Farewell MyQueenstown

Farewell MyQueenstown #7 - Farewell KTM Tracks

On 30 Jun 2011 | 6 Comments

Much has been written about KTM Tracks lately. A simple search on Google and Yahoo will bring you to numerous websites such as this and this. After all, this cantankerous relic was Singapore's brave new world in the early 20th century.  I have always been a believer of my secondary school's motto, "Rooted in Tradition, Equipped for the Future."

永别了!女皇镇!#7 一摊油条传三代

On 30 Apr 2011 | 1 Comments

一摊油条传三代 在玛格列熟食中心,“生活公市”说得上是个客至如云的摊子。这个小摊子,不售卖任何煮炒;摊子主人则一年三百六十五天,天天在摊内起个炉炸上一条条的油条。 “生活公市”摊主李马才先生(58岁)是这家油条摊的第三代。 祖父自中国南来便炸油条为业,后来其父亦继承了祖父的业务。“生活公市”自1969年起,正式迁入玛格列熟食中心营业。李先生从小便跟随父亲学手艺,在油锅边打转。 李先生的油条,以香脆爽口闻名。在80年代初,李先生每一日几乎可炸近200条油条。李家一家五人总要齐齐上阵来应付顾客的需要。 如今,虽然李先生的摊子已搬迁到亚历山大村熟食中心,但他对玛格列熟食中心仍然十分怀念。再见了,玛格列熟食中心!

Farewell MyQueenstown #6 - The Taste of Wanton Noodle Lingers...

On 24 Mar 2011 | 18 Comments

Mr. Phoon Hon Sun, 64, and his family started selling barbeque pork from a pushcart at the terminal for Hock Lee bus service no.9 some 53 years ago. The bus terminal was located next to Blocks 6B and 7 along Margaret Close, a cluster of flats which were demolished during the 1990s. A familiar sight no more Every afternoon, residents who lived in the seven

Home Sweet Home @ MyQueenstown

Home Sweet Home #15 - A New Day Has Come =)

On 24 Apr 2011 | 11 Comments

Last week, MyQueenstown team interviewed Mdm Chan about her life in Blk 15 Holland Drive. Under SERS, she was assigned a new apartment in the newly developed blocks just a stone throw sway. Today, we visit Hisham Suni, 38, who moved over from Blk 17 to his new apartment in Blk 18C Holland Drive. Hisham Suni and his son =) Hisham is delighted by his new ap

Home Sweet Home #14 - Farewell Holland Drive

On 17 Apr 2011 | 3 Comments

Blk 15, Holland Drive looked vacant and cold when MyQueenstown team visited this morning. The shop houses under the apartment block were all covered with card boards and all that was left were traces of glass panels, which could possibly be a beauty parlor in its place before. The lift was still working. Mdm Chan - a long time resident at Holland Drive A c

Home Sweet Home #13 - Commonwealth 10! Here I Come!

On 10 Apr 2011 | 3 Comments

The front door was wide open when MyQueenstown team visited Mr Lee, 78, at his apartment in Blk 74 Commonwealth Drive. Feeling curious, we knocked onto the door and was greeted by a sleepy looking Mr Lee. Mr Lee who lives alone at Block 74 Retired more than a decade ago, Mr Lee is living alone as he prefers being independent to tagging along with his chi

News@MyQueenstown

Response to Straits Times Forum: "Active Citizenry Needs Space to Find Its Feet"

On 26 Aug 2011 | 25 Comments

A week ago, Mr. Eric Tan, Director of the National Archives of Singapore, explained that the archives have generously acceded to our requests for photographs to be published in our website, upcoming book and newsletter. This was not the full story. Last year, we wrote in to the National Archives of Singapore, requesting them to sponsor photographs of the ol

MyQueenstown Celebrates: Consecration Ceremony at Sri Muneeswaran Temple!

On 10 Jul 2011 | 1 Comments

Tanglin Halt residents are wokened up by the vociferous wailing of nadaswaram and thavil ensemble at Sri Muneeswaran Temple this morning. More than 15,000 residents and devotees have gathered at the Southeast Asia's largest Hindu temple worshiping the Muneeswaran god to witness the consecration ceremony. A consecration ceremony is a festive occasion done on

女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第二十五期

On 08 Jul 2011 | 6 Comments

女皇弄组屋 同一垃圾糟 两年3纵火  女皇弄组屋走廊垃圾糟,三度起火,居民人心惶惶,警列恶作剧纵火处理。 位于女皇镇一带的女皇弄第21座组屋8楼的电梯口,今早7时15分左右发生大火。 一名住在事发地点附近的居民,惊见滚滚黑烟从该处冒出 最高74万5000元 最低40多万 女皇镇 四房转售价 相差近37万  在热门组屋区女皇镇里,有四房式组屋最近以74万5000元的最高价转售,但也有37万8000元。 组屋溢价回升之际,热门地点如女皇镇的组屋转售价也持续攀升。今年4月,一间位于女皇镇史达拉摩道(Strathmore Ave)的四房式高楼单位,以74万5000元售出。 最后一次乘搭火车北上  火车开动了!该各就各位了吧。经过女皇镇、武吉知马、武吉班让时看到铁路旁站着许

My Father and I

Former Tanglin Halt Industrial Estate

On 14 May 2011 | 2 Comments

The industrialisation programme took off in Queenstown when the Tanglin Halt Industrial Estate was established to generate employment in the neighbourhood. Initially, the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) planned a small industrial estate at Tanglin Halt to provide employment for the new residents. Measuring some 20 acres of land consisting of 38 factories

Queenstown Baptist Church

On 03 May 2011 | 1 Comments

The Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) set aside seven sites for religious use and advertised for religious organisations to ballot in the 1950s. Of the ten enquiries received, four withdrew, leaving six Christian organisations. These went on to build the first churches of Queenstown; Queenstown Baptist Church, Queenstown Lutheran Church, Faith Methodist Ch

Archipelago Brewery Company (Anchorpoint)

On 22 Apr 2011 | 3 Comments

Established in 1931 by German businessmen, Archipelago Brewery Company was the first commercial brewery in Singapore. It was located next to the Malayan Railway, which provided convenient transportation for exporting the beer in Tanjong Pagar. Archipelago Brewery Company One of the more popular beer produced at Archipelago Brewery Company was Anchor Beer.

Makan Shiok!

Snacks Attack #13 - Ah Luck Bean Curd

On 23 Dec 2010 | 2 Comments

Mr Chua, 25, runs Ah Luck Beancurd in Tanglin Halt market for more than 2 years. He is renting the stall from the original owner who has based his stall in the same area for more than 40 years. Ah Luck Bean Curd offers drinks and deserts such as soya bean drink, grass jelly and the residents' favorite soya bean curd (60 cents). A Delicious Bowl of Bean Curd

Snacks Attack #12 - Satay Mad in Tanglin Halt!

On 16 Dec 2010 | 7 Comments

 Ann, 46 runs the family food stall for over 10 years in Tanglin Halt hawker centre. Serving halal food for over a decade in the same place, Ann has integrated her dishes to suit the taste buds of Queenstown residents, especially the Malay community. The simple food stall offers snacks such as satay, otah and seafood dishes. As a family styled bus

Snacks Attack #11 - Almond & Peanut Paste!

On 09 Dec 2010 | 0 Comments

DessertStory, located in Anchorpoint basement one, has been serving residents tasty snacks and deserts for the past four years. Wendy, the supervisor of the cafe, introduced the various homemade desserts that they offer. A bowl of Almond Paste Hot desserts are mainly the favourite choice among Queenstown residents. Firstly, they have almond paste which is m

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown #9 - 7 Funerals in 2 weeks

On 22 May 2011 | 0 Comments

7 funerals in 2 weeks. There is a flurry of "activity" these two weeks for correspondents from My Queenstown. We did not leave our traces in photographs as a mark of respect for the deceased. We did leave our sincere prayers and heartfelt condolences for those present. Quietly and fleetingly, we made our way to some of the funerals and understood that all o

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown #8 - Block 39A No More (The Removal of Block 39A Part I)

On 05 Apr 2011 | 8 Comments

On a Friday afternoon three weeks ago, several Bangladeshi workers, presumably from the Town Council, took their tool boxes to the lift lobby of Block 39A. In less than half an hour, they carried a metallic frame on their shoulders and placed it on a lorry parked in front of the apartment block. Farewell Block 39A The letterboxes The stretch of corrid

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown #7 - A New Coat of Paint

On 22 Mar 2011 | 1 Comments

The Point Blocks, along with 5 other blocks at Mei Ling Street were given a new coat of paint over the past week. The familiar combination of blue, yellow and orange was a thing of the past as these foreign workers toiled day and night, rain or shine to make Mei Ling Street "attractive again." White seems to be the "in" thing in Queenstown lately. Ten-store

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历史的拐点 时代的瞬间

By my queenstown on Thursday, April 7, 2011 with 0 comments

女皇镇,一个曾经响亮过的名字,一座曾经峥嵘过的市镇。它,库藏着我几许逝去的青涩与梦幻,还有半生兜兜转转的精彩录像。然则,就像人一样,在时空之淘洗下,它会由激越、繁茂,渐趋向沉潜、恬静;从前可能是傲视群伦的‘新宠’,但天长日久的,它必也会显现出斑驳与衰老,以致被后来者居了上,甚至只配存入“情感记忆”的栈房里。见闻及此,不免浮想联翩,唏嘘难已,心弦激荡。

就这一激荡,竟让封存已久之记忆,仿似遭截流的潮水般,一经开了闸,遂即哗啦啦地奔泻而出,咋也难以挡阻。……

六十年代初始,新加坡社会依然处于波谲云诡之秋,各类抗争此起彼伏。即使身为莘莘学子,亦难得靖心读书。那季节,时代的鼓声和校园的铃声总是交错在一块,让人无所适从,思潮澎湃。而早在五十年代,那些什么“反黄运动”啦、“五一三学生争取免役事件”啦、“福利巴士工潮”啦、“华校中学生罢课”啦……倒是令我这刚踏进中学之门的‘顽童’,也开始学会了观察与思考。惟其时的我,尚只配当个社会史的小读者,似懂非懂地,最多仅能在时局的门缝外,偷偷扫描上几眼,以填充脑子里的知识空隙。

Forfar House

整个中学生涯,兴许是我人生轨道之另一转折,亦系跟女皇镇结缘的启端。有几个中正分校(校址仍在金炎路阶段)的同学,便住在“新生”不久的女皇镇建筑群——著名的Forfar House(俗称:十四楼)附近几座七层高的组屋里。彼时的我,依然是匹难驯的野驹,除了上课时段,多数系“东奔西跑”的。今天到甲同学的家讨论功课,明天就搭住在乙同学的窝里夜宿,渐渐地变成了另类“翘家人”。迄至转入总校念高中(1960 年)后,由于身陷洪流中,特别是(1961年杪)“反华文中学改制”罢考那一年,高歌“今天不回家”更是破记录啦!而相反的,与女皇镇之接触倒越加频密起来。


1962年高三毕业后,曾怀过一丝上大学的梦想,乃先报读了教会学校修习英文;然则,没多长时间即迅速地遭一场人为大火给摧毁掉。那被烧光了的,当年就叫万基山(俗称:亚答万基,位于现在振瑞路斜坡上“和丰山”的隔邻 ),正是在下呱呱坠地之‘摇篮’,亦属青涩少年翻滚跌爬、吃喝拉撒过的‘巢穴’,更系中学时代曾经‘招兵买马、论谈国是’的‘老殿堂’,一下便这么没了。(时间点:1963年3月初的某日,我的二十岁生辰尚来不及过,不少‘个人文物’和几册‘私家日记’也无法抢救出来;吊诡处:那些曾经的左邻右舍,虽早已离散各地另起炉灶,却偶尔在些大街小巷或婚、丧场所,经常不期而遇,互问别后,缅怀的竟是那份依存的山村恋念情愫。)而身为林府之长子,尽管哀伤、失落、彷徨过,却又不得不拾掇起灾后疮痍的心境,义无反顾也无从选择地帮老爸分挑了重建家园的担子,一边拜师学些电工技术,一边兼教家庭补习。趣且巧的是,我的第一组补习:兄妹俩,居然就住在女皇镇十四楼的一间三房式单位内。至若交通工具,则系一匹在大火中幸运‘获救’(当天我正巧骑了它去上课)、后由老爸‘过继’给我的‘老爷’铁马。但跟我的学电‘课程’一样,只不及一年时间,即因改换另份工作所需,筹钱买了一辆簇新的中国(生产牌)‘铁骑’。它身高马大、年轻潇洒的,从此伴随我这主人闯了几乎半辈子天下。那可也是我当年的最爱呀!踩着它,我于女皇镇走南闯北,除了兼职教补习,还为该区的一个团体开办过(夜间)文化班——来听讲的多数系年轻女工和低教育者;而地址呢,恰巧就离ABC啤酒厂不远,亚历山大医院的对面。

虽然1963年后,我工作的地方是远在裕廊工业区的一家外资砖厂,但负责载送我往返的依然是那辆可爱的‘铁骑’,而捷径正好可从那时的中峇鲁(灾后‘新居’),穿越女皇镇沿着阿逸拉惹(Ayer Rajah)路直达裕廊工业区。那个年代,靠紧ABC啤酒厂一带应该是女皇镇最繁华的市区‘边陲’,住家、工厂、商店、咖啡座、街边摊贩栉比鳞次,医院也有一间,就是亚历山大医院。由于时常需途经亚历山大村ABC啤酒厂路段(那时交通圈还在),方能就近截取阿逸拉惹公路,遂顺道在附近的街边摊位蹓跶蹓跶,尤其轮值夜班时,总会停在一处卖印度羊肉羹配尖头面包的三轮车位前,先大快朵颐补充一下精力(当然,时而也会换换口味),再续程赶路。其时,这儿的夜市还挺热乎的,且软、硬件不一而足,因此,往来人流不绝于途。有时候,尚偶然会遇着些旧相好、“前学生”们,聊上几句别后的境况。其实,这里的村民绝大多数属中、下阶层,处事接物均温良、纯朴、敦厚,极富人情味。而我的众多莫逆之交亦皆散居于此。

讲实在的,无论是否因英女皇至此巡幸过,抑或为英女皇之登基而命名,女皇镇本身原就是个极其迷人的首善之域;与此同时,它也是个历届新加坡选举的“兵家必争之地”。(于焉,‘舞台上’的:“出将入相”戏码也就一直在重复搬演着。)惟其周遭环境既优美、安适,人文亦相当荟萃、多姿,交通又十分畅达,说地铁有地铁,要巴士有巴士,招德士有德士。至于中、小学也有好几所,还有图书(分)馆、华文报社、书店、百货公司、出版社、印刷馆、酒楼、电影院、车厂、庙宇、教堂、诊所等,几乎应有尽有。无怪乎,很多像我们一样的组屋住户,几十年啦,始终都不舍得他迁。一些曾在女皇镇寄居过的政治人物、社会名流姑且不提,单单我所熟悉的新华墨客、画家、演员就很不少,包括:(已故的)杨涌、雨青和翁翼,还有许锡勇、张挥、怀鹰、艾禺、馨竹、莫河、何必问、王振春、黄今英、刘培芳、梁文福、陈莉萍、长安人、张一、莫袅、许统泽……等数十名。瞧!多少艺文豪杰,尽云集此镇来;百般文气、几许艺才,皆为此镇添彩。他们当中,有些虽已迁走却仍三不五时地倒回头来怀旧、‘凭吊’一番。这就是女皇镇的魅力,女皇镇的风骚!它像似一位仪态万千的俏佳人,让人望一眼都要心醉咧!

历史的拐点总是充满吊诡。它时而朦胧,时而清晰,时而重叠,令人难以估摸。然则我觉得,它更似一部巨型之光阴动漫。当一页页慢慢精读时,你看到其细致的笔韵、线条;但于快速翻览后,所呈现在你眼前者,却是何其波谲云诡之立体场景。我与女皇镇的‘姻缘’,便是如此分分合合、千变万化的景观,可到终极呢,居然变成它的‘不二之臣’!

进入七十年代初,我依然绕不开这‘俏冤家’,又阴差阳错地进了太丰饼干厂与饼干为伍,续了几年的小镇‘旧情’。尔后,旋因‘避难’而暂时离开,去到偏远的蔡厝港农场跟猪狗、鸡鸭、花儿们相伴。一晃数载,待‘警报’解除后的八十年代,又从自我流放中复归‘故里’。以至于最终,女皇镇成为我修筑爱巢、再战文场的根据地——《赤道风》季刊这个‘文学婴儿’正是在此摇篮里诞生、长大的。(电光忽闪里,陡然联想起我的两段浪漫的初恋亦均发生于此镇,不禁莞尔了起来。)对了,差点儿遗漏的题外是,就在我定居史德林组屋后的九十年代中旬,正当组屋翻新的忙乱阶段,陪我出征了数十载的铁马竟于一夜间不明所踪,相信系遭‘顺手牵羊’而去,连警察也遍寻未获,害我悲愤相思了好长一阵子。

总之,世事多变。随着南洋商报社、ABC啤酒厂(连同那座地标式酒厂廊桥的消失)、新加坡纸品厂等的徙置,还有曾经“宠爱集一身”之十四楼、加上那群足以零售我少时记忆之大馆小铺的拆除,那些稍堪疗治文化贫血症之影院、书肆的相继凋零与易相,……诸多昔日的繁闹、丰姿、故事与失落,尔今尽皆成了历史的修辞和追记。诚惜哉痛也!另据考证:早年新加坡河的源头恰好即位于已然荒废多年之皇宫戏院门口,特此带上一笔,也算是给自己‘恶补’了一堂史、地课吧!

惟是,我苦恼:历史跟现实原本可以互相搀扶、并肩齐进的——就像其他文明古国那样,却不知为什么,我们的社会总是让历史屈服于现实的淫威之下;当作一介草民,我忧戚:将来从何拼贴起这曾经魅力无穷之市镇的零碎记忆;而身为文弱书生,我也无奈:往后只能在历史与现实的口岸间摆渡、默默泅。算了啦!我安抚自己:天既然要下雨,而发展又是规律,那就冷眼放看他朝,女皇镇怎生旧颜换新貌?如何构筑岁月的浮雕?但我更坚信:时代的瞬间再丰美,最终亦不外替历史长卷平添一抹彩墨而已。



方然


想阅读著名作家方然的新作品吗? 请留意下一期的《女皇镇》杂志!



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