Neighbours - Beloved Kak Alimah

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We treated her like family. Kak Alimah, a neighbour staying in another part of our Bedok kampong was the confinement lady for our mother when she gave birth to us in 1961 and 1963. She soon evolved into our family washer woman who would come into the house daily to handle the morning washing of our laundry (handwashed in a large oval metal tub along with a wooden washboard), then have the clothes hung up to dry within our compound. Over time we became close like family. Being invited to her kampong house (very much like ours with wooden plank walls and zinc roof on concrete stilts) to attend her children’s weddings in the late 60’s and early 70’s was always a treat. Enjoying the homecooked nasi briyani (eating with our hands and then washing them with the hand washing kettle pot at the table itself was such a thrill) and taking home a nice egg cup with colourful tinsels around it was a delight for us boys. Add to that her green fingers seen in the luscious display of maidenhair fern pots all around her house verandah! Even when both our families moved out of our kampong houses to move into our new HDB homes in the mid 70’s (we into Marine Parade and she into Bedok New Town), Kak Alimah would call us to come collect her array of lontong and other delicacies every Hari Raya Puasa day. We never missed going! At the same time, we would invite her and her family members over to our place for special occasions as well. Kak Alimah has since passed away but the memory of her strong interactions with us remain till this day. Missing you Kak this Hari Raya 2025!

Our mother with Kak Alimah in 1979

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