Talking about our childhood days during the Chinese New Year has triggered more memories. Here’s another glimpse of what life was like in the past.

I look back with pride that my mother didn’t have to accompany me to school when I started Primary One. On the first day of school, I went with my elder sister in the school van. My mother went to my school only once when we were required to have an injection and our parents had to be present. That was also the only time that she bought food for my recess. I remember that she bought a bowl of fish ball noodles and a pineapple drink for me. My mother had to accompany my younger sister to school when she started Primary One. She also had to stand outside her classroom where my sister could see her and to buy food for her recess for one month. I went to school wearing the hand-me-downs from my cousin (who is 10 years older than me) and my sister. I had a new set of school uniform only when I started secondary school.

In secondary school, after the final school exams, my classmates and I would head for the Silver Spoon Coffee House at Supreme House (now known as Park Mall) for a set lunch. We felt like grown-ups when we ate our three-course meal of soup, main course and dessert which was usually a slice of delicious chocolate cake. I also remember eating my first hamburger with root beer at A&W when I was in the first year of junior college. At that time I thought that it was such a delicious meal.

I recall that my elder sister wanted to attend the school’s graduation party which was  held after her GCE “O” levels exams. At that time, maxi dresses were in fashion and she wanted to wear one to the party. My parents were reluctant to fork out money for that dress, so she had to think of a way to pay for it. We came up with the idea of selling soft drinks at the nearby Bidadari Cemetery during All Souls’ Day which falls in November. We bought the soft drinks at cost price from our family’s coffee shop and managed to borrow a trishaw from one of our neighbours to take the drinks to the cemetery. Business was brisk that day and the three of us each made a princely sum of $10. It was our first attempt at making money and my sister got to go to the party in her maxi dress.

There are many more memories. I am thinking perhaps I should start recording them.

editor's note: From this year, we may get to enjoy A&W in Singapore again !