Christmas Message: 'God Used Your Blog To Bring About This Happening': CYLin

When I wrote to CYLin, who has been a regular contributor, for a Christmas Blog Message, she hesitated as usual.  It is not easy to write a meaningful Christmas message.

Then this episode, which happened recently, brought about a revelation which cannot be explained.  You need to read the whole article to understand and an earlier posting by CY to appreciate her story.

Maria Carey with 'Joy To The World'

Andy,

Where did the time go?  It wasn't that long ago that the Xmas decorations were taken down and stored. Now they're up again. Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw in a public area along Jalan Bukit Merah the God of Fortune with all the attendant lanterns, gold coins. But Chinese Lunar New Year is not till 25 January 2020!!!  We are fighting against time.  We are fighting against climate change.

As we go into the season of Christmas and what it means, I would like to share how time and happenings are sometimes within/not within our control.

In July 2015, I posted in your blog about Dr Lim Boon Keng's kampong at 1 Paterson Hill where families of different races lived in rented rooms in his big atap-roofed mansion. The adults were mostly neighbourly and the kids of varying ages were the most happy - climbing trees and running wild in the big field fronting the house.  Today, some people talk about trying to make life in the public housing estates just like in the kampong days.  Can this happen?

In August 2017, in the blog I reminisced about my Home - Singapore and the places that are now gone; lost to progress.  1 Paterson Hill, my home from the mid 40's to early 70's was one.  

The Boon Keng MRT named after Dr. Lim Boon Keng, as discussed in the message.

A reader of this second post had asked how he could contact the writer (I did not use my full name for the blog).  He too did not reveal his identity but mentioned that he was a descendant of  Doctor Lim and that he and his co-writer were planning a book on the Doctor's final years at 1 Paterson Hill.  Unsure how genuine this request was, there was complete silence on the Singapore front.  He was persistent - wrote you a few times.

In December 2018, I mentioned this case to my brother, a technophile.   He made enquiries.

Revelation - Doctor's grandson whom we played with for years till the early 60's when he emigrated to USA without a parting word.  On 6 November 2019, he and his co-writer were in Singapore to present some of his grandfather's belongings to the Asian Civilisation Museum. 

This visit was also to attend a school reunion and of course to catch up with his long lost childhood friends.  During his month's stay, we had five nostalgic and for me emotional sessions.  God has used your blog to bring about this happening.  Truly, IN HIS TIME, HE MAKES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL.

Thank you Andy.  A blessed Christmas to you and family and your readers.

CYLin.

Read Part One:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2015/07/dr-lim-boon-kengs-kampong-paterson-hill.html

'In His Time, He Makes All Things Beautiful' is a hymn relevant to this story.

Lim Boon Keng's grandson is seated in the middle and all others are to remain anonymous, according to the wish of the writer.

You can read more about Lim Boon Keng from Wikipedia:
He is a legacy and has places named after him in Singapore like Boon Keng Road, Upper Boon Keng Road, Boon Keng MRT.

He co-founded the Singapore Chinese Girl's School (SCGS) and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC).