Alumni SMK Seafield

For Your Alma Mater

As your dear school gets older and wiser she needs to be recognised by others as one who has a group of followers all ready to make a milestone for her.

The future development of the school depends on her ex-students and teachers linkage as mandated by many quarters including the Ministry of Education. In fact if the school were to be given brownie points in competitions under the NKRA, she must have an alumni. Without an alumni she actually does not qualify well for anything.

The existence of the body may also give us added information on the well-being of her ex-students and some may even be 'towering personalities' ; again an added advantage. Named school of future leaders, let her be informed of your success and achievements from generations to generations. So if you have feelings for your dear school come and join the wagon...find it in fb.

Join Alumni SMK Seafield for the future of the school.

What A Day!

I started the day elated !

100 % attendance for the teachers.

Felt so good.

Congratulations teachers.

You made my day.

No need to do relief...

Thank you for starting the day right.

But it was also a day that my heart was most tugged...

Esther left for Melbourne again...

Have fun in Melbourne again...

She came to school to bade me adios and later texted me :

"Bye mummy! Just got onto the plane. Rachel offered to pick me..."

I replied "Answered prayers".

She must know that this morning I woke up at 5am to pray for 2 matters.

One, that someone would offer to pick her at the airport.

Two, that my friends who are going through tough times will be helped by stronger hands ...

let the strong help the weak.

So, God answered my first prayer. Thank you Rachel for timely help. Esther told me last night it would be too much to ask of anyone to pick her at midnight. Little did she know my heart ached for someone to help her for I dread to think of her travelling alone to the apartment in a public cab.

God is good.

I promise to continue to pray for my second cause; believe it or not.

A Ban

With reference to a previous entry on the sports , I was attracted to this article in The Star dated 24 February 2011 on the Shisha pipe.

The Kota Baru Municipal Council has put a stop to the use of the pipe in its eateries and received the approval of the Malaysian Medical Association. WHO confirmed that one session of the blended tobacco yields a nicotine intake equivalent to more than a pack of fags...

Esther told me not to be too critical and reiterated that not all shisha smokers consume that amount of blended tobacco. I really have no idea but as confirmed by my earlier fears, all types of smoking surely will lead to ailments to the lungs and heart. Addiction can set in if early habits are inculcated among the young. Personally, I feel sorry to see young adults crowding together for that puff under a smoky environment.

There has been protest among old timers who feel that the puff is harmless and that it can be a tourist attraction to Arab tourists who come from countries which are used to its existence.

The greatest fear of course if puffing the shisha will lead to other more serious addiction that can cause ill consequences.

Of shisha ban and MMA.

My Daughter

Is not Rapunzel of course...

But watching this walt disney cartoon is a real pleasure especially in the company of my daughters and dad. Dad is an ardent follower of the walt disney channel and anything in cartoon whets his appetite entirely.

So watching Rapunzel with Grace and Esther were moments to be kept in the memory for having them together at any time is already a bonus and a feat.

But the evening was etched for sweet remembrance as Grace offered to... scrub my old feet.

Soaking the feet in hot soapy water to soften hard spots and clean nails...

She scrubbed the heel to remove dirt and hard spots...

Her hands are strong ; for she loves to cut...

Then she applied a special lotion to give the foot a good massage...she asked if it was painful.

I told her no.

It was therapeutic.

Then she shaped my big toe nail and remove unwanted skin...

She made sure my little toe received the attention too...

When clean and dry, she painted my toe nails...

The next morning, I wore a new look to school. My toe nails were painted! My colleagues noticed and said "nice"! I told them it was Grace who did it for me and they went...oooh...ahhhh.

So good la your daughter !


Yes, I had the privilege to be pampered by Grace.

Daughters...never too many.

Choices

An analogy of some choices made. I read an article a couple of days ago which stated that what we are today; our lifestyles, principles and the life we lead today are a big part due to some decisions we made before.

True to say that because we do have a large say on the consequences of our present moments except for those deemed a consequence on acts of God.

Incidentally while looking at the bright bougainvilleas in the garden yesterday I noticed the growth of the plants vary quite a bit based I believe on the decisions we made.

Take for example this pot of bougainvillea grown in a medium-sized pot and then placed within a large terra cotta pot. Can you guess the age of this plant?

This sweet thing has been with us since 1994 and it has been this height since day one albeit some trimmings here and there. This looks as though it's a controlled growth and it was never taken further than its original size for the last 16 years.

Some 8 to 10 years ago my mother gave me a stem cutting which looked like the above and we casually planted it on the ground.

It has since then grown and matured into this and today it's holding a clump of pretty bougainvilleas of a magnanimous shape and size.

On good seasons with the scorching sun above the spread can even be more majestic than this. It has become a climber that is the envy of my neighbours and friends and many still cannot believe that it grew from a humble stump.

So what do you think had been a wise decision? To let it maintain its original shape and look for the rest of its life or to allow it to grow free and easy? It's a choice. We can apply the same principles for decisions big or small and the consequences can turn out to be the above. Sometimes it's frightening to imagine a decision made wrongly and having to face the consequences.

Perhaps I can say that my present age does allow me to conclude that certain decisions will result in a certain set pattern; enough for me to say that sometimes I can be refered to for advice.

Just this evening Esther told me that she has plans to work in other places after her programme and I casually told her that Malaysia is the place. Have I been wise in that?

A further decision about the bougainvillea species was when we decided to place another stem cutting in a larger pot and let it grow.

It grew larger than the one I planted in 1994 but went under much trimming to have its size maintained.

Some months ago, dad wanted to create a new look. So he made some wooden panels for the climber to reach a greater height.

It seems a good decision for today it has climbed and created another look to the envy of many. So the garden today is a keeper of the plant alright. But it's prideful to have them and a most lovely sight to behold each day.

The hot season and scorching sun are perfect features for the bougainvilleas.

Back to the core matter again. I just want to convince myself again that indeed a decision made today can be the reason why we are what we are today.

Let's pray that whatever decision we make today will be within the approval of God and hopefully we face less painful consequences created by wrong decisions.

It's Out !

STPM

It's the hardest and most demanding pre-university exam but more often than not it receives the least publicity mainly because it's a programme least sought after.

Nevertheless, the end to a beginning has to be known ; so today was the day. Some were happy while some others wept out of joy and disappointment.

Ms Goh in the background so close to the students refused to do anything but to wait for and analyse the results. Generally most made it with a handful not getting the grades to do anything worthwhile after the release of the results. So, some planning has to go ahead. Many a time the students were advised to sweat it out or it may just be a waste of 2 years. Some heard while many did not.

Most hope to go to local public universities for lack of funding and scholarships. But will they get what they desire? Some may have to turn to private institutions for help.

Keng Wei and Chun Wah missed out on an A but still well done.

Here is a 4 pointer; Leong Wai Theng with earlier siblings scoring too in this very exam and now enrolled in reputable courses.
Another 4 pointer, Ivy Chang drove us up the wall awaiting for her arrival. Did not get a chance to congratulate her.

Much has to be done to help the many who are taking STPM 2011... teachers are cracking their heads for strategies.

It's Back !

Yes. It delighted me to see fresh blooms again. The garlic vine is at it again. New blooms.

Lovely velvety look... only for a short few days I believe.

But I discovered something new today. Dad pluck a few of the leaves from the vine and let me smell them. Believe it or not .... it exuded the smell of garlic. Not lying.

No wonder it's called the garlic vine.

So much to learn.

The Lestari Run

It's themed the Lestari Run in tandem with the school's cry to be earth friendly.

En Zuraimi urged me to look at the morning moon ; a promise of a good bright day.

As usual, they are ready to serve.

Wai Hou of 2003? Once trained under the St. John's Ambulance team is always back on this occasion to serve his alma mater. The Principal was delighted and noticed his presence ever grateful for a past student's contribution to the school. She asked if he could come back to give a talk on male nursing and expose the students to this line of career. He said he would.

Thank you.

What's the crowd's favourite colour? It's a big turn out; one of the best ever.

What's the favourite colour of the teachers?

In what hues are the men of the school adorned?

Did you see us ? The administrators with the PIBG of the school? And what is the common colour?



Yes, the leader of the pack in GREEN...the Lestari colour !

So a pre run exercise session...stretch, stretch, stretch.

Reach for the lowest...

To your left, to your right...

Dont be lazy...do it, do it,. You are being watched !

Yes, they could not wait...pretty maids all dressed in green; they green the earth.

Young energetic ones all too eager to start the race...

Ready ? Go... you nearly surely topple the old ones...take it easy.



Who are going to get the medals? The first fifteen only... run for your life. I supposed it's just not the run; much can be learnt even through a simple exercise as this. Perserverance, honest competition, and team spirit. Where else can you learn?




The medals all ready to be distributed to the winners and to be witnessed by the crowd.




We witnessed a strange scenario this day. While being seated, there appeared a cloudy sky that provided shade for some good moments enabling the students to witness the prize-giving ceremony with less heat. A favour from the above.

Yes, the first winner of the day... holder of No. 3963; san kau lou san; the Chinese surely love these digits.

She is as petite as the Principal...Ms NorAliah of 1 Hormat. Small and swift ; an easy winner for the P3 group.

Who holds the triump card for the P2 ladies? Priyanka Kimberly of 3 Hormat ! Looks like if you wanna be a winner enrol youself in a Hormat class.

Kimberly receiving her well-deserved medal.

These are fierce competitors. They will fight tooth for tooth but all in good sporting spirit and the winner is...

Yes; Eunise with Eugenia trailing 2 steps behind at the last ditch...but they are still friends.

Eunise of P1 group being congratulated for a good run.

Looking so forlorn? tired? But you are the winner of the L3 group.

Izham Halid ; the winner of the young boys' team.



I am the winner, Puan Chong. Please I am the rightful winner. Yes, I know. You are the winner. There was a slight confusion over the first palce but all's solved in good time.




Walking tall, the winner of L2 group ; Mr. Edwin.

Oh he's only a winner but not THE Winner. Nevertheless, still a winner (7th place?). Congratulations to the headboy.

Look up here ! Say cheese... Beautiful set of teeth. Did you have braces on before? The dark horse again...

Amirul is the champion of the L1 group. He will be the guy to look for in the next sports season.

The overall winning team results.... you are no.3; blue house.

The green flag is flying high; no.2.

The proud teacher of the team MS Tey told me earlier that Yellow house is the champion of the year ! Congratulations...marks added for the annual sports.



It was day of fun and healthy run. Thank you children for positive participation and cooperating with the school's call to go green. You were really green and good. Rest well for the weekend and be ready for the next run...

Your tests start next Monday.

Run it well.