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During my time in primary school in the mid 70s, we were having so much fun and always looking forward to the after school whether to play with our kampung friends or sports in school. School was never dull even though we are poor. We never have mobile games, the internet or even TV which we sometimes shamefully asked for permission from our neighbours to let us watch. But our lives were fulfilling. From what we have and what we can find from the junks and elsewhere, we made our own toys like the Lastik, the rubber gun. We even catch the eels from the longkang with worms as the bait and will fry them for a snack. Homework was almost non existent but funnily I always seemed to be be able to do well in school. But the thing that I enjoy most from school was to deliver the milk to pupils who subscribed to it. I was poor and not able to subscribe to this program but through my endevour I asked my teacher in charge if I can help distribute and in return I have a packet of this delicious milk. I was grateful to Cikgu Habsah who out of pity allowed me to to do this job for the school. But to my surprise, when I have distributed to all the pupils, there is somehow more than 1 packets that were still available. I always lookout for my siblings and I will always keep 3 packets, always, and return the rest. Cikgu will usually gave me 2 packets for my effort. I will always take the remaining ice from the rack and kept it in the plastic bags because I enjoyed the milk cold. My school bag always became wet at the end of the day but when I got home, I shared the packets with my family. My younger brother and I will go to our favourite jambu tree and enjoy the not so cold milk. Monday was always the highlight of my week and I am proud to be able to provide for my younger siblings. Ironically now we don’t have the milk program any more rather we have the ‘tough’ club. How times has changed.
Hi Jumali, thanks for sharing! From what you shared, I gather, you enjoyed the simplicity of life back then & cherished the times you’ve had with your family. I had milk prog during my pri school days too but this time round it was not distributed in packets but in small cartons but of course, not everyone was among the privilege lot whose parents could afford to subscribe to the scheme. I myself only enjoyed it occassionally when my parents had some money to spare..
usually we wil grab the chocolate milk first. If that is not available anymore, the strawberry milk, last is the plain milk
The milk packet comes in a plastic pack, not the carton box you see nowadays.
Nurul, Thanks for your comments. Here is another one.
Dayvilles 32 flavours
My Father used to work for Malayan Motors which now sits the Dhoby Ghaut MRT. Across the street there is a Metro in Park Mall and at the opposite site a Yaohan. We lived in Kampung Ubi and I remembered my Mum would dragged all 4 of us on the single door bus (or should I say single opening bus as there is no door) no 13 to meet my father on his pay day every month. The bus stop is probably 1.5 mile away from our home in Jalan Delima, no 9, to be exact. The bus journey will take 2 hours some times but we never complain because………….we will get our Dayvilles 32 Flavors Ice Cream. A real treat. I would always picked the bubble gum, Vanilla flavored sprinkled will those little bubble gums. Because long after the ice cream is finshed, I still have the gum to chew. A feeling that I still have a piece of goodness for a long time. Budgeting has always been the norm with my dad take home pay of about $300, we have to buy Milo, rice, pay the bills…… and whats remaining will be for this little treats. Life was tough but we enjoyed it too much to forget.
@R A Rahman: I preferred the strawberry flavour, though!;)