YOUR ACTIONS ARE BASED ON
HOW YOU THINK WHICH AFFECTS HOW YOU FEEL.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO GAIN ATTENTION BY
LOSING RESPECT.
YOU MUST LIVE LIFE WITH THE FULL KNOWLEDGE THAT
YOUR ACTIONS HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES AND
WILL REMAIN.
BE IN CONSCIOUS ALL CONTROL OF YOUR ACTIONS.
~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller
I HAVE TOO MANY FLAWS TO BE PERFECT.
I HAVE MADE MANY WRONG TURNS.
WITH ALL THIS,
I HAVE TOO MANY BLESSINGS TO BE UNGRATEFUL.
I REALISE THAT WRONG TURNS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS
RIGHT TURNS.
MORE IMPORTANT, SOMETIMES.
~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller
The meet – La Salle@75.
January 8th – one of the most unique days – I’ve experienced only 67 of them so far… Looking forward to experiencing at least another 67 of them in the coming years. Woohoo!
January 8th is the most unique day of this year because it showed up only once and is not expected to show up again. You probably will ask, “What’s the big deal? Each and every day of this year will make an appearance only once this year, too”. True.
What makes it even more unique as in every date day is that there has never been a date repeat in history.
However, we can’t tell how the future will look at time in particular. People in the future may slow down the measurement of time by adding more seconds, minutes, hours, or even days in a year.
Coming back to January 8th, 2026 – it was more than just an ordinary day for 5 guys, including me who share a common nucleus: we are all from La Salle School Klang, 1975, now into our 51st year.
It all started with Harry, who came up from Singapore (1), wanting to try out the electric train.
While the train was modern, comfortable and fitted with the spoils for comfort, it did break down about 45 minutes into the journey. So much for EVs.
Harry got to KL eventually, without further drama. He hopped into another train where he got off at Klang.
He made an invitation to all the La Salle ’75ers, an invitation of sorts – a choice of any of the 3 dates (or all?) to meet with him for breakfast, lunch, dinner. I chose lunch January 8th. And so did 3 others – Chee Leong, Jason and Termizi.
I’ve not met some of those attending the January 8th lunch in multiple (more than many😃) years.
However, we hit it off from the word “Go”. We may not have met in person in recent years, but we were always connected through our WhatsApp group.
We met at a prominent hotel in Setia Alam (2). Harry, Jason and Chee Leong were already there when I arrived.
Jason was the logistics organizer – lunch, coffee, afternoon, coffee, movie, dinner, and massage. Setia Alam Mall was his “playground”. He knew every store, restaurant and entertainment outlet there because he lived in a condo which was part of the shopping mall complex. He had everything mapped out for us, with additional options if we were up to it. It looks like we will have to meet up with him more often to experience all that he recommends worth trying out.
I think what was interesting was that we hardly spent much time reminiscing about school days. We had some fleeting moments, yes; that was it. Most of the time spent, we talked about our lives in the present and what we would like the future to be for us.
Harry is on the hunt for a possible life-long lady relationship. Single, available, a good catch, young (we all are – we are the same age), suave, good sense of humour, o.k. with bak-ku-teh being his staple meal, loves travelling, and for the up-market feel – he has a Singapore address.
His whole week spent on this side of Malaysia, had a trail blaze of photographs. Who knows? He may display his photographs in an exhibition solely for his works. Keep a look out for it.
Chee Leong spends most of his time showing workers on his 50 acre palm oil estate, the ropes in maintaining the trees and land, ensuring good yield from the trees. He even shows his workers first-hand, how to cut the grass….then he does it himself (that’s what he says) – a perfectionist. The payoff is he looks very fit – watches his food intake, etc… but mainly cuts grass – not sure if he cuts the grass on all 50 acres – whatever it is, he sure is enjoying himself.
Termizi, from the very second he met us, he was talking business deals, one after another; non-stop. He is planning to introduce a very attractive Japanese lady (he showed us her picture) to Harry. I was trying to figure out when did he even have a moment to catch his breath. Termizi is a sort of DJ too – he sends videos and songs that brings back good memories to all of us in our La Salle@75 Whatsapp group chat. We know he puts in a good amount of time in research for music that will resonate with the guys and Mr. Michael Xavier (our teacher), who is also in this group. We guys are blessed with Mr. Xavier’s presence. His famous daily greeting is, “Good morning guys and take care”.
And yes, We did go for a movie – Avatar, the latest in its series – all of over 3 and half hours worth. It was interesting – gizmos, tech, colour – futuristic. My favourite character of the whole movie was Varang, starred by Oona Chaplin. I thought she was cute. The show ended after half eight in the evening. We ended the evening on that note.
There is a space of 50 years +1 (into out 51st) from the time we left (today’s term used is “graduated”) school till now. We all wear the La Salle Secondary School badge without physically having it on, yet we wear it proudly. Thanks, guys; for the wonderful time we had on this day.
Remembering CHARLES ROZARIO (BIJOU) – La Salle@75, 12th January, 2026
NOTES:.
DON’T WAIT FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO HAPPEN.
YOU CREATE THEM!
IMAGINE.
MANY IMAGINE. FEW EXECUTE.
THEN, BE PATIENT AS EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER.
~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller
YOU MAY BE STRUGGLING. YOU’VE HAD BETTER DAYS.
HOWEVER,
BE THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO CAN BE HAPPY FOR OTHERS.
SHARE IN THEIR JOYS AND DELIGHT.
~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller
GOOD DEEDS, DONE WITH INTENTION DOES NOT
SEEK ATTENTION.
GOOD DEEDS DONE FOR ATTENTION IS RARELY WITH SELFLESS INTENTION.
Alan Ian Atkinson
Writer, Author, Storyteller
GENUINE IS REAL.
REAL IS RARE.
DO IT BECAUSE IT’S IN YOUR HEART,
TO GIVE,
NO STRINGS ATTACHED;
NOT BECAUSE YOU WANT SOMETHING IN RETURN.
~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller
YOU MAY NOT SEE THE INVISIBLE,
YOU MAY NOT FEEL THE INTANGIBLE,
AND YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE IN ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE.
BUT I DO.
THE FUTURE WHICH IS INVISIBLE, IS VISIBLE.
IT CAN BE FELT.
IT IS REAL.THE IMPOSSIBLE IS ONLY IMPOSSIBLE, UNTIL YOU ACHIEVE IT.
~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Write, Author, Storyteller
THE TOMORROWS OF 2026
BELONG TO THE PEOPLE
WHO
PREPARE FOR THEM TODAY.
~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller
“I don’t want to talk about it”… No Rod is not here, but the singer of the band is. Belting this evergreen hit, to the crowd, having cocktails, and waiting to be ushered into the ballroom for the wedding dinner.
Jeannie, when signing us in, noted that we did not personally know the other guests assigned to our table. Great way to start the new year – meeting and making new friends.
It has been a great start of the new year. 2.75 days are up. People are still wishing each other “Happy New Year”. Depends on how you look at it, every day is a new year.
When the doors of the ballroom were opened and guests began making their way to their designated seating arrangements; I reminisced about the first time being in this ballroom some over two and a half decades ago when this hotel was under a different name. I was in life insurance back then. It was one of the many functions for top achievers and if my memory serves me well; we had quite a many functions for achievers held here. The service at that time was good (hence the multiple functions that we celebrated there).
As we entered the grand ballroom, we were engulfed in its bright, well lit, well decor-ed room that made everyone, both formal and informal, comfortable. I cannot say it looked just the same as back then. The room would have been renovated, refurbished and transformed several times over the years.
We got to our table with ease after having studied…(well, not really studied… more like glanced) at the floor plan of the table arrangement. Several of the guests assigned to our table, were already seated.
I cannot remember if there was a time there was an awkward silence…you know…when we don’t know the others and the others don’t know us. When everyone tries not to make eye contact but gazes around the room, look at the ceiling and admire the chandeliers, study the food itinerary intensely, whip out their cell phones… Well folks, there wasn’t any at our table.
It didn’t take us long to get acquainted. Three ladies, like Jeannie; were from the food industry, the same as Joon; Grace’s mother. Some others were neighbours. Mike is a pilot, flying Boeing 777 for one of the world’s leading airlines. And I, I the Hatted Writer; was accompanying Jeannie.
The bride, Grace; and bridegroom, Dave; arrived shortly and were escorted to the main table. It didn’t take us long to realise that this wasn’t the usual “stiff, prim & proper” wedding reception.
A live band was in attendance, singing and playing songs that the people in the room could sing, hum, tap fingers or feet, to. A young lady, who was the M.C., probably related to Grace; was wonderful. During the evening, she sang several upbeat songs. A young violinist, performed on stage, several times during the evening.
This violinist, a girl of about 10 years; did not seem to play based on memorizing note for note on a score sheet. She played with pizazz. I liked how she put zest into parts of the songs she played that only displayed her confidence.
Joon’s schoolmates from Muar; belted out a popular song, too. It looked like everyone there, were musically inclined.
This was followed by a speech made by Grace and Dave. They, then made their way round to all the tables, “yamseng-ing” away and having photographs taken with the guests.
What a great way to start the new year. A beautiful wedding reception. Jeannie and I sure had fun. It could probably be also due to the livewire at our table – a Malaysian lady, residing in Hong Kong; with her witty sense of humour. I think this was one of the best wedding receptions I have attended in a long time.