Remembering my dad

12th July 2012..

One week ago my dad passed away and i had this sudden urge to create a blog to chronicle his life as well as my early years growing up in Emerald Hill.

 (Pa - you loving memory will stay with us always, loved by your grandson Isaac and Noah as well)

1931 - my dad was born in 1931 and little did he know how much life would change in the 40's when the Japanese came.  During those years of the Japanese occupation, my dad (Kenny) had to sell cigarettes for a living. He often told us stories of heads hanging at the Cathay building which was supposedly the HQ of the Japs.  Land was abundant then so they could grow sweet potatoes & vegetables in the backyard and the family lived through the war.

from left (Uncle Tan Kiat Swee -28.4.1930 - 18.5.1980)

(Aunt Tan Soh Sim - 17.7.1932 -14.2.1975).  

Seated - Grandma Oh Kim Eng)

Carefree & Happy.  That's postwar Singapore.  Ironically now that we have progressed as a nation, we are all back to seeking happiness in the 21st century. 

1952 - my grandfather passed away in 1952 so I didn''t have a chance to meet the man - Tan Hong Tek.http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19520901.2.92.aspx

Although I managed to find a picture of him with my grandma while going through my dad's photos

(updated July 2013)

I found some articles relating to my granddad today which gives me a warm feeling knowing that he was a generous and a God loving man in his life.

http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19520901-1.1.5.aspx


But i do have fond memories of my grandmother.  I went with her to the wet market at Cuppage almost everyday and we had Laksa (with quail eggs, chicken).  She makes the best "hay bee hiam" and those make a great afternoon snack sandwiched between slices of cucumber.

So Dad or "Father" or "Pa" as we used to call him  - both my brother and myself - he was born on 1st June 1931.   He attended St Andrew's and used to play soccer (something that he told us).

2nd Mar 1952
SS Chusan 

he boarded the ship SS Chusan to study in London until he had to return later that year when my grandad passed away.

1950s - 1960s

During the 50's I guessed we hosted a few dinner at our place looking from the old photos. I knew that my granddad was into advertising and media slides.
Dad was not someone who would speak his mind. How I wished I had the chance to ask him the events that transpired in the 50s till his marriage to my mum in 1969.

Dad's friends

One of my dad's dearest friends in Spore.  I remembered going to Uncle's Ron place when I was very young and he has really huge dogs so I didnt run around as much :)

2 June 1969 - Dad and Mum got married on this day, so just 1 day after dad's birthday.  He was 38 and my mum 30.