It's been a week after Hi TMGS 2009.
It was, by all accounts, a wonderful afternoon - meeting old friends; seeing again classmates, seniors and juniors who we have not met since leaving school; shrieking, laughing and giggling over the changes (or non-changes) the years had wrought.
"Aiyoo, you are still the same!"
"Hey, you girls don't eat one ah?"
"Wah, mummy already!"
"Wah, your children so big already!"
Glad to meet up - Swee Chin, Anura and Jamaliah
And so it went. From one table to another, the scene repeated itself. Alumnae started streaming in early, even before 11am though the event was set to start at 12pm. And, right through to 1pm, the MCs and even Hi TMGS 2009 chief couldn't hush the gathering.
"Ladies, we are about to start. Please be seated."
Nobody heard that said - many times. All were so intent on catching up with each other. It was a good hour later that another such appeal was finally heard and the 350 alumnae plus former teachers, present students and teachers finally went ... quiet ... enough ... (If you were there, you know what I mean.)
And, the programme could officially start!
First, the doa by Siti Salina, Year '81. Then, the singing of the school song - with an upbeat, marching tempo courtesy of Datuk Ibrahim Bachek, hubby to Datin Rosni, Year '72. Puan Noriza took the stage after that - she spoke of the allocations for refurbishment from the government and congratulated our alumnae spirit. Puan Noriza expressed her wish for TMGS alumnae to continue uniting and reconnecting with the school to help the current generation.
Keep up the spirit, girls!
That set a nice footing for the multi-media show that followed, showing our school's and our passage through the years. Nostalgia abounded when class photos flashed on the screen...those were the days. Many saw the school's present condition for the first time. Christina, Year 1979 and my sister's classmate, came to me and said, "How did the school get to such a condition?"
After the walk down memory lane, guests were finally invited to walk to where the food was! Aha, very orderly, ladylike qeueing and waiting for one's turn - testament to the upbringing at the first English girls' school in the country.
Lady Treacher would have been proud!
Food, music and chatter made merry company, and it was a battle between the music-men and the women - who would be louder?
For me, I heard the women. The music had been carefully thought through to bring back the different eras of our youth but, honestly, I didn't hear anything...just the happy sounds of women being together.
Fenners and friends! Mom (in lavender) and daughters including Zarinah
(seated, middle, mom to the KRU boys), Zaharah (left, back row) and
Sofea (bright blue, who flew in from Melbourne for the hi tea).
Fifteen minutes into the buffet, came the first lucky draw of the afternoon where 65 prizes were given away.
The programme then moved on with the perfect game for an alumnae gathering - school quiz! Alumnae gamely tackled the questions.
At my table, Mee Seong impressed us when she could mouth the school's vision while the rest of us went, "Huh? Now school got vision one ah? Our time got meh?" The question that was particularly challenging was the first principal of the school. Some of my mates piped up, "Miss Satwant!" The more logical among us said, "Can't be la. Miss Satwant's during our time; the school started long before that." We left that space empty. And, came back empty-handed though Norma ran for dear life to be the first to hand in the question paper.
No worries. Here's my gang, '80, at the former teachers table - spot the teachers!
After the excitement of the game, Siti Zaleha, Year '70, helped to calm everyone with a syair she had written. Her thank-you gifts for taking part in this Open Mic were a Cherish TMGS tee, TMGS umbrella and TMGS metal school badge. PRECIOUS!
Voice from '70
Another game followed - blindfold! (That's the picture you saw on the Cherish TMGS website.)
The fashion show came next. Our models were Gaik Hong '83, Azlynn Rose '93, Azlina '93, Kireenjit '96, Nora '97, Mei Yin '93, Zanita '90, Shafinas '95, Subhasini '98 and Nurul Hayani '97. Great spirit, these girls. They were fitted with the clothes on Saturday and came early on Sunday to rehearse the walk.
TMGS boleh!
Another game next. Scavenger Hunt, methinks.
At this time, I was cued to get changed. When I went to the restroom, a sight awaited me. There they were - the gang from 1978. They had happily gone to the Cherish TMGS merchandise table to buy the tees and now they were happily in the ladies' switching their garb.
And, here they are...happily wearing their Cherish TMGS special edition tees. I know these faces; just can't put a name to each....there's Rita on the right, back row, and her twin, Martha, second from left, seated.
WANT THE TEE? Call Chai Lan, 012-3951904.
Out of the restroom and into the "holding room" (the name of this room makes me feel like a kerbau, haha) next to the stage - my team mates were in various stages of readiness. Without a mirror around, we had to be each other's eyes. It was karaoke time and we heard "Dream, Dream, Dream" being sung. Anant, Masitah, Siti Maznah, Fooi Lin, Ena, Ai Loon and I promptly burst into song backstage. Our mood was high and somehow the lyrics came effortlessly while the younger ones - Camy, Kireenjit, Yati, Natasha Reena and Nurul Hayani - looked at us bemusedly. It helped take our minds away from what's coming next.
And, what exactly were we up to?
Yes, THE DQs!!!!
Dancing to Abba's "Dancing Queen."
With multi-hued wigs, sequinned tops and even boots, we were a hoot.
Masitah, in green, leading Ai Loon, Yati and Kireen
Five weekends of sweat culminated here.
The whole room roared its delight upon the first sight of us and then screamed us on, even when the music cd played up. Most were on their feet, dancing in their hearts with us. Then came the calls for an encore, to which we happily obliged.
As Siti Maznah aka Blondie said afterwards, "Wow! We danced not only once, but twice. Worth it!"
Who's that girl?
So much happened that afternoon, and I am only halfway. Just like in real life, some speeding up needed as the organizers crimped the programme to fit in the absolute necessities. It was running close to 4pm and we were supposed to end at 5pm.
Mmm, what came next? Suet Fun, Year '77, for Open Mic 2. Like Siti Zaleha, she read out a poem. Also like Siti Zaleha, Suet Fun received the precious stuff for her sharing.
Suet Fun wearing the Cherish TMGS special edition tee in babe blue.
Then, came the girls' turn.
They had come in a bus. leaving Taiping that morning at 8am. This was their moment - delivering their prize-winning choral speaking performance, "Live Worthily" written by Suet Fun. It was my first time watching choral speaking, and I enjoyed our girls' smooth, coordinated movements.
Wearing Cherish TMGS tees, they spoke and moved as one, under the guidance of Sharon Kanapathy
The girls pulled a surprise next! They had come with bouquets for Suet Fun, Miss Lim (team leader; left in pix below) and Puan Noriza, and had asked for a little bit of time from the organizers to do their thing.
Another sweet moment in an already memory-ful afternoon.
Fast-forward! Karaoke 2 came on. Many had booked their slot, including Bee Ai, Year '71, and Lai Peng, Year '75. They were heartily clapped on by their TMGS sistas.
Bee Ai with her backup; she had brought her guitar along!
Chris Chong Lai Peng singing for her '75 mates
It was past 4pm. Time for the lucky draw finale to find the recipients of the last 15 prizes, after 133 prizes had been given out in two earlier draws. Our Taiping sister alumnae will forever remember this as their draw because they went home with the top two prizes! Mrs Lim Chin Seng of the Old Girls Association received the Sharp microwave oven while Puan Roslena, Year '75 and present teacher at the school, received the 32-inch Philips LCD TV. (How's the family enjoying the TV, Roslena?)
A jubilant Roslena with Datin Rosni
It was getting dangerously close to 5pm but girls must have their fun!
So, next came Poco Poco and Joget Lambak. From about 10 girls, the stage filled up rather fast as the music moved from rock-and-roll to twist to a-go-go to joget and even to a Hindustani number. When the stage couldn't take anymore, others danced wherever they were. My gang danced near our table and had fun twirling around the pillars during the Hindustani number. But, Amitabh Bachan didn't come! Er, he's too old? Shah Rukh Khan better?
Let's do the Twist...
Ah, just when we were all getting warmed up, the music stopped! Now, all of us are wanting to continue the dancing at the 120th dinner in August -- OGA, please take note, MUST HAVE DANCING at the dinner, ok?
1980s doing the a-go-go
For now, the clock has struck 5 and all the cinderallas must be running home.
Hasnita, Year '81, who has led this team of merry alumnae from February in organizing the hi tea, took to the stage for her closing speech. The event raised a whopping RM18,000 toward the Cherish TMGS fund and a mock cheque had been presented to Puan Noriza after the choral team performed.
A marvellous effort from Nita (far right) and her team
Special mention must go to Jarinah @ Ena, Year '81 (awesome Facebook skills and Nita's right-hand woman); Datin Rosni (sweet and inspiring, she's our mama and most responsible for the lucky draw gifts); Rohana, '71 (registration table and production of dvds); Nurul Husna (so young but so resourceful; she's mostly responsible for the goodie bag and was floor manager); Masitah, '74 (MC as well DQ); Bathma,'95 (MC); Ai Loon. '81 (has an absolute cool head for accounts); Fooi Lin, '81 and Muntip, '92 (games); Syarifah Talha, '94 (ticketing); Anant, '74 and Siti Maznah, '77 (dancing and packing queens) and Liena (ushering).
Special mention must also go to Alynn, daughter of Ena, who good-naturedly followed her mom to all meetings and was a real help to all of us, including choreographing our dance with Camy. More daughters got in the act too and we thank you - daughters of Nita (overseeing ticket collection) and daughters of Anant (giving out the lucky draw prizes). And, to all who helped and who came!
(From front) Anant, Masitah, Ai Loon, Datin Rosni, Siti Maznah, Rohana, Ena, Bathma, Fooi Lin, Talha, Liena and Nita.
Thank you! Congrats! Hurrah for the girls!
What an afternoon! Tak cukup la....now, let's all beramai-ramai balik ke Taiping to celebrate our school's 120th anniversary. For details, click here.
SHOPPING ALERT!
- Cherish TMGS special edition tee - made with top quality cotton by a producer who makes tees for top retail brands. Available in black or babe blue. Only RM20.
- Dvd of more than 600 photos of the hi-tea - some of which you see here. Only RM10.
- School badge - no longer in use (a cloth version is used today) and specially reproduced by the hi tea committee. Only RM10. Buy a dvd and a badge, special offer RM15.
Call Chai Lan at 012-3951904 or Ena at 012-6845388. Delivery by mail available at RM5 for postage, which can take two tees, 1 dvd and 1 badge.
