My Father Is Police, Lah!
A memoir of an 8-year-old growing up in British Colonial Singapore in the 1960s.
Presenting my newly released book published by Earnshaw Books.
I authored this book, and it is very personal to me. People say that authors write what they want to read. I wrote this because I want to remember.
As Skålleagues, we recognise, honour and celebrate notable achievements accomplished by fellow Skål International members, and above all, we share their joy through ‘friendship fraternal’.
Writing a book is an achievement unto itself, and we have to appreciate how much work, time & effort, sacrifices, ideas, concentration, and above all, courage and strength, to say the very least, it takes to write just one book. Many authors remain unpublished or end up with vanity publishing and/or self-publishing. To get published by a traditional publisher is a feat of accomplishment, indeed ‘una hazaña’ and a most complementary achievement.
I have achieved this.
Although I am a member of Skål International Hong Kong, I was born, bred, and educated (mostly) in Singapore. In my Book, I pay tribute to an era and events that are now long past, and honour each character mentioned in the Book, particularly my parents, two stalwarts of Singapore. Back in the days long gone, when a British Colonial Singapore ten-cent coin got you a hot meal and you could still get change, I was leading an exuberant life.
My immigrant parents, who originally hailed from Kandy, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), were living the Singapore dream during the 1960s British Colonial Singapore. As a daughter of a Colonial Police Inspector, this perk availed a bungalow with ample grounds to explore; servants, exciting outings, lavish parties, and toys - the best available in the Colony.
Today, a Republic of Singapore ten-cent coin would buy you a postage stamp, but not much else…!
Spread throughout this delightful memoir, ‘My Father is Police, Lah!’ are memories that marked a Nation. From delectable slurps of Green Spot orangeade and the highly palatable chicken pies at the Magnolia Snack Bar, to the clash of racial cultures that led to the Prophet Mohammed racial riots and other poignant incidents, the bombing of MacDonald House – a historical landmark whose reconstruction and refurbishment now constitutes a Tourism icon of Singapore, because it reflects a checkered history of the building.
Magnolia Snack Bar. Circa. 1965.
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Macdonald House Blast. My father (police officer) is facing away from the photo. Circa 1965.
I have drawn upon my memories, as best as my memory serves me, to bring to life the people, the customs, places, including Tourist attractions, then, and now, and the numerous, outrageous incidents that made up my young years.
You may ask how I should rely on my memory of incidents that occurred more than half a century ago.
My answer? I am a trained musician, I had to learn to play piano pieces by heart over a consecutive span of ten years, and so, I was trained to remember a lot of musical notes…!
Characters jump out of my pages, capturing the essence, the innocence and the inner strength of a Nation poised to take on the world’s Tourism stage.
While my father was the cornerstone of this memoir, the cast of wayward servants, dutiful chauffeurs and a despicable uncle, amongst other anecdotes, fill the pages with their ingenious and quirky ways.
In that bygone era, surrounded by a cacophony of local dialects, traditions, and beliefs, my recollections are sprinkled with laugh-out-loud humour and outrageous mischief, offering the reader a journey into old Singapore's multi-racial customs and cultures in a light-hearted, warm, and comical vein, where so many of the iconic historical places, (some of which made way for urban renewal), still stand and present themselves as much sought-after Tourism attractions in Singapore.
Not one of a formal historical recollection, this book is made up of a series of affectionate, often laugh-out-loud memories that, as mentioned by one reviewer:
“— a blend of high jinks, discipline, and cultural nuance that speaks to tourists, expats, diplomats, and history lovers alike”.
“... the authenticity of her voice. …Hawkins achieves that rare balance: a conversational, often hilarious tone that is deceptively light, yet beneath which runs a profound undercurrent of nostalgia, family dynamics, colonial politics, and cultural intersections”.
It is these cultural intersections, contained within a 225 sq. mile nation of a diverse population of multi-racial and multi-religious backgrounds, which is a primary factor behind what makes Singapore one of the most noteworthy tourism-oriented countries in the world. Tourists find it incredible that Singapore’s 4 million population, made up of all immigrants then and now, as were my parents, can live harmoniously within a relatively confined space as compared with the land area available to its neighbouring countries, of multi-religious and multi-racial façades without any fear of persecution, nor total anarchy.
This delightful, charming debut has been garnering praise wherever my Book has landed all over the Asia Pacific, the UK, Europe & the USA. And to put the icing on the proverbial cake, my book has made it to the top ten bestsellers in the Straits Times Best Seller List in the space of just one month after its release!
As Martin Petersen shared in Good Reads: “Ms. Hawkins brings to life the city’s vibrant multiculturalism of the last century through the eyes of her eight-year-old self. And what a picture: demented piano teachers, deadbeat uncles, a touch of Oriental mysticism, elaborate native ceremonies, a mother who is something else, and a big brother who thinks he has a leg up on everyone—and usually does. As for dad…well, poor dad”.
“...an absolute delight of a memoir that dances between personal anecdote, cultural snapshot, and a rich, layered historical narrative”. Heena Rathore-Pardeshi | Of Whiskers And Words | Arc Review.
And as an active member of Skal International Hong Kong, my book even received a sparkling review from Tony Huang | The Hong Kong Review.
Get a taste of my wit, humour and charming writing style. You will not be disappointed. I promise.
Skål!
