We Are Responsible For What We are

Contribution from Bala.......

This is life.........

Be Happy - Shake Off the Dirt From Your Life

Contribution from Janet......

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.



He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieten down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.


As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL of the story :
Life is going to shovel 'dirt' on you, all kinds of 'dirt'. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up. Life is our greatest Teacher!



Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from all evils (especially selfishness and hatred) - Learn to Forgive and Forget and move on with goodness of heart.

2. Free your mind from all unhappiness and worries - so that there is no fear, no anxiety and no sorrow - Learn to Live Life instead of worrying about Life.

3. Have contentment and Love - then learn to appreciate what you have in Life more and more.

4. Be willing to share and help via your willingness to Give more.

5. Avoid having Expectations that can make you miserable. (Expect to be appreciated; to be Love; to be promoted; to be treated as equal... etc.




You have two choices...smile and close this page, or pass this along to someone else to share the message. I know what I should do!

Real Friends

Love comes in all sizes.... Your Friends will support you.... And respect your creativity for thinking outside the box.... They'll be there when you need a shoulder to lean on.... Or a great big hug.... A true friend takes interest in understanding what you're all about.... They see beyond the black and white to discover your true colors.... And accept you just the way you are... Even when you just wake up in the morning So make your own kind of music.... Follow your heart wherever it takes you.... And when someone reaches out to you, Don't be afraid to love them back.... They may just be a friend for life.... Practice patience and tolerance..... Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave.... And impossible to forget!

Those Were The Days

To all those who were born in the 50s, 60s and 70s

First we survived with mothers who had no maids. They cooked and cleaned while taking care of us at the same time. We took aspirin, candy floss, fizzy drinks, shaved ice with syrup And diabetes was rare. Salt added to Pepsi or coke was remedy for fever. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets. As children, we would ride with our parents on bicycle motorcycles. Richer ones in cars without the seatbelts or airbags. Riding in the back of a private taxi is a special treat. We drank water from the tap and not from the bottle. We would spend hours on the fields under bright sunlight, flying our kites. Without worrying about UV rays which never seem to affect us. We go into the jungle to catch spiders without worries of aedes mosquitoes.


With mere 5 pebbles (stones) would be an endless game. With a ball, we boys would run like crazy for hours. We caught guppies in drains or canals and when it rained we swam there. We share one soft drink with 4 friends from on bottle and no one actually worried about being unhygienic. We ate salty, very sweet and oily food, candies bread and real butter and drank very sweet coffee or tea, ice kachang, but we weren’t over weight because…. We would spend hours repairing our old bicycles and wooden scooters out of scraps and then ride down the hill, Only to find out that we forgot the brakes, after running into the bushes a few times we learn to solve the problem. WE did not have Playstations, Nintendos, X-boxes, multiple channels on Cable TV, DVD movies, no surround sounds, no phones, no PC, no internet.


WE had Friends. And we went out and found them. WE fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and we still continued the stunts. We never had birthday parties until we were 21. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! Yet this generation had produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever. The past 40 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility and we learned how to deal with it all.

If you are one of them CONGRATULATIONS! You may want to share this with others who have the luck to grow up as kids, before the government regulated our lives for our own good. And while you are at it, Forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were!

(contributed by Bala & Vincent )

The Best Poem Of 2006

This poem was nominated by UN as the best poem of 2006, written by an African Kid

When I born, I black
When I grow up, I black
When I go in Sun, I black
When I scared, I black
When I sick, I black
And when I die, I still black

And you white fellow
When you born, you pink
When you grow up, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you cold, you blue
When you scared, you yellow
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you gray

And you calling me colored?

Understanding The Risk On Plastic

Contributed By Way Seng on 22 September 2008
( Monday Booster series )........


Did you ever drink from a plastic bottle and see a triangle symbol on the bottom with a number inside?




Do you know what the number stands for?
Did you guess that it's just for recycling?
Then you are WRONG!!!!!!
THE NUMBER TELLS YOU THE CHEMICAL MAKE UP OF THE PLASTIC.....

1) Polyethylene terephalate (PET)
2) High density polyethylene (HDPE)
3) Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) or Plasticised polyvinyl chloride (PPVC)
4) Low density polyethylene LDPE
5) Polypropylene (PP)
6) Polystyrene (PS) or Expandable polystyrene (EPS)
7) Other, including nylon and acrylic

What you aren't told is that many of the plastics used are toxic and the chemicals used to create a plastic can leach out of the plastic and into the food / drink.
Think about it, how many times have you or a friend said "I don't like this, it taste like the plastic bottle ..... "
THAT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE TASTING THE PLASTIC
The WORST ONES are Nos: 3, 6, and 7 !!!
DO NOT USE THESE NUMBERS if stated at the bottom of the bottle) !!!


Check out this chart that breaks down the plastic, its uses and chemical makeup
(I find #7 a little scary)
http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_plascod3.html

Chan Aik San Found & a Photo to Reminisce

Found Chan Aik San

Kim Chuan, our part-time PI, has managed to contact another classmate, Chan Aik San !

He is on the extreme left in the photo below.  He can remember some of us, though not all.  But, he could name people like Shee Joo Shan and Teo Hock Kee.  He has 2 sons; one in Sec 2 and the other in P6.




**************************************************************************************

An Old Photo From Bon Hian

5 good friends hanging out at a wooden bridge across a canal near 11 miles Woodlands Rd (near Bon Hian's old home).

They are Shukor, Cheng Huat, Bon Hian, Sien Chi and Way Seng.

More Good News - One More Friend Found !

Thank you, Bon Hian for finding another friend !

Message from Bon Hian........
(19 Sep 2008)

Hi all,

More good news !

I have located Lim Chuan Soon. For those who remember, he used to live deep inside Chestnut Drive, past the PUB quarters and past the water pipelines that run towards Johore. He will join us for the 8 Nov reunion. He is with S'pore Power now.

Better still, occasionally he sees Ricky Tan (aka Tan Chin Hwa) who now coaches bowling fulltime. Again, for those who remember (or don't remember), Chin Hwa was short, dark, playful (sorry, not much help there !) and has a neighbour and closed friend called You Hua . Both used to live in Jln Cheng Hwa (if memory serves me right). Actually, Ricky has made a name for himself as he represented S'pore in bowling when younger. Can anyone recall that ? Chuan Soon will try to contact him next week.

Rgds.,

Bon

Here's an old photo which may help you recall the faces and maybe locate more of our missing friends before our coming reunion...

Lim Chuan Soon is believed to be the one stooping above Leong Keong between Chee Seng and Sien Chi.
Tan You Hua is 4th from left in the front row, i.e. immediately on the left of Leong Keong.

FRIENDS

from Way Seng

TO ALL BPES FRIENDS

Many people walk in and out of your life,
But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.

Anger is only one letter short of danger.
If someone betrays you once, it is his fault;
If he betrays you twice, it is your fault.

Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.

He who loses money, loses much;
He who loses a friend, loses much more;
He who loses faith, loses all.

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature,
But beautiful old people are works of art.

Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

Friends, you and me....
You brought another friend....
And then there were 3....
We started our group....
Our circle of friends....
And like that circle....
There is no beginning or end....

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.

An Old Photo - Might Help You Recollect......

Friends of BPES,

The photo below may help you recollect the people who shared your childhood memories of those days in BPES........




Left To Right :

Roy Sivaraj,  Mohd Ali,  Teo Kok Hoe,  Peter Koh,   Bala,  Sien Chi,   Chee Seng, Koh Kheng Song,   Freddy Sim Guan Huat, Koon Nien (Bronson), Bon Hian , Way Seng, Vincent (behind),  Tan Kim Whatt, Teo Pick Luan (Teo Hock Kee's cousin), Lim Song Thiam,  Yap Ah Fatt 

Great News Again - Another Friend Found !

Do you recognise him?

He is Parathiyar. Bon received an email from him yesterday. He has migrated to Canada 7 years ago and is now settled in Ontario.

He went to BPGHS for his secondary school education. Venkatacharie is his closest friend and they have been keeping in touch. Venkatacharie had helped him shipped his things to Canada and looked after his home in Clementi. He has a son who is entering university soon in Canada.

Bon remembers him as the best badminton player BPES had produced.

Parathiyar,

Welcome to our BPES community ! Will you be in Singapore on 8 November 2008 ? We are having a REUNION on that date. Hope you can join us !

Found - Another Friend and an Old Photo !

Kim Chuan has done it again ! Tan Gek Lee who was frequently mentioned and remembered by most of our classmates has been found. Thank you, Kim Chuan for finding a good friend of mine.

For those who can't remember her, this is Gek Lee from a photo taken when we were at Haw Par Villa, which a few of us visited together with our Chinese teacher, Mdm Koh after the PSLE in 1970.

Gek Lee is standing, 2nd from the left

(Front Row : Bessie Yew Chai Yin, Pang Choon Lin )
(Standing : Ai Lay, Gek Lee, Yan Huay, Poh Gek )

***************************************************************************************

An Old Photo Found From Vincent's Treasure Chest

Front Row: Freddy Sim Guan Huat, Peter Koh, Tan Kok Phang, Janet Chew Juan Ngoh
Back Row : Vincent Thnay, Tee Chee Sun, Seah Chee Seng

( Wonder when this picture was taken and why Janet looked so angry while Kok Phang was suppressing her laughter )

Two More Friends Found By KC

Kim Chuan has done a great job ! He has found two more of our long lost friends. They are Tan Kim Whatt and Chor Lee Kuen.

If you can't remember who Tan Kim Whatt is, here is a photo of him 38 years ago : -




Janet and I called Chor Lee Kuen up immediately after KC gave us her number as he wasn't sure if she was the right person we were looking for. Lee Kuen was from Pr 5A and 6B, and she went to BPGHS for her Secondary School.

She was extremely surprised that we managed to contact her. She was elated to hear from us as she has hoped to keep in touch with us but has lost all our contacts. All of us will be able to see her in our gathering on 8 November.

Thank you, Kim Chuan.

Great Detective Work- Three More Friends Found !

Thanks to Bala and his great detective work, and to Bon and Kim Chuan for their superb memories..... Bala has found three more of our missing friends from BPES - Class of 1970, after tracking down Seezer and Vincent in July.......


( Bala's email to all our friends dated 4 September 2008 )

Dear All,

.......Last night I did another intense search of our missing friends and here is the outcome.
1. I managed to talk to Lim Wee Kwang.
He claimed that he has no memory of our BPES days and our  classmates including me. His contact details are as follows:-
(see updated contact list)

Can anyone who knows him better(Kim Chuan?) try to talk to him again.

(Hi Bala,

I just spoke to Lim Wee Kwang.  Although he could remember me instantly (as I stayed near him during BPES days), he told me that he couldn't recall who you were when you called him yesterday.  In fact, I mentioned many other names to him but he just couldn't recall a thing except for Seah Chee Seng's name.  

Wee Kwang is now driving for a company.  I have told him to take a look at the class blog as well as to note the next gathering on 8 Nov.  He said that he does not have an email account now and I have suggested he create one so that we could include him in the email loop.  I'll follow up with him on this.

One more thing - I think I've remembered the name of the still unidentified boy standing between Ger Seng and me in the Pri 3A photo.  He shoud be Wong Choon Keong.  Can anyone confirm this?

Regards,
Kim Chuan)

2. Though there were few hundreds of Mohd Ali in the telephone directory, I was very lucky to get our BPES Mohd Ali at the first call.
For those who cannot remember him, he was probably the only Muslim in our session. He was from the Class B and he went to BPGHS for his secondary education.  He expressed interest in our journey and I have included him in this mail.
His contact details are as follows:- (see updated contact list)


3. I managed to trace Venkatachari , the fair and cute looking Brahmin boy from Class C(or B).  He too went to BPGHS.
He was very excited about our activities and he told me that he had
always the thought of having a reunion for both BPES & BPGHS friends.
I have also included him in this mail.His contact details are as
follows:-  (see updated contact list)


4. I tried calling the only 2 Lim Peck Hoons who lives in the west. One happened to be a lady and I had problem trying to communicate to the family of the other Lim Peck Hoon @ xxxxxx as the person who answered my call cannot speak English.
Can anyone(Bon Hian) please try to call the above number again.

(Bala,
Great effort.

1) Lim Wee Kwang - Maybe KC, Way Seng or Sien Chi can give him a call to
persuade him gently and refresh his memory.
2) Just spoken to M Ali. Memories slowly coming back. He does not know the whereabouts of Tan Boon Seng, his neighbour from the Kranji Road area where they used to live.
3) Always remembered Venkat. If not mistaken, he used to live in Jln Teck Whye, near the Govt Clinic/Dispensary. Fair, slightly thin and has a sharp chin.
4) I think his surname is Ng, not Lim. ie Ng Peck Hoon. 
7) I think Liek Shing's surname is Chong.

Rgds,
Bon )

5. I tried calling the only 2 Teo Hock Kees who lives in the West. Both of them are not our BPES Teo Hock Kee.

6. I tried calling the only Yap Ah Fatt listed in the directory and he is not our guy.

7. I tried searching the names of following persons in the directory but their names are not listed.
a. Loh Nee Wee
b. Cheong Liek(or Lek) Shin
c. Shee Joo Sun
d. Koh Kheng Song

8. Though there are a few Sim Cheng Huats in the directory, none are living in the west. Hence I did not attempt calling them.


Welcome  !

Dear Ali & Chari,
Welcome aboard.
Please visit our special website created at http://www.bpes.blogspot.com to
get some updates on our journey.

Regards
Bala

Please Help To Identify Our Friends

Please try to fill in the ?

Front Row

Left to right
Sien Chi, Loh Nee vee, Peter Koh, Way Seng, Roy Daniel, ? , Seah Ah Foo, Lim Wee Kwang, Parathiyar, Chia Chong Lam, Tan Kim Bock, Sim Guan Huat, Ng Peng Heng

Middle Row

Left to right
Siew Eng, Ai Lay, Susan Doris, Krishna Veni, Tay Swee Hoon, Tan Ah Yong, Ang Ah Huay, Tan Kim Huay, Choon Siew, Kok Phang, Juan Ngoh, Chong Siew Eng, ? Malikah

Back Row

Left to right
Tee Chee Sun, Seezer Paulose, Sangaran, Guna, Thnay Ger Seng, Wong Choon Keong, Kim Chuan, Sim Cheng Huat, Vijayakumar, Ng Joo Meng, Bala, Chee Seng, Goon Lye Hock, Ms Mary Chong (Form teacher).