The Giving Tree

[fo12eal]

I read this book at Page 1. It’s a rather sad story to me.


I didn’t get the book (yet) also not sure if I will partly because I haven’t thought of how I can story tell it to my child…

[mumwgals]

ChiefKiasu:

I still remember those days when I was about 4 years old and he would walk me across the bridge over the small river in Mattar road to the hawker centre

*side track*

Hey CKS, I walked across that bridge everyday during my primary sch. That one can be called a river meh, I thought is a big drain. ^_^

[ChiefKiasu]

mumwgals:

ChiefKiasu:

I still remember those days when I was about 4 years old and he would walk me across the bridge over the small river in Mattar road to the hawker centre

*side track*

Hey CKS, I walked across that bridge everyday during my primary sch. That one can be called a river meh, I thought is a big drain. ^_^

Kekeke... it certainly looked like a river to me at 4yo. But you are right... it's just an oversized longkang. Also, I think that is where I may have developed my fear of height (agrophobia). That bridge was not much more than a few pieces of planks stitched together during those days.

[mumwgals]

ChiefKiasu:

Kekeke... it certainly looked like a river to me at 4yo. But you are right... it's just an oversized longkang. Also, I think that is where I may have developed my fear of height (agrophobia). That bridge was not much more than a few pieces of planks stitched together during those days.

If we are talking about the same Mattar road hawer center, there should be a proper bridge further down from that plank bridge you took, but I guess your dad wanted to train you on your balancing skill. ; P

I miss that hawker center, is it still there? I went back a few years ago and some of the hawkers were still there.....

This showed how somethings we did with our parents left deep impression in our memories. I hope my daughters will re-call those things we do together when they grow up.

[jedamum]

mumwgals:

That one can be called a river meh, I thought is a big drain. ^_^

maybe CKS couldn't differentiate bluish river water from brownish drain water...

[ChiefKiasu]

mumwgals:

If we are talking about the same Mattar road hawer center, there should be a proper bridge further down from that plank bridge you took, but I guess your dad wanted to train you on your balancing skill... I miss that hawker center, is it still there? I went back a few years ago and some of the hawkers were still there.....

It's the same hawker centre... except maybe not the same bridge. My memories of that bridge is between 1968-1972. Yes, incredibly, some of the stores are still there, especially the desert store. The daughter of the store took over from her parents. It has been there for more than 40 years! And prices are still as low. Some things don't get inflated.

[ChiefKiasu]

jedamum:

mumwgals:

That one can be called a river meh, I thought is a big drain. ^_^

maybe CKS couldn't differentiate bluish river water from brownish drain water...

Hard to tell when my memories are still in black and white like the TV sets of yonder years.

[ChiefKiasu]

mumwgals:

If we are talking about the same Mattar road hawer center, there should be a proper bridge further down from that plank bridge you took, but I guess your dad wanted to train you on your balancing skill... I miss that hawker center, is it still there? I went back a few years ago and some of the hawkers were still there.....

It's the same hawker centre... except maybe not the same bridge. That bridge you are referring to is actually a road. My memories of that plank bridge is between 1968-1972.

Yes, incredibly, some of the stores are still there, especially the desert store. The daughter of the store took over from her parents. It has been there for more than 40 years! And prices are still as low. Some things don't get inflated.

[mumwgals]

ChiefKiasu:

It's the same hawker centre... except maybe not the same bridge. That bridge you are referring to is actually a road. My memories of that plank bridge is between 1968-1972.

Yes, incredibly, some of the stores are still there, especially the desert store. The daughter of the store took over from her parents. It has been there for more than 40 years! And prices are still as low. Some things don't get inflated.

Huh, that road! It was near the end of the hawker center. That desert stall is still there! There was this homemade yong tau hu store, mended by a middle age couple (back then), they had very few selection, but it was quite nice. And another lor mee stall, the father cooked & his 3 sch-going children served. I remembered the children, around P3 - P6, doing their homework right infront of the stall. The last time I went back, I only saw the daughter, already a lady.

I was from Mattar East Primary, so every morning, I had to walk along that longkang in the dark (the street light back then was not bright), crossed the bridge & walked on this long pathway (almost in picth dark, & kept stepping on snails, cause couldn't see them on the pathway) before I could reach the sch. There were a few blocks before my pri sch, but it's all demolished now. The residents in that few blocks back then were already very entrepreneur, they put place mat along the path way, selling all kinds of stationary, some even sell chicks & duckling. Those where the days.........

[ChiefKiasu]

mumwgals:

...The residents in that few blocks back then were already very entrepreneur, they put place mat along the path way, selling all kinds of stationary, some even sell chicks & duckling. Those where the days.........

Don't forget the tikam tikam store. No wonder most adults today are 4D fanatics, having been exposed to, um, games of chance from young

These days, it is reduced to the coin slot toy-egg machines masquerading as gumball dispensers. Kids learn that they don't get to choose what they get for $1. I've always eyed those things with suspicion.