Wednesday 23 May 2018

My celebrated Settee and Yuwrajh's pop-in



How Yuwrajh left his  room after his departure on 22 May 2018.


We  met him last about 5 (?) years ago in London.  Since then we have made several contacts via email as he was ambling and moving  between London, New York and Singapore.

A few days ago we received this email.



We replied and then received this reply.



Two days ago, Yuwrajh arrived.  He had walked all the way from the Railway Station (about 15 minutes walk) to get to No. 43, just too early by almost three-quarters of an hour.  With his usual wicked humour the spouse told Yuwrajh he was too early, so could he please leave and then return at the right time.  I just had to thump him (the spouse, not Yuwrajh) and he backed off in defeat.  Woman power yeah!!!

Through the door, there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name.
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser,
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same.




Yuwrajh stayed over for just one night but we had a lot to catch up on - on old and new - on ups and downs - on here and there.  We ended the day with a marathon chinwag from 9 pm to 2.30 in the morning and this continued the next day until his departure.

I walked him to the Railway Station at 2.30 pm on that sunny, lovely summer's day.  I waved him good-bye as he sets off on his life and dreams - to where ever it takes him.

We hope to meet again InsyaAllah, in December this year in Kuala Lumpur and this time he can re-visit the old settee ( a lot of our conversation revolved around that venerable piece of furniture) and sit and lounge on it like so many people have done for many many years.

Abah bought that settee, second hand,  from a Eurasion neighbour when we were living at Kampung Chantek in 1947.  It had travelled with the family from Kampung Chantek to Pasir Panjang Road, then to Jalan Mas Kuning, Jalan Giam (Johor Baru), Boon Lay, Batu Pahat and finally to Setiawangsa.  I have been the Settee's caretaker for a long time and I hope the grandson for whom it had been destined will cherish it when I am busy pushing up daisies.

The Saga of the Settee


  • Pasir Panjang (1947 - 1967)

Abdul Hamid's Family.
  • Jalan Mas Kuning (1967 - 1973)
Che'gu Maznoor at home.
  • Boon Lay (1975 - 1996)
Akim, Ben and Yuwrajh.

Hidayah, Ash, and Lely.




Yuwrajh, Rojiah and Din.


  • Kuala Lumpur (2008 .....)

Lely and Irene.

Iain, Ash and Jai.

Irene, Din and Lely.

Comot and Spouse.


Yuwrajh, thank you for your company, for finding the time to catch up on your ole Miss Hamid, the wicked witch from Jurong Secondary School.

You have given me two wonderful days to make up for all the harrowing daze (no, it's not a spelling mistake) from October 2017 to 20 May 2018.





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