A Carefree Childhood (2E5 Lin Xueqi's Father)

My dad, Lam Koon Pang, was born on the 4^th of September 1959, was the youngest of nine children. They lived in Strathmore Avenue and stayed on the ground level. Whenever it rained, it attracted a lot of worms and rats into the house. Therefore, kerosene was used to kill and to prevent such pests from crawling into the house. My grandmother was a thrifty person, so instead of using kerosene, she used a rolled up newspaper to get rid of all the worms. Blackouts occurred frequently but my dad enjoyed them a lot as that was when he could scare his siblings using a torch light and making funny faces and noises.

From Farm Boy to Coast Guard (2E5 Marcus Mah's Maternal Grandfather)

Interviewer: Grandson

Name: Marcus Mah Kang Yuan Gerard

Date of Interview: 26/07/06

Location: Interviewee’s house

Interviewee: Grandfather

Name: Gerald Ong Kim Soo

Present Address: Block 81 Commonwealth Close 

D.O.B: 11/1/1931

Place of Birth: Singapore

                                          Present Age                                          Present Age  

Brothers: Ong Kim Joo         (82)              Sisters: Ong Joo Huay      (81)

               Ong Kim Yeow      (76)                           Ong Joo Hiok      (80)

               Ong Kim Luck       (74)                           Susie Ong            (68)

Background Information of Interviewee’s Parents:

Parent’s Name: Ong Teng Cheng (DECEASED)  Lin Sye Chong (DECEASED)

Occupation:  Director of Post & Housewife respectively

               My grandfather was born in Singapore. In the year 1936 when he was five, he moved to Sabah, Malaysia, via steamship.

              During his childhood days, life was very simple and enjoyable. My grandfather was a very active and sporty person. He would usually play soccer with his friends of many other races, getting very dirty playing in muddy fields. Other games for example, would be “hide-and-seek” and “catching the thief”. During his holidays, he would just help his father out in the fields watering the crops under the blazing sun. My grandfather was a very obedient boy; his obedience due to his father’s strict upbringing, scolding him for the slightest mistake. My grandfather’s responsibilities were very simple; it was just to study hard in school and get a good job to start a family. His father did not want him to follow in his footsteps to be working in the fields the whole day under the sun not earning much money.

Of Weddings and War (2E5 Celine Soh's grandmother)

I interviewed my grandmother on July 15, 2006. My grandmother named Tan Chin Tee, was so glad to take up this offer of an interview. She was born in Singapore in April 1934. She used to live at Bukit Ho Swee. Not being born with a silver spoon, she lived in a squatter settlement. But all that did not stop her from enjoying her childhood. My grandmother loved to play games such as hide-and-seek. She also enjoyed skipping and riding the bicycle. She was given the chance to receive an education. However, she was not willing to study because of certain reasons. So instead of going to school like everyone else her age, my grandmother stayed at home and helped out with the housework such as fetching water from the well to and from home which was quite a distance away.  She would also pass her time sewing.

Growing up in post-war Singapore (The Koh Triplets' Mother)

My name is Koh Zhi Wei. I interviewed my mother on 26 July 2006 at home. My mother's name is Sherry Lim Poh Lay. She lives at Choon Guan Street. She was born on 3 June 1958 at Kandang Kerbau Hospital. My mother has three brothers. The eldest is Lim Teh Hian , born on 20 October 1956. My mother is the second child. The third is Lim Teh Keong, born on 1st April 1960. The youngest is Lim Teh Yeong , born on 1st October 1962. My grandfather's name is Lim Sai Phiow. He is a chef. My grandmother's name is Ong Wee Chan. She is a housewife.

In her childhood, my mother used to play with skipping ropes, five stones, tops and catapults. She and her family spent their holidays in Johor Bahru. My mother was a filial and obedient child. She has never been punished by her teachers or parents nor been up to mischief.