Meet Mdm Yee

Elderly

Mdm Yee, 80, moved to Cassia Crescent in 2017 after having lived in Dakota for more than 30 years. Her hobbies include exercising and cooking, although she says she rarely does the latter now, because she finds it hard to walk to the market from her new flat. One of the things she misses most about living at Dakota is Ah Leong, or Roger Neo, who was the Centre Manager for Tung Ling Community Services. A divorcee, Mdm Yee raised eight children single-handedly, juggling more than one job and now has more than 30 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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The Cassia Resettlement Team (CRT) was formed in 2017 and serves the needs of residents who were relocated from different rental flat estates, such as Dakota Crescent and Sims Drive to Cassia Crescent.

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Meet Mdm Yee

Mdm Yee, 80, moved to Cassia Crescent in 2017 after having lived in Dakota for more than 30 years. A divorcee, she raised eight children single-handedly, juggling more than one job and now has more than 30 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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Meet Mr Pereira

Elderly

Erudite and soft-spoken, 90-year-old Mr Pereira is happy to have moved to his new flat at Cassia Crescent. He appreciates the convenience of the lift that stops at his floor, especially after an operation in 2018 that weakened him. Each day, you can spot the former civil servant and librarian ambling from or towards Block 52, as he eats his meals outside. He enjoys talking about politics, and spends a good part of his day reading the papers. With time to spare, Mr Pereira offers to read the mail of residents who cannot understand English. He leaves his door open during the day, and welcomes CRT volunteers to visit him. He lives across the corridor from Mdm Yee, and they look out for each other.

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Meet Mdm Seck

Elderly

Sociable and outspoken, Mdm Seck can often be found at Block 52’s drop-off point hanging out with her neighbours after breakfast at the coffee shop. Issues with her legs means she is usually riding in an electric people mover, and uses a walking aid for shorter distances. She is particularly close to her sister, who she meets several times a month, either at home, or at her salon. A widow, Mdm Seck lost her husband of 15 years to cancer in 2017, and misses him terribly. Formerly a seamstress, she takes great pride in the way she dresses and chooses matching accessories for each outfit.

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Mdm Seck, or Angela, sits alone on her bed as she waits for a volunteer from the Cassia Resettlement Team (CRT) to arrive and accompany her for breakfast. She lives alone at 52 Cassia Crescent, a block of flats in eastern Singapore. Since 2017, hundreds of residents from different public housing estates, such as Dakota Crescent and Sims Drive, have been resettled here.

The widow lost her husband to cancer in 2017, a loss that Mdm Seck continues to grieve. She wipes the dust off her husband’s portrait as she reminisces about their marriage. “He really loved me and treated me very well. I miss him a lot,” she recalls with tenderness. As tears well up in her eyes, she asks, “Why did he have to leave me so soon.”

A handsome man, Mdm Seck says they met at work, fell in love and were engaged after six years. They were married at a church nearby and were husband and wife for 15 years. Mdm Seck reveals that she is afraid of living alone but is reassured because she feels his presence in the flat and believes that he watches over her.

Besides his portrait, Mdm Seck still keeps memories of her husband around the studio flat, like this portrait from happier days. There is also a glass cabinet filled with toys, which she says her late husband had a passion for collecting. At times when she is feeling lonely and needs company, she stays over at her sister’s.

A devout Catholic, Mdm Seck believes her husband is in a better place. The altar takes pride of place by the window, and despite the clutter in her flat, remains relatively unobstructed.

Even though one senses her vulnerability and deep sadness, Mdm Seck remains a tower of strength. She makes it a point to dress up every day and to step out of the house. Before heading out into the neighbourhood, special care is taken with her appearance. Accessories are selected to match her outfits that are usually bright and cheerful with prints.

The morning ritual of preparing to leave her house includes cleaning her mobility scooter. With problems walking long distances, the electric vehicle makes getting around the neighbourhood less cumbersome, and more comfortable. She keeps it parked in her flat for security reasons.

Finally, an hour after the volunteer arrives, Mdm Seck is ready to lock up and start her day. A print of the Last Supper welcomes guests at her front door. It certainly makes it easier for first-time visitors to identify her home.

And she is off. As her flat is a fair way from the lift landing, the scooter saves Mdm Seck time and energy, making it more conducive to leave her home.

On occasions when a CRT volunteer joins her for breakfast, not only does Mdm Seck have a friend to chat with on the way to the coffee shop, but also someone to deal with impatient lift doors.

Mdm Seck zips pass a construction site on her way to the market. New public housing flats are being built in Cassia Crescent, and the tagline on the hoarding seems out of place given the issues many elderly resettled residents have faced since moving to Block 52.

Even with the scooter, it takes Mdm Seck at least 10 minutes from her door to reach Old Kallang Estate Hawker Centre and Wet Market. It is a distance that other elderly residents without a scooter have found tiresome, especially when they used to live at Dakota Crescent estate, which is across the road from such amenities.

After arriving at the hawker centre, Mdm Seck wastes little time and heads straight to her favourite stall to buy a bowl of porridge for breakfast, and to take away fried noodles for lunch and dinner.

She finds a space at one of a handful of wheelchair-friendly tables. With more elderly residents on scooters or in wheelchairs, it can be hard to find a seat at the food centre. Mdm Seck is lucky this morning, as the table is also in front of the stall she says sells the best and cheapest coffee.

Gary and Mdm Seck have struck up an easy relationship, despite the short time they have known each other. And while CRT volunteers work mostly with residents who have moved from Dakota Crescent public housing estate, they also support former Sims Drive residents, such as Mdm Seck.

Gary manages to make Mdm Seck laugh, despite her tendency to be circumspect about her life as a recent widow. Sometimes all it takes is a beautiful, sunny day, a hearty breakfast, and good company to lift one’s spirits. In this case, CRT volunteers provide not just practical support, but emotional care too.

After breakfast, Mdm Seck stops by the drop-off point of Block 52, before heading back upstairs to her flat. She finds her friends here nearly every day. This common area seems to be the most popular gathering point for residents at Block 52. It is bright, airy and a prime spot for observing the world go by.

It is also where Mdm Seck will spend most mornings catching up on community gossip, each other’s lives, having a laugh, and checking to see if anyone won some money.

Mdm Seck strikes a formidable presence on her scooter. She carries her feisty personality with her, unafraid to let it shine. And while she says she has no friends and prefers to be alone, she perhaps grapples with the complexity of her own desires but refuses to apologise for her contradictions.

Always a surprise, Mdm Seck sports pigtails and a dress with big red flowers. It matches her sprightly mood, which has even motivated her to brave the near-hour journey to Chinatown. It helps that Gary has offered to go along for the ride. Here he is describing the route and explaining how she could do the journey by herself in the future.

The spontaneous trip, sans scooter, is bolstered with stories and jokes. Gary and Mdm Seck keep each other company on an otherwise mundane train ride.

Ever self-sufficient and well-prepared, Mdm Seck unpacks a stool at the traffic lights. She hangs it on her trolley basket that stands in as a walking aid. Her red beret completes the look of sassy nonchalance.

But the heat and humidity are a little too much for Mdm Seck, and it isn’t long before the jaunt into Chinatown is cut short. A quick cigarette under the shade before she calls it a day and Gary takes her home in a taxi.

One of the many expressive faces of Mdm Seck. Here a look of steely determination in the lift at People’s Park Complex. It is her second trip into Chinatown in a while, and she is on a mission to buy cloth to sew some dresses.

Mdm Seck is her element among the bolts of fabric in every colour, texture and design. The former seamstress has a knack for sewing. Most of her clothes are self-made, and she hopes to be able to find sewing jobs soon, as she is getting restless not being able to work due to her health issues.

It is a serious business choosing the right material for Mdm Seck’s next outfit, and the sales lady can sniff out a lucrative customer a mile away. On this quiet morning, she plants herself next to Mdm Seck and offers advice. Her efforts pay off. Mdm Seck finds something she likes and invigorated by her purchase continues her search at more stores.

Being surrounded by rows of material has inspired Mdm Seck to make more than one outfit, which was her initial plan. But what happens when you cannot decide between two fabric designs?

You buy both, of course, though not before making a hard bargain. Satisfied with her choices, Mdm Seck decides, quite wisely, that it was time to leave before anything else caught her eye.

Back at home, she starts turning the material into something wearable. It takes Mdm Seck about two days to complete a full-length dress. The Cassia Resettlement Team had tried to start a micro-sewing business with her, but it failed. This has not dampened her resolve to continue to find a job as a seamstress. She would also like to learn to bake.

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Meet Mr Tan

Elderly

You are unlikely to find Mr Tan at home after breakfast. The 74-year-old keeps himself busy, including travelling an hour to Bedok in the east, where he used to live to meet up with old friends. Jovial and quick to offer advice on eating healthily, it is no surprise that Mr Tan is very particular about his diet. He is also a fiercely loyal father and son, making regular visits to see his 99-year-old mother at the hospice and his son, who is in prison.

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You are unlikely to find Mr Tan at home after breakfast. The 74-year-old keeps himself busy, including travelling an hour to Bedok in the east, where he used to live to meet up with old friends.

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Deep in focus, Mr Tan, 74, is at a second-hand bookstore in Bras Basah Complex, in Singapore. He mulls over what books to buy his son, who is in prison. He plans to visit soon and has promised to pass his son more reading material, which keeps him preoccupied behind bars.

He turns to Gary Huang, a volunteer with Cassia Resettlement Team, for suggestions. They decide on a few collections of Sudoku puzzles, which Mr Tan’s son enjoys solving.

Ever generous, Mr Tan shows his appreciation for Gary’s help by treating him to a drink and snack at a nearby food court. He will not accept “no” for an answer.

During this time, Gary learns about Mr Tan’s various ailments, and his concerns about not being able to afford the medical treatments he needs.

Besides an issue with his thyroid, there is the problem with his teeth. He has lost most of his front ones, and cannot afford to have dentures put in.

His eyes are also failing, and most of the time Mr Tan is unable to see much through them. His field of vision is near zero and everything looks hazy. This affects his mobility, as he is prone to falling and knocking against people.

Finances are also tight. Gary learns that Mr Tan has been expecting some welfare assistance from the government to be deposited into his bank account. But he has not received anything yet. Gary gets on the case immediately, making calls to the bank and to the social service organisation.

None of these concerns dampen Mr Tan’s sense of humour. He is still quick to tell a joke, or poke fun at life. His way to stay positive is not to take life’s ups and downs too seriously.

One of the things he looks forward to is visiting his son at Changi Prison in eastern Singapore. The face-to-face meetings take place once a fortnight and are booked in advance. There is also a video conferencing option every other week at a local community centre.

On another morning, Gary drops by Mr Tan’s home to see if he needs any help with chores or errands. Gary arrives at Mr Tan’s one-bedroom flat at Block 52 Cassia Crescent to find him reading the mail, which can be tedious with his failing eyesight and inability to read English very well. Mr Tan reveals that his son used to share the flat with him – he seems to miss his son’s company.

A widower and a sociable man, it can get lonely at times living alone. Mr Tan welcomes the company of others and gets very chatty. There is no judgement or anger when he talks about his son’s troubles with the law, even though this is not the first time his son has been imprisoned. The protective father is worried for his son’s future and does what he can to support his grandchild.

A few bags of groceries have been donated recently, and Gary sits down with Mr Tan to check each item. Not all will be useful, especially products that need to be cooked. Many elderly like Mr Tan do not cook in their new flats, because there is no separate kitchen, and it is not conducive without piped gas installed in the block.

In public housing flats in Singapore, it can be a challenge to get your clothes dried in the sun, unless you hang them on bamboo sticks and put them out of the window. This can be a challenge for older residents. Mr Tan makes use of the morning sun at his living room window to get the job done.

Under the arm – a popular spot to keep his daily paper secure on the way to breakfast. After his favourite bowl of noodles and a strong cup of coffee, Mr Tan will likely hop on a bus to Bedok housing estate further east to meet his friends there. A sociable man, Mr Tan would rather be out than home alone. He used to run a coffee shop in the area until an accident forced him to shut it.

When at home, Mr Tan spends a lot of time watching TV. As the chairs in his flat double up as tables and are covered with Mr Tan’s things, he ends up sitting on the floor. The TV is his stand-in companion, and he leaves it on for background noise. He laughs when asked about the wing tattoos on his back. He says this and the other tattoos, including one of his name (in case he forgets it), were done when he was a younger and more precocious man.

With his deteriorating eyesight, Mr Tan relies on a magnifying glass for help with reading the newspapers.

As he prepares to head out to visit his mother at the nursing home, and late wife at the columbarium, Gary reads some of Mr Tan’s mail to help explain what they contain.

It is a special day. Mr Tan is paying his respects to his late wife, something he has not done in two years. Mdm Tan passed away in 2015, and as he was rather attached to her, found it hard to accept that she had left him so young at 54 years old. He has felt quite guilty not having visited her for 24 months, and as an apology has bought her flowers.

Mdm Tan’s ashes lie at Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium in northern Singapore. Making up for the years of neglect, Mr Tan carefully cleans Mdm Tan’s niche plaque.

He also replaces the dusty, plastic flowers with the tulips he bought on the way there. It is a somber and touching moment and Mr Tan conducts the ritual with quiet reverence.

After making sure everything is perfect, Mr Tan turns his full attention to Mdm Tan, and shares a private moment. He gives her an update of his life, tells her how much he misses her, and asks for her forgiveness and protection.

The mood is considerably lighter after the visit, and Mr Tan waits for a cab to take him to the other love of his life, his mother.

At 99 years old, the older Mdm Tan is still lucid and was happy to see her son come to spend time with her. She has just finished her lunch, and he helps her with some water to wash the food down.

Mr Tan tries to remove his mother’s glasses, but it entangles her hair and he teases her about it. Mdm Tan appreciates the attention and breaks into a smile, which lightens up her face and eyes, revealing a warm personality.

Not many words are exchanged, but there is a lot of tenderness between mother and son. Not being able to move much, Mr Tan massages her hands to soothe and loosen her joints.

A fortnight flies past, and it is time to visit his son again. The devoted father embarks without complaint on an almost two-hour bus ride to the prison site in eastern Singapore, where his son is incarcerated.

Mr Tan’s pace quickens as he walks towards the prison grounds. He is about two hours early for the scheduled appointment and has no need to hurry. But Mr Tan can barely conceal his excitement. He is eager to give his son the books, and to hear how he is doing. Even Gary, who has accompanied him, can barely keep up with the 74-year-old.

As fast as the fortnight passes between visits to his son in prison, Mr Tan is out after spending the best part of three hours waiting for 30-minutes with his son. And so, the clock starts counting down again to his next trip here. In the meantime, life continues in the outside world, where the chances of rain are inevitable.

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Meet Mr Tang

Elderly

Despite suffering from Parkinson’s disease, 64-year-old Mr Tang leads a disciplined and active life. If not out and about in the neighbourhood, he signs up for social activities organised by volunteers and other community organisations. The former cleaner discovered an interest in photography after an event organised by CRT. He had lived in Dakota since he was a child, but has no qualms about moving to Cassia Crescent. If he missed anything, it would be the wide, open spaces. He recalls a favourite past time sitting on the bench under the trees, observing the goings-on of the neighbourhood and watching the planes fly past.

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A devout Buddhist, Mr Tang, 64, prays and makes offerings at his shrine at home at least twice a day.

When he can, he visits one of the many temples in Singapore. His favourite is Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery in the north.

The monastery has massive grounds and Mr Tang enjoys strolling through the various parts of it, where he can find some peace and quiet, like by this pond.

A stringent time keeper, Mr Tang has three wall clocks in his home. The one by the door is set 10 minutes faster, so he is never late for an appointment. Despite the constant reminder of time ticking away, there is a sense of calm and peace in Mr Tang’s flat.

The former cleaner is meticulous and keeps his home very tidy. A miniature chess set shares space with incense rings. Mr Tang learnt to play the game by himself and even created his own rules for it. Towards the back of the table lies a stack of notes, a self-created system of reminders to make sure he never forgets an appointment, especially ones to the doctor.

Mr Tang was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than five years ago and had to stop working because of problems with his hands. He now takes a cocktail of pills, twice a day, to manage the symptoms of the illness.

Mr Tang cooks simple dishes for himself that requires minimal cleaning up after. Space is limited in the makeshift kitchen, so most of the preparation is done by the sink and food prepared in one pot, such as steamed rice and vegetables.

After moving from Dakota Crescent to Block 52 Cassia Crescent at the end of 2016, Mr Tang says he lost touch with most of his friends. He only sees them occasionally when he goes on outings organised by the service centre. He enjoys the company of volunteers from the Cassia Resettlement Team, who visit him regularly.

One of the volunteers is CRT Head and Co-founder Lim Jingzhou, who has been assisting elderly residents like Mr Tang resettle into Cassia Crescent since 2017. CRT’s programmes include befriending residents and supporting them in their daily activities.

Mr Tang had to throw away a lot of his belongings before relocating from Dakota to Cassia - objects he had collected over the six decades of living there. These days he has managed to fit everything he owns by the window of his studio flat. Looking around, one senses a nostalgic man who has tried to preserve his memories through photos and other mementoes from the past.

Living alone can be isolating for some, but for Mr Tang, he seems to enjoy the solitude. A man of few words, he leads a quiet life, content to spend time by himself. He prefers to be at home, where he watches Chinese drama series on TV and relishes listening to his CD collection of popular Chinese opera singers.

A photo of Mr Tang sitting on a bench in the sun is a treasured memory from Dakota Crescent, where he had lived since he was a baby. In Mr Tang’s usual easygoing manner, he says there is nothing he really misses about Dakota, except maybe the moments he spent on the benches in the Dakota estate watching the world go by.

Having discovered photography during a community arts activity organised by Drama Box in 2016, Mr Tang has developed a keen interest in taking photos. Using a borrowed camera, he brought Our Better World on a walk down the memory lanes of his life at Dakota Crescent.

The first shot of the day is of the big field that separates Cassia from the Old Kallang Estate Hawker Centre, where many of Dakota’s former residents enjoyed having breakfast. Mr Tang says the market is now a bit far away from his new block, compared to when it was just across the road from his former home.

Pausing on the bridge that spans Old Airport Road and separates Mr Tang’s past from his present. It also links the Dakota housing estate with amenities like the wet market, food centre, supermarket, ATM and pharmacy. Former Dakota residents with mobility issues have lamented that relocating to 52 Cassia Crescent has made it a challenge to access these services.

Mr Tang’s first glimpse of the housing estate he grew up in and lived all his adult life before moving to Cassia Crescent in 2016. Dakota Crescent was built by the Singapore Improvement Trust in 1958, when Singapore was still a British colony. It was handed over to the Housing Development Board in 1960.

Entering the Dakota public housing estate where some 400 households were relocated, most to Block 52 Cassia Crescent, a 20-minute walk from here. Mr Tang grew up on this estate among the old trees and low-rise blocks surrounded by a close-knit community, most of whom he has lost contact.

Among the trees and ghostly silence of Dakota Crescent, Mr Tang stops to admire a familiar feature of the neighbourhood. Having played here often as a child, the Dakota landmark holds many memories for him, and other residents.

The Old Dove Playground was designed by Khor Ean Ghee in 1979 and the public has requested for it to be protected. Since announcing in 2014 that the area would be redeveloped, the Government has decided to conserve the central cluster of six blocks in the housing estate, along with this iconic playground. Photo courtesy of Mr Tang

Abandoned and overgrown, the community playground looms large in the deserted housing estate. Grass has taken root in the sand, and the colours of the once vibrant mosaic faded after decades of sun.

The Dakota housing estate now devoid of residents, and except for the odd person cutting across the estate, is relatively empty. There is instead a pervading sense of nature having taken over the estate, with trees and birds outnumbering humans.

Residents on the ground floor would hang their clothes out in the sun on purpose-built railings. These days, living in the high-rise block at 52 Cassia Crescent, most of the elderly residents leave their clothes indoors to dry.

The Geylang River runs along the south of Dakota Crescent estate. Some long-term residents recall sightings of crocodiles before the river was canalised and prone to flooding.

The 17 low-rise blocks vary in height around Dakota housing estate, reaching as high as seven storeys. Most of the former residents were moved from numerous kampongs (villages) across Singapore in the late 50s. Dakota Crescent was named after the Douglas DC-3 Dakota transport aircraft that used to land at the Kallang Airport when it was operational.

Common spaces, such as this badminton court, were dispersed across the estate to encourage interaction among neighbours. Most of them were outdoors where space was not a problem. These wide perspectives have narrowed dramatically at Block 52 Cassia Crescent. Due to limited space, and the high-rise nature of the area, residents, young and old, have been less inclined to use areas built for communal use.

Back at Block 6, where Mr Tang says he used to live on the sixth floor with his family.

He still checks his letterbox regularly even knowing that he would probably not find anything in it.

These post-war lifts were barely functioning before residents were relocated. Some recalled how they were always breaking down and because of the impending move were seldom fixed. This made it tough for the elderly with mobility issues to leave or return to their homes without using the stairs.

The elevators did not stop on every floor, which was inconvenient for some residents, especially the elderly and people using wheelchairs.

Straddling the worlds of old and new, Mr Tang’s hunched figure moves across the Dakota Crescent with ease and familiarity. He returns to his former home regularly to enjoy the tranquility of the green and spacious grounds.

Mr Tang recalls the constant roar from passing planes as Dakota Crescent lies on the flight path of aircraft flying to and from Paya Lebar Air Base. It is not a sound he misses.

A poignant shot from Mr Tang that encapsulates the atmosphere of Dakota Crescent. It is a shell of the community it once housed, steeped in memories and fading in significance.

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Meet Uncle James

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Soursop juice is Uncle James’s claim to fame, and you will know why after tasting it. The not-so-secret recipe was honed in the 80s when he ran a popular fruit stall at the former Taman Serasi Food Centre across from the Botanic Gardens. So sought after was the soursop juice, people would travel across the island for a taste of it, forming long queues and inspiring copycat versions. At 62, and despite losing his right leg from the knee down, Uncle James’s youthful face is quick to smile. He takes great pride in the quality of his fruits and works hard to run his stall seven days a week with his wife of 15 years. He is in his element sharing stories from his jet-setting days as a successful businessman. Pop by his stall at Old Airport Road Food Centre for a chat and a juice made from the freshest ingredients.

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Meet Uncle James

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Soursop juice is Uncle James’s claim to fame, and you will know why after tasting it.

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Uncle James’s fruit stall at Old Airport Road Food Centre has pedigree. Lin Hin has been selling sliced fruit and juice since 1975 and was formerly located at Taman Serasi hawker centre, across from the Botanic Gardens entrance on Cluny Road in Singapore, until it was closed in 2001. Lin Hin was renowned for its soursop juice. A recipe Uncle James’s mother had concocted and perfected.

Many stalls have tried but failed to imitate the legendary soursop juice. Uncle James says the secret lies in the quality of the soursop and the freshness from the lemon he adds at the end. He took over the stall in 2015 after his mother passed away, and runs it with his wife, Qing Xia. The couple work hard. The stall opens 12 hours a day from 9am to 9pm, seven days a week. Sometimes they take a day off.

When he heads home after lunch for a mid-day rest, the stall is managed by Qing Xia. He met his wife through a friend on a business trip to China. He recounts with a gleam in his eye that after a two-and-a-half-year long distance relationship, he decided to fly to China “to bring her back to Singapore”. They were married soon after.

Since relocating to Block 52 Cassia Crescent from Dakota Crescent, getting to the fruit stall from home on his personal mobility device has become an obstacle course. But the longer ride does allow for chance meetings with friends and neighbours. Uncle James is a familiar and friendly face around the estate. He is quick to smile and say ‘hello’, making him instantly likeable.

Squeezing into the small space can be an effort. Uncle James must manoeuvre pass a sugarcane juice extractor to enter the stall. These actions were made more challenging after losing a leg. He had to have his right leg amputated below the knee after what he describes as a “viral infection”.

Having grown up helping his parents at the fruit stall, Uncle James is no stranger to the rigours of ensuring the freshest produce are prepared every morning. Pineapples, papaya, watermelon, mango, and other tropical delights are deftly peeled and sliced.

Uncle James talks with passion about fruit. He says his high standards for quality was something he learnt from his father. His long relationship with suppliers in Malaysia ensures he gets the best fruit delivered. As a rule, he never keeps cut fruit overnight. Any unsold items at the end of the day are given to the cleaners at the food centre.

There is not a moment’s rest for Uncle James, who on any given day can be seen zipping pass tables and stalls keeping himself busy – whether it is moving seats around or delivering orders. He says he tries to keep the price of his fruit low to cater to low-income residents, many who are regular customers.

The stall has become a second home for the Fun family. Most of their meals are eaten here, and they have developed friendships with other stallholders, including the lady who runs the Muslim stall across from them.

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