Chris Sim reconnects with Chris Kuek

HOT NEWS !!!

I just received these photos from Chris Sim Kay Guan.

CSKG just met with Chris Kuek (5Sc, 1976) this afternoon at the Pan Pac hotel at KLIA. CK had just come from Mumbai, India and was enroute to Indonesia. CSKG related that "... he looks exactly like when he was in Form 5. We caught up on what we've been doing for the last 6-7 years and shared info on some of our classmates. After that I sent him to LCCT for his Air Asia flight to Pekan Baru."

Actually at the end of last month, CK had called CSKG and myself, when he was on his way to India. That was when he and CSKG arranged to meet at KLIA. Unfortunately he didn't pass thru Singapore, so I haven't had a chance to meet him. Another time but soon, old buddy.

Chris Kuek is now based in Ballarat, Melbourne together with his wife, Sarah, and 2 children, Bernard (19) and Katherine (15). He has been working with English Chinese Clay for 12 years now and his area of coverage is from Australia to China and from India to Japan. His personal e-mail: kuekb@bigpond.com. He is keen to reconnect with old friends.

My reaction to the above photos is: What the heck is CK eating that's making him look so young? I took a look back at his old school photos and it's amazing. See for yourself ...

CK, if you've found the "fountain of youth" or the "elixir of life", don't keep it for yourself.  Please share with your fast "maturing" buddies !

Then and Now - Part 7

In this rendition of "Then & Now", we feature three old friends whom I've had the good fortune to meet recently.

xxx

First we have LKF, who was my classmate since Primary 1 or 2 if I'm not mistaken. One of the most steady and friendly chaps I've known, with a ready smile and a helping hand. He's now based in KL, and is running his own business dealing with the chemicals. The "Then" shots came from Pri 6 and Form 3 school photos, while "Now" was at the recent gathering at Bangsar where we met for the first time in three decades.

xxx

xxx

Next is CSKG whom I met early this month. I remember him as the Red Cross-er and sportsman. As someone commented in one of the other entries, he looks exactly the same, except for the hair colour. He has been with Shell for a number of years, and is now managing their plant at Port Dickson. The "Then" shots are from the 70's - from school and extra-curricular activities - and the "Now" shot is from our recent catch-up in Singapore.

xxx

xxx

Coming right up, we have VK, also another early primary school classmate. I remember him as a very bright chap, always among top of the class. Others apparently remember him as the kid with short, spiky hair :) I met VK again recently after 37 years, as he had left St Joe after Pri 6 to take up a scholarship to continue his studies in Peninsula Malaysia. Today he is a senior executive in a firm investing in renewable energy projects, after a long career in banking. "Then" is from Pri 6 class photo. "Now" is in June 2009.

What wonderful memories ... All looking very good, chaps !

xxx

Breakfast with CSKG

Met up with my former classmate Christopher Sim Kay Guan, together with his wife & son for breakfast this morning. They were in Singapore for a few days, enroute to Kuching for a break. It's been many years since I saw him ... probably the previous time was in Form 5 in 1976.

We had a good long chat about old times, and tried to recall where different former classmates and friends were based. I remember Kay Guan in school. He was very active in the Red Cross as well as in various sports. I believe he was a very good high jumper, even representing the school.

Kay Guan has been an executive with Shell for quite a number of years. He was based in Sarawak most of those years but recently has been posted to Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan.

Later I saw them off to the airport.

CSKG can be contacted at kayguan@hotmail.com.

xxxxxx