The durian feast at RMC.

 Tues 17.12.2024.

I should call it "FMC (1952-1966) Budak Boys' Get-together, Sunday 15th December 2024". But getting the durians was the only assignment given to me and Hank, and it wasn't as smooth-sailing as you think, and so I choose this title. And because of the durians on Sunday, and the 5-hour golf in the extraordinary heat yesterday (the game couldn't be avoided - it was fixed last week), I ended up with a bad cough, and a near-collapsing fatigue by the time I came home at almost 3 pm.  

The reunion was not the first one for us, the "FMC group". We held one such "Remembrance Day" for many years, only broken up  by the Covid 19 episode. This is the "FMC" boys, because"Federation Military College" became "Royal Military College" in 1966. In fact we started this thing confining ourselves only to the Port Dickson intakes, 1952 - 1961. In April 1962 the College moved to the first RMC camp in Sungai Besi. Years later (can't remember the date) the College moved to its present camp in Bukit Belimbing, just next door.

Not long ago we realised that the 1952-1961 group was fast dwindling. So it was decided that we extend the group's life by making it the "FMC" group, because now we can go for 5 more years. But this now looks also like we're destined, by definition. for closure, because 1966 is static,too.

That made my presence on Sunday important for me. I'd just turned 80 exactly 10 days ago. But I drove myself, and walked without a cane. Many were driven by spouses or sons, and many came with walking sticks - wheel chairs, even, like Michael Tan. Some without walking sticks no longer stand erect, like Mori,taking step by careful step, and all accepting aid from the many current BB's who were enlisted to help, especially walking up the steps.  

ND printed it as "durian fest" on the brochure, when I use the word "feast". But it refers to the same adjective regarding a large eating ceremony. 250 durians at 2 kg. each wasn't the largest durian gathering I've seen, but against the 150 BB's and spouses, and the current BB's giving their help, it was big enough to earn the "feast" description.

But what transpired before the arrival of the blessed durians, only a few of us knew.

It was not easy this time, because the durians are not in season. I scoured around Seremban, Jalan Jelebu (as  Jelebu itself - this was one source still not tested), Kuala Pilah (my source last time), Segamat, Nilai, Mantin and finally the Triang source two years ago, and all came to naught. We had 1 week left before throwing the towel. Then ND said he found a supplier in Paya Jaras. Phew !

One trip with ND got us talking to the supplier, and an order was placed for 200 durians, at RM4,500. 

But  later that day I found out that MS had actually paid a RM1,500 deposit for durians from his own source. You see, right from the beginning, Hank and I were made clear about our mission, and MS knows this, and in an earlier exchange on our phone we had taken stock of our positions, logistically. But I had never received any information from him about the RM1,500. The monetary part of this whole thing must clear MS's desk, because he was going to transfer the funds, as Treasurer of our group. I needed to get clarification from MS.  I'd committed myself to the Paya Jaras supplier.

I couldn't get any MS's response before the first Paya Jaras trip. Since the first 2 exchanges with MS before this, he had not responded to my calls and  messages. After Paya Jaras I asked Halim Shah for help, because he  often talk to MS. But this time Halim also failed to get through. The last resort to me was to meet MS in his house, and clear things up. My only concern was to make sure the durians will be there on Sunday !

So Sunday 8.12.2024  Hank and I drove to MS's house in Damansara Heights. ND had given me the address. It was sad to see MS with his breathing aid, lying in bed, coughing badly, and faintly making himself heard. Later on the actual function-day Sunday, I learned that MS is in a Pantai Hospital ward. His condition must have worsened.

The short of it was, at his house MS said he sticks to his supplier (the RM1,500 deposit was confirmed), I said I stick to mine, and he'd divide the RM4K into 2 equal portions, and we each continue with our separate supplier.

Hank and I drove back to Paya Jaras immediately after MS house.  I drove. Using Waze, we went  the KL way, not the previous Subang Airport way. We went, hoping the supplier would be there, because we didn't call him first. He was.  He was the first one to lift his hand in recognition.

While Hank went somewhere first (the loo, maybe) I quickly settled for 150 durians, priced at RM3,750. Actually he delivered about 20 fruits more.

On Friday ND called to say that MS's supplier would also deliver 100 fruits, come Sunday. We both had prepared ourselves the possible non-delivery from MS source, because of his medical problems, and leaving it all to a nephew to follow-up. MS had lived up to his promise to deliver, and all the more credit to him, in the light of his serious health issues. I don't think I'd have done it myself.

In fact Sunday, when I came out of the assembly theater after Col. Rashidin called because my supplier had arrived, and the driver wanted to be paid, I ran into MS's supplier truck that had arrived, and was calling for directions from MS's nephew about where the Lake-side durian station was. I just jumped on to the truck and directed him to the spot, which wasn't far, but a vehicle needed to take a circuitous route around the car park and the parade ground from where he was at the parking area in front of the surau. But the durian feast was still about 3 hours away.

ND is nothing if not for his meticulous ways. We don't always see the hard work of planning and managing a gathering involving many activities, involving many people, covering many locations, lasting many hours all in half-a-day. Of course, we don't always genuinely appreciate it, even if we know it. There were many meetings, many participants, over many days. Alterations, right up to the final group meeting, took place. But in the end, the get-together started, and ended in the planned time frame. It wouldn't have happened without one ND. That's why Halim said ND was the "dynamo" of the whole thing. Bravo !

I don't know if there'll another one next year. ND had indicated before that he's happy to relinquish his role. Somebody like him must be found. Our BB's have been very generous with their money and time.  The College produced these successful and loyal citizens. That's why, to me, this whole thing is working.

I enjoyed this 2024 celebration. I met a few very old friends like Wan Wahid, Murni Arshad, Aba Jiwa (a nick-name I call him by), Farid Wardi, Aziz Hassan, Jusoh Daud ( last met him in 1962), Rahman Daud and many others. But I also missed some old attendees like Shahruddin Bahaudin, Mansor Salleh, Nor Shaari, Jalaluddin Hashim, Salim Rahim and Ismail Noor and some others. Even since our last gathering, we've lost a few. How many more would leave us is a sad and  tragic certainty for not the too distant future.

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