The neon light with flickering signage emblazoned, “Salon for the Rugged Man”. It was captivating and I stood enthralled by the hoarding advertisement situated in the high-end shopping complex. A wave of emotions swept through me as I began visualising the barbershop in Redhill estate where I grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s. It […]
The year was 1979; I was in primary 4, enrolled in a school in Bukit Merah estate in Singapore. It was an era where the adage, “spare the rod and spoil the child”, was steadfastly advocated in most homes and schools. Our favourite English lesson was over and soon, the dreaded Mathematics class was about […]
The video cassette recorder may have died a natural death, but the memory is very much alive. I vividly remember my maiden movie watched via the VCR. The year was 1979 — my brothers and I were over the moon as we gathered in my home to watch Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky”. In the spirit of […]
The year was 1986; we were a bunch of teens growing up in Redhill estate in Singapore. We were feeling on top of the world since the school holidays had just begun. *Richard was a youth leader in the social club we attended. Being older and responsible, he earned our respect for his leadership qualities […]
“Tomorrow is May Day — let’s go to the East Coast beach to celebrate the public holiday,” my sister suggested. We agreed it was an excellent idea and began preparing for the picnic. My sister did a checklist of the items to be brought – chicken wings, sardine sandwiches, curry puffs and bee-hoon were a […]
The python slithered from the carpark towards my block; its scaly skin shimmered in the moonlight as its tongue flicked out to taste the danger lurking. My brothers and I were at a safe distance and yet fully immersed in the encounter. “Let’s whack it with the pole,” cried Johan. “Come on guys; give me […]
“I wish that I could turn back the clock; bring the wheels of time to a stop; back to the days when life was so much better” — the song of Johnny Hates Jazz resonated on air. A feeling of nostalgia swept over me. Songs are so powerfully nostalgic – they can magically take us […]
The year was 1984; I was a fifteen-year-old student enrolled in my neighbourhood school in Redhill estate. It was a school renowned for its sporting prowess and ruggedness. We were absorbed by the sweeping football craze – my group of friends and I virtually breathe football. After school, we would play soccer and spend most […]
I grew up in Redhill estate in Singapore where gotong royong (cooperation within the community) was the order of the day. Doors opened in the morning were left ajar till bedtime. There was a sense of belonging amongst the neighbours – we could just walk into one another’s home, unannounced. A constant buzz of interaction […]
In the ‘70s, I was enrolled in a vibrant primary school situated at Jalan Bukit Merah in Singapore. A school which could not boast of the trappings of opulence but produced outstanding students, both academically and in the sporting arena. The journey from my Redhill estate to school included a two kilometres walk followed by […]