Sunday, May 27, 2012

Singapore Blog Awards 2012 E-Interview


I have been asked the following questions. (I have rearranged the questions so I can answer the simple ones first; and leave the long answer to the last

Question 1. How do you feel about being one of finalists in Singapore Blog Awards 2012?
Answer – Proud and happy.

Question 2. How do you feel about the other Finalists in your category this year? How do you think you will fare compared to them?

Frankly, I don’t have any opinions about the other finalists for the simple reason that there appears to a generation gap between me and them. Hence our topics are extremely different. Unfortunately, the organisers did not have a category for Nostalgia or Heritage or Education; otherwise I wouldn’t have chosen this category. I also do not wish to compare my blog with theirs. Just wish everyone the best.

Question 3. Give a reason why readers should visit your blog and vote for you?

This is simple. There should only be one reason why readers should visit my blog and vote for me …… they enjoy reading my stories. My blog is coming to 6 years old; and during this time, I have received many encouraging comments and emails from readers, both in Singapore and abroad who said they enjoyed reading my blog. I have selected a few and published them at the back cover of my book, Good Morning Yesterday. Out of sheer laziness, I will reproduce them here, so that I don’t have to go searching for others.
  • “What a wonderful blog - I am telling my friends and children about it” – Tan Tarn How
  • “I have been reading your blog with great interest and nostalgia. Thank you so much for this blog; it has given me many happy memories.” - Debbie King
  • “I have never seen a more ardent effort than yours (James Seah) and Mr Dick Yip and Mr Lam who make it your mission to archive and make the past accessible to the present. This is what a history textbook can never match up to. The effort is authentic, personal and passionate. I get the chance to read, ruminate and enjoy the colours and atmosphere that make history come alive. Thank you so much, James, Mr Yip and Mr Lam.” - Sim Hui Hwang.
  • “I find your web page very informative, interesting and inspiring.  Not many people would have that passion of yours to keep the History of Singapore yet so alive.”  - Ephraim Chan
  • “I've been reading your blog on and off for the past few years and am amazed at the amount of information it contains on the social history of Singapore. Many of these aspects would never see the light of day in "official history"; yet these are what give life to history. It is respect for real living people.”  – Jaime Koh
  • “I really like your blog; and I envy you being able to grow up in a time where Singapore was still very much in its natural state, with hills here and there, trees and forests, buildings which I haven't had a chance to see before.  … . If I can turn back time, I would wish to go back to the 1950s and take a look at the authentic Singapore lifestyle, and her wonderful and kind people who seem to have changed so much nowadays.”  – Henry Cai


Question 4. When did you start blogging and what drew you to it? Where do you get inspiration for your blog content?

I started blogging in Sep 2005; and since then I have posted more that 600 articles in this blog. As I had elaborated here, I started this blog for two reasons:

1) To reminisce about the ‘good old days’.
2) To educate the next generation about what life of their parents was like when they were young.

Not all the articles were written by me. A substantial number were contributed by friends and readers I did not know before, including men of my generation from the UK who lived in Singapore briefly during the 1960s when their parents served in the British Far East military services.

I enjoy blogging and will continue to do so as long as I have stories to tell – and I still do – and there are readers. I get my inspiration from everywhere; a building I see on the road, something I read in the papers or a blog, or something I heard at a talk etc. etc. Sometimes, when the inspiration hits, I write down my thoughts immediately. Sometimes, I will record the idea in my notebook to research and write about later.

After blogging for nearly six years, I derive immense satisfaction from the following ‘achievements’:


1.  A few months ago, the number of page views for my blog passed the magical 1 million mark.
2.  I have made many new friends; young and old. Regular readers will know who 
3.  I have become quite well-known in certain circles and have been interviewed in the media a few times; e.g. FM938 Live’s, Passion People, Lianhe Zabao, Today, New Paper and My Paper. Have even participated in a couple of TV documentaries such as Foodage and Project Neighbourhood and even the Australia Network.
4.  Often I get invitations to give talks and students approach me for help with their heritage projects and magazines, e.g. the NUS History Society’s publication
5.  But my biggest achievement and sense of satisfaction was from publishing a book based on the stories in this blog. 





9 comments:

R. Burnett Baker said...

If I could vote it would be for you! Keeping the past alive through your stories is so very important. It matters not what country we're from or culture, or background: Knowing and remembering the past is the touchstone to our creating a meaningful future.

This, I must opine, is even more important in Singapore. Having lived there for nearly a decade ( I left in 1985), and having visited a few times since, I can attest to how quickly the city changes. It is in constant flux. Having a "sense of place" is important for us all, and if that "place" is constantly being dismantled and re-made, what, then, become of that touchstone?

By keeping this blog alive, you do older citizens, the younger generations, and those of us who have lived and loved Singapore a huge and important service!

Rick

Lam Chun See said...

Thank you Rick for your endorsement; and for articulating so succintly what many older Sporeans know deep in their hearts.

peter said...

I cant think of any city in the world that changes its skyline every 15 years - due to enbloc sale. Residential and office blocks go up only to be knocked down. Or else, retrofitting that changes the entire building look.

Maybe it's time we capture what was built in the 1970s/1980s/soon 1990s to compare to what it is now.

BTW that blog competition organiser ask too many (personal) questions. Can drive one nuts in order to vote. Anyway done my part - my vote for you CS.

Icemoon said...

Done my part too. Voted for GMY!

Just realized MyPaper had the article on your blog. I think previously you only showed us the 'Uncle, you rock!' article. Do you have the high res copy of the 阿公讲古 article, will like to read it. Thanks.

Lam Chun See said...

I don't have hi-res photo of the ZB article. This image copied from Victor's blog.

But I have the original hard copy of this article :) But too big to scan.

Lam Chun See said...

Icemoon. My post of My Paper interview here.

Tom said...

Good to see that you are in the first 12 good luck.

SINGAPOREANLifeStyle said...

Brother, You Rock!!

We are almost the same generation, so I'm not calling you "Uncle"..

Good thing my website/blog is listed in another category in Singapore Blog Awards 2012, else it would be hard to beat you.

Good Luck, and hope we can share the same winning stage on 21st July 2012

Lam Chun See said...

Thank you Charles. We may be same generation in age; but you are generations ahead in IT-savvyness.