Page 21 - Stories from our Grandparents

ccording to my grandfather, people rowing up in Delta Avenue Mr Nagappan Mahalingam
engaged in more outdoor activities in a government quarters,
rather than staying at home in the past. I attended Delta East By M Kalaiselvi BORN 1956
AMy grandfather used to be notorious GPrimary School, which Millennia Institute
for his expertise in playing “Dum” which is today known as Checkers. He was a 15 minute walk from my home.
recalled fondly, “I would go every other day to the market in Yishun to play Everyday, I would carry a green
Dum to earn some side income and it is also a good way to bond and talk to cloth sling bag and walk to school.
my friends.” He also recalls those days when cycling was a common means
to commute to work, shop and even to the houses of his relatives whom he My sister used to go to school at Bukit Ho Swee
would usually send some of his wife’s cooking which was well-liked by them. Secondary School. I used to eat light snacks such as
kachang puteh and even laksa at times which cost only
My grandmother said that this idea of trading and exchanging food about 10 to 20 cents then.
was very heart-warming because she felt connected to her relatives
especially during Ramadan season. As they were not used to living in I used to catch male
such a modern fast-paced lifestyle, they lament the loss of the good old spiders with my friends and
times. “Back then the issues were different,” she said. She recalled that would let them fight against
there used to be a lot of gang-related fights and crime during the 1960s
and 1970s when Singapore was less stable. She added, “You would never each other.
have imagined the things I have seen. Unfortunately, it is not appropriate One of my favourite hobbies was also catching
for me to share.” Local films used to be more appreciated in the olden guppies at the drains along Alexandra Road. I
days. My grandmother said that she was once asked to act with the used to run down to Beo Crescent Bazaar to buy
famous P. Ramlee. She said, “I was sitting down at a park one day and Kway Teow with an egg my mother gave me. It cost 20 cents.
there was filming going on. As soon as I wanted to leave, P. Ramlee
came up to me and asked me if I wanted to act with him. I rejected him I loved enjoying my bowl of Yew Char Kway at the night market.
because I was too shy to act but I regretted that decision later.” I used to grind spices for my mother using the traditional grinding stone.
My father used to cycle to the National Library at
Both of my grandparents said that they had a really wonderful time growing Stamford Road with me in tow.
up in this small but interesting country. I asked them what is one thing that
they would redo again. Grandmother - “One thing that I would
redo again is to walk around the old Geylang Serai where I met
your grandfather.” Grandfather - “I want to hang out with my
friends and do the things that we used to do when we were We used to watch films in an open
younger, like swimming in the canals.” field with a huge white cloth acting as

a screen and we would bring our own
mats to sit on the grass field.
Mr Mahat Bin Ahmad BORN 1940&1950 I dearly miss my childhood days.
Mdm Sariyah Binte Ismail

20 Grandpa Stories Courtesy of the National Library, Singapore Grandpa Stories 21
By Nurkhaliq Bin Dali
Millennia Institute