Margaret Drive reminescence

The cinemas cum bowling alley. This was the exact spot where the 2nd level flat of 242A was built on. The four storey SIT block was one of the many in the neighbourhood.  I have a dumb and mute friend by the name of Micheal who stayed on the 3rd storey.

The entrance of my primary school, Birkhall Road Primary

This field was exactly the same as I have played on during my Birkhall days in the 60s. It was really big and it was really good for hatam bola as we could run and roll on the tall grass during recess.

The Queenstown Polyclinic. There was a bus stop nearby where my father alighted from the bus daily

Opening Ceremony of Queenstown Polyclinic in the 60s

Queenstown Library circa 2011

 The famous Block 39A circa 2011

 NTUC Fairprice Supermarket 2011

The site where  NTUC Fairprice was circa 2013

Below are the images of Birkhall Road School in the 60s. The riot police suggested the tumultous period of racial disharmony back then.

View of the shanty stall that used to sell coffee and titbits along Margaret Drive

Queenstown in its heydays

I lived in Margaret Drive from about 1959 to 1963 at 242 Margeret Drive, one of the 4 storeyed SIT blocks. The large canal was behind my house. The market was on the right side of the block. It was torn down soon after I moved to Bukit Ho Swee in 1964. A cinema was built on the very site where my house was.
It was in the Margaret Drive area where many of my classmates lived especially those who attended Birkhall Primary and Tangln Integrated Secondary Technical School (TISTS).
If you visit the area now, you will see vast empty spaces ready for development. Already, the Dawson Road area is full of new blocks now.

Sec 4C DT Class of 2013

Last Day of official school for graduating classes 11 Octo ber 2013

After 1800 hours 2nd September official Coursework deadline

This is the last group of D&T pupils that I took in my lifelong career. The D&T syllabus started in 1988 and every year, it was a mad dash for the final deadline even though the process was planned well. Now, no more meeting deadline and no more 'above expectations' targets set with the ROs.

Turning 60

June 2013
Year of the Snake

The valued Purple Ez-link card

This is the year when I join the elderly/oldies in Singapore. SMRT has a unique way of tracking the population. One month before my birthday, I received a letter from them requesting for my photograph. On the exact week of my birthday, they sent me the purple EZlink card, prompto!

Retirement at Last

Picture of DT Office where I work dated 21 October 2013

At last, I received the official retirement letter from MoE which says : On behalf of the Ministry, I would like to express our utmost appreciation and gratitude for your many years of contribution. Your retirement with effect from 2 Jan 2014 has been approved. Your last day of service will be 1 Jan 2014.
Signed : DD, Employee Engagement Centre for PS (Education Development)

When I submitted my application for retirement on 1 October, I felt a sense of great relief and some apprehension. Relief that I am leaving this place and some of the people here for good. Apprehension that there will be a change of routine after more than 3 decades of work.

Though I was quite sure to ask for retirement next year, the tipping point for sending in the letter was a SMS from Mrs Teo K H on 17 Sept asking me to join her at RVH. Not sure if she knew that I am retiring or that I already retired but it came out of the blue. Thus the hurried letter to MoE, giving less than 4 months required notice. Initially, the HR insisted on 4 months notice, only later they acceded after requiring me to write a letter of explanation.

What I will definitely miss: My present upper secondary DT classes ie 3T1 and 3C. Rather sad that I will not able to see them through next year's GCE Coursework.

What was most disappointing : Was told that I am not guaranteed a Contract Adjunct teacher post next year due to the performance 'conditions'. It meant that after teaching for so so long and handled so so many types of pupils, I was told that I may not be able to TEACH again!!!!! What an irony and a blow.