Sunday, October 4, 2009

St Joe Form 5 (1976) - Grand Reunion (Part 1)

This is the BIG one, boys!  More than 33 years in the making, as they say.

All of us are FIFTY years old, so it's the most appropriate time to have a Grand Reunion.

A few of our friends in Kuching have gotten together to have a first brainstorm on this. Thanks to Ben Wong, Robert Chin, Bob Chew, Jensen Ng Koon Teck, Jude Jong, Norbert Liew, and also Dato' Anthony, who had many creative suggestions.

This will be the first of a series of postings leading up to the momentous event.

Some key facts to note and book your individual calendars ...


Date - Wed, 23rd December 2009

Venue - Merdeka Palace, Kuching

Rooms - For those flying back from far corners of the world, and need accomodation, we'll try to get good rates at the hotel.
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Theme - (to be determined ... Do send in suggestions)

Menu - (to be determined ... will check what the hotel has to offer)

RSVP - Indicate your attendance quickly by putting in a comment. We need the rsvp pronto so that we can finalise our bookings with Merdeka Palace (and get the best rates)

Itinerary for the nite - (to be determined. Send in your suggestions to organizing leads Ben Wong and Jensen Ng Koon Teck, or post comment on this blog entry)

Entertainment - (See more info below .... We will try to persuade Beyonce and the Pussycat Dolls, but if that doesn't work, we may have other local artistes or fall back to "music machines, DJs or dock an iPod" as Dato' A suggested. Music of our era will certainly be played)
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Souvenir - (you can be sure we will have something very special and appropriate)

The Damage - We need to collect RM100 each for the reunion dinner.Robert Chin is appointed our Treasurer. To confirm your attendance, you must do an online transfer of your fee to the following bank account:

     Maybank A/C No. 111234121779
     A/C Holder: ROBERT CHIN JOON FATT

and once you have done that, can you text Robert Chin (+6016 8774018) or  email him (robertjfc@gmail.com) to let him know you have paid.


Don't miss this reunion, boys! Wherever you are, try your best to be there. There may never be another chance again.

And if you need official letter to get visa from your Minister of Home Affairs to make the trip, ask Ben Wong or Koon Teck or Robert Chin ... LOL

Stay tuned to this blog. Much more news to come ...


New Information

We are now planning on a vareity of exciting activities for the Grand Reunion. Here's a sneak preview of things to come. And we're not going letting everything out of the bag yet. There will still be surprises!!! 


There will be great music, of course ... including songs from the 70s and early 80s. to bring back the nostalgia. We have Felix & company kindly providing some of the live band experience.

There will also be singing (although which songs and which singers still to be determined) Other than everyone for "Sons of St Joseph" (start practicing ok), I'm sure we have many eager singing talents honed over the past three decades, especially some Karaoke veterans in our midst.


There will be memorabilia and creative journeys down the past 3 decades.

There will be great games and great prizes (sponsors still needed for prizes, this one real ok!).

There will be entertainers ... dancers from the traditional (someone will be doing the ngajat? chinese fan dance?) to the esoteric (not sure what - but I hear some vertical metal structures may be involved) to the classic (I'm sure there will be someone who will demonstrate the twist, limbo rock, birdie dance ...)
And of course there will be food and drink to enjoy the whole night through.

So get everyone in our cohort who hasn't yet signed yet to do so. It is a crime to miss the Mother of All Reunions. Anyone who cannot come must produce a letter from your parent or guardian and hand it in to a teacher or prefect !!!!!

(now let's see if the number of comments on this posting increases or not! LOL!)

84 comments:

  1. One activity during the reunion might be to put items into a TIME CAPSULE to be opened in 10 years time, ie. 2019. We discussed this in an earlier posting.

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  2. Am applying for my visa today.

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  3. Hi James Yong,

    Welldone WJ for the Big Bash Announcement.....

    I suggest that you include Robert Chin's handphone no.and email add so that each time after someone bank in he must send a text message or email to Robert his name and contact to comfirm the attendence and payment.Then Robert Chin can give an electronic receipt by email or acknowlegement of payment by text message.

    Together we make sure it will be a Grand Reunion and we need everyone's support..... please make sure you all come,no Excuses Please we want positive attendence and we are not growing any.... younger each year.
    Thank You






































    I suggest you include our treasurer Robert Chin's Handphone no. and email add.whereby after somebody bank in the money he must send a text to his hand phone or email his name and the contact.

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  4. Dear Ben & the Boys,

    Please accept the Khmer Royal Salute for this grand effort of yours for The Big 50 reunion.

    We surely appreciate this and we know that Arts 1 is being given the honour to host it , of course with the help of Ben & the boys.

    I urge & beg all the boys of F5 1976, wherever you are to attend this once-in-50 year get-together !!

    If you cannot get your Visa, if multiple-entry is not granted, single-entry is good enough, man.

    Merdeka Palace is a good choice...as some of us still can recall the good time we have with our "friends" at the Aurora Coffee House !!.

    Ben, get Suhai, Felix and the others to get grooving to the music of our times, man!!

    Will contribute ideas, as & when it comes up.

    Best wishes,
    Sinos

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  5. to clarify, this party only for stjoe form 5 mates or include bini / girlfren one?

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  6. This is the Mother of All Reunions guys!!! Bring out your weapons of mass destruction...hehehe...whatever it is..I just like the sound of it.

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  7. Do we need other codes to identify the bank? Especially for those outside Malaysia. I rem sending wang between diff countries and need to specify some SWIFT Code, bank address or some other id.

    Bankers and former bankers, can u verify?

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  8. Ben, note that I have amended the posting to include what you mentioned.

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  9. For entertainment, we need to invite LOBO. His music provided the background for our teenage lives, agree or not? LOL

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  10. Please include all the teachers.

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  11. Thanks James and Sinos

    For overseas bank in the Maybank Swiftcode is MBBEMYKL. If from the US please include Routing no.026001287
    Maybank Branch is Jalan Laksamana Branch,Kuching
    Customer Service no. 1300 88 6688 (local)
    or +603 7844 3696 (overseas)

    Website www.maybank2u.com you can get all details from there.

    You can bring bini but they might feel out of place, this may be sensitive but this is more to the old Boys / Old Men Reunion.Better bring your bini or girl friends for Holidays like Airasia says Now Everybody can Fly.....with their families lah. We can organise trips to China like the group that went to Siem Reap Cambodia.

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  12. We will have lots of Entertainment that night,music of the 70s and 80s, Lucky Draws,Interesting Awards,Competions not track and field but "physical appearence" only can reveal that night,Door Gifts,Souvenirs
    We will also invite all the Teachers during that year and our Special Reverend Father Nicholas Ng Wei Kiang of Science Class.
    Guys we need lots and lots of Suggestions pls ....

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  13. I think we shd include the few St Joe boys who have been active in the blog, but who are a couple of years older or younger than us? A few of them are kinda honorary members of the Form 5(76) cohort already ...

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  14. YA, YA, YA I AGREE REUNION PARTY SHUOLD BE BOYS ONLY. NO BINI, NO GFREN. OF COURSE, THE ENTERTAINERS CAN BE FEMALE. IN FACT, ALL THE ENTERTAINMENT SHUOLD BE GIRLS, HEAR THAT BEN ???!!!! HEHEHEH

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  15. Hi...guys

    Regretfully that I will not be able to attend such a historic event (and it sounds it gonna be fun fun fun and laughter all the night through....fantastic!!!!!) but I hope I can contribute to ideas and suggestions. Well done, so far to the proposor(s), organisers and contributors and all those involved.

    Would be nice to see prints of "Then and Now" photos, photos of past reunions, any sort of "old" boys group photos, etc. Contributions from all to WJ and for someone to print out for the evening, even those already on the blogs. Classified them from early years to present, school photos, sports events (the school may have some achives to contribute or lend for the eveninng. Put them up on the "wall" or display boards, etc. Old Ad Astra magazines to view, etc. Designated person to be responsible for them (especially towards the end of the evening when most of you will be highly intoxicated with drinks, memories, recollection of old times, etc.). I agree with inviting "honorary" members (can be male or female, like Lee Kien, who has had contributed so much already, but anyone attending must be over 18 years old...LOL). All attendees be warned: Boys will be boys, topics on the days will be fun, stupid, childish, adult, girlish too!!! ....in other words: anything goes I suppose but no fighting!!!! and very Kuchingians....Kuching Lang behaviour (all very unique). Coupled with the Xmas theme as well.

    Unless you (to the organisers), find getting photos and printing is a problem, how about using an overhead projector....not the old type, lah. Projetor, laptop, memory stick, which can be on shown on constant slide show thoughout the evening of many thousands of photos, blog pages, etc......mmmmmmm...sounds like a lot of work. Hey get cracking now and I am sure we have the man amongst us who can do it. We can all keep a piece of history then if it is stored in this way too, do not mind to pay for it.

    so guys, my suggestions for now.....apology if these have already in the pipeline or discussed.

    Best wishes

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  16. I think this should be an "All Boys" event. No offense to the ladies but I think some of the boys will feel more free to talk and act more "naturally" in such an environment.

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  17. Another suggestion: may be a section or a mentioned for our dearly departed friends who had to be called away from earlier than expected.

    Regards

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  18. If Merdeka Palace got good Internet access, we cd also set up a few laptops n talk to some boys overseas who can't make it for the reunion. Not practical for entire evening, but we can have a short section during event.

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  19. I agree that it should be an "all boys" party where 50-year old men can let their hair down and pretend to be 17 again. Sorry, ladies, it just won't be the same if you are there. We want to be rude, naughty and completely unrestrained - just for one night! This party's been 33 years in the making ....

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  20. No ladies and children please. There may be scenes not appropriate for them. LOL.

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  21. We should videotape some parts of the party (tho' probably not all of it to give the participants greater freedom of expression). A copy of the DVD will be sent to each attendee after the event.

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  22. I confirm my attendance. Will send the money shortly.

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  23. I confirm my attendance. Will send money once I am back in Msia.

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  24. Jude Jong,Bob Chew, Jenson Ng Khoon Teck,Robert Chin, Norbert Liew,and myself Ben Wong comfirm our attendance and bank in to Robert Chin's Maybank Account already.
    Looking forward to see more commitment from the rest of the Boys...

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  25. I meet Michael Kong of 5Arts1 3 days ago and he comfirmed his attendance for the Big Reunion.

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  26. Lawrence Chin confirmed coming and has paid up.

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  27. For this event, we shd be open to individual or company sponsorships. Some of our sahabat may wish to cover certain areas of entertainment or souvenir or whatever ... of course, will be duly acknowledged and can have logo placed at strategic positions. Then we can have an even bigger bash, stretching the RM100 per pax. For the organizers to consider.

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  28. Honorary members of Form 5(76) cohort. Years(+/-) are most welcome!!!!
    Please transmit your payment to:
    Maybank A/C No:111234121779
    A/C Holder:Robert Chin Joon Fatt

    p/s Kindly text RC @016-8774018 or email (robertjfc@gmail.com) once you've bank in the money.

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  29. Fee is also a show of commitment & not refundable (unless very, very good reason and you have letter from parent or guardian) ... LOL

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  30. Last minute refund might not be possible but instead we will use the money for lucky draw hampers if the hotel allows the refund.....LoL

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  31. Money paid is not refundable quoted annoy Oct 6, 2009 3.10pm instead it can be used for another re-fun.
    I over heard someone saying..ayoi..don't know how so and so look like when he turn up on 23 Dec 09.
    That's the whole idear, my dearest friends take this opportunity to make an effort to come to the reunion to meet our old, old friends. We 're indeed in the 50s and above already. I'm afraid we might not be able to meet again after this occasion, half centurian said.
    So please come, come, come and cohort Form 5(76) also come lah....

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  32. Can we compile everyone's date of birth including the year (esp if not 1959). If it is not too expensive for nstp I would like to print out the headline on NST the day you were born. (Framing we find someone in our group who have framing biz and cn gv cheap la). This would be perfect souvenir, money cannot buy. Web Jaga please help compile and pass to me the list by end of Oct.

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  33. That's a great idea, Dato A ! Indeed something money can't buy. So we have an added incentive for old boys to turn up for this reunion. Only those who turn up will get this unique souvenir!!!

    Boys, pls email your birthday (dd/mmm/yy) to me (jslyong@hotmail.com) if you can confirm your attendance. Before end of Oct please.

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  34. Alau Ah Jon ah,

    Haiya, why you cannot come ah?I know you are in England, vely far one..but this one ah...once in goh chap ni boh... Try to come lah.. Heard they allange many many good thing bor..

    Not sure when we can have another reunion bcoz we now half way alady mah... If we an have next reunion, 50 years from now ah...it is miracle lah.

    So hope to c u there..
    Rgds,
    Sinos

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  35. Dato Anthony,

    Wal lau, u vely good one. Vely cleative hor.. OK, I setuju with your cadangan. I will email to Tuan Jaga my details.

    So, come on boys, whar are you waiting for? Wait for another 50 years to have another reunion? Esp. those in KCH, you can't miss this one man...This is the Mother of all reunion.

    So those of you who are in KCH, plse spread this news..

    So, Tuan Treasurer ( Robert Chin), I CONFIRM coming and will heng lui to you this mth end in KL, OK? Thanks

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  36. Dear Tuan Organizer,

    I agree 100% that this Big 50 will be strictly for the boys..I am sure yr bini, gf, children would understand how important this Big50 Reunion is to us.Just one night only mah..

    Imagine, we want to talk cock and recalling the good old days and we have to control & behave ourselves, what kind of life is this man?

    OK lah to apply & pay for your Visa, you can tau pau fried tomato kwey teow lah after the Big 50 Reunion, right? Corruption sikit mah..

    Ben, I think I will book a room at Merdeka Palace Hotel...who knows, after being so happy and minum exceeding the limit, I cannot drive back to Kampong Seratau, so how? Hope to get a special rate.

    See you soon in KL soon. Take care & best of luck, so that more boys will attend.

    Regards,
    Sinos

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  37. Hi Anon Oct 6 7.45pm,
    Lu-see-har-mam!! Give me your name. i've to reserve ticket for you nanti susah you've to bring your own chair. BIG BASH is selling like hot cake now.

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  38. Hi PC Oct 4 5.32pm,
    Got your visa approved or do you need any official letter from us.

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  39. haiya! this one even if no visa, mesti go AWOL for one nite, wah!

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  40. What about our other regional & global friends? Peter Tiong in Bangkok? Kevin Chin in Perth? Chong Chi Nai in Manila? Richard Lim, Chen Liang Fang & Cho Jueh in Singapura? James Kuo & Boon Chiang in UK? Bertram, Lipp Kee, Michael Yeo & Chin Sun in Canada? And many, many more? This is the time to COME HOME guys !!!!!!!

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  41. Hiya, lu nang from kampong, kong chin gay, cho bo anay gay, lah.
    Passport and visa had to get approval lah. Those of us who cannot make it and are thousands of miles away will look on and envy this special event and hopefully (subject to availiability of technology), some of us can have a virtual connection during that evening and have a chat to some of you jolly 50 year olds and men!!!!!

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  42. We should have a table in the room dedicated to "Artefacts from the 1970s", so the guys can bring something from that era, and share with the others during the evening.

    Of course, bring something of manageable size. Don't lug along your old Raleigh bicycle or something ...

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  43. Web Jaga...can bring my trusted old lada hitam or not?

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  44. The big 50 also coincide with Xmas and New Year, so good time to come back to Kuching guys.

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  45. anyone can help me apply visa or not...my wipe gelenti suspect if i go out with my flen from cambodia.... hahaha...no such thing, u either have guts or have balls that night...must be there one.

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  46. Cannot tahan to wait for 23/12/09 lo, wish 2moro is d day la, on 2nd thought, big 50 should b for we boys only la, no hard feelings k, girls.

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  47. I wonder if the 50 year old guys could stop the women from coming if they insist. Sure or not you guys??

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  48. We will bravely stand our ground and guard the main entrance to prevent unlawful entry! LOL.

    very safely anonymous!

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  49. NO ILLEGAL PENETRATION PLEASE

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  50. WALAU this sound like a old men stag party leh

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  51. very safely anonymous!
    dun worry, i promise to stay away, not gate crash and leave you 76ers/50s to your fun. hehe.

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  52. Leo, you no problem can come lah. Unless your name is really Leona and there's something we don't know about you ... ROTFLMAO

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  53. Come lah, Leo ... dun be shy

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  54. I confirm coming and will provide the sound system not to mention Abg.Suhai will be around as well to entertain you all at our level best. With exception ie. guitar performance & singing " Sons Of St Joseph" Semangat Pok!!
    See you all
    Gracias
    Felix Lim

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  55. Woi !! Bro. Felix Lim @ Fuji Racer @ Raleigh King !!

    Wah lau eh !!.. Finally you are on board & blogging too. Very happy to see that you connectable now. We are confident that you will be jamming & grooving the songs of our times, man!!..Not to mention Suhiri, the Lobo of SJS...Is he blogging too? Inform him,Sir !!

    Anyway, do keep in touch. See you soon.

    Bon weekend,
    Sinos

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  56. I have never in my 50 years come across a bunch of 50 yr olds who are more enthusiastic to party then this bunch.

    ...sudah lama puasa ka? Go Johnny Go! Semangat Ngap Sayot still alive!

    May the fprce be with us!!! hehehe

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  57. PARTY ! PARTY ! PARTY !

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ....

    outside 50, inside 15 ?

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  58. For those who can't remember or need a refresher on Sarawak's famous Ngap Sayot football era, check out ...

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarawak_FA

    Guys, maybe we should revive the heyday of Sarawak football by sponsoring a Sarawak team.

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  59. For FOOD, maybe we have Mongolian BBQ - got or not, organizers ? LOL

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  60. In addition to Reunion Dinner, and especially for those who haven't been back to Kuching for a while, maybe we shd aso have a "Morning After Reunion Foody Fest" on 24 Dec. Optional of course, but a bunch of us might wanna go together to a few favourite foody haunts in Kuching for breakfast. Anyone interested can join. Organisers, what do ya think?

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  61. For the Morning After Reunion Breakfast we can decide and announce the Venue that Night.Meantime pls get more fellows to join.We need the.... Figures which is the Most Important.

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  62. This is a great idea. Unfortunately, I'm going to miss this once in a lifetime occasion. Just not possible at that time of year to visit msia. My sincere apologies but will look forward to the website jaga's special daily tribune report which I'm sure will recount a historic & monumental occasion.
    Bertram

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  63. aya sayang la Bertram ! Would have been good to see you again.

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  64. Aiya...Mr. Bertram Chew. Come la. Once in 50 years only. This is a historic occasion.

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  65. Walau! The entertainment starting to get interesting ... hehehe

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  66. like election lah. we go to the poles ... ahem polls

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  67. Members of main board wishing to thank Papa Politiks & rest of entourage...

    Apsara dancer now taking lessons in belly dancer and amongst other things learning the local dialect...please teach how to say Good Morning...please also take binoculars ready...heading for Cat town today....

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  68. AND on the morning of 23 December, we're going to organise a group trip to the alma mater, the old school, the place of our coming of age ... good ol' St Joseph's School.

    Right George?

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  69. boss, that pole princess will realy be there kah? i like cultural dances ! wooo!

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  70. Do you know that you can click on the "Grand Reunion" Countdown banner on the top left of the first screen to jump straight to this posting?

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  71. Got spare rooms for those who do not and cannot go back or not? I takut I might get drunk and cannot pedal my bicycle home la. What if that pole princess above wants me to take her home?

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  72. Aiya no need to wory lah Norbert, i understand there are plenty of free rooms at the Hotel Museum next door and Hotel Central Padang..

    No chance for you to take Pole Princess home too...Ben had already organised transportation in a Vintage car...

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  73. Unfortunately we have to scrap off the pole dancing idea cos the hotel cannot secure the pole from ceiling to the floor.Too much $$$$ involved.....But we have an alternative rescue plan that is Belly dancing. This is going to be fun,most of the "Big Boys"need to learn this dance anyway...heheheh
    We will surprise everyone that night...eh why me in a Vintage car...Titi?

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  74. when does Mimi n frens turn up?

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  75. no problem abt securing the pole Ben. i sure many of the boys will hold the pole tight all through the dance wah. and be closer to the action hehehe.

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  76. FINAL REMINDER to those who have registered and not sent Robert, Ben or myself your birthdate (dd/mmm/yy), please do so immediately. The cutoff for preparing the customised souvenirs will be midnight on this Thursday, 5th Nov 2009. Those who do not submit by then will not receive the souvenit as it cannot be prepard in time. My email is jslyong@hotmail.com .

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  77. Read all about it in New Straits Times today-page 22 " Calling St Joseph's class of 1976"

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  78. ya, our Grand Reunion will be on national TV !!

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  79. Has anyone gone to check where Sim Pheng Siew (5Sc) is? His folks at the shop in Padungan should know. Need someone to go ask them.

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  80. This is really like stock market. Now down to 68 again! C'mon boys, we need one big boost to our attendance numbers !!! Call every "boy" from Class of 76 you know who hasn't signed up yet !!!

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  81. WE ARE STUCK AT 68, BOYS !!! WITH 11 DAYS TO GO, CAN WE HAVE ONE LAST MAJOR DRIVE FOR ATTENDEES ? CHECK UNDER EVERY TREE, ROCK OR CAVE. LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED. THANKS.

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  82. Michael Francis Umpau...Kanowit Minister oh Health..


    pull out last minute. Regret, unable to make it due reasons beyond his ability to do anything about it...sigh...one less attendees..

    FYI plse.

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  83. Ya, we called him this morning, I mean Patrick Umpau from Kanowit, seems that he can't get his leave approved but he,s still trying hard and fingers crossed that he'll be able to attend the dinner.

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  84. Ya, stuck at 68 again. Everyone, go hunt somemore, let's NOT leave any stone, any tree, or any cave unturned. Er... can unturn tree and cave ka? hehe.

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