I'd been all excited about going to the dinner since 2 months back when we finally decided to confirm a table for this year's session. Jason did a fantastic job arranging the booking, confirming the list of attendees and providing updates even till the last hour before the cocktail begins. It has been 20 years long now since I was first a young Saint (Sec. 1) back in 1988... and I haven't set foot in the compound again after graduation , though I was all along staying in Potong Pasir (where the sch locates)till early 2007. The school changed a lot after the major campus overhaul fews yrs back - all new buildings with much better facilities and all compared to the old days... swimming pool, astro-turf pitch, etc... Now, they call the compound the St. Andrew's Village - bringing the junior school, secondary school and junior college all together. Though I thought the overall design of the architecture could have been a lot more stylish... but on the other hand, it does maintain that nostalgic 1862 (St. Andrew's School founding year) flavor - perfect excuse to cut cost on lavish designs.
There was about 60-70 tables in total that night to fill up the air-conditioned school hall. Most of the attendees were made up of grey-haired seniors... and being the age of earlier 30s, we're already considered as the younger ones at the scene. Thats what I liked about the school - great bond and passion that lives with you till you're all wrinkled up.
Noticed a couple to big shots at the scene... including one of the SIA chief pilot, i think (Dunno his name) and local CGI whiz Nickson Fong... didn't know they are old boys... Nickson Fong gave an intro of his upcoming animated movie - Kungfu Gecko... All i can say is, I prefer Kungfu Panda....wahahaha. Jacintha Abishsiganathan was there (her late father was an old boy) to sing a couple of songs that night.. powerful vocal...her voice actual did manage to brave the rowdy crowd to win some applause in the end.
I'm glad that the 10 of us that made up our table clicked pretty well... Anyway, 7 out of 10 from our table were from the same year, with the addition of Fahmy and Terence who were a few years our junior. Of cos, there was also Andrew Pang, whom we sometimes forget he's a year younger than us cos he's has always been closer to us than his own batch. Anywy, with that hairline of his, he can pass off as our senior anytime...wahahaha...
We BYO a bottle of Macallan 'fine oak' and a bottle Chilean red(courtesy of Jason and CP aka Jimmy aka 'ball-less'...)... after the 3rd dish, we realised our inexperience beverage planning was leading to a shortage in alcohol supplies. Terence and Fahmy volunteered to make a trip to the nearby 7-eleven to replenish the supply for the night (so to avoid ordering from the expensive wine list by the banquet...haha).. Next year, we'll bring by crates!
The climax of the night happened as we sang the school song for the finale, Leonard finally couldn't hold it anymore and did a 'Merlion' stunt onto the table while standing up!! ...well done! hahaha... I was quick to shun in time without being hit by any of the splatter, but my desert was sacrificed. Terence offered to drop Leonard off home that night... but I heard the Merlion came alive again in Terence's car... haiz...
Next year... we'll be back!!! UP & ON!
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