Tay, 54 years old
I’m Tay, 54 years old this year. Partner and myself are both divorcees. I wouldn’t say she is a wife because we are not legally married but we have been together 12 years already. She’s my first love la, from secondary school.
“How do you find living here?”
I have been living this flat for 5 to 6 years, I moved in end of May 2012. I’m good with here but I would rather prefer my own place. I just went to see the unit today. But financially we are not that capable yet la. So there are lots of these hiccups so we just need to wait until we are financially stable first. But then I’ll be 55 already then I won’t be able to purchase it already because my CPF would be frozen by the government.
“You got try appealing for anything (e.g. loan)?"
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I went once la. All these years I went once to the MP here to ask them to help me to appeal for third HDB loan, in order to purchase the flat la. So the letter somehow helps a little bit la, that allow me to have this interview with the people in HDB. But they can only grant me with so little money, I cannot buy in the resale market, so it’s pointless. So I refuse to go to them anymore because the letter they write, I can write also, it’s just the letterhead only ma, which I don’t have. That’s the authority ma.
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“How was your life before?”
I lost few hundred thousands in gambling before. I tell you seriously, that’s why I am in such a poor state now. Because I never treasured money when I was young. I make good living, I make good money, I work overseas, I make a lot of money. But I throw my money in drinking, smoking, women. But this is life la. Eventually you realized that, okay la, I’ve been through it and done that la, fine la, good enough for me. I only answer to myself what. I chose the path I walked so I can’t blame anybody what.
“What are your current worries now?”
I only worry about money only. That’s all I care about. For me, as long as I have no debts, and I have enough food on the table I’m satisfied. For now la. But I have arrears with HDB for this rental flat. I tell you how it all accumulated. Because in taxi I drive. When I’m working, I pay, I pay my rent. When I can’t work, I don’t pay. So it accumulated. For the 8 months I didn’t work, I didn’t pay. I had this heart attack so i’m recovering now.
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“May I ask what causes your stroke? Did you go for check up and all?”
I don’t know leh. Arteries all blocked hahah. I think beginning of last year, I was driving SMRT taxi. Then there’s a free health screening kind of thing. Then I just walked in and do. They realized that I have high sugar, high blood and high cholesterol. So they recommend me to go to doctor for checks. They asked me to go on medication, which I refused to. That was the beginning of this year. After January I didn’t go for appointment already, then the attack came on August la.. on the National Day. So I don’t know is this the cause of it la. If I took medication then could have prevented. But I don’t reckon la.
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“Are you on medication now?”
Now have to. Lifetime medication, sadly la. But I’m trying to stop (taking the medicine) already la, because it is making me very weak and drowsy. So I was thinking if I take this medicine every morning then how should I work or drive.
“Are you still working or looking for job?”
I’m looking for job actually. Right now all the jobs that I am looking for is is delivery driver, which I can manage la, I think I can do because I have the license, I can just start off and work no problem la. I’ve been looking through la, made a few calls, went for a few interviews but no calls back la, so I just leave it as it is. But I’m still looking for it la. My category very small only ma, maybe security all this lor. Admin, technical, all these are out already. I don’t have much choices.
"How do you financially support yourself for now?"
Just stay at home lor. For rental, for these two months I have not been paying, so the arrears have gone up. So the officer suggested me to go Social Welfare (SSO) to ask for help for this period of time. So I went and gathered whatever documents for them. Then they finally replied me yesterday. I applied in August after my heart attack then yesterday they replied me, they say only giving me one month’s help, $250 cash and one month rental. What can I do with that $250? Right now, I cannot even renew my license because of my condition. I have to wait until my medical pass then I have the money then I can renew. So I can’t even start back on taxi already.
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*names have been modified for anonymity purposes