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PROPERTY
90
April15
does it have an oven, and does it have
a bath. I’d get one positive answer out
of three if I was lucky.”
Michael and Katie had earmarked
a few of the big heartland areas that
were conveniently located in terms
of transport to town, so they felt that
somewhere along the East West (green)
and North South (red) MRT lines made
the most sense, even though they
weren’t quite sure where Michael would
be working.
“We knew Tiong Bahru and Buona
Vista, but we weren’t so familiar with this
area,” says Katie. The apartment they
“We usually have
play mats down
here for James,
but we sometimes
swap them for this
grey rug from IKEA.”
The living room has a
huge amount of storage,
including the cupboards at
the back, which aren’t used
at present. There’s also a
bar that can be pulled out.
“There’s so much storage
in all of the rooms that we
simply can’t use it all.”
Tanglin Mall, the Botanic Gardens and
Dempsey Hill, all either a short bus or
taxi ride away.
So, with all of this convenience on
their doorstep, are there any downsides?
Integrating with the local residents could
have been a concern, but the Peaces are
already proving popular, particularly little
James. “He’s adored by all of the local
aunties and mums, and he’s got loads
of friends. I made sure I met the mums
and helpers and we set up a WhatsApp
group to arrange regular play dates,”
says Katie. “I think it helps that we aren’t
seen as keeping ourselves to ourselves.”
ended up choosing is in a block directly
opposite Redhill MRT, and Tiong Bahru
is one MRT stop or about a 15-minute
walk away. Close by is Alexandra Canal,
which Katie enjoys running along and
which can take her all the way into
the city. There’s a hawker centre and
market within a two-minute walk, as well
as plenty of other convenience stores.
Within the HDB are two playgrounds
and an outdoor gym. The facilities at
Delta Sports Centre, along Tiong Bahru
Road, include a swimming complex and
an indoor play area, Tickle Tickle, ideal
for James. Slightly further afield are
The bomb shelter is
hidden by the front
door, along with
more storage space,
including the shoe
cupboards.