Saturday, July 14, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
RETIRED ARMED FORCES OFFICERS’ CLUB ANNUAL GOLF– 2012
Besides enjoying golf and its ‘Returns’, in Guilin in May/June 2012, the talk was about the upcoming RAFOC’s Annual Golf for the year 2012. It was scheduled for 20th then 10th Jul 2012. It sort of became a ‘Selection’ process for us. There were 14 of us. John Ramli H, our Golf Convenor needs 8 players. He has already short-listed the likely reps. And Billy Gooi has already informed that he would not be available Thus the choice would be to put in our strongest into one team and the rest in the ‘B’ Team. In a team of 4, the 3 best score would be counted.We were the current Champion, having won the Tan Sri Rahman Hamid Trophy on 7th June 2011.
Back home, the Convenor was updating us on the competition. There were also ‘Gentle Reminders’. Just to be sure there would be no ‘Cock-Up’. Our attire were to be ‘white’ for the play and ‘black’ for prize-giving.
In the early morning hours of 10th Jul, I made my way to the Staffield Golf Resort. I guessed then, the rest were doing the same. There would be a group photography seesion at 0745. Thus working backwards we should be registered, get our goodies and take breakfast prior to all that.
On arrival, I saw the golfers registering.
Greetings were in abundance. Mind you these are friends within the Armed Forces fraternity who had served together many many years before. Now they are getting together to rekindle friendships and acknowledge each other. Quite a mixed bunch of ‘Retirees’. Old and young. And typical of us, most claimed still to be ‘Young’. In the Heart that is.
I met up with our club members. The President was holding Court.
Dato Sulaiman Kudus was with us.
We had nasi lemak, mee hoon goring, bread and butter, coffee and the tarik. We have checked our flights. None of us would be in the same flight. We wish each other the very best of luck. Soon the call for group photograph.
After all that was done we headed for our buggies and to our tee boxes.
We were supposed to tee off at 0815 on a ‘shotgun’ start. At precisely that the ‘siren’ wen sounded and we were off for RAFOC’s Annual Golf Competition.
It was a clear and bright day. As per normal, there lots of ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ including ‘sh—‘, ‘f--k’, ‘what de f---k’, ‘bloo—he—‘ and many more. But then what do you expect from AF Officers and their vocabulary of four-letter words. Soon we were trooping back to the changing room. A bath, a change of clothes and congregating towards the Dining Room.
A good spread of food. In abundance. And in keeping up to being in Negri Sembilan, the gulai cili api was definitely ‘Nogori’. It was hot as ‘He—‘ but simmered with a clear chicken soup. Lots of drinking water too. Members of our Club 1268 looked prominent in our black attired T-shirt.
Friday, June 8, 2012
CLUB 12/68 REUNION GUILIN – YANGSHUO, CHINA – 28 MAY – 02 JUNE 2012
Day 5 – 01 June 2012
Club 12/68 Grand Reunion Dinner
It’s referred as a Reunion Dinner. Yes it is so. Grand was an added pronoun. To give it prominence. It’s held every year. According to Burn, for the past 27 years. It’s an occasion everybody look forward to. It’s the culmination of our reunion. Everybody dressed in their best. To quote Apai, ‘Pakaian Untuk Membunuh’. It’s a night of food, rejoice, dances,
songs and speeches. And prizes to be won. Some were deserving – fought on the battlefields of the golf courses
The dinner was held at the Guilin Baiyue Hotel. The room was already set up for us. Complete with a karaoke and rostrum. The tables were already laid out. 8/9 to a table.
There were 5 tables. Ample space. After a bit of meddling with the audio visual sytems we finally got the projection sytem working. Karaoke was also operational. Even then I thought ‘karaoke’ is still foreign in China. Another bourgeois influence.
It was a night preceded by :
a. A speech by the Chairman of the Org Committee, followed by,
b. Dinner, interspersed by karaoke songs.
c. Gifts presentation.
d. Prize presentation to the golfers. The results were as follows:
e. The Presidente’s speech.
f. cake cutting.
g. Group photography and
h. End of the Grand Dinner.
It was a memorable night. Can’t recalled what actually was served, but, I do remember a dish of ducks. No, not the Beijing duck. More like Hotel Ambassador fried duck. Its looks palatable enough. The Chairman of the Org Comm, Rahman J spoke. More of a speech of relief I guess. Kudos to you RJ.
In between we sang. The Presidente was first
Followed by Dato Nawi, Khalid and Midah. I went through Green Green Grass of Home.
Our prize giving presentation was for all families. Each family were given a number. Once called, the rep would pull out a number that comensurate with the prize. Due to logistical strain, some of the prizes need to be collected in KL. It was an impressive event. Lots of prizes including the Presidente contribution one of which was of Crabtree Supernal Perfumery, Anuar’s Aiyshah’s jewellery, Nani’s Jarumas Fabrics and Mie’s collection of necklaces and bangles. Everybody got something. The big prize winners were Midah and Halijah. Both won the mini fridge.
We danced the poco poco. We have been doing that for years.
The next time round could possibly be K Pops.
The Presidente spoke.
He had this vision of the next reunion of being confined to pampering the wives. Golf would be downplayed. And he announced the next chairman of the organising committee. It would be Hj Hamdan Mohd Salleh.
Congrats Ji. We welcome that. Now the burden rest on your shoulder. Hj Hamdan spoke. With a promise to do his best. We had our group photographs. We had our handshakes and hugs. It was a night well-spent amongst friends and families.
We also reminisced the good times we had, especially during our get together prior to this.
We went to Chiengmai
We went to Beijing.
We went to Ho Chi Minh City
And we went to Guilin
Till 2013 – it wuld be:
Adios Amigos
Adios My Friend
The Road We have Travelled
Have Come To An End
(at least for that Night)
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