FMC Port Dickson reunion.

Sunday 16 Dec 2018.

This was the reunion planned a couple of months ago now finally happening Sunday 16th December 2018, exactly 65 years after Foundation Day 17 December 1953. The PD intakes 1952 -1961 organized themselves for this "FMC Port Dickson Budak Boys Get-together". It was a success.

"Budak Boys" seems like a misnomer of sorts if you take the joint translation, but through use all these years it now conveys the homely connotation rolling on the tongue, nostalgic and fond. The gathering today was pleasant, warm and enjoyable. This get-together  of 70's plus only refreshened memories of lost youth and the years that rolled by, but not sensed with sadness, rather  with sweet rememberance of friendships born and lives lived.

I had sought Hank's company, coming here. I wasn't sure of the directions, as this was the first time I would be coming to this new RMC campus, since they moved from the old Sg. Besi one that we moved to from PD in 1961. The agreed rendesvous time was 8 a.m. at Tesco Seremban 2. Then we'd feel our way through the old college route through Sg. Besi town, we thought, because Hank wasn't sure of the way himself.

In the end, it was simple. We took the old way, through Sg. Besi town, to the mosque, and got directions from the guardhouse, and arrived at the Wisma Perwira in good time. It's an impressive campus. The whole area has been planned well, and the question about "why change ?"  was placated with the results seen. Only the news I got later, that the golf course is no more, was the bad news.

We thought we'd be among the earliest to arrive, but people were already there ahead of us.

The usual stuff took place - the registration, the contributions, the food & drinks, the photographs, even a tree-planting event, and the speeches in the hall with the current Putras applauding loudly on cue. Nawawi made an impressive speech that related the good old with the better new. He had no notes, but he touched on all the right things. It was a pity that we couldn't mingle with current Budak Boys long. The next time we should introduce individually the outstanding among us, as an encouragement to the current students.

I had a great time reuniting with my 1961 intake. Aji was there, surprisingly looking youthful, with black hair and all. All the rest of us were grey ! I met Musa "Brunei" for the first time in 56 long years. He's a retired colonel now. He was so happy he invited me for breakfast the next morning, but I had to decline. There was Shah, Md Nor, Nor Shaari, Zaki Mahmud, Husin Senik, Nawi, Rahman Daud, Megat, Wan Wahid, Jalaludin, Arthur Samuel, Hamid Arshat, Mui Yoke Loong, Liew Yeow Keong, Md. Sham, Li Heng Tiong and so many others. But many that I can remember didn't make it, too. I think there were about 150 present. I said to Farid, before leaving, we should make this Foundation day an annual affair.

Going home, Hank and I decided to try the alternative route through Jalan Belimbing. In fact this is an easier way. We come out to Belakong, and reach the road to Lekas, the route straight forward and the road clear. Maybe because it's Sunday. 

We were back to Tesco before 3. We stopped for a cuppa before breaking up. Hank paid, as also the toll. But it was my car, so that about broke it even.

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