The Big O with Miss Clarity!

One might think that a rainy afternoon might put a dampener on our boys night
out. Slowly but surely the old boys began to trickle in. Some as early as 6pm, while the majority was in by 7pm. It goes to show the eagerness of our long lost brothers to meet ... Once again as the snake gang of ACSS 81! ;-)

We are pleased to see an average of 30 pax turning out at our "annual" gathering ...
Although this year, this is our 2nd "annual" gathering. If u missed the first, it was on 30 Jan 09. We welcome many new faces - Shentley, Muthiah, Sinthu, Meng, Eric Tang (my classmate whom I can't recognise! - sorry bro!), and others ... sorry if I missed you out cos my brains are not what it was 28yrs ago ... that's if I had a brain at all.

I know that at least Sinthu and Meng both came back to Singapore to visit just for this
event! How honoured are we?!!

Have a look at how much fun we had :D

More photos are found here:
ACS-Class-81-Nov-20th-2009 with some head shots too! eh ... not what u are thinking ok!!! But these head-shots are the collection taken from the gathering on 30 Jan and this gathering on 20 Nov. Take a peek and see how many of the faces do u recognise? Yes .. pls add your names to the photo so that you may be identified.

In my email list, I have about 70 of us contactable. However, at the http://ACSoba.net, I see the stats as:

ACSS1981
# all alumni 586
# connected 102
% connected 17.41

So guys ... looks like we still have a long way to go. So, please let your friends know about our blog at http://acss81.blogspot.com! Encourage them too to join the Google group - acss81. Through this group, we will send notice of gatherings and other interesting tit-bits of our cohort.

How do you get connected? Easy ... just enter yr email at the top-right column @ http://acss81.blogspot.com and click on "Subscribe" :D

Before I sign-off, I'd really really like to thank every one of you for being there with us last Friday. Watch this space for more photos and other upcoming events. We have said it many times before ... how about doing it at Bintan? Bernard! Dude! Can u give us a quote? Maybe even include the family during the School Hols in Mar/Jun 2010? I hear the resort is really family friendly! :D

Till then this is Alan & Fabian signing off.

The Best is YET to be!

PS:
In case u were wondering about the "O" in the title ... it's "The Big One at Miss Clarity"

It's a date 20th Nov 2009 our next annual gathering

It's final, 20th Nov 2009 @ 6.30pm Miss Clarity Cafe over at 5 Purvis Street!

Confirm your RSVP at http://acss81.eventbrite.com/
Rain or shine, few or many, the annual gathering will go ON ! So clear you schedule and See you there this Friday !

The growing up years .....

(Photo copyright of the National Heritage Board - please do not download and/or make copies)

I think the PS boys will remember this more ... no so much me (horray JS!!) but I understand that this photo was taken during dismissal from school in 1972 - our P1 years :-)

Thks to Peng Wah who found this, and he thought, wouldn't it be nice if YOU can pick out yourselves and friends and tag them? hmmm ... wish I had the FB interface here for tagging a photo ;-)

So c'mon guys ... get cracking!

Cheers
Alan Fu

PS: For more photos ... lookup http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/picas/public/internetSearch/

Nov it shall be! 20 Nov 2009. Here's why ....

Ok ... voting aside - although the blog voted to have the next meet in Dec, we have thought that it might be better in Nov ...

1. Begining of school hols, not many of us would have left Singapore for our Annual (bi-annual, even quarterly) holidays :)
2. Availability of the rooms.
3. {put whatever reasons that suits u} ;-)

But seriously, the dates in Nov are 19 (Thurs), 20 (Fri) and 26 (Thurs).

19 Thurs -
pro: not much family commitments
con: Fri is a work day, people want to leave early

20 Fri
pro: nothing on sat, can stay late and have nice long chats
con: family nights for some families.

26 Thurs (eve of Hari Raya Haji)
pro: Fri is a holiday
con: Fri is a holiday! Long weekends and school holidays so families may want to skip town.

So I guess, Firday 20 Nov is set - pending the decision of the location. Mark that date in yr diaries/PDAs/Oulook/Yahoo/google calendars - It's time to PAR-TAY! ;-)

Cheers
Alan Fu

Aug 4th Informal Gathering

We are on Facebook

Hey guys ... we are now on FACE BOOK ! If you are on FB, then search for the group "ACS Class of 81" and please join us.

Who's up for a run? ... Yes! A marathon, that is!

Yes indeed ... Mr Chan Meng Hui is Singapore's oldest marathoner. And having said that ... puts us ALL to shame!

He is the father of Wei Siong, one of our own in ACS Class of '81. And I wonder, Wei Siong, do u pace yr dad during the 42.142KM ? ;-) 8hrs! Man ... that is endurance. As Erik mentioned, he broke his foot doing the 1/4 marathon 2yrs back ... heh heh ... if he had trained for the "full", would he have broken his leg instead? Or maybe ...broke it in 4 parts. ;-)

Personally, I have tried to run the marathon twice but managed to complete it only once in 1994 - The Singapore Marathon.

For my first try, in 1984, I trained together with some friends. We ran Macritchie, met at stadiums after school, and also participated in the many events organised by the CCs (Community Centers as they were known then). It was great fun. When the day finally arrived, I was so excited. Did the carbo-load and all.

Flag-of was 6am (if memory serves me ..). As we started to run, we hit Nicholl Highway. Suddenly, we heard a loud "kling-klang-klung"! We turned around and saw this guy straddled across the distance marker! He must have ran straight into it. Then someone else shouted "Oi! Kwa char-bor har??!!"

It wasn't long after that, we truned the corner to Mountbatten Rd and soon passed Katong Shopping Center. There I recalled, and old auntie who was pushing a trolley of cardboard box saying "Chiak pah bo tai chi cho!" LOL.

I truly can't recalled where we ran, but I know I arrived at Boundary Road and was approaching the 1/2 mark (Ang Mo Kio Swimming Complex?). Legs were still doing well, and I was soaked in sweat. Stil pacing myself I arrived at the 1/2 marathon finish point. As it happened, my friends who were faster had decided to stop and call it a day. When they waved and called out to me, I picked a drink and stopped to chat. I know! BIG MISTAKE! They decided to leave and I decided to continue running ... as I ran, my mind started playing tricks on me :( All the way till I arrived at Up Thompson Rd, I decided that I can't finish the race. I also thought that I had better go back to the 1/2 way mark and collect my souvenier T-shirt!

That's when it happened. I turned around and walked all the way back got my T-shirt. Against shouts from the on-comming runners joking, "Hey! The finish point is that way!", all pointing behind me. It was a horror-movie that never ends each time I tell this story. And, of course, when I arrived at the 1/2 mark, my friends were gone and I had to find my way back home all alone. I was haunted by this decision till 1994 when I did complete the race. - That is a story for another day!

So Uncle Chan ... Way to go! You have my fullest admiration and I'm sure the cohort of ACSS 81 will be cheering you on! You are a shining example of what it means to say, "The Best is Yet To Be!".

Cheers
Alan Fu

ACS OBA Members' Night ... well almost!

I must say that Class of '81 had the the biggest turn-on ... errr turn-out last night! ;-)

It was truly a night to let our hair down and meet a cross-section of old-boys from Class of 58 to the younger generation of the 90s. The President of the OBA, Benson Phua was there and spent some time with us to share his hope of having new-blood to join the association and also ways to keep the OBA current.

Ideas were thrown to get a Web2.0-like interface (ok ok ... cut the jargon ... Facebook-like screens) to update the current http://ACSoba.net ... that way we can connect with other ACSians past and present to enhance the possibilities of generating synergy amongst ourselves.

Well ... all that aside, we had bak-pau, char-siew pau, siew-mai and lor-mai-kai ;-) with Beer to wash it down.

As the evening wore on, Benson was hoping to get another OBA Member's night going towards the year end. He also said that he might 'piggy-back' on our groups gathering venue cum dinner .... so .... watch for it!

How about moving our "annual" gathering to Nov/Dec instead of CNY '10? Or maybe ... how about another gathering in Jan/Feb 2010? So, Fabian ... get yr fingers & mouse moving and create a poll for us ;-)

C ya!
Alan Fu
PS: why "almost"? I think a number of us are not members of the OBA! ha ha! ;-)

Join Us !

We did it again, Paul, Edward and Fabian - hmmmm when are the rest joining us; 60km Eastern Circle over 5 hours ! Great work-out and Great company ! Any one wants to join us !
Click on the photo to see our gallery !

ACAOBA members' night!

Hey y'all,

Mark this in your diaries ....

You are cordially invited to our ACSOBA Members' Night:

Date: 15 July 2009 (Wednesday)

Time: 7pm

Location: ACS OBA Lounge, ACS (Barker) Pool

Dress Code: Smart Casual or Business

Drinks and light refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP to Bernie at bernie@acsoba.net by 10 July 2009 so they can arrange for the catering.

For this event it is FOC, so please let us know if you are turning up!

I'm in! Are you?

Cheers
Alan Fu

Paul, Edward and Fabian on a Saturday 18th April, 2009 @ 5.30AM joined the JoyRiders at Thomson Longhouse for a "Newbie Ride" that stretch from Longhouse - Upper Thomson - Mandai - Upper Bukit Timah - Bukit Timah - Adam Rd - Longhouse; total one half hours grueling sweat over 34KM !

Yeh ! We're ACS ! And we Did It !

For more information about the riders go www.joyriders.sg

Kiss & Tell ...

Oh well ... how can I resist this temptation .. a tell-all after the night we had a Hooters! The drinks were cool, the atmosphere was electrifying and ALL the Hooter girls - hot and hotter! ;-P

I simply have to add that our "new" found friend in Neja was hot enought to melt some of the other Hooter Girlz! ;-)

In all we were glad to have a total of 13 who turned up that night. It was ad-hoc and yet managed to have a pretty (yes yes ... pun intended!) good time. A few last minute calls and these guys dropped what they were doing and headed straight to Clarke Quay. I know at least one of them called home to say "Honey, I won't be able to make it for dinner tonight. Something's come up!" (yes! got me there .. another pun.)

We had Bufflao platters, Bullalo wings, wine and beer. If that didn't lift our spirits up ... nothing else would. Even though it was past bedtime for some (errr 10pm) we still didn't want to leave the place.

So for those who didn't make the cut to join us the evening of 2 Apr ... I'd like to say we had 2 newcommers (ie never-been-kissed) who joined our gathering, Neja and Paul Sung.

Thank you all for making it happen. ;-)

Now ... by a strange turn of events ... I had an email from "Mad Love" with a subject "Old photos"! Aparently Mad ... or shud I call u Lurrv or just "Honey"? .... had me wondering, even worried ... old photos of my ex? Photos of me in compromising positions? (in my dreams!)

Turned out they are old photos of ACPS 3F, 4F and ACSS 4D. Now ... b4 I reveal who Mad Love is ... it is your guess!


Cheers & till the next time - Bye!
Alan Fu
PS: I will get Fabian to add the ACPS photos on http://colmanst.blogspot.com ok?

We did it ! ECP Park Connector till Changi Point !

Yes, Paul and Fabian did it just under 40KM on the ECP Park connector till Changi Point - just under 2 hours; minus time spent in drink, eat, chit chatting at Changi Point.

We have been trying to organize this ride for a long time, and it is good "pick-up-that-old-slack" routine to inject some adrenaline into you (he he, the sights you take in will get some testosterone pumping too);-))

Both Paul, Edward and myself want to start this on a regular basis - probably mooted the idea of a cycle group for the east; and it is SAFE ! We cycle the entire distance on the track (without even getting onto the main road) - except for rare distracting scenery; so encourage those who want to try this, join us. We shall try to host one morning and one evening ride; for those without bikes you can rent it at nearby kiosk. Drop us a note to add you in the list.







We took a shot of each other right at the end of Changi point (the tip where you board the ferry) ! Yes we are also planning a longer ride - one over the Ubin and another round the entire East Coast Park connector which runs from ECP to Changi to Loyang to Pasir Ris to Tampines to Bedok Reservoir to Kembangan and then back to ECP. So lets start training for it.

Yes ! We did it ! Hooters Gathering on Apr 2nd !

It was an informal gathering and we had 13 of us attending - thanks to Alan spearheading this effort. YES, 13 THIRTEEN and if you have been following our discussion thread at our discussion group @ http://groups.google.com/group/acss81 - so go there and sign up to know why there were 13 of ACS BOYS ! ..... yes it appears we always have a mystery female guest in our gathering for 2009 starting with the annual gathering earlier this year ... hmmm this might be a trend going forward. Yup we got the Hooter's Host to be in our group photo - Evelyn is her name; "Yes we were there". Click on the photo to see the Album

Join us for the next gathering, we try to have small gathering every quarter at the very least ! Our next event is a small group of us were talking about keeping fit and put together a bike ride session on Apr 9th at ECP park connector. Click on the RSVP to know more details.

Discussion on the next event .... Bangkok nite, Bintan Nite ..... wait and hear from the organizers.

Who the heck is she?!!

Excuse me! Are u a model? Well I must admit it ... When she first contacted me & showed me her photos ... I drooled ;-)

Then it struck me .... Was she one of the KC girls from 81? Wow! Sounds like Sarath's dream for the next reunion is coming true! ;-)

Then she revealed more about herself I was really surprised that she knew sooo much about us! Yes, the guys of ACSS81! How so?

Well ... I can reveal that she also dated some of you. ;-)

I suggest that we all make a guess as to who she is. Prize for getting this right? I'll buy a round of drinks .... errr no ... make that dinner for the person with the correct answer!

Okie now ... where shall we claim that prize? Well, I've got the perfect place. One where the idea was shelved for our last gathering .... one where the name would make our wives lock us up in the room and throw away the keys!

HOOTERS!!!!

So how about that guys? The race to the right answer is ON!

I suggest that we have this gathering at Hooters on Thurs evening on 2 Apr 09.

Are we good for that? In any case ... this will be an informal gathering, so whoever can make it do pop-over. Just drop me an email and let me know if u are coming, ok? That way, we can make a reservation for a table or two ;-)

Cheers!

Trap Shooting

As discussed during our recent meet-up, just wondering if anyone might be interested in trap shooting? Since many of us have served national service, this hobby/sport might interest some of you.

Trap shooting is done with a Beretta double-barrel 12 gauge shotgun (see photo) and the target is a 4 inch wide clay "pigeon" painted in orange paint.. it's like shooting a flying bird and the target is never stationary. This sport will challenge your hand-eye coordination and reflexes. Trap shooting is relatively inexpensive and if there is interest, I can organize a group shoot.

The shoot will be held at the Singapore Gun Club located at Rifle Range road. First-timers are required to pay $65 for the following:
a) one-time safety briefing & instruction - $25
b) gun rental & insurance - $20
c) box of 25 cartridges - $20
If you want to shoot more rounds, you can purchase them at $20 per box.

In future when you return for another shoot, you just rent the gun at $20 and pay for cartridges at $20 per box (25 rounds). This ought to be cheaper than golf. The weight of the gun is approx 4kg (abt same as M16 rifle) with similar recoil. Women and children age 12 & above can also take part in this olympic sport which is very safe.

Please register your interest to me (Billy Tan) and let's make this a new and interesting way to meet old friends. You can read more about it at http://www.singaporegunclub.com



Billy Tan

Traffic to ACSS81.blogspot.com

Next event

In 2008, a smaller group of us had couple of smaller get-together - there were pub-type, coffee afternoon, makan-makan and there was nearly a Tree-Top Walk ! As we reach out to more Class of 81 mates, and plus this online blog + other online tools, it is easy to post a simple/small get-together. There are couple of us chipping in to help manage this blog - Wei Siong, Alan, Timothy and myself; keeping it updated and spam-free.

So, we are planning for a small get-together this Mar - RIDE and DRINK; a two hour sunset ride along ECP along the park connector from Bedok jetty to Changi Pt (or as far as you can ride) and then final stop will be Sunset Bay for food + drinks ! Lots of free car-parking here and we did a small gathering at Sunset Bay in 2008 Apr/May and everyone enjoyed it ! It is right by the beach ! The date is not finalized, and wanted to seek opinion if this is one activity that generate interest. Week day 4.30pm - late recommended, Bike rental is $8 for two-hour and estimated $30 for food + wine (dutch-basis). If we can the numbers of 6, we can plan for the event and sent out the invite to the group, so please please give your vote !

Drop a comment of your tots or recommendation, there has been this desire to go for the Tree-Top walk ! So hit that keyboard of yours for comment !

The Best Is Yet To Be ! ..... fabian

Do I know you? Are you from ACS?

Seems that Fabian was first on the scene. It was already 5.50pm, but I was still on a conference call at the office. :(

When I arrived at the Guild House at 6.30 I was excited to see a small group gathered around a table at the bar having a drink or two.

Soon we were out on the patio with a buffet spread of soup & salad, scallops, beef, lamb & fish and to top it off ... dessert! While we had the food and the chit-chat, I'd like to add a BIG thank you to Sarath for getting conned by a pretty girl (honourary member of ACSS81), who then bought a bottle of Highland Park Single Malt whiskey for all of us! In my opinion ... it was pretty smooth ... on the rocks ... err the whiskey ... not the girl nor my marriage! ;-)


For the record, the remaining 1/2 bottle is in Gordon's name. It's safely kept at the Guild House cabinet :-P
So ... if n e one needs a drink ... go pull Gordon along!

Well ... for me, the most memorable phrase that was heard that night was Bernard Gunara's "Do I know you? Are you from ACS?" ! Here is one man, whenever he bumps into someone familiar, looks at him and asks, "Do I know you? Are you from ACS?".

Then again, the other conversation that went around was, "I thot we had a poll and Hooters won? Why did we end up here at the Guild House??!!!"

Seems that many of you were disappointed at not meeting up at Hooters .... but during the gathering, a quick straw poll indicated that we shoud have a reunion with the KC girls of 91 ... if they reject us, we'll ask the KC girls of 81 (I won't say who suggested this cos I don't want to get Sarath in trouble). How bout that? ;-)

So, for the next gathering, we are seriously looking for suggestions :)

This year, we managed to contact more than 30 of you. Many send their apologies due to last minute demand in their work or personal life. The official turnout stands at 29. Thank your for coming and making this event memorable.

So, until we meet again, let us continue to "Echo the sound of ACS forever!"

Cheers
Alan Fu on behalf of
Wei Siong, Fabian, Timo & Purdy (in absentia)

PS: For those who did not recieve any of these invites, do register in the acss81 googlegroup. We'll be in touch. We promise ... Say No to SPAM!

CNY Gathering 30 Jan '09

Gong Xi Fa Cai ! Happy Lunar New Year ! Held on the 30th Jan 2009 @ Suntec NUS Guild House from 6pm till late.

Click @ ACS Class 81 Photo Gallery

to those observant eyes, heh heh, yes yes "how come there's a young pretty gorgeous girl in the class of 81 ?" you can call the guys and find out !

we've got head shots of everyone present, so click on to the gallery (link below) and download your individual photos and link it to the group mailing list - this way we can put a name to a face. AND we are undergoing a project to scan Sec 4 year book to get how you look like 20+ years ago and now ;-) (kudos to Gordon who will undertake the scanning).

Alan and Wei Siong will do the field report and write up of who's who, and the what's and how's of the event. You can view the entire gallery by clicking on the gallery link.

And if you are not in these photos - either we missed your photo or you have missed this event; here's how you can get updated ....

ACSS Class 81 Blog (this site)
ACSS Class 81 Group (mailing list)
ACPS Class 77 Blog & Group (Coleman St)

It has been online since 2008 and managed by ourselves (Alan, Wei Siong, Timothy and Fabian) and there is no complaint of spam till date. So get yourself registered, keep in contact, spread the word and keep the class of 81 ALIVE ! We want to plan the BIG ONE in two years (30 years anniversary).

There's also quarterly get-together, and monthly coffee session, so come'on and join us !

Organizing Committee '09 - Wei Siong, Alan, Paramjit, Timothy, Gordon and Fabian





Click @ ACS Class 81 Photo Gallery

Photos are by Fabian

Important Announcement - Chingay Procession Road Closure

Hi Guys,

Looks like the Chingay Procession is on this evening.

Roads are closed from 5pm onwards.

As such for those driving, pls note the roads that you are to AVOID!

Cheers
Alan Fu

E-Invite and RSVP for our gathering

Can't see this email? Click here: http://acs.eventbrite.com

You are invited to the following event: ACS Class of 1981 Annual Get-Together Date: Friday, January 30, 2009 from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM (GMT+0800) Location: NSSU Guild House Suntec Tower 4 Singapore Can you attend this event? Respond Here For more information click here

Gustav Mahler's 3rd Symphony for the Children of Aids

Now what in the world would that have to do with ACSS class of 81??!! I am sure some of you may ask. Technically speaking ... nothing. In fact, this shud go into a blog entry for ACJS (or ACSJ as it is now called) ... unfortunately ... I do not have a blog for that :(

So to those who were from ACJS, dig up your old memories back to 1977 - a little boy named P George Matthew played the violin with piano accompaniment on Founder's day. Soon after that, he left us and headed to the US.

Today, he is an activist in the area of charity performance in the world of Classical Music. He has been touted as the Bono (U2) or Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats) - remember Band Aid or Live Aid? Songs like Do they know it Christmas/Feed the World! I believe that as time pass on ... he may be in the list of Nobel Prize Winners :D

Well comming up this Monday 12 Jan 2009 he will be conducting Gustav Mahler's 3rd Symphony in this massive orchestra and choir for the Children of Aids.

So guys ... if you like to know more ... do click on
http://www.mahlerforthechildren.org/

For a photo shot of him and an interview with George (in 2007) is here on the NYMagazine (when he did a concert for the children in Sudan):
http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/26039/

Cheers
Alan Fu
PS: George has been in my Facebook friend list for a while now and we have been in touch. I am truly touched by his heart for charity