It's been way too long since our last post, and the bulk of this information was collected during last year's family gathering to encourage more interaction and hopefully solicit more information.
I apologise for the late post, and may have ignored this blog, if not for my mother who recently decided that it was important for me to know her childhood and history. It was her reflection from a monk's phrase that we should always connect with our children through our stories and never let them slip away with time.
As I mentioned earlier, though we started off this blog as a tribute to our grandparents, I want this also to be a tribute to our parents, because they have plenty to be proud of. Their stories, as difficult and tough as they sound, resonate of such strong love, kinship and survival inspiring me to spare a thought for someone less fortunate, and aspire to be a better person that I would ever be.
We start off with some factual information and then with some favourite things of Gong Gong and Po Po.
Facts
Eldest lao ku passed away in 2004 when he was 82 years old.
Second lau yee passed away in 1985.
Addresses of their abodes
Until end of 1955 : 217 Kallang Road
1956 – 1958 : 50C lavender street
1958 – 1980 : 40F Winstedt Drive Newton
1980 – now : Blk 159 Ang Mo Kio ave 4 #03-520
My Mum said that they lived in a Kampong for a little while, but I can't piece when that is from the above. She seemed to refer it to a time before they moved to Newton.
A familiar story that she loves to tell me whenever I move to a new apartment in Sydney (for rental), is to ensure that there are lights and water available in the apartment. She said that they moved to Newton in a rush after Po Po drew the winning lot and got an apartment. Even though it was only a two bed room apartment (with one bedroom - the other room is the living room) for ten people which was not ideal, it was a step up from the Kampong.
However, that didn't seem to be only reason why they were in a rush to move. Mum said that they were ostracised by some neighbours in the Kampong who looked down on them because they were very poor. Hence, once they knew they drew a successful lot for the apartment, they moved in very quickly, even though all the utilities were unavailable, and they had to spend a few days/nights in the new apartment with no amenities.
The first couple of years in Newton turned out to be very tough years. Hence, my Mum's superstition causes her to believe that one should only move in a new apartment after ensuring the utilities are turned on.
Gong Gong (Grandpa)
Gong Gong came to Singapore with a Kacang Puteh man (tidbits hawker) when he was 9 years old. Twice Po Po and 2nd Aunt went to Kuantan to pay respect to his father during Qing Ming (a period in the lunar calendar to pay respects to the deceased) but only managed to find the grand tomb stone the first time. Gong Gong’s mother passed when she was 60+. Only our eldest and second aunt were born then, which means that most of our parents never met their paternal grandparents.
After Gong Gong closed his bicycle repair shop, he became a sawyer with Naval Base. He then took on a couple of jobs after that, starting with a cloth button & buckle maker for Dua Gu (Eldest Uncle - his eldest son-in-law), and lastly a bird cage maker before retirement.
Questions that no one may be able to answer:
(1) Did he come to Singapore alone and if so, what prompted the decision?
(2) I heard that he was the youngest of a large family, but unfortunately, was the only child who lived to a ripe old age. Is this true?
(3) Who did he live with when he arrived? After all, 9 years old is unbelievably young. What did he do all these years until he met Po Po?
Favourites
Here are some of our grandparent's favourites. :
Gong Gong
Favourite singer : Nana Mouskouri, Tom Jones
Favourite show : The Andy Williams Show
Favourite pastime : Mahjong and smoking
Favoruite food : Satay Beehoon (vermicelli), Kambeng (mutton) soup, he can skip meals for kopi-O and cigarette, unsalted peanuts
Favourite cigarette brand : 555 Dunhill
Favourite fruit : Green grapes, Bitter tasting durian
Honestly, I had quite a shock and then a little laugh when I saw "Nana Mouskouri and Tom Jones". I didn't know what I was expecting. Maybe just some Chinese singers instead. I love the vast difference between Nana and Tom - conservative versus panties-throwing sexiness. What contrast and what an interesting musical taste.
Isn't it also wonderful that you remember them for the food and their pastimes. I can still see him having his Kopi-O and 555 Dunhill cigarettes. Uncle Roger said that "yu sang" (new year raw fish salad) was also one of his favourite food, which happened to be his last meal.
My Mum also said that I was not a very good boy growing up because I gave up milk at the age of one-ish. Well, I was living with Gong Gong and Po Po, and they exposed me to coffee and Milo. Naturally, I would favour them over milk. I can still see their secret smiles feeding me these drinks, even if I can't remember that exact moment, but their smiles are forever etched in my deepest memories.
Po Po
Favourite pastimes:
- Arranging photographs in album and placing red packets behind the photo as a blessing to the person
- Shifting furniture in the house to surprise the children when they came home from school
Skills :
Entrepreneurial skills - she sold sell bed sheets and sarong, sewed white nyonya bra and made
paper roses to sell.
Favourite food: Yong Tau Hu bitter gourd with kangkong and lots of chilly; satay with
kueh-tu-pat, etc
Favourite drink: Coke or Coffee.
My Mum said that Po Po was a very talented lady. When she was young, she used to wander into the kitchen to watch the chefs cook, and her father would say "What's a rich young girl (千金小姐) like you doing in the kitchen. You should learn embroidery and flower arrangements".
Hence, she learned her skills from teachers and Mum said that her paper roses were so beautiful that people used to queue up outside their home, rushing her to complete as many as possible. Even when she was tired, she didn't want to disappoint, so she just carried on making. I hope this act of giving gave her lots of joy.
Mum also said that Po Po had a sweet tooth and liked most sweet things. I love her favourite pastimes because they are both rather creative and Mum said that she remembers coming home sometimes from school to a whole new decor. How wonderful!
I have more to share during my conversation one day with Aunt Constance, which I will try and do in the next couple of weeks. We have to keep this blog alive, and I hope this post will inspire you to comment on what are some of the other favourite things you remember they like.
