between Ngieng Sii Jing @ "Ah Jing" and Michael Tan @ "Hunyan" with strong majority (Insider news: In fact somebody shouted for my dear Ivy...but she has gracefully decline the nomination but assured everyone with ears that she will be THE chair person for year 2020. In fact, earlier I am also promoting her but on the day of nomination, I accepted her reason and thus keeping silence.)

True to his element of leadership, he had assured the clapping crowd of friends that he shall do his best to organise the 2009 event.

(May be we should create a chairman vest or badge to signify the prestigious post ?)

Red Alert - Mygreatbuds Is Back With Virus Concern

Hi, a short silence is indeed a blessing in a busy month to clear a lot of works...probably due to the fact that it is the shortest month of the year, everything is expedited. Still struggling though to ensure a beautiful result before another month end tomorrow but had to voice out a real concern after experiencing this viral threat ! (grrh)

Do you realise that there are few malicious readers among us (much worst than anonymouses or tp, cww, mt, wkwl and hs all added up..hehehe) ? They have implanted viruses in their replies, encouraging us to click the linked address. Hmm, well, being innocent as usual, I got the warning (beeping) from my anti-virus programme catching the spamming viral activity. So, dear buds.....I hoped all of us do realise such evil approaches....oh dear, as I typed this blog, I am imagining that one could just copy our names and put in the reply....(Pat...boleh..kah...?)

So, any solutions to prevent such malicious activities in our beloved blog ? I have to let our IT geniuses to handle this issue.

For now...I would just need to ensure my anti-virus is up-to-date version....(sigh)

Happy Chap Goh Meh

Today is Chap Goh Meh which in Hokkien dialect means the 15th day of Chinese New Year and also mark the end of Chinese New Year.

Here I would like to take this opportunity to greet all of our Chinese friends a Happy Chap Goh Meh and looking forward to a great year ahead.

Press release - SHS8890

Received this newspaper cutting from Joseph a few minutes ago. Thank you Joseph. Sorry I can't translate what it said in there eventhou they put my name Suhardy Ting in the school magazine. Please help because some of us are anxious to know. :)

Letter of Appreciation from SHS Principal

Received this from Allen Ngang yesterday via Nationwide Express.

This Used To Be My Playground (Tribute to SHS)

As I was reading Hardy's post on the school yesterday, this song came to my mind.

This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end
And why do they always say

Don't look back
Keep your head held high
Don't ask them why
Because life is short
And before you know
You're feeling old
And your heart is breaking
Don't hold on to the past
Well that's too much to ask

No regrets
But I wish that you
Were here with me
Well then there's hope yet
I can see your face
In our secret place
You're not just a memory
Say goodbye to yesterday (the dream)
Those are words I'll never say (I'll never say)

This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be our pride and joy
This used to be the place we ran to
That no one in the world could dare destroy

This used to be our playground (used to be)
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
I wish you were standing here with me

Our teachers

When I surf the SHS website, I managed to get this photo. Do you still remember the names of the teachers during our era? Still remember them?

This photo was taken in 1985 and this one

2007

SMK Sacred Heart

This morning Joseph sms me about the appointment & want me to meet him at the school canteen. I immediately reply to him and asked him "is it the same old place" and he reply "don't know coz not been to the school for ages". So I wait for him at the main gate. Last time I been to the school 18 years ago when I was in form six except few nights ago when I attended a dinner with Pak Lah at the new SHS hall. Greatbuds I did mention your name to Pak Lah. :0. I took few shots of school compound for those who have not seen the school for ages including me.

New hall - Badminton courts (1st floor), Principal office (g/f), staff room (g/f), canteen (g/f)

Side view of the hall

Few classes at the back of the hall




The Principal (right) receiving the donations.




Old canteen but now become classrooms

Used to be our form six classes.

Squash Hall
SHS Primary School(left) & SHS Secondary (right)
New Basketball court
St Elizabeth school can be seen clearly


Old principal's office & staff room. Now is a dental clinic & pusat sumber guru & computer room (1st floor)
Old badminton hall

Block 1 (right) & Block 2 (left)
In between block 1 & block 2

Neck ties. Prefect (top), Librarian (2nd), Monitor (3rd), Korikulum (4th), Skim Pinjaman Buku Text (5th), Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya (6th).

Hugs No oN

It is a worthwhile event !
On the reunion night, we were there at Paramount Hotel at 4.30pm putting through the last touch to the final set up and arrangement. Though the reunion finished at about 10pm, we'd only left the hotel at 12.30 am after final clearance of the accounts (though very much like to attend 2nd round at Tanahmas Hotel with Louis and the gang..Louis, my apology). Time is like nothing though we have worked through solid 8 hours as we have been very happy to see so many old faces and especially some of those we have not seen for the last 18-20 years.

Personally, I felt dissappointed as no hugs or kisses happenings on the night though Mr. Tee had promised to start the ball rolling...but then he was unable to attend as he is down with sickness and WH also escaped. However, a consolation from Heroes as to fake the action with lovely dear.

Hey, also do not have time to chit-chat and catch up with each and everyone of our friends especially our invited teachers. I hope they are happy and taken care off throughout the dinner.

Ah Ted, tommorow night's date is on. What time is our meet up ? To discuss life after 20th reunion ?

Lastly, Happy Valentine Day to all and have a good outing, pleasurable and satisfied evening (Hehehe...)

2008 Reunion Group Photo Stitch (1st Try)