Mum has a Mercedes - vintage in fact that is more than 50 years. She raves about it to us all the time. She has done much on it - since we were very young. We even got our school uniform, home tablecloth, curtains, TV covers (yes, television used to be such a big ticket item for homes especially the one-roomers like ours in Mattar Road that we would have nice looking covers sewn to protect it from dust ;P)
I am of course referring to our dependable and loyal sewing machine. Recently, we got it repaired and given to my 3rd Sister-in-law as she would find much more use of it than us. The repairman is a Mr Roland Yap who has a small shop space opposite our block at Bedok Reservoir Road. He told me that even though he stays in Woodlands, he took a shop space here because many of his old kampong (village) customers are still living in this vicinity. He started repairing sewing machines and bicycles since 14 years old. He told me that before all these flats were built in the early 70s, the land were all small kampongs.
 |
| The peddle area where we used to sit and hold on to the 'steering wheel' in front to imagine driving our car. |
The repair of the machine involved dismantling the parts to spray with WD40 and using a piece of cloth to wipe the insides clean. After the half hour work, he even sewed a piece of cloth with it to show mum. Proud workmanship. :-)
Geok reminded me that when we were little, we used so sit on the peddle of the sewing machine to 'drive' like its our car as there is a 'steering wheel' for us to play pretend. So many memories.
 |
| Our Mercedes. Printed on it are the words "50 years Guarantee". The new woodwork was replaced after the original plain wood wore out. Recently, when I watched the movie 'Already Famous' - a similar looking machine was featured in Michelle Chong's kampong house in Yong Peng, Malaysia. |
 |
| Mum trying out after the Mr Yap repaired our machine for S$35/- Mum is seen here sewing up the torn up cover that had kept the machine covered for more than a few decades. She sews quite well, by the way. |
|
 |
| While Mum is able to sew, she needs help with threading the needle :p That is where Mety, our helper comes in. |
