GUESS, WHO CAME TO DINNER MINUS THE JAMBAR

 

Guess, who came to dinner at Abu Samah Bidin's home in Cheras last night?

The person of the hour: Mrs. Werner Klimes alias Aini Kamaruddin from Kg. Tanjung, Gadong, now residing in Mekkah. Saudi Arabia. Dressed in newly acquired woman’s attire, Aini looked fabulous and radiant and the night was almost hers, not even the stubborn drizzle failed to dampen the espirit de corps, which was prevalently gluing the small number of comrades in concord. Such was the apparent resolve that bound this small group of ardent comradeship and and act of togetherness. The dinner was held in conjuction with Mrs. Werner Klimes's vist to Malaysia 10-14 November 2012. Mrs. Klimes @ Norain Kamaludin, currently aSaudi Arabia's resident residing in Mekkah.  

 

Mrs. Werner Klimes alias Noraini Kamaruddin of Tanjong, a TBST69.

 

The eight of them mostly retired, some of whom showed up all the way from Seremban to witness an event unfolding in the midst of the gracious hospitality of the host of the night, Abu Samah Bidin,  from Seberang Paya, Tanjung, to help celebrate the occasion. Abu Samah was no stranger to Aini, and neither to any of those present. The small group, comprising Tajul Ariffin Kamat,, Mohd Rais Abd. Hamid, Baharom Ab. Ghani, Mohamad Ayob Hashim, Ishak Othman, Shaharuddin hj. Ahmad, Hattar Othman, Habibah Manaf, who  came much later, Aini Kamarudin  and host Abu Samah Bidin were tenacious, barring any squabbling which could hinder their long term cohesive fraternity, which lingered from their initial Reunion at the Concord years earlier.

 

Noraini Kamarudin (left) with Habibah Manaf.

Such was the resolve and we found no other way of describing the friendly atmosphere that might have brushed aside any wishful thinking that the group was losing its fraternal grip. Abu Samah was superb as host and this was evidently shown through his grins and smiles until way past midnight.  On the dining able even though there was no traditional jambar, which might have served if the “kenduri” was held in the kampong, but a few delicious Malay dishes with tormenting air of sweet-smelling dishes and delicacies. There were this lomak podeh cili api gravy of daging salai and ikan tenggiri, petai jeruk (?), satay and of course with the final dessert of pengat mee and the ever popular teh-tarik.

 

Host, Abu Samah Bidin, being flanked by Hattar Othman (right) and  Baharom Abd. Ghani (?)

 

So immersed was the informal chit-chatting session little did they realize they would still have to find their way back home through the early morning hours. But what the heck! It was Saturday night pulsation. People generally would not mind staying late. And the person of the hour,  Aini Kamarudin  still looked fresh and so were the others. Nobody seemed to mind what time was ticking and someone had to start saying something which would mean that “the time is up.”

 

Dinner served!

 

A second helping, anyone?

Apparently,  it was Rashid from the TBSST 1971 (the youngest in the  group) who requested to be excused and had adjourned for the night. That started the ball rolling, Everyone sttok up ready to make it a day. But not without the grand finale, prompting the last kopek ( a pix-snapping ritual). Once the location was set then it was the host’s pretty daughter who was to graciously capped the night by becoming the group’s “official” photographer, while Hattar still insisting that he was still the group  photographer’s “pelapis”. By Anonymous, 11 Nov. 2012.