Mr Samsudin, 84, and Mdm Habsah, 74, have been side by side through the many chapters of Singapore’s changes. Mdm Habsah grew up along Kelantan Lane, near Sungei Road. In the neighbourhood stood rows of pondok-pondok (huts), where many Boyanese lived. She fondly remembers playing games like gasing and congkak with her friends, and how her extended family lived closely.
She was introduced to Mr Samsudin through relatives. Between the couple, they have taken on several jobs over the years, including working as a housekeeper at a shophouse that sold clothes on the lower level, cooking, and selling beef. After marriage, they continued living closely with their other relatives.
Following a fall, Mr Samsudin was the first to move into St Luke’s ElderCare (SLEC) Residence. Although men and women live in separate households at the residence, nurses often bring the couple together to chat about their children, share meals, and enjoy each other’s company. Their children and grandchildren sometimes visit with their favourite dishes: for Mdm Habsah, a variety of noodles including mee goreng, mee kuning, mee siam, mee hoon, and kway teow; for Mr Samsudin, mee rebus. Near Sungei Road, Mdm Habsah recalls a coffeeshop that sold mi rebus that was decent-tasting (boleh tahan). In the past, she enjoyed cooking the dish herself whenever she had time.
She says she is content at SLEC, grateful for the care and respect shown by the nurses and doctors, and for the simple joy of being with Mr Samsudin again.
Show support
