Lu Tiong Lim and Lee Shu Yu

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Lu Tiong Lim:

I was trained in the School of Nursing and stayed in Nurses Quarter. Most of us had no working experience. Later, we were sent for ward experience. Started with C class. It was noisy with screaming, crying, and groaning everywhere.

I had a 3 months stints in each ward, sometimes in spooky places. I went on night duty rounds with a nurse who was able to see spirits and warned me not to be afraid. I followed her everywhere to do work together. Actually, I was very scared.

In the Intensive Care Unit, all patients were bedridden. While helping with a urine test in the toilet, I heard tap running water in a long bath. When I went to close the tap, I felt a gush of cold wind pass by me. A male attendant called to me to go to the ward immediately. Later, I found out he saw spirits near me.

Life in the A&E class was a different scenario. I met more polite patients such as Mr. Lau who had 9 daughters and sons-in-law who were all doctors, an attorney general Mr. Francis Seow, and an artist, Mr. Liu Kang. They were wonderful people. After serving breakfast, Mr. Liu Kang handed me a sketch he had made of me. I treasure it till today.

One day, we were activated to receive Mr. Lee Kuan Yew who was bitten on his arm by his own dog. All patients were moved to the inner side of A&E. Senior Medical Office received revisions on how to give injections for Tetanus Toxoid and how to dress the wound. Then A&E was swarmed with bodyguards and Mr. Lee Kuan Yew came. A polite and friendly Mr. Lee then thanked all of us and left after the procedure was done.

We’d go on ambulance calls to rural areas where there was no road name and no street lamps. Paths were numbered as Track 1 etc. When we reached, we were greeted by kampung people to escort us to the house. They carried kerosene oil lamps and torches.

In 1978, there was a Ship Spyros Explosion, all personnel were immediately activated to help out. It was very messy with patients covered with black oil. The other severe to extensive burn cases were admitted to Burns Unit. It was very chaotic.

I served a short period in the Paediatric Ward. Cute little darlings, some ill and some not so ill. They were lovely little rascals and made my days. Christmas time brought a lot of joy and plenty of things to eat and presents from Santa Claus.

After that, I worked in Middleton Hospital, which was peaceful sometimes. There was a big durian tree that bore fruits. Instead of night duty, one of the attendants would wait for durians to drop. This annoyed the Medical Superintendent who decided to chop down the tree.

Here, a lovable little boy used an Iron Lung to breathe. Power failure was very frequent, especially in the rainy seasons. The Iron Lung would stop and we would take turns to pump manually to keep him alive.

I also joined the swans. When told to take 3 days leave for sea training, my hospital Matron refused to approve. My navy officer happened to be the senior doctor of Singapore General Hospital and called the Matron. She approved reluctantly and told me not to serve two masters. I learnt swimming in Britannica Club and how to use a rifle at the rifle range.

I have had so many memorable experiences in my life. Now, you know why I chose the title, “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”.

Lee Shu Yu:

When I was 5, I thought about all the things I could be in life. A fireman, to save others and be a real-life hero. A nurse, to treat and serve. An astronaut, to explore the deepest recesses and furthest edges of space. A detective, to use my intelligence and to crack the case.

But as I grew older, I learnt of art and theatre, films and books. In art, I could dream of anything and be anyone. I heard tales of wonder and agony, of kindness and tribulations. In the theatre, I shared an experience with all of those around me. We wept and gasped and laughed together. I learnt what is meant to be a community. I learnt what it meant to be human.

I’m 25 now and I still don’t think there’s only one thing I could ever be. I’m still young and I don’t have anything that can be considered a “legacy”. But the world is growing more complex every day and young people are trying to find a way… To answer to each other, to our world, and to a better future and we want to put kindness, joy, and respect first.

If all the world’s a stage
I believe we have the means to change the script
And we can write our own stories of hope.

Maybe when I’m 50, I’ll look back and see all my dreams of hopes and memories 
Are just trying to be free
To love, to serve, to be myself
And to make the world a better place
Through art and its endless possibilities
And know the path towards my legacy has just begun.