BBGS@Singapore Reunion 2013

The last time BBGSians in Singapore got together, we headed out to the high seas on board a yacht.  This year, we decided to stay ashore and return to the charming hospitality of our warm hostess, Jillian Lee, who owns  Lee Tong Kee - a decades old restaurant that's guaranteed to delight the tastebuds of homesick KL-ites.  From the sign on the door welcoming BBGSians, to the balloons and crepe paper decorations that surrounded the upper room, it was undoubtedly an act of love and service born of a true BBGSian.  Thanks so much Jillian.  We love you! 

Class of 1975

Class of 1986

Class of 1987

The different generations of girls wasted little time getting to know one another.  Introductory questions like "What year are you from?", "How long have you been in Singapore?" and "What do you do?" quickly gave way to "Remember what happened when Miss Cooke/ Miss Yeap/ Mrs Choe/our classmates did....", which opened the floodgates of schoolgirl stories that left us clutching our sides with laughter while gasping for breath.  Story after story poured feverishly from our memories proving once again that "you can take a girl out of BBGS, but you can never take BBGS out of a girl!"

Ong Jin Kar (Class of 1986) with her family from Perth

Doreen Oh Craig (on the right) from the Class of 1986 joined us from Glasgow

This year, we had two girls from the Class of 1986 who flew in specially to join us.  Ong Jin Kar brought her family from Perth to say a quick "Hello" before they scooted nervously out of the venue, as most husbands and sons of high-spirited BBGSians have been known to do. Doreen Craig was on holiday from Glasgow and flew into Singapore specially for this reunion.  Thank you for making the special effort, ladies. We really enjoyed your company!

Last but not least, here's a group photo of all the attendees taken just before dinner.  We were kind enough not to make anyone kneel, as in our old school photos, just in case aged joints prevented anyone from getting up again! :)

All in all, a highly enjoyable evening.  Thanks to Moonlake Lee for organising the reunion and to everyone for coming.

Till we meet again, remember Nisi Dominus Frustra.

Sexy Spaghetti Song

I made a trip back to KL on Friday 14th September for a very special event. Juwita Suwito was staging a concert at the Pavilion and dedicated the first night to BBGS. Under Mrs Abraham's guidance, Juwita and her amazing band conjured up magical music for the many BBGS girls and teachers who turned up to enjoy the evening. She even managed to surprise Mrs Abraham with a birthday dedication.

My favorite song of the night was the very sexy jazzed up version of "On Top of Spaghetti".

Sailing around Singapore

Last Saturday afternoon on 1 September 2012, sixteen BBGSians boarded a yacht at One Degree Fifteen Marina at Sentosa for a reunion with a difference.  Thanks to the brilliant organization of Patricia Chang (hip hip hooray!), the Class of 1987 had a wonderful 25th anniversary and were fortunate enough to have the company of other BBGSians living in Singapore.

There was no talk of diamonds, boob jobs or investment banker husbands.   Just plenty of genuine laughter and unfettered delight in each other's company on board a rented yacht.  This is exactly how 25th year school reunions should be celebrated.

Ladies, I salute you!

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Quotes from the girls:

"It was a wonderful afternoon. Thank you all for reminding me how fortunate I was to be at this school and to have grown up with you." - Tomasina Oh

"Good fun.  My spirits lifted just being with you girls for one afternoon!  Energized to face the daily grind. We must meet more often." - Jeninder Kaur Gill

"Let's not wait another 25 years!  What a blast.  Could have yakked for another 4 hours." - Chen May Yee

"Had a really good yacht outing with BBGSians today. The experience was priceless and I will remember this event for the rest of my life."  - Patricia Chang

Xiao Ling - our very own yacht. For four hours only lah!

All aboard for a sun-soaked bubbly reunion

Lu Meng, Tomasina and Joanna chatting on the deck

Our very own HOT MAMAS - May Yee and Jeninder

From L-R:

1. Sweetest choral speaking conductor

2. Prefect.. Vice Captain.. School Captain

3. Superb portrait artist

4. Model rule-abiding BBGS student

5. Kongsi Gelap gang

6. Maths extraordinaire (kneeling)

Photo caption courtesy of Tan Lu Meng 

Spice Girls from Class of 1987

(Standing L-R) Joanna, Siok Chu

(Sitting L-R) Lu Meng, Patricia, Yee Git

Spicier Girls - Jessica, Melina & Moonlake

Cyndee & Joanne

School Captain passing out champagne.  Oh...how the mighty have fallen, or rather, have grown up.  CHEERS!

Beautiful cupcake presentation by Elis Chan (Class of 1995)

True to form, BBGSians cleaned up as the yacht was docking.  The crew rushed in saying "It's ok, we will clean!", to which I replied "It's alright, we are from BBGS."

Ha Ha over Hor Fun

On Friday 23 March 2012, another boisterous group of BBGSians got together for a reunion in Chinatown.  Seventeen ladies, ranging from the Class of 1975 to 1988,  left behind the passage of years and reverted to their giddy, giggly teenage selves.  Thanks to Norma Sit and Moonlake Lee for organizing this reunion over steaming bowls of hor fun and crunchy wontons.

Restaurant Lee Ho Kee serves delicious Ipoh Hor Fun and is the most authentic version I've tasted in Singapore.  This excellent culinary standard comes as no surprise as the restaurant is owned by Jillian Li, an ex-BBGSian.  Jillian was a gracious hostess and one can sense her sweet, sweet soul in the note that she sent to all of us after the event.  She took over the running of the restaurant at the age of 18 when her father passed on, and turned it into the success it is today!

I'm sure I speak for all 17 of us when I say "Thanks Jillian, and we'll be back for more hor fun!"

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Hi Ladies,…esp to Norma and Moonlake

 

I wish to express how honoured I am to be able to host all of you last nite at the BBGS reunion. A BIG Thank You to Norma for initiating it and not forgetting Moonlake for supporting the idea…..but most of all you ladies who made it happen.  =))

Wow I am proud  to say I can't believe you ladies have such good good fantastic memory with our school song lyrics …my heart really felt how blessed all of us are being educated in that school .Hey come to think of it the lyrics is indeed meaningful . O I cant believe  the gathering turn out so well and you still have so much respect for one another  and most of all to our school   I salute and admire,

I ever host protocol and other functions for good frenz. And now I cant believe  I hosted the BBGS Alumni spore It’s a happy occasions and proud to  say  how our school can groom us up !

Thank you again for coming………. I also wish to know all of you a little more! Hope to meet again. Cheers!!

God Bless and Take care………..Jillian

New Year reunion at Pavilion

(L-R) Liew Siew Ling, Joanna Yeoh, Yeow Gaik Pheng (Penny), Chen May Yee

Happy 2012 everyone!

After six weeks in the US, I made my way back to KL to celebrate the new year with some classmates from Class of 1987. Fittingly, we met at Din Tai Fung at the Pavilion.

Liew Siew Ling is a Professor of Food Sciences at UKM, and has interspersed her brilliant academic career with long spells overseas, when her husband was posted abroad. Three years ago, she was riding horses in South Africa and this year will see her packing for Switzerland to take up...er...yodelling..perhaps?

Yeow Gaik Pheng (Penny) is an Executive Search Consultant, otherwise known as a "headhunter". She runs her own practice while keeping busy with her young family.

Chen May Yee returned to KL last year after many years living in Minnesota. She is currently an editor for the Foreign News desk at the Singapore Straits Times, and has the enviable joy of working from home.

Besides catching up on the lives and whereabouts of former classmates, we talked about the state of Malaysian politics, education and economics; while tossing around an idea to organize a 25th year reunion for our classmates. Hmmm....watch this space!

Bubbly Bunch @ Modestos SG

Reporting another Singapore reunion last weekend on 20th August at Modesto's Orchard Road, where we welcomed two more long-lost BBGSians to the fold - Shelly Lim from the Class of 1986 and Gong Siok Chu from Class of 1987! And not forgetting our beautiful be-wigged Poesy Liang who joined us fresh from her Bald Empathy adventures. The regular crowd included Tan Lu Meng, Patricia Chang, Lee Kiew Puan and yours truly from Class of 1987, and Moonlake Lee from Class of 1986.

The obligatory group photo taken by an obliging (despite being coerced) Modesto's waiter

(L-R) The purple-wigged Poesy, Joanna, Lu Meng & Siok Chu

As for the stories... yes...Lu Meng told the Hockey and Bintang 3 drama stories again! Siok Chu contributed a new story about how we were passing sweets around the class during lesson time (a big no! no!) and while everyone just popped it into their mouths to consume the evidence as quickly as possible, Kiew Puan, the model student, tucked it into her handkerchief and kept it in her pocket till recess time! :-D

Standing (L-R): Siok Chu and Lu Meng, Seated (L-R) Patricia, Kiew Puan and her little girl

(L-R): Shelly, Lu Meng & Moonlake

We spent quite some time brainstorming ideas for our next reunion. Ideas included a barbecue at Joanna's, picnic at the Botanic Gardens, sunset cruise on a yacht and a Botox party! And no, the last idea didn't emerge from a drunken stupor as we were only drinking ginger beer. We'll definitely keep you all posted on the next reunion.

Photos courtesy of Jaclyn Tan Lu Meng

Reminiscences

This article was written by Mrs Yeoh nee Chong Shing Choo (Class of 1961) and featured in the 1986 School Magazine.

Kua Siew Lian (left) and Chong Shing Choo (right) reunited at the BBGS Mega Reunion at the Pavilion in August 2009. Both of them served faithfully as teachers in BBGS Primary School for many years.

The year 1961 - twenty five years ago...

With an anxious glance, I looked back at my Alma Mater and my friends - the girls whom I had known for so long. What did the future hold for us? Goodbyes were quickly uttered, faces perhaps trying to hide a tear or two, we went each on our own way.

Since then, the girls of 1961 have not lost track of each other. Through the untiring efforts of Miss Kua Siew Lian, we have been meeting at least once a year. What is said? What is shared? If our spouses or children would care to listen to our conversation, what would they think? Fortunately or not, they usually do the vanishing act when the girls of 1961 get together!

Let me tell you what goes on in a get-together of the old girls. During our first tete-a-tete session which was held so long ago (so long ago that I cannot recall the date), the first question was on marital status. Several of us have chosen to remain single, while others were brave enough to take the plunge. Job experiences were exchanged, the whereabouts of other classmates and our experiences at BBGS were the hot topics. The girls of '61 are dispersed all over the globe!

I remember very well Miss Cooke and her Geography lessons. Oh, how she used to drum into us the many Geographical facts which I still remember till today. Speech Day..."BBGS, we pledge to thee..." We were not let off until we had sung it the way she wanted it to sound.

Many of us will not readily forget the late Miss Too Tong Mei. Her Art lessons were a time of testing the grit and nerve of all concerned. Will I forget the day she made us paint WITHOUT water - only to use dry powder paint on newsprint! This is an incident few of us forget, even after 25 years!

Other dear "grown-ups" we remember fondly are Miss Mary Glasgow, Mrs Isobel Wee and Catherine Angus. In more than one, these dear teachers have carved a niche in our lives.

Many of us are now either happy professional women or mothers. Whatever vocation we have chosen, we have done so to fulfill the verse of the School Song -

"When we are grown
And take our place
As loyal women with our race."

The girls of '61 are a cheerful lot, who have gone through much of life, which is not surprising as they are almost half a century old.

Children, husbands, work, funny episodes which take place from day to day are common topics when we get together. To me, the happiest time of my life is still the years I spent at BBGS. It was in this place, with the help of dedicated teachers who worked for the love of teaching and nurturing young minds that I have adopted many principles which I now hold dear in my role as a mother and teacher in a primary school.

To the new girls of BBGS, take this advice from an old girl, treasure your memories of your school days.

Though much has changed with time, you should still hold on steadfastly to the LIVING words of the School Song.

Be proud to have been a student of the School on the Starry Hill. I assure you that there is none that can compare.

Old friends with new names

(L-R) Mok Mei Ling, Lau Pei Shan, Chua Siew Hwa (aka Terri Lim), Ng Wye Wye

Facebook has become my window to the world for all my friends, both old and new. Sometimes, new names pop up on familiar faces, and that's what happened recently with Chua Siew Hwa, now known as Terri Lim. I rejected her request twice before receiving her note of explanation...persistance pays!

She's back in KL and caught up some classmates (Class of 1987) recently and here's a quick snapshot of what everyone's been up to. Thanks to Wye Wye for the photo and update.

Ng Wye Wye says:
"Mok and Pei Shan are leading very exciting lives in the fashion and retail industries. Going international hehe. Siew Hwa and family have been jet-setting the globe for the last 20 years! She's now based in Moscow, having resided in the States and Bangkok previously. As for me, I am now serving the Lord full time in church as a pastor. I left my workplace of 16 years last year. Loving my life now! :)"

Siew Hwa adds:
"Ha ha Jo, thanks for clearing the confusion over my "new name" and "old name" I will answer to both, of course. Wye, u did good in summarizing where I hv been in the last 20 yrs except that I only started the jetsetting part abt 14-15 yrs ag...o:) 20 yrs ago, I was still in MU with Joanna Yeoh:) here's a little more update on me- I joined KPMG Consulting for a few years after I graduated. Then I got married and moved overseas. My husband works in an oil and gas co, So we relocate every few years or so. Moscow is our sixth home, we have lived in Bangkok (twice), Dubai, Houston and Perth. I have 2 boys, 13 and 8. I have been mostly a full time stay at home mom and a part time research analyst with an US based firm."

Food Sale Reunion @ SG

Yesterday afternoon, twelve sophisticated ladies trooped into an apartment in the heart of Singapore and were greeted by this sign...

As shouts of "Cooke!", "Green!", "Maclay!", "Shirtliff!" and "Prouse!" rang around the entrance, the door opened and pandemonium ensued - shrieks of delight, raucous laughter and big bear hugs were the order of the day! Some amused husbands and wide-eyed children were also in tow but they excused themselves quite quickly. No one was brave enough to get in the way of our annual BBGS@SG reunion.

Lynette introduced us to her teenage kids, while Kiew Puan had her lovely 4 year old princess in tow.

Most of us were from the class of 86, 87 and 88 and after a quick round of introductions, we quickly settled into the order of the day: the Food Sale themed high tea. Everyone was so excited about the menu that volunteers to prepare food were signed up within two days of the invitation:-

• Joanna - toasted sambal sandwiches


• Lu Meng- curry puffs (from Old Chang Kee)


• Moonlake - rojak (store bought and very popular)


• Jeanette - cincau (which her mother made - thank you Aunty!)


• Lynette - fried mee hoon (home made and full of flavour)


• Charlotte - kacang putih (she didn't turn up but her kacang putih did...talk about accountability!)


• Gek Lin - ice cream float (so refreshingly decadent)


• Tomasina - banana cake (home baked and so yummy!)


• Patricia - BBQ chicken wings (by Kak Yanti which were delicious)


• Yee Git - cheese platter (the most "atas" item on offer)


• Suet Poh - fruit platter (lots of variety and the most healthy item on the menu)


• Kiew Puan - sotong balls (super yummy and gone in a flash)

The"girls" busily preparing and presenting their dishes

And then it was time to chat and catch up on 20 years worth of news! That's how long some of us hadn't seen each other. University, jobs, husbands, kids, years in Singapore, PSLE, plastic surgery, learning Mandarin, insurance, best infant formula were just some of the many topics talked about and laughed over. This was interspersed with school stories about teachers, school rules and food sales! We compared the abundant fillings of our toasted sandwiches to the miserable smear of sambal in our original food sale toasties. And debated the finer points of sandwich making - "Where got cucumber one?" or "Wah..the edges also got filling!"

And finally, the happy clappy group photo. Thanks to the combined efforts of everyone present, we arranged ourselves carefully around the sofa and got the camera timer to work. And voila! Even then, we managed to find something to laugh about when taking this photo with comments like: "Those of you who can still kneel, please kneel." "Hurry up lah! My knees are giving way..." Haha...until our next gathering girls, take care and God bless!

BBGS reunion in London

Mak Mei Ling (Class of 1983) gives us a peek at what happened when twelve BBGSians based in the UK got together at the Souk Restaurant in London on 27 February 2011. Enjoy!

At the end of each year, as I heave a sigh of relief that our family has survived another 365 days without too many upheavals, my thoughts turn to the year ahead. In thinking about New Year resolutions, the level of my ambition has gone down as the number of white hairs on my head has gone up. A list of 20 ostensibly achievable resolutions when I was 22 was reduced to 10 when I was 33. This has whittled down to just the one now I am 44. However it is a significant one, designed to stop boredom in its tracks and to add some joie de vivre in a world that is increasingly competitive, complicated and unpredictable. In 2011 my one resolution was to do something or to eat somewhere or to meet someone really interesting every week.

The advantage of living in London is that you are never at a loss for things to do, places to eat or people to meet. However, I did not imagine that this would take the form of a BBGS reunion.

BBGS we pledge to thee...

How I came to be invited to the first BBGS reunion in Europe was itself very interesting. I attend All Souls Church in Langham Place, and in January I was asked to give my testimony. Immediately after the service a member of the congregation came up to me and said, ‘are you by any chance from BBGS?’

There was no need for a particular type of walk, a wink of the eye or a funny handshake. The beauty, if I may say so, of being a BBGS girl is that you are almost instantly recognisable by another BBGSian. Boey Moo Ling introduced herself and informed me that there was a BBGS reunion taking place in February. I contacted Doreen Craig who organised the event to say I would be attending and asked if I should wear my old school badge!

On 27 February, 12 of us gathered in Central London where Doreen had hired a private room in a Moroccan restaurant. The dim lighting was perfect as we did not have to be under too much scrutiny (I was not the youngest there). Everyone was very chatty and found someone else to talk to. Bits of other people’s conversations drifted around - the ais kacang machine, toasted sambal sandwiches, Mrs Abraham and her tongue twisters. Declaring who your headmistresses was gave an indication of your age but no one cared because we were far too engrossed in talking about our present lives and what brought us to London and to Europe.

Smiles all round when BBGSians get together

The moment of reckoning came when we were asked to sing the school song. Not only to sing it, but to have it recorded and uploaded onto Facebook. I cannot imagine what my children will say when they find out. I left BBGS in 1983, but am very proud to say that I remembered the tune to the song. Since the lunch I have even managed to sing the first verse in my head without having to refer to the words.

In singing the school song again after such a long gap, I hope any BBGSian would agree with me that the words, once embedded in our memories if not our hearts, have made us who we are – loyal women, who are able to call on God for help, able to shoulder burdens and who delight in simple things. If I have gone this far in life, it is not due to my own efforts but the efforts of the school in instilling in me a sense of duty and responsibility in all that I undertake, and in underpinning that duty with the understanding that everything is sustained by God. As the year goes by whether we have one or 100 resolutions, the school motto still holds true: Nisi Dominus Frustra - without God all is in vain.

BBGS cupcakes brought by Alice Lian