NURUL HAZIRA BTE HELFINOR Class: 4/6
My grandmother’s home – this is the place which means a great deal to me. After a long day at school, I enjoy visiting my grandmother’s home to catch up with her and talk about my day. The four-room HDB flat situated at Yishun has been beautifully decorated by my grandmother herself. The bright yellow painted walls and white tiles complement each other well. The living room is decorated nicely with curtains sewn by my grandmother. The comfy HDB flat holds many memories for me.
Growing up with two working parents, my sister and I spent a lot of time together at our grandmother’s home. Our parents would drop us off at our grandmother’s home at 7 in the morning before leaving for work. My sister and I would then sleep until it was time to get ready for school. My sister and I used to argue a lot. However, being at our grandmother’s home taught both of us to be patient with each other and to always be there for one another. There were many times when my sister and I threw tantrums and slammed doors at each other’s faces but we learnt to forgive and learn from our mistakes. The very same place my sister and I argued a lot was also the place we first told each other our secrets. My sister, being the older one, advised me many times and became my listening ear whenever I needed someone to talk to. We bonded a lot through all the highs and lows we experienced as siblings whilst staying at my grandmother’s home.
Not only that, my grandmother’s home was where I first baked for the very first time. My grandmother is a very talented woman. She knows how to cook up a storm for celebrations like Hari Raya Puasa, sew different kinds of clothes and bake many different types of cookies. My grandmother also has a curry puff business. She enjoys making curry puffs and sells them for a living at a local convenience store. So naturally, being at my grandmother’s home led me to learn how to bake. As a young child, I was very interested to know how to bale traditional Hari Raya cookies. My grandmother willingly taught me how to bake ‘Kueh Suji’ with a simple recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation. My first baking experience was very enjoyable and I was delighted when my family members loved the ‘kueh’. From then on, I would bake together with my grandmother at her home before Hari Raya Puasa.
Lastly, my grandmother’s home means a great deal to me because it is where my childhood friends and I played many different games and bonded with one another. My grandmother used to conduct religious classes to children living in the neighbourhood. At that point of time, I was only eight years old. The children who attended the classes were aged between six to twelve years old. As there were a lot of children, the waiting line took a while. The children who were waiting in line would gather outside and I would join them to play different games. I would always look forward to seeing them as I enjoyed their company and loved the fun times together. Although all of us are much older now and do not really see each other often, I will always be reminded of them and the memories made every time I visit my grandmother’s home.
I am grateful for my special place. That place serves as a symbol of my childhood and all the memories I made whilst I was there. My grandmother’s home is neither big nor grand but I am grateful to have a place that will always be special to me and remembered in my heart.
Writers by the River 