Volume 1 Issue 14

New Addition To The Family

Becoming a mother holds great responsibilities. This, in a nutshell, was Tiara Damansara’s Administrative Assistant Puan Salmah Ahmad's view after becoming a first time mother on Nov. 7th, 2006.

Her newborn son, Adam Faris, arrived on the afternoon of the day Salmahwas admitted to Universiti Hospital. Born at 1.22 pm, he weighed 3.224 kilos. Adam arrived earlier than expected since his mother had scheduled her three-month maternity leave from Nov.14th onwards.

And how does the new mother, who is resting in her home at Kg. Jimah Lama, Siliau, Negri Sembilan, after her discharge the day after Adam was born, feel?

"I feel great and happy. But I also feel a great sense of responsibility, now that I am a mother," she said over the handphone.

With her mother helping out, she said that she was not allowed to take certain seafood items,like the sting ray, cat fish or any other fish which were believed to cause itching. Neither would she take any "cooling" vegetables during the 40-day confinement period.

Meantime, take a well earned rest and enjoy the newborn. We wish you and your husband, Hairi bin Danin, great happiness with baby Adam.

New Face in TM Office

With Puan Salmah Ahmad on three-month maternity leave,our newest face in the Tiara Management Office is temp Thelaga Muniandy. Thelaga started her first day on Nov 7th,2006. She heard about the temporary job from her uncle, who works for a resident in Tiara.

Brought up and educated at the Good Shepherd Convent in Ipoh,Thelaga, a Science stream student, scored 5 distinctions in her SPM, among them English and Bahasa Malaysia.

After completing her SPM in l992, she took a computer course, and graduated in Business Administration from Olympia College. She kept updating herself, taking computer courses at Cosmo Point and the IT Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Her first job was an administrative clerk in Metro Kiara, Subang Jaya, where she worked for nine years, leaving in September 2006 only because the company was moving to Port Klang, which she found too far to commute on a daily basis. When she heard about the temporary job in Tiara, she applied for the post.

Thelaga is married to Shanmugam Periasamy, who works at Nera Telecommunications, a quasi government set-up in Shah Alam. Shanmugam, who does a lot of travelling in his job, is currently in Russia, returning only in late December.

We wish you a happy stint with us in Tiara,Thelaga.

Letter To The Editor - Parking

Dear Editor,

In the September 15th issue of Tiara Times, a resident, Parker, wrote in expressing his disappointment that Management was no longer looking into the green vacant lot outside the ground for conversion into a parking lot. He stated he noticed that many of the articles sent in for preserving the green lung were by residents with units facing the green.

When Tiara Times asked for feedback from residents on their views about converting this into a parking lot, not a single resident wrote in for the idea. All emails sent in were by residents opposing the idea. Why did Parker keep mum over the issue? Why does he now gripe over this? Just because his car was broken into recently did he then write in to state his disappointment.

Most residents facing the green lung opposed the idea. And they have every right to do so, since their units would be the ones affected by this conversion. Had this taken place, these residents would be inhaling polluted air, looking out into an eyesore, disturbed by noises like the starting of engines, slamming of car doors, and glare of lights when they are trying to sleep, not to mention the prices of their units plummeting .

Just as Parker feels his car is more important than the lung being sacrificed for a parking lot, the residents facing the green lung feel their health is very important. And the right to the appreciation of their units as well. So, is one car more important than all these ? I say NO!

What Parker fails to realise is that when he bought a unit in Tiara, he was very aware that each unit came with only one parking bay. Now, tell me, where on earth can Management find the necessary land for more and more car bays since Tiara does not own any more land. That vacant lot outside does not even belong to Tiara. And, for that matter, no one as yet knows who even owns that piece of land. Do we have the funds to purchase the land? Or the funds to lease and build?

When Tiara Management Council mooted the idea of a multi storey car park on the tennis court, this never took off since residents were unwilling to fork out money to purchase a bay. Nothing comes free these days, and TMC does not have unlimited funds.

May I suggest that if Parker needs 2 parking bays, he may wish to sell his unit and purchase one in another condo which comes with 2 parking lots. After all, TMC is not obliged to find parking bays for people who need 2, 3 or more parking lots.

All for the Green Lung kept as it is.

Letter To The Editor - Parking

Dear Editor,

I agree with the letter written by WITHOUT PREJUDICE / OWNER. Why should Tiara Management pay to accommodate parking lots for people with more than 1 car? We pay maintenance charges not for that purpose. Management has done more than enough to create parking for those with more than 1 car. They have narrowed the roads to accommodate parking. They have also taken a green area at Queen’s, opposite the Guard House, to build a parking lot. Enough is enough. Stop wasting time and money harping and griping on the same issue.

For those who managed to get a parking lot inside, thank your lucky stars. For those who are unable to get a parking lot, or don't want to pay for one, too bad. Don't blame the original developers. Learn to live
with the fact that Tiara is short of parking. Some residents can learn to live with 1 car. If you cannot, then you have a choice: either park outside with all the attendant risks, or find another place to live.

Another Owner

Letter To The Editor - Swimming Pool

Dear Management / Editor

I wish to highlight to you an event which took place one Sunday evening on Nov.10th 2006. I believe some residents were having a party by the pool-side. There were young children and teenagers swimming and jumping into the pool in their clothes. I am aware that Management has put up a signboard with rules and regulations for using the pool. But on several occasions though, I have seen people not adhering to them.

There are several issues I wish to bring to the attention of all parents who allow their children to use the pool:

1. Educate the children on safety procedures when using the pool, e.g. to refrain from jumping into the pool when there are others swimming.

2. Do not throw slippers or toys into the pool.

3. Do not drag or pull the deck chairs to the divider between the baby pool and the adult pool.

4. To clear all swimmers from the swimming pool area when there is a thunder storm approaching, or when it is raining, as it is dangerous to swim under such conditions, more so when there is lightning, especially now, when it is the monsoon season.

No doubt Management has appointed a company to clean the pool but it is also our duty as residents to keep the Tiara Damansara common areas clean and tidy. May I request all Tiarans to be civic conscious.

Concerned Tiaran

Eyeglass Collection For Charity

Please be informed that another recycling initiative is on-going now. Starting end of October until early March, 2007, Eyeglass Collection Centres have been established in various places in Petaling Jaya. For those who would like to donate their used eyeglasses for re-use by the less privileged, please send them to any of these venues:

Lobby, MBPJ HQ / Lobby, Menara MBPJ / DJROA Community Recycling Centre / Ming Tien Food Court, Taman Megah / Taman Megah Residents Association / Taman Mayang Jaya Residents Association / Morning Market SS2/63 (in front of MJ restaurant) / Lovely Disabled Home, SS2 / PJCC, Jalan 17/21 / London Optical, Damansara Utama / Malaya Optical, Jalan Yong Shook Lin / RA Section 5 (Photo Shop off Jalan Chantek) / SK Sri Kelana / RT Jalan Carey / Magnum, Taman Megah / RT Section 1A / RT SS5 / Komuniti Link, Summit Shopping Centre / Saujana Apartment RA, Damansara Damai / RT Kg Chempaka JKKK, Kg Kayu Ara / Beautiful Gate, Jalan SS2/24/ RA SS3 / Klinik Huang, SS3 / RT Sea Park / Clinic MBPJ / RT Section 4A / Landscape Department, MBPJ, Taman Bandaran Kelana Jaya / Hotel Lisa De Inn/ Hotel PJ De Inn / Komuniti Link, ICT Centre, Jalan 17/1A.

The collected eyeglasses will be cleaned, tested and labelled before being sent to the Lions Regional Eyeglass Recycling Centre in Sri Lanka. From there the glasses would be sent to the needy in Asia and Africa. Whilst this project is aimed at helping the poor and needy with eyesight problems, it is also an endeavour to reduce the generation of waste. You may contact the undersigned at 012-2081489 for Centres closer to you. For donation in bulk, arrangements can be made for collection.

Thank you.

Lih Shyan
MBPJ LA 21

Tiara Profile – Kalvinder Kaur

Going that extra mile is second nature to her. She will look after you, cook for you and even tuck you into bed after handing you your medication when you are ill. She is none other than Kalvinder Kaur d/o Ajeet Singh,or Kelly to everyone.

I am most fortunate to have a caring friend and neighbour like her. During an agonising bout of back sprain recently, Kelly massaged me, cooked my meals, gave me my medication, and pulled the blanket over me before turning off the light to let me rest - in her home.

Born in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, the middle of five siblings, two elder sisters and two younger brothers, the daughter of a Singaporean Punjabi mother and father who worked in the Malaysian Civil Service Waterworks
Department), Kelly was six pounds two ounces at birth, "the lightest of all my siblings," she stated. "But now, it seems the other way round," she laughed.

Her mother, a nurse at the Kandang Kerbau Hospital in Singapore, left nursing when she married Ajeet Singh to live in Perak.

Kelly received her early education at the Sitiawan Convent, Perak. She excelled in cooking and making creative things. Her cooking came in handy after her father passed away in l984. By then her mother had opened a food stall in Sitiawan, which Kelly and a younger brother helped man. It served breakfast, lunch and dinner, starting from 6.30 am and ending at midnight.

For breakfast there was meehoon, fried rice, char koay teow, nasi lemak, chappati and paratha, the latter two served with dhall, mutton, kurma, sardine or sambal ikan bilis. Lunch comprised white rice, mixed
vegetables and whatever was left of the morning menu. For dinner, the menu was chappati and paratha, with dhall and some meat dishes .

These were pushed to the venue from home on a self-made cart. Her skilful younger brother, Param, made a cart from wood and wheels bought from a tyre shop.

Six years after the passing of her father, the family moved to Kuala Lumpur, where an elder sister was working. Kelly was sent to Singapore to pursue a Hotel Management Course, staying with her maternal grandparents there. After graduating, she worked at the Imperial Hotel, off Jalan Rumbia, in Singapore, where she was given charge of organising weddings, dinners and Christmas functions, together with setting up the festive decorations and even dressing up as a Santarina during the years she worked there.

When she left the Hotel to return to Kuala Lumpur, she was given a testimony by Imperial, citing her as "hardworking and efficient, positive in outlook and very pleasant”.

Kelly also participated in the National Community Singing Competition in l990, organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Information, the Ministry of Education and the National Trades Union Congress, receiving a certificate for it.

Her return to Kuala Lumpur was to look after her mother, since an elder sister,who had been looking after her, was getting married and moving out of the maternal home.

For three years Kelly devotedly kept an eye on her mother until her marriage to Abtar Singh, a KLIA Security employee in l993. Until l998, she worked at the Concorde Hotel, the Shangri-la, Pacific Regency, and the Intercontinental Hotel, where she was a Sales Consultant for "The Privilege Club." Her portfolio was to market the prestigious dining club to "the top management in the Kuala Lumpur region”. Her boss cited her for "being very dedicated and self- motivated."

At the Concorde, she received the Healthy Employee Award of the Year for l992 for l00% attendance during the time she was there and was presented with a letter of commendation and a cash award by the Director of Human Resources.

She also received another certificate for successfully completing the Hotel Dynamics Telemarketing Training Course, meeting all sales targets and marketing strategies set throughout the programme.

During her stint at the Shangri-la, a hotel guest, in a letter to the General Manager of the Hotel, dated August 1st, l995, expressed his appreciation to the staff on duty the night his wife was ill, citing them for "excellent work, fine service, true dedication to duty and going that
extra mile", for doing the necessary to get his wife attended to whilst arranging a limousine to send her to a clinic. Kelly was part of the team.

She even had a stint as a dental assistant at the Uni-Med Dental Surgery, where her employer gave her a testimony for "being very pleasant, very hardworking, with a keen sense to learn."

It was only a matter of time before the friendly, helpful, multi talented and energetic Kelly decided, in 2001, to be her own boss, opening a stall in Damansara Heights, aptly called Kelly's Corner, at the MBSB Building, keeping business hours from 7am to 3pm. Friends and clients found her to be a perfectionist. Never one to cut corners, she used the best ingredients for her chicken curry, mutton/chicken/prawn masala served with chappati for lunch.

"I cannot do things in halves. Each and every step has to be done when cooking or doing something. But I can work very fast," she added. She also served fusion food, to cater to the various needs of her clients.

Breakfast consisted of nasi lemak, tuna sandwiches, boiled egg, fried meehoon, fried rice and chappati and a wide variety of drinks: teh tarik, local coffee, fresh cow's milk, tea, Milo, Horlicks, Nescafe, yoghurt drinks like mango, starfruit and apple, aerated canned drinks, salted, sweet or plain lassi. She also catered to the latest craze,Vanilla Coke, a mixture of vanilla ice-cream with coca cola and crushed ice.

A fast and able worker who speaks English, Malay, Tamil, Hindi and Punjabi, she had no problem working alone, taking orders and serving what was asked, collecting the cash and clearing tables. Sometimes, a maid or her brother would help out. She even found time to sell scarves, tudungs, and material for sarong kebayas to the ladies who patronised her stall.

Life for Kelly was fine, happy though hectic. Her marriage was "made in heaven" and she put on the pounds since the loving couple often made the food rounds. Three years after her marriage, she found herself "too prosperous, sizewise," at a hefty 118 kilos. Slimming outfit Philip Wain, fortunately,came to the rescue,co-sponsoring $30,000 for her to be a model for the company. It was a PR exercise by the company, to prove to others that its methods for slimming worked. In a matter of a few months, Kelly shed 20 kilos.

However, after twelve years of wedded bliss, Abtar was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Kelly closed Kelly’s Corner to be at his bedside, staying with him in the hospital for half a year before he succumbed to
his illness in 2005.

Devastated, she stayed with her elder sister in Tiara, helping out around the home to take her mind off her grief. Not one to keep still, she went back to what she enjoyed -cooking meals for her sister and family. To keep fit,she does exercises on the treadmill at home, walks around Tiara, takes a dip in the pool, and attends yoga classes in Bangsar .

She also put her skills to good use when friends,who enjoyed her chilli paste, which she gives out as gifts for birthdays, Christmas, Deepavali or other occasions, persuaded her to do some for them.

The paste, similar to the recipe made by her mother and sold at Teng Mini Market in Bangsar until her passing a few years ago, takes a long time to cook. It can be used to fry rice or meehoon, put into sandwiches, used as a dip for chicken nuggets, drummets, French fries or keropok, for curries, put into pizza instead of chilli sauce, for frying vegetables, or to spice things up.

The process is painstaking, she explained. De-seeding of the dried red chilli has to be done before blanching them in hot water. It is then blended with a large amount of garlic, onion, ginger, coriander and herbs before it is tumised (fried) in corn oil for 1-1/2 hours.

She has obliged many residents in Tiara with orders for the chilli paste, at RM4 per bottle. Should others be interested in ordering, Kelly can be reached at 79544463 / 012-6741330.

Volume 1 Issue 13

CAR WASH

The Tiara Management would like to inform that they have appointed Mr.Jothi Karuppiah as the car wash operator effective from 6^th Nov 2006. Mr. Jothi will be providing mobility car wash service where his team will wash your cars in your own bay. His rates are as follows:-

1. 5 times a week: RM45/ per month (car); RM50/per month (MPV).

2. 3 times a week: RM35/ per month (car); RM40/per month (MPV).

3. 2 times a week: RM30/ per month.

4. Once a week: RM20/ per month.

5. Polish & wax: RM50-RM 80 / per job.

Please contact the Management Office, should you wish to engage these services.

Playing Football In Tiara

The Tiara Management would like to remind all residents, including minors, that for safety reasons, football playing is NOT allowed in the playground. There have been reported complaints of window panes and flower pots being broken and even a child being hit by a ball.

Unfortunately, as there is no proper place where football can be played safely within Tiara, football playing is NOT allowed in Tiara premises. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Festive Get-Togethers

The Tiara Management Council, at its last meeting on Oct 14th, 2006, decided to do away with the festive get-togethers for residents of Tiara. Mooted a few years ago, with the aim of fostering goodwill and a spirit of camaraderie among the residents, it was clear that its purpose had failed. Only a handful of residents turned up for each Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Lantern Festival , Deepavali or Christmas get -togethers, and it was usually the same faces at each function, defeating the aim of getting the residents to get to know one another.

Letter To The Editor - Tiara Parking

Dear Editor,

In my opinion, "lackadaisical" depicts the resident's "apathy" giving rise to "haphazard" parking along 17/1. It is not just subjected to the recent security forum. Pelik Tapi Benar?

Parking on Jalan 17/1 is a hazard for other drivers. And when something disastrous happens only then action is taken, a little too late (a normal practice ah?) It is also a welcoming sight for criminal activities as the cars become vulnerable targets. It is a sight for sore eyes indeed, happening and will happen again and again right before our very eyes and at a "sacred" place which some of us call "Home Sweet Home."

Something needs to be done.

Actually if Tiarans can set their vision "yonder" – where? Just across the road from Tiara Damansara, what can they see? Yes, abundance of ready made available car parks up for grabs, courtesy of MBPJ, of course. And no meters…wow!!

It is in my view, that TMC should work with the authorities of MBPJ to direct all vehicles parking along Jalan 17/1 to this "Parking Heaven."

Creating car parks along Jalan 17/1 is an unfounded suggestion lacking in long-term vision. Why should TMC fork out owner's funds into developing public grounds outside of the perimeters of Tiara Damansara? Have TMC lost their scruples?

I certainly for one would not foot the bill for this charade but instead put my foot firmly down against the idea in toto. Parking along Jalan 17/1 is illegal and should be totally banned.

Yes, yes I know! Some Tiarans will say "ai yah", “why like that one!”, “So far aah!!”, “How like that?”, “Safe or not my car?”, “Very susah lah like this!”, “How my grandpa? How my grandma?”, “How, how, how?”, “Why, why, why?" Am I correct?

As an Ex –"Watch Dog" myself, my advice to my fellow comrades, move on, You can't please anybody though everybody has a right to cooperate and corporate right. Just like you and I, bonafide owners, that is. Car parks woes as I would describe in my own term as a classical cliché, TMC has other agenda to excel for and not just limiting itself to the one prolonged issue that the developer or even the town planners had failed to vision before.

If there's no room within, too bad. If there's room but cost is a factor, too bad. If the car park over "Yonder" is too far to walk, too bad. Vandalism – too bad, make a police report, lah!

Owning a unit or more in Tiara Damansara comes with a price. TMC are not the "Fall Guys" nor a "Punching Bag" nor to compensate for this earlier shortage parking space. Owners owning just one car have learned to adapt and adopt, live within the restrictions. Life goes on. On the other hand, others with two or more cars who fail to see this ongoing "Kisah Benar" negates its exercising existence and continue to be "Duri Dalam Daging."

Last but not least, try good managing over creating, see if it works, if not too bad lah!

Without prejudice / owner.

Letter To The Editor - Tiara Parking

Dear Editor,

I write with reference to your article, “Parking in Tiara Damansara.”

One of the remarks was "what is a 'home' if friends & family find it difficult to visit because of lack of parking?" I agree, but only to an extent. Because a more apt question to ask is, "What would be home if a resident (who has more than 1 car) does not have sufficient parking, in a place where he/she is actually living in?" As was mentioned in your letter, most households have at least 2 cars if not more, these days.

Therefore, I still maintain that the first consideration in the allocation of rented parking lots should be for residents, especially owner-residents. We have put our roots here whilst tenants shift in and out all the time. And then, it has happened they will pass their rented lot to their friend who takes over their place.

At the same time, special consideration should also be given to senior members in this category. This is nothing extraordinary. There are special seats reserved for the country's senior citizens in airports, LRT not to mention special fares for internal traveling for its senior citizens as well. Realizing the need for some concessions, the government is paying more attention to provide for this group of its citizens in other ways. Giving senior Tiarans who require a rented car park lot some priority in a place which they call home,is therefore, not that much to ask for,is it?

And talking about the developer's original allocation of 40 covered lots for visitors, may I point out that, that was really a myth. In reality, all the parking lots were more or less monopolized by residents especially those with more than one car. They interchanged their cars into the lots they occupied almost all of the time. And visitors were left without parking too. Even residents who drive their vehicle out, run the risk of not having a place to park in upon their return. Parking was free for all on a first come, first served basis. Perhaps there are council members who have lived here long enough to attest to that.

Now visitors are better off because there are lots reserved for this purpose. They should not complain.

Having lived here for more than a decade, I have experienced the entire evolution of car park lots. When the system of rented lots was first introduced, we had to queue up outside the management office as early as 5.30 in the morning and wait for hours so that we could secure a rented car park lot when their doors opened at 9 o' clock. It was plenty of hardship especially for us old fellows. Allowing some priority in the continuity of this benefit, therefore, would not be asking too much.

We need it because we are retired and we don't work anymore. We cannot park on the roadside in the daytime lest we run foul of authorities such as MBPJ or the police for that matter. We old folks are more frail and we need a parking lot which is inside the premises in case of inclement weather or any other misfortune, especially when we are sick.

Now, new residents, be they tenants or owners just put their names on the waiting list and they get a rented lot after a while. They are lucky.

In general, it is laudable of management to have efficiently handled the parking situation hitherto.

As for options to expand parking facilities, the best bet in my opinion, after reading all your comments, is still converting that so called green lung into a car park. I have mentioned this before in an email. I understand the sentiments of those living in units fronting that land but I suppose a decision has to be made on whether one may have to sacrifice loving nature or aesthetics for the sake of practicality.

Whatever it is I trust that Tiarans' feedback will be sought before any moves are made in issues which will affect the welfare of its "citizens". In other words, no unilateral action should be taken by management.

Old Timer

Letter To The Editor - Off With The Laundry

Dear Editor,

A friend from Hong Kong visited me recently. I took him down to the Canteen for a drink and a meal. He was impressed and full of praises for our condo, gushing over the low-rise aspect, the peace and quiet of the grounds and the general outlay of the condo.

But when he sat down at the Canteen and saw the bedsheets, towels and clothes hanging from the balconies and even out on the grounds, he was shocked. He asked whether such an unsightly practice was allowed, since where he lived in Hong Kong, should Management see any laundry hanging out in full view of residents, someone from the Management Office would go up and tell the recalcitrant tenant to remove them. This would be obeyed at once by the resident, with apologies to the Management.

Perhaps Tiara should impose the same rules here.

Off With The Laundry

Calling all Golden Ladies

Calling all Golden Ladies - those aged 50 years and above. Over tea recently at the home of a Tiaran, an enterprising and energetic Goldie (as we shall call ourselves...) mentioned that it would be a good idea to organise a club for such ladies in Tiara.

There are no set conditions to join the GLC (Golden Ladies Club) except the following: one has to be above 50 years of age, friendly, not gossipy by nature (aha!) and willing to pull her weight - i.e.take turns to organise events and not leave it to one or two members.

Membership will be kept at a dozen for a start, otherwise it may turn unwieldy. Things which members can enjoy may be any or all of the following:

1. Pot luck parties at the homes of members, on a rotational basis.

2. Poolside dinner (when the moon is full, so there will be a lot of ambience) once a month, or for those who prefer to entertain there and not in their homes when it is their turn.

3. Arts and Craft demonstrations by friends.

4. Group quilt making, with themes like garden motifs / seaside items, etc.

5. Walking or jogging sessions.

6. Trips outside Malaysia (ie.to Bali, Siem Riep, Haadyai, Chiangmai, etc) ,or local trips.

7. Outings (to a waterfall, jungle trekking, Camerons, etc.)

8. Ladies night - when Goldies dress up for dinner at a posh restaurants, for instance

9. Attending plays or entertainment shows together.

10. Other suggestions other members may bring up.

For those interested to be Goldies, please drop a letter addressed to:

Mrs. Ann Gabriel, K11B, with the following details: full name; telephone / handphone contacts / unit number / interests (for example: sports, fashion, cooking, baking, etc.). Membership will be on a first come, first served basis.

Golden Wedding Anniversary

With the high incidence of divorces in Malaysia today, a long lasting marriage is a great achievement. So it was with great happiness and tremendous admiration for the couple, Victor and Jessie D'Bruyne, that I attended their golden wedding anniversary on Aug.13th,2006 at the Orchid ,Royal Lake Club, Kuala Lumpur.

Coming from a home where my parents, Goh Teik Chow and Wong Sweet Wah, also celebrated a golden wedding anniversary, I am always full of joy when attending such functions.

The D'Bruyne dinner was the third golden wedding anniversary I ever attended. Before the toast, naturally the "groom" was asked the secret to their long-lasting union. In half-jest he said that one should possess ears which were hollow, so that words would go right through, "and you don’t allow any nagging to bother you." But his statement to newlyweds, he said, was, "Trust you will be lucky," since no one can foresee how a marriage would turn out.

As for his other half, Jessie said that one should "fight from the start, so that the other party knows where he stands." However, long standing friends ,many in their late seventies and eighties, took their statements in jest, knowing it was a time to make merry and not listen to long speeches. Even the dance the couple had to go through, at the insistence of their guests, lasted less than a minute. "My legs are not as strong as they used to be," said Victor, as he escorted his wife back to the main table, where their grandchildren sat.

The evening of fine food, entertainment by the grand­children and singing of rollicking, foot tapping and nostalgic oldies by a band, was a gift from their five children (four daughters and a son.)

Guests who went up to say their piece about the couple confirmed what everyone in the hall knew - that they were people who had lived honest and exemplary lives.

"Victor may not be a very rich man today, since he is full of integrity and honest to the hilt, but he is very rich in the family he has blessed with wonderful, caring children and grandchildren. There are very few such honest people in the world today,'' his best man at the wedding 50 years ago, said, before the toast.

How did they meet? Over a cup of tea with Jessie - one of my favourite teachers at the Johor Baru Convent, where I was educated - at her home in Bangsar recently, I was told that "it was a rather long story, and it was certainly not a case of love at first sight. "This, despite the fact that Victor was an extremely handsome young man and Jessie, a very pretty lady - as my classmates would testify.

Jessie's uncle and aunt, together with her eldest sister, were taken as prisoners-of-war by the Japanese during the War and incarcerated in Penang Gaol in l945. Victor, his parents, two aunts and his sisters were the second batch of prisoners- of-war forced in. They became friends when Jessie's elder sister and aunt cried each time they were offered "moi" (thin rice gruel) and "smelly salt fish" for their meals. "Victor's mother had taken a big container of "tau yu bak" into the prison, and kindly offered to them to spice up their meals and that is how they became close friends," explained Jessie.

The "jailbirds" became close friends during their internment and often visited one another after the War. On one such occasion, Jessie's aunt took her to the home of Victor's parents. Here, she climbed a chempedak tree and fell ignominiously down. Victor was sent to inspect what the screams were about, and helped Jessie to her feet. "That was the first time I met him, under such embarrassing circumstances," she laughed.

In l949, when Jessie's Uncle tied the knot, he made Jessie the bridesmaid and Victor the bestman. That was when Victor noticed Jessie and he courted her in earnest after that. They were engaged in l953, before she went on a 2-year stint to Kirkby for a teacher training course, which was completed in l955. Seven years after they started courting, they finally walked down the aisle on August 11th, l956. The rest, as they say, is history.

Like all couples, every marriage has its ups and downs. Whilst Victor worked in the Income Tax Department in Singapore, Jessie had to commute daily across the Causeway to Johor Baru to teach at the Convent. "This was because I could not afford to pay the Government back the $10,000 scholarship fee if I did not work in Malaysia. But after Victor took up a position in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Kuala Lumpur, I was transferred there."

Victor took optional retirement when he was offered a job in the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. Here, their children were educated, and all five attended universities there as well.

So the event I celebrated on Aug. 13th had its beginning 50 years ago. In a marriage lasting that many years, "compromise and toleration are the two virtues most vital in a successful relationship. In this world, nothing is perfect and no two persons are made alike, hence in marriage, compromise is key to a happy and successful marital union. Compromise means you have to respect each other's rights and feelings. With this correct mental attitude, marriages are better able to weather any storms in the relationship," added Jessie.

Thank you, Victor and Jessie, and I now look forward to attending your 60th wedding anniversary.