tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post2343319699946310782..comments2024-03-28T15:13:45.925+08:00Comments on Good Morning Yesterday: From my Inbox – Judith Johnson remembers my kampongUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-61832425203861907562022-02-24T17:30:08.423+08:002022-02-24T17:30:08.423+08:00Hi Judith,
I stayed at the Katong Grange Hotel a ...Hi Judith,<br /><br />I stayed at the Katong Grange Hotel a couple of times during flights to Australia in the early 60's. My father worked for BOAC so we were on "stand by".<br /> I can remember being amazed that there was no glass in the windows, just wooden shutters.<br />Another odd memory is that of the kitchen staff emptying a wheelbarrow full of rubbish into the sea every morning! I hope the hotels no longer follow tjis tradition.<br />I now live in Australia but have never wanted to return to Singapore as I imagine it's just like any other Eastern city such as Hong Kong and Tokyo.<br />Happy memories<br />GlendaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165650278654729433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-76320456644548447892022-02-24T17:29:11.903+08:002022-02-24T17:29:11.903+08:00Hi Judith,
I stayed at the Katong Grange Hotel a ...Hi Judith,<br /><br />I stayed at the Katong Grange Hotel a couple of times during flights to Australia in the early 60's. My father worked for BOAC so we were on "stand by".<br /> I can remember being amazed that there was no glass in the windows, just wooden shutters.<br />Another odd memory is that of the kitchen staff emptying a wheelbarrow full of rubbish into the sea every morning.<br /> I hope the hotels no longer follow this tradition!<br />I now live in Australia but have never wanted to return to Singapore as I imagine it's just like any other Asian city such as Hong Kong and Tokyo.<br />Happy memories,<br />GlendaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165650278654729433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-9520742688831350782021-07-07T02:01:40.227+08:002021-07-07T02:01:40.227+08:00Hi Mr Lam—what wonderful evocative writing! I'...Hi Mr Lam—what wonderful evocative writing! I'm writing a book on the meaning of home for Englishwomen who arrived in Singapore in the 1950s and '60s and stayed to make it home. I'm looking for material on the Katong Grange Hotel and the RAF Grammar School in Changi where one of my subjects taught in the early 1960s. I noticed Ms Johnson refers to both in her comment on your post. Would it be possible to put me in touch with her? Thanks much, Mandakini (mandakinni@yahoo.com.sg)wordy wisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16360234025543962469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-20520860192406587382014-09-12T09:35:26.947+08:002014-09-12T09:35:26.947+08:00hi judith, I too have the same feelings as you, I ...hi judith, I too have the same feelings as you, I was born in singapore and left when I was 11 in 1968, and have not returned since. our family were members of singapore swimming club. we lived on seah im road mt faber. we could walk to the top of mt faber. our house was a black and white bungalow which I recently found a picture of it when I googled black and white houses. it was for rent and still looked the same. im still toying with the idea of going back. I think my time in singapore was the best time of my life. life changed so much when we came to australia.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01283977383672954655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-58281858068774573582013-11-07T23:31:40.644+08:002013-11-07T23:31:40.644+08:00Hi Judith
Sure, my email is cheongmws@gmail.com
...Hi Judith <br />Sure, my email is cheongmws@gmail.com<br /><br />StephenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-70073427921398385132013-11-07T15:05:40.143+08:002013-11-07T15:05:40.143+08:00Judith. I am already drooling at the thought of se...Judith. I am already drooling at the thought of seeing 1960's photos of Braddell Rd. Before Lorong Chuan was built, my brother and I would cycle out to the main road (Braddell Rd) and chain our bicycle to a lamp post or railing facing Dunsfold Dr and waited for the bus to bring us to our school at Braddell Rise School. That's why that rather alien name, Dunsfold is forever etched in my mind.<br /><br />I am keeping my fingers crossed that you have a photo of this place to share with us.Lam Chun Seehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01762020157703342970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-80304792703452439572013-11-07T02:28:21.249+08:002013-11-07T02:28:21.249+08:00Hi Stephen, The name Henry rings a bell as one of...Hi Stephen, The name Henry rings a bell as one of Kenneth's very small children (I have a memory of your amah running around after him with a spoon full of food trying to get him to eat!)Pauline and Mamie don't sound familiar, but Monica sounds right for your mum and I do believe that your father worked for GE. (Afraid the Lokes don't strike a chord). I am 66 on Friday, so your grandfather would have been in his early to mid thirties when we were there and your father 3 or 4. My younger brother was called Jeremy and was very blond and had to wear glasses with a patch over one eye - he was about 6) I realise that your grandfather is now a very elderly gentleman but would he be able to recognise my parents from a photo if I sent one to you? JudithJudith Johnsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-77978418999615527812013-11-06T23:42:25.756+08:002013-11-06T23:42:25.756+08:00Hi Judith , my dads name is Henry and his sisters ...Hi Judith , my dads name is Henry and his sisters are Pauline and Mamie. My grandmothers name was Monica.<br />My grandfather worked for general electric company back then. He is 88 today.<br /><br />Right opposite were the Lokes.<br /><br />Does this ring a bell? StephenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-2956854555899014192013-11-06T07:40:46.010+08:002013-11-06T07:40:46.010+08:00Thank you all for your generous advice. I am sure...Thank you all for your generous advice. I am sure we will stopover next time we fly east. I am also certain it will not just be a short stay and I shall have to prepare a 'plan of action'. One of my top priorities is to ask my brother to get all of our S'pore 'slides' digitised for future reference and research. I have some black and white photos and quite a bit of Standard 8 cine, but a lot of transparencies!<br />I am sure that Stephen Cheong's grandfather Kenneth was the gentleman who lived 2 houses west on Chiltern Drive. When we were there he had small children. He did however, if I remember rightly, visit my parents in England after we returned when he maybe was over on business. He would have known them as David and Maggie (there was also another couple who lived a few doors further along, almost on the corner - Bob and Greta Duncanson - who he may recall). I am finding this whole experience quite moving and look forward to further developments....Judith Johnsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-85339509136354935102013-11-05T17:33:43.448+08:002013-11-05T17:33:43.448+08:00Judith,
I am rather late in joining in this conver...Judith,<br />I am rather late in joining in this conversation having been away on holiday but I would echo John's (Jolly Green Pea) views about and encourage a stay. We stayed for a week in 2009 and discovered some significant places for both of us even after all these years - and yes sitting within a largely transformed land and urbanscape. Its finding those admittedly few places - and perhaps building a relationship with some bloggers on this site and beyond that make the trip worthwhile. If you are flying past it has to be worth a short stopover - I understand the reluctance, you don't want to be dissapointed and the nostalgia for time in 'Spore is strong but its worth the risk!Brian and Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00208616667962513171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-19474783878662857742013-11-05T17:30:33.740+08:002013-11-05T17:30:33.740+08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Brian and Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00208616667962513171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-25204530124768817222013-11-02T11:24:41.825+08:002013-11-02T11:24:41.825+08:00judith is the kenneth cheong referring to from 6 c...judith is the kenneth cheong referring to from 6 chiltern drive? if so he is my grandfather<br /><br />stephen cheongAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-62502589485246942032013-10-31T01:06:25.929+08:002013-10-31T01:06:25.929+08:00The remaining path of Lor Kirchir from Lorong Chua...The remaining path of Lor Kirchir from Lorong Chuan was cleared just a few years back when they build "The Chuan" condominium.<br />Would pass the junction when I take bus serivce "104" from bus-stop beside "South Country Theatre" to Serangoon Garden Circle bus Terminal and walked to Hwi Yoh Secondary School from there.HG LEEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-61711856622267622062013-10-30T17:03:14.919+08:002013-10-30T17:03:14.919+08:00Judith,
I had exactly the same fears as you. Howev...Judith,<br />I had exactly the same fears as you. However, my youngest son would often ask me "what was it like in Singapore daddy?" I never felt that I could adequately explain to him. Then the company I worked for was taken over by a large multinational resulting in a windfall when they bought all the share options in the employees share incentive scheme. SO i was able to say to him the next time he asked that as I could not tell him I would show him. We spent a fortnight in Penang a few days travelling down Malaysia with a couple of days in the Cameron Highlands and then six glorious days in Singapore. Yes Singapore had changed but for me the magic was still there. Since then I have been back several times and now that I am retired I try to visit each winter as the warm moist air improves the condition of my lungs.<br /><br />The only proviso I would add is that you will probably find it such a wonderful. experience that the typical three day stopover en rout to Aus is just not long enough. Nowadays, when my wife and I visit we book for three to four weeks and stay in one of the budget chain hotels (Fragrance) in Geylang where you are more likely to find the truer unsanitised version that you remember. Slightly seamy side as it is the red light area,brothels are the ones with red house numbers but all part of the rich tapestry of life. Cheaper hotel= able to stay longer and come back again.JollyGreenPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05829814386239434664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-92039940509135053672013-10-30T16:19:52.905+08:002013-10-30T16:19:52.905+08:00how sweet the reconnection.....my own recall in th...how sweet the reconnection.....my own recall in the former Naval Base - we were all living literally in the same enclave yet, I've not crossed paths with expats of my age, let alone made any friends...it was not uncommon..!<br />But like yourselves, we are now able to be friends from miles apart (in my case 2 Poles apart!)....keep staying in touch, you guys! God blessexnavalbase1412https://www.blogger.com/profile/11578685945723039158noreply@blogger.com