Another "Golden Girls" Get Together

Recently eighteen 'girls' of the 64-70 batch of TKC enjoyed a scrumptious lunch hosted by the one and only (astrophysicist extraordinaire) Mazlan Othman. Venue: Royal Lake Club.

13th May 2015

Doa

Jika malam ini tiada bulan
tanah Seremban
kau masih tetap bercahaya
dari sinar mata dan bening wajah
pelajar-pelajar dari istana ilmu
Kolej Tunku Kurshiah

Hari ini manis belajar dari buku
dan suara mesra dari guru
bersedialah untuk esok
yang menunggu kedatanganmu
untuk belajar dari hidup
mungkin bahaya dari kemuliaan darjat
mungkin air mata dan pedih luka

Tapi apa pun arus gelombangnya
berdiri di bawah bendera keberanian
di bumi kebenaran kemanusiaan
laksana permata yang mengukir kehalusan budi

Maha wangi istana ilmu
bening ombak sambut dan tirai selendang
daulat seorang permaisuri
keramat seorang wali
semoga dalam rahmat dan lindungi Ilahi...

      ~ USMAN AWANG

Dedikasi buat puteri-puteri Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, Seremban

'Red Carpet Moments' at the MGC/TKC OGA Biennial Dinner

It was only my third attendance at the MGC/TKC Annual (now Biennial) Fund Raising Dinner and it was great to meet up again with friends and teachers of our school years. This time the venue is the Shangri-La Hotel in Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL.

Before the dinner, there was the chance to mingle in the lobby with old friends, senior and junior. There was of course the usual "Teka ni siapa?" Guess who?, because some faces are unrecognisable with the passing of time. And we are talking some forty plus years of lifestyle changes since we left TKC Seremban.

L-R: Ani, Rod, Ina, me, Narim, Siti Arbi, Nik Nazirah

Our TKC 64-70 group sat at two tables, generously sponsored by RT. Thank you for the very kind gesture that enabled the twenty of us (+ our ex-teacher Cik Puan Safiah) to sit together and ... reminisce about the good old days at our alma mater on Bukit Merbau, Seremban.

L-R: Raja Nor, Ina, Leha, Nik, Ilina, Ling, Rosmah J,
Aki, Ain, Amah, Ku We, Jen, me, Narim & Daratul

The food was Western fare with salmon as main. The entertainment was Adibah Noor singing and there were dances too, including by the 'old girl TKCians'. The highlight of the evening was the launching of the book "The Legacy; Tunku Kurshiah College Seremban", by DS Rosmah, the wife of the Prime Minister, also a 64-70 TKCian (the wife not the PM, obviously). In fact the PM also gamely stayed on for the after dinner dance fling that is a TKC 'tradition'.

One 'Red Carpet Moment' of the dinner event that I need to record here was meeting up with our ex-biology teacher, Puan Hasnah Ali. Most of us had not met her since we left TKC in 1970, so it was most nostalgic for everyone. She may not remember every single one of us because after all we have become grandmothers, but we all certainly remember her and the biology lessons she taught us then.

L-R: Rod, Ani, Ain, Ling, Amah, Puan Hasnah, me, Ilina, Narim

13th September 2014

Retro: Raya Open House at Janda Baik (2008)

TKC 64-70 girls with the host at Janda Baik (2008)

Venison on the spit (CNB 2008)

Every year without fail, a friend Rod, who lives in Janda Baik, Pahang never fails to have an open house do at her property there, especially during the aidil fitri celebrations.

Nestled among gentle hills of virgin forests and cultivated orchards, we look forward to the occasion here to meet up with friends from our boarding school days.

Since moving to Selangor in 2008, I have had the wonderful opportunity to make road trips up to Janda Baik to enjoy the good food and good company amidst the verdant green natural surroundings. While there, we never fail to go around the property admiring the fish ponds, fruit orchards, spice gardens and even an aviary. The crystal clear waters of a river flowing through certainly completes the picture. Oh, and the cool clime (23-27 degrees Celsius during the day) is a bonus.

A torch ginger grove (CNB 2008)

In the garden at Janda Baik with Rohani & Siti Ropiah*

*Al-Fatihah. We all miss our good friend Siti Ropiah who passed away earlier this year.

TKC 64-70 at Nik Mun's & Ani's

Yesterday at Nik Mun's in Subang Jaya
The 'gang'

The food - scrumptious blue nasi kerabu + + and for dessert, kopi luwak with akok + +

Then, at Ani's in Subang Permai
The 'gang' and friends

The food - yummylicious lamb & chicken mandi + +

Thank you Nik Mun & Ani for a great get together. (I seem to be lost for words, hence more visuals!)

Movie nights at TKC

It was something all the girls looked forward to ... movies. Once a month, we gathered at the Hall to enjoy a movie night. Some movies I remember well, some I cannot recall at all. One movie I remember very well is Splendor in the Grass (1961), starring the beautiful Natalie Wood and the handsome Warren Beatty. Only what I mostly saw on the screen then were just blurred visions of this much tormented couple. Alas, that was the time I discovered to my consternation that I needed prescription glasses! Sheesh, what a time for a light bulb moment!

Another movie well remembered is Love is a Many-Splendored Thing, a 1955 movie adapted from the autobiographical novel by Han Suyin*; about a Eurasian doctor and her American journalist lover in Hong Kong. I still remember that ominous scene when a teacup fell and broke. And who can forget the beautiful theme song? I also remember with clarity (and some hilarity!) that there was quite a technical glitch that night. The film reel moved backwards a number of times, which meant that the actors walked backwards and ... it was during that romantic scene on the beach of the protagonists acted by Jennifer Jones and William Holden. The projector did play up that night and gave the projectionist (our classmate then, now eminent UN astrophysicist Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman) a hard time. It did not help I think, that we were laughing out loud every time the glitches happened and the actors started 'undoing' their actions!

Audrey Hepburn movies I recall because I admired this great beauty - in movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Charade (1963) and My Fair Lady (1964). The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) I remember because there were trains involved and West Side Story (1961) because it was such a sad, sad musical (sad movies make me cry). Other movies I cannot remember so much except for their titles. Like Hitchcock's Vertigo (1958) - I remember because I had to look up the meaning of it. Then there were his other thrillers and their deafening sound effects - The Man Who Knew too Much (1956), Psycho (1960) and The Birds (1963). Other movie night films include Harvey (1950), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), The Guns of Navarone (1961), Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), To Kill a Mocking Bird (1962), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Dr Zhivago (1965), Bonnie & Clyde (1967), Mary Poppins (1964), A Hard Day's Night (1964), The Sound of Music (1965), Guess who's coming to dinner? (1967), The Graduate (1967), and Lolita (1962). Wait a minute - I may have seen some of these movies at the cinema, not at TKC Seremban. And ... was I even old enough to have seen these last two movies then?

Anyway I do remember those movie nights at TKC (1964-70) with great fondness and maybe quite a few of us (including moi) became movie buffs because it was recreation we enjoyed with a lot of camaraderie.

*A Many-Splendoured Thing by Han Suyin (1916-2012) was published in 1952. Han Suyin was the pen name of Elizabeth Comber, born Rosalie Matilda Kuanghu Chou of Chinese-Flemish parentage. Her very interesting life also included a six-year marriage to Leon F. Comber, a British officer in the Malayan Special Branch and they lived in Johor. In 1956 she wrote  And the Rain My Drink, perceived to be very anti-British/Government. 

Visiting the Alma Mater after Three Decades

As of January this year, the Tunku Kurshiah College (Kolej Tunku Kurshiah) is no longer in Seremban. This boarding school for girls has been moved to a new campus in Bandar Enstek/Nilai. (The campus in Seremban will house another school). Although change is inevitable, we hope the new TKC campus will be an even better learning environment for the girls involved.

Back after more than 3 decades!

After seven years (1964-1970) of being educated there, a group of us visited our alma mater not so recently, me for the first time after more than three decades! The buildings are the same, though not so familiar anymore. They seem to be smaller (or rather we had grown taller, wider and older/wiser?). Some have been spruced up, some renovated, a few added.

TKC for us, had come full circle, because one of us - Tengku Azuan is the Principal then, and she had mooted the idea of a reunion at our alma mater. It was certainly a trip down memory lane ... Alma mater in Latin is 'nourishing mother' so I guess we were being nourished during our life in TKC, with a quite wholesome education.

The School block and a familiar though rather
older tree (CNB)

Visiting the dorms/rooms we used to live in brought back lots of happy memories. It's funny how the past seems pretty rosy now. We were young then and eager to learn and forge friendships. Friendships that have lasted many long years ...

With NH at the Red House block (SHJ) 

We went into the Dining Hall where we had been nourished on nasi kawah, gulai kawah, soggy papayas, bruised bananas, etc. ... I did enjoy the food then, really, and old photos of my 'chubby' self during the lower secondary school years, testify to this.

The Dining Hall seems bigger now to cater for more students

We walked by the Sick Bay where we remember the formidable Matrons who nursed us back to health. But you do not really want to have to be admitted into the Sick Bay in the first place!

The spruced-up Sick Bay (CNB) 

Before leaving, we went into The Hall where we had assembled every morning, where we had sat for our exams, and also where we were entertained - by weekend movies and flings, and the occasional parties. And there and then we had our own little gig on stage - dancing the cha cha, etc. ... rekindling memories of our dancing learning days.

The Hall seen from the Dining Hall corridor. We did not have
the covered walkway then. (CNB)

Farewell to TKC in Seremban, and hello to TKC in Bandar Enstek/Nilai.
P.S. Thank you, Ku We for the lovely lunch spread at the Principal's, I mean, your house.

Lake Club Luncheon

Part of the luncheon party. Front L-R: Kazi, Ling, TS Asiah, Aki, Ju.
Back L-R: Rod, Nik Mun, Pah, Rohani, Rosmah, Ajit, moi, Tiffy, Emah, Karimah  

Last Friday, the 14th December, our TKC batch of 1964-1970, had afternoon lunch at the Kelab Taman Perdana Diraja KL (The Royal Lake Club) to celebrate our friendship over the years, with our special guest being Ling, back home for her year end holidays. The other special presence was that of our ex-Principal, Tan Sri Asiah Abu Samah.

With Ling & TS Asiah

The turnout was good, with friends from outstation as well, including Ijan from Trengganu, Che Ah from Alor Star, and Amah & Ain from Seremban.

L-R: Ijan, Zaleha, Shahid, Rosmah, Nik Mun & Ajit (CNB 2012)

Rohani & Che Ah (CNB 2012)

Amah & Ain, both from Seremban (CNB 2012)

Others from around KL/Selangor who came were Shahid & Rod (our able organisers always), Rohani, Raja, Kazi, Aki, Ras, Nik Esah, Nik Mun, Ajit, Pah, Zaleha, Rosmah, Karimah, Emah, Tiffy, Ju and moi.

Zaleha & Shahid (CNB 2012)

Ras, Nik Esah & Raja (CNB 2012)

It was Ling's birthday a few days earlier so we had a birthday cake for her. 'A very happy birthday and many more to come'. Anyway, she was positively glowing and loving her life & work in Vienna, Austria. We were all very glad for her indeed.

Ling cuts her birthday cake (CNB 2012)

A pose before adieu 

All good gatherings must come to an end, so after nearly three hours of food and banter, we had to say our farewells and adieus - till we meet again in the near future.

A Reunion, a Celebration

A 'Thank you' carrot cake (CNB 2012)

Yesterday we had a special lunch date at midday. With our ex-Principal (of TKC/KTK; Tunku Kurshiah College/Kolej Tunku Kurshiah), Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Asiah Abu Samah, no less. There we were 16 of us - Pah, Zaleha, Nik Esah, Nik Mun, Ras, Rody, Jan, Siti Ropiah, Jahara, Ajit, Rosnah, Karimah, Raja Nor, Daratul, and Rod's daughter representing her, and moi. Some of us had not met with Cik Asiah (as we knew her then) since we left school, which was a very long, long time ago! As Rosnah quipped, the last time Tan Sri Asiah knew us we were sweet 16. Now we are ... sweeter 61!  Ahh... how time flies.

Sharing a light moment (2012)

At the Puteri Restaurant (in Sungai Penchala) the food was good and the ambiance okay. But best of all was the congeniality around the tables as we sat together reminiscing about old times at the boarding school in Seremban. We mostly thought then, that Cik Asiah was a strict Principal, but now she assures us that she has always had a lenient and fun side as well. Actually those who had her as the Malay Literature teacher did see glimpses of this side of her, as she read with us from Hang Tuah, Salah Asohan and Atheis. Good literature always brings out the more emotional side of anyone, agree?

We are all ears (2012)

Together we remembered the teachers and recalled incidents memorable about them - Misses Sinha, Vaughan, Bergen, Black, Ellis, Laing, Cik Safiah, Ustazah Amrah & Ramlah, and others. We also recalled the 'naughty' things some of the girls did (not to be repeated here, lest they be given 'black dots'!). In short, it was nostalgia all round. But all too soon, all good things must end. At about 2.30 pm, we kissed cheeks and said our good-byes, with assurances to meet up again together with our beloved ex-Principal.

Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, but the past perfect! - Owens Lee Pomeroy

Down Memory Lane ... Musically

Yesterday afternoon I had the privilege of attending The Tunku Kurshiah Orchestra Royal Concert 2012 at the Dewan Agong Tuanku Canselor, UiTM. It was a charity event under the patronage of the Negeri Sembilan Royalty and the programme was impressive.

The Royal Concert backdrop (CNB 2012)

The Orchestra, under the baton of young conductor Nik Nur Nadiya Nerissa Mohd Zahir, started with 'Disney Festival', a medley of Disney hits, followed by a medley of 'contemporary rakyat': Ngajat Tampi and Dikir Puteri. Then they played Ayam Den Lapeh and Sejak ku Bertemu/Cahaya, with Nur Ilham Ramli singing. (We thought she was inappropriately too 'sensual' with her sways in a very tight, very red outfit albeit wearing a tudung; quite oxymoronic!). That aside, the Orchestra played well.

The Tunku Kurshiah Orchestra (CNB 2012)

The sensuous singer in red and Ayam Den Lapeh (CNB 2012) 

Then followed some dance and gamelan performances by the Dance and Gamelan Groups of TKC. The guest artist Adibah Noor who came on after this was a show of her own; she sang her popular songs including the iconic Istimewa and also a Whitney Housten number. She sang (though not with the Orchestra but) with minus-one and the audience really enjoyed both her singing and her banter! Truly, she is Malaysia's penyanyi terbesar! (Malay pun intended - these were Adibah's own words while introducing herself!)

The Orchestra and traditional dancers (CNB 2012)

The one and only Adibah Noor (CNB 2012)

The Orchestra then came on again with a medley of some memorable Michael Jackson music. A special performance followed with two royal pianists; Tunku Zain Al-Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz performed with both the Tunku Kurshiah Orchestra and the Tunku Kurshiah Brass Ensemble, before playing a duet with Tengku Sarah Rahayu binti Tengku Baharuddin.

With B at the concert (JA 2012)

The Royal Concert ended with the Orchestra playing 'Abba Gold Medley', with an encore of the TKC school song. It was an afternoon well spent. Bouquets for the Tunku Kurshiah Orchestra!

The TKC bus that ferried us from the carpark to the Dewan
Agong & back (BB 2012)

I was glad to note that the programme book included this about the Orchestra, 'Tunku Kurshiah Orchestra telah ditubuhkan pada 2000. Pasukan ini adalah lanjutan daripada pasukan pancaragam yang telah ditubuhkan pada tahun 1970-an.'  This pioneer band of 1970 is what I reminisce about... I was a member of this TKC Band and played the trumpet. Our teacher/conductor was Miss Black, who also started our Philharmonic Society (for music appreciation) then. No doubt when we performed for the Annual Speech Day, there were squeeks and screeches, but hey, we all started from scratch! I guess the pioneer Band has come a long way to become the Orchestra today.

Note: For a pic of the pioneer band, see my post 'A TKC Album' on 28/10/11.

2012 New Year Reunion of 'Diamonds'

Someone among us said that we are no longer 'golden' (50) but really we are 'diamonds' (60)! Okay, brilliant! Aren't diamonds every girls' best friends? So we 'diamond girls' had a get-together on the 2nd of January at the Glenmarie Golf & Country Club to celebrate our friendship of 47 years (beginning in 1964 in TKC Seremban), and the new year 2012 too.

'Be slow to fall into friendship, but when thou art in continue firm and constant' - Socrates

The 'diamond girls' at Glenmarie GCC (2012)

In all there were 24 of us that day, some I have met up with often at previous get-togethers, but two I had not met since leaving school! This 'reunion' was special because our astrophysicist friend Ling, was home from Vienna for the holidays with her family. In fact she was the one who initiated this get-together. Thank you, Ling!

So what did we do together? We caught up with what everyone was doing, ate a late lunch, had a karaoke session (our songs? Evergreens/60's of course) and danced. Then we said our good-byes and promised to meet up again and keep in touch always.

Ling and I (RJ 2012)

Rody, Nik Mun, Min (CNB 2012)

Zawiah, Rosmah, Amah (CNB 2012)

Rashidah, Narim, Siti (CNB 2012)

Ju, Fad (CNB 2012)

Ina, Rosmah, Sab, Ling (CNB 2012)

Shahid, Tiffy, Siti (CNB 2012)

Norsiah, Rohani (CNB 2012)

Raja Nor and I (RJ 2012)

Among others, we sang Cliff Richard's 'Congratulations' -
apt for the celebration of another new year! (CNB 2012)

2 January 2012