In 80-year-old Mdm Tulasi’s memory, Orchard was lined with lush green patches between shophouses and colonial bungalows.
From her home there, she would walk each morning to Anthony Girls’ School in Newton, recalling how the blades of grass glistened with drops of dew. “The weather was different then,” she says. “Even at 10 in the morning, the air was still very cool.”
On some nights, the neighbourhood would gather at Tanglin Police Station, where a screen was set up to play wordless films – still a novelty in those days. On Grange Road, she remembers being transfixed by Wayang Kulit performances of the Ramayana on National Day or Indonesia’s National Day.
Although she moved away years ago, Mdm Tulasi remains close with her childhood friends. Today, she is part of a thriving community in Pandan, where many of her neighbours were first-time homeowners and are now fellow seniors.
Earlier this year, she suffered a heart attack and began physiotherapy at St Luke’s ElderCare (SLEC). Remarkably, she says she felt fully recovered within three months, thanks to the care of the SLEC team and her doctors and nurses at the hospital. Her steady practice of home exercises also helped her regain strength.
Now, she looks forward to new activities at SLEC, such as crafts with upcycled materials. “I’ve met a lot of friends here,” she says with a smile. “I feel physically and mentally fit.”
Show support
