Opinon Poll: Value of SSP76 - What Do You Expect in Joining and Maintaining Close Contact with SSP76?

On 15 September 2008, commenting on the issue of Is There Life for SSP76 after Dec 6? Dato’ Neo wrote and I quote:


….Something, if do not have plan or no time to plan, just let nature take its course. Everything that survives the evolution process has its reason…..


This makes me wonder about the reasons for the continued existence of SSP76 to its members.


What is its value to us? What do we want out of it?


I did a study on the exchange of opinions via e-mails to date on the subject. Below are some of my findings:


1 August 2008, Tan Jin Wah: To catch up with old acquaintances and friends. To see how the past 32 years have transformed us all. To see how diffrent we have all now become. What encounters we each have with life. The opportunity to meet up again after these 32 lost years should be cherished…


25 August 2008, Tan Meng Kwang: To appreciate the joy and excitement of seeing old friends again….. I am glad to have used this platform to reconnect with you…


15 September 2008, Neo Say Yeow: This should be a good platform for all to communicate. … Some friendship can be built, rebuilt or strengthen… Human needs human. We will need each other more from now onward as we will more and more time.


15 September 2008, Sam Loh: You got to do what you ought to do if you find meaning in keeping friendship alive. They say when you have no one in your life you can call and say “I need help,’ then your life is unfulfilling. I am sure we all can count on one another to openly extend a helping hand when the need arises….


15 September 2008, Michelle Ong: Perhaps you may think me too whimsical but I was hoping that if we pool our resources - especially ingenuity, as a cohesive group, it may propel some of us to a new height of achievement. ....How about we work together in this direction?

Opinion Poll : Value of SSP76

What do you expect from joining and maintaining a close contact with SSP76?

Please respond by commenting on this poll so that together we will have some common goals to work on in making SSP76 relevant and meaningful to each and everyone of us.

I will produce a statistical report on this when we have enough number of comments.

No Lion or Leo but Dog and Puppy Stories

Our neighbourhood dog Molly has given birth to five puppies a few weeks ago. This morning they came out to wonder around for the first time despite their mother's chiding. I played with them and took some pictures. My neighbour, a co-owner of Molly, keeps shearing off her fur; now she looks quite miserable and thin.

~~~~~~

From childhood to adolescence I had noticed that adults had always looked at me as if I were a puppy. Whenever they spotted me, neighbourhood Teow Chew aunties would squad down to grab me, pat my head and pinch my cheeks saying: ‘Joo, Joo!’ Without television to provide colourful visions of fast-changing motions, pleasing sights and interesting dramas, people turned to their surrounding happenings for entertainment. Imbued with the qualities to gratify the need to behold and to admire, children became the main source of ordinary everyday life pleasure. In Europe prior to the seventeen century before the educational institution was established, children were raised as domestic pets. Yes, even in school, I soon became aware of teachers adoring gazes and doting gestures and remarks which they showered liberally upon me. Pavlov’s theory of Operant Conditioning proved to be valid and working in a little girl born of innate animal instinct like me. It is a nice feeling to be admired and praised; and desiring these rewards, I was always more than willing to smile, do a twirl or anything sweet and cute to win my admirers’ hearts.

Unknowingly, I had been conditioned to become a puppy!

All is well for a pet when its shelter is safe and sturdy. The moment its haven vanishes through the cruelty of reality or some fateful turns of event, a puppy is shocked to find that it has to mutate and transform into a leo overnight. The process entails much pain and struggle and only pedigrees have any hope of success.

Molly, a strayed non-pedigree, remains a dog.

Gathering In Kukup Photo - 2006

Front Row L to R: Tan Boon Chip, Koh Ai Boo, Sim Kian Chuan, Yap Say Peng

L to R: Loh Ee Sin, See Chun Lang, Heng Lee Ngee, Lim Swee Bee, Loh Hong Tian, Sim Meng Yen, Tay Siam Cheng

L to R: Goh Bee Huay, Lim Mee, Tan Hui Hwan, Tay Ah Cheng, See Choon Gek, Lee Che Tin, Oon Gek Kee, Tan Meng Kuang

L to R: Ng Bak Seng, Goh Wee Ser, Tan Bak Seng, Ong Chee Peng, Koh Moi Hong, Lee Kim San, Patrick Ang

The Quest for New Knowledge – a Question of To Be or Not To Be?

Dr. Charles Ho wrote on the eve of Moon Cake Festival: … the more a person learns the more he knows what he does not know!

Believe it or not, this is also what Ng Keng Hwa has written in my autograph in Chinese before our graduation, indicating it as a quote from Sung Yat Sun. It was kind of disappointing to get only a quote from a famed talker. I have always wondered what he had meant. To learn or not to learn?

For me, the problem resolved itself when I failed to make it to local university after form six. Vocational options were very limited back then and I became a temporary teacher in Pontian Besar’s Tah Tong primary school. Still, the issue of the value of further education and knowledge continued to bother me. My experience was that with only secondary education, I could not even organize my thoughts properly much less to be articulate about them; and this had made me suffered much frustration from being pent up with unexpressed ideas, viewpoints and a host of abstract emotions. Socially, I felt handicapped.

As if to further rub it in on my lack-luster A-level performance, I was assigned to teach standard one at SRJC Tah Tong. Lesson 1 for Chinese subject: Ma Ma lei, bao di di!!! which called back the memory of Yeo Sek Siong’s indefatigable derisive chanting of that elementary chapter during the exchange of classroom between 5SD and 5SE for Chinese lessons. A back-bencher by the door of my neighbouring class 5SD, he would keep up with his chant, laughing uproariously to irk us: …di di bao xiao mao, xio mao…. (bla bla bla!) without fail. Nothing could stop him so the picture stuck in my mind.

When I was caught in this state of mortification, entered none other than our Dato Neo into the scene to add insult to my injury. Being at the top all through his academic life, he sailed smoothly into the country’s top university doing the much coveted Civil Engineering course. Exuding the exuberance of a university freshman, he had come to pay respect to his primary school which had laid the foundation for his current achievement (or maybe just to fetch his sister who taught in the kindergarten:D). He was happy to have stumbled on me and we chatted about the school.
Situated near the waterfront, our school had always suffered the threat of floods and the school authority was at wit’s end about a workable solution.

‘Of course the best thing is to build a wall all around to keep out the water,’ I ventured. Then I made the mistake of speaking in absolute term instead of using a non-committal statement. ‘It is impossible to do that of course,’ I lamented with sincere regret, unknowingly exposing myself to his attack. Excited with his newly learned knowledge, he declared with much confidence: ‘In engineering, nothing is impossible!’ Then he went on with a sophisticate narration of the various alternatives of flood prevention for the school. I wanted to interpose with the issue of budget but held my tongue, for who am I to argue with a top-notch scholar?

That was almost thirty years ago and now, when I have checked him out on his website www.syp.com.my, I have to concede that the knowledge he had acquired at tertiary level must have served him well, judging from the impressive record of contracts he had secured for his company. It is undeniable that sufficient relevant knowledge has much practical usage in any productive endeavour. However, are we to learn only what we need to apply? What about pushing the frontier of knowledge forward either a little or in a revolutionary way? Will we end up getting drown in the sea of knowledge; or pathetically trudging on in vain search? Are we to concede defeat and sigh at human limitations and be complacent about our position on planet earth? Is extolling the brotherhood/sisterhood of man/women and regaling in the comfort of common bonds with humanity the best option for us in our lives after fifty?

In short: Is all that we have already known about life what life is all about?

What more do we want? What more aught we want? What more can we want?

Think about it.

SSP 76 google group

This is the link to this SSP 76 google group:

http://groups.google.com.my/group/ssp76?hl=en-gb

You can become a member here, edit your profile, upload photos, files, have discussions, contact your old schoolmates, etc.

Enjoy.

The Secret to a Lasting Marriage : Embrace Imperfection

The Secret to a Lasting Marriage : Embrace Imperfection

When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet, all my dad did was reached for his toast, smiled at my mom, and asked me how my day was at school.

I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: "Baby, I love burned toast."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Debbie, your mommy put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides, a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!"

In bed that night, I thought about that scene at dinner...and the kindness my daddy showed my mom. To this day, it's a cherished memory from my childhood that I'll never forget. And it's one that came to mind just recently when Jack and I sat down to eat dinner.

I had arrived home late...as usual...and decided we would have breakfast food for dinner. Some things never change, I suppose!

To my amazement, I found the ingredients I needed, and quickly began to cook eggs, turkey sausage, and buttered toast. Thinking I had things under control, I glanced through the mail for the day. It was only a few minutes later that I remembered that I had forgotten to take the toast out of the oven!

Now, had it been any other day -- and had we had more than two pieces of bread in the entire house -- I would have started all over. But it had been one of those days and I had just used up the last two pieces of bread. So burnt toast it was!

As I set the plate down in front of Jack, I waited for a comment about the toast. But all I got was a "Thank you!" I watched as he ate bite by bite, all the time waiting for some comment about the toast. But instead, all Jack said was, "Babe, this is great. Thanks for cooking tonight. I know you had a hard day."

As I took a bite of my charred toast that night, I thought about my mom and dad...how burnt toast hadn't been a deal-breaker for them. And I quietly thanked God for giving me a marriage where burnt toast wasn't a deal-breaker either!

You know, life is full of imperfect things...and imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook. And you might be surprised to find out that Jack isn't the perfect husband! He likes to play his music too loud, he will always find a way to avoid yard work, and he watches far too many sports. Believe it or not, watching "Golf Academy" is not my idea of a great night at home!

But somehow in the past 37 years Jack and I have learned to accept the imperfections in each other. Over time, we have stopped trying to make each other in our own mold and have learned to celebrate our differences. You might say that we've learned to love each other for who we really are!

For example, I like to take my time, I'm a perfectionist, and I'm even-tempered. I tend to work too much and sleep too little. Jack, on the other hand, is disciplined, studious, an early riser, and is a marketer's dream consumer. I count pennies and Jack could care less! Where he is strong, I am weak, and vice versa.

And while you might say that Jack and I are opposites, we're also very much alike. I can look at him and tell you what he's thinking. I can predict his actions before he finalizes his plans. On the other hand, he knows whether I'm troubled or not the moment I enter a room.

We share the same goals. We love the same things. And we are still best friends. We've traveled through many valleys and enjoyed many mountaintops. And yet, at the same time, Jack and I must work every minute of every day to make this thing called "marriage" work!

What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting marriage relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your married life and lay them at the feet of GOD. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a marriage where burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker!

Have a great day!

Dr Kenny Lee

SSP 76 Teachers Photo

SSP 76 Teachers Photo

High Tea At One World, PJ - 16 Feb, 2008

Standing R to L: Dr Kenny Lee Song Kiah, Thomas Lim Hong Koon, Ong Chee Peng Allen, Dato' Neo Say Yeow, Kua Seng Tee

Seated R to L: Yeo Ah Yong, Tan Kui Chen, Ho Siew Foong

High Tea - March 2006

R to L: Ong Chee Peng, Dato' Neo Say Yeow, Thomas Lim Hong Koon, Angie Ng Chun Lang, Tan Kui Chen, Dr Kenny Lee Song Kiah, Theresa Tan Soo Gek, Lee Chow Leng

3 Men

Hi All:

Need to unwind for the week-end? The joke below may help.

Rgds,
Sam Loh B Heng.
========================================================================

3 men: a philosopher, a mathematician and an idiot, were out riding in the car when it crashed into a tree.

Before anyone knew, the three men found themselves standing before the pearly gates of Heaven, where St. Peter and the Devil were standing nearby.

"Gentlemen," the Devil started, "due to the fact that Heaven is now overcrowded, St Peter has agreed to limit the number of people entering Heaven.

If anyone of you can ask me a question which I don't know or cannot answer, then you're worthy enough to go to Heaven; If not, then you'll come with me to Hell."

The philosopher then stepped up and said, "OK, give me the most comprehensive report on Socrates' teachings".

With a snap of his finger, a stack of paper appeared next to the Devil. The philosopher read it and concluded it was correct.

''Then, go to Hell!" With another snap of his finger, the philosopher disappeared.

The mathematician then asked, "Give me the most complicated formula you can ever think of!"

With a snap of his finger, another stack of paper appeared. The mathematician read it and reluctantly agreed it was correct.

"Then, go to Hell!" With another snap of his finger, the mathematician disappeared too.

The idiot then stepped forward and said, "Bring me a chair!"

The Devil brought forward a chair. "Drill 7 holes on the seat" said the idiot.

The Devil did just that.

The idiot then sat on the chair and let out a very loud fart.

Standing up, he asked, "Which hole did my fart come out from?"

The Devil inspected the seat and said, "The third hole from the right."

"Wrong," said the idiot, "it's from my asshole."

The idiot went to Heaven.