More on Geraldene Lowe...

Geraldene read my write-up on this blog and replied on some of the points. I've reproduced an excerpt of her reply where it pertains to her amazing ancestry and her upcoming tours...

"By the way - I'm Eurasian - 3 generations - fathers side Russian & Chinese from Shanghai and Mothers side Danish & Arab plus a few more ingredients - my father died in the war and as my mother worked, had a wonderful Cantonese amah who dragged me around to temples and markets etc- we lived in Jewish-owned apartments as they were the cheapest! - first in Crescent Flats in Katong and at different times Amber Mansions (Dhoby Ghaut MRT) and Meyer Mansions (Peninsular Shopping) Orange Grove Rd, Tanglin Hill & Grange Rd old boarding houses - and even Oranje Hotel which became apartments after the war - now Stamford House! So lived thru most of the gossip of the old Colonial Days that I recount and grew up listening to stories of Jewish community next door! Do an interesting Jewish Tour of S'pore about once a year - mostly for the expat Jewish community - visit the two synagogues as well as an old Jewish House on Meyer Rd - now Chinese owned. Will let you know next time..

I took the liberty of passing on your blog comments to Norman Edwards who used to teach at NUS years ago - wonder if you knew him? I worked with him & Peter Keys on the Singapore Street Names & Places (black reference book) they did most of my tours at that time - hadn't started doing the Black & White houses tour then though, just the various other walks and historical tours linked with festivals. If you have the Living Legacy Book - I received an award for my contribution to Heritage and helped get inside a lot of the houses for filming the interiors.

The next tour you could join is on 21 or 22 Jan morning Walk of Chinatown starting from Everton Park. Historical Women of S'pore Thurs 9th Feb - we will visit Emerald Hill house and another at Cuppage by bus for AWA - Thaipusam - tours thru the day from 7am on 11 Feb. Tiong Bahru Walk Sun 12 Feb, Mon 13th 4pm start Tiong Bahru Walk to see Monkey God's Birthday procession - Thurs 16th for ANZA - Historical Bus Tour (visiting Chettiar, Teochew Wak Hai Cheng Beo Temples & Fatimah Mosque plus lots of Colonial history and drink stop at Tan Boo Liat's House on Mt Faber.Think the AWA Tour of Pastel Portraits is now in Mon 20th Feb - but will also do it on Sat 25th Feb for the German Club which would be cheaper and better day for you?"

Anyone care to join me to join her tours? There's much more to Singapore than Orchard Road, no?

Chup