I am so proud of you, 5K3!

My ties with the Methodist Girls' School, Malacca go as far back as the pre-World War 2 days! My late mother was a pupil in the primary school way back then. She was staying at the Shellabear Hall hostel when British Malaya fell to the Japanese and Miss Eva Sadler, the hostel warden at that time, had to hurriedly bundle off the school children to their respective homes.

2008 marks my 9th year of service in the Methodist Girls' Secondary School, Malacca. This year, I have the privilege of teaching Form 5K3. I took over the class from my colleague, Mdm. Elaine Tey and didn't know what to expect from the girls in the class.

When the school principal Miss Nga Johnson was about to retire in February this year, I challenged the girls to give her a simple gift from the heart - an autograph book from the class. I told the girls that it wouldn't cost much and only required paper, pen, some effort and someone to take the lead. I was so caught up with work and forgot entirely about the project that I had entrusted the girls with. However, to my utter complete pleasant surprise, on the day of the principal's retirement which fell on 22 February 2008, the 5K3 monitor Pei Kin proudly presented Miss Nga Johnson with the class's autograph book. A quick check with the newly-retired prncipal allayed all my fears - the book was tastefully and creatively done, never mind the grammar mistakes!

5K3 - all of you deserve a pat on your back. You just prove that with your own iniatiative but little or no adult supervision, yet you can do something beyond a teacher's (and principal's)expectations. I am so proud of all of you! With you as the future adult citizens and leaders of the country, there is hope yet for Malaysia.

Happy birthday, Nga Johnson!

How can one forget a name as unusual as Nga Johnson? What's her surname - Nga or Johnson? Is she a Chinese married to a 'Mat Salleh' by the name of Johnson? Is 'Nga Johnson' male or female? I've explained to many people a thousand times over - 'Nga Johnson' is a Chinese female, Nga is her surname, she is single (and available) and she was given the name 'Johnson' by her father because she is a 'son' of the state of 'JOHor' (she was born in JB, all plump and cherub).

The Sri Peranakan Restaurant, Hotel Equatorial, Malacca was where Nga Johnson had her 56th birthday bash (and retirement celebration). The theme colours for the night were yellow and white, and there were presents galore - lucky draws, free novels and even awards for the best dressed male (Lee Hock) and female (Anne Khoo) guests, and oldest guests (Helen and Swee Lim Wong) . The prima donna had many changes of costumes (like in a typical Chinese wedding) and one of the costumes was should I say, simply outrageous for a 56-year-old woman! (No, I won't show THAT photo here!)

Here are 10 things you should know about Nga Johnson:

1. She and I were living in Muar back in the 1970s, down the same road too (Jalan Khalidi). I was intrigued by her name. Our paths crossed again when she came to my school (Methodist Girls' Secondary School, Malacca) as principal in 2003.

2. She prefers drinking coffee (the thicker the better) to simple healthier plain water.

3. Her apartment (and office) always appears to be hurricane-cum-tornado-cum-tsunami struck (a perfect 10 on the Richter scale) - only she can find her things amidst the rubble.

4. Her favourite food - pork cooked in any style. Deprive her of this culinary delight and she'll perish.

5. Gas tank and packet of rice bought in 2002 (year she uprooted herself from KL and came to Malacca) are still intact in 2008. She's a very undomesticated goddess.

6. Her part-time job - pirated Korean DVD distributor to the school staff. Our DVD supply has been cruelly cut off since she retired on 22nd February this year. Sigh...

7. Favourite off-office hours attire - spaghetti string tops and shorts.

8. Her announcements over the school public address system can be heard over a radius of one mile, no kidding. That's how strong her lungs are!

9. She was the primary mover behind efforts to restore the school's 1953 Shellabear Block and the building went on to win the coveted 2004 National Heritage Award in 2005.

10. Her pet hobbies - Reading, travelling and eating (gluttony). She's a real foodie and knows where the best food in Malacca is served. Local Malaccans also 'kalah' to her...

The 11th thing you should know about her - she's a slave driver where work is concerned but she has a heart of 24-carat gold. Happy birthday, Nga Johnson!

Photo on top left shows Jo Chua (left) in her kebaya finery and Indera Devi (right) in her Bollywood gear, clinging to each other for dear life lest the balloon dropped.

Photos below from top left: The birthday girl (in kebaya) greeting guests. Right: It's Saturday Nite Fever time! Below: My son William striking a cheeky pose, with from left Daniel, Nga Johnson, Jo and husband Keong.