SINGAPORE: Mouth Watering Solution For Retiree Cheated Of Life's Savings

A Recipe For Overcoming Despair SINGAPORE (Today), November 22, 2007: When 64-year-old retiree Mdm Lee Kim Wah lost her life savings of $80,000 to con artists, she felt that all was lost. That was in July - two years after Mdm Lee had gone back to her hometown in Malacca after working 20 years in Singapore as a coffeeshop assistant and as a nanny to a family. The Malaysian police drew a blank. But in the depths of her despair, a glimmer of hope took shape, when the young girl whom she cared for as a nanny came to her rescue. Marketing executive Karen Yeo, now 30, approached a United Kingdom-based security firm for help. Touched by Mdm Lee's story, a former Scotland Yard detective volunteered his services - pro bono. Although he couldn't crack the case, the detective was so impressed with Mdm Lee's cooking that he suggested that her recipes be documented. That passing comment gave Ms Yeo an idea of how she could help her former nanny. And so Happy Now! - a collection of 20 of Mdm Lee's specialty recipes - was launched, with help from a group of volunteers roped in by Ms Yeo, who works for AIG South East Asia. Even the printer contributed his services at a preferential rate. "I used to give her money but I figured I couldn't do that forever and I could see that she felt very bad taking the money and would cry," said Ms Yeo. Mdm Lee, who lives with her son, a factory worker, is exhilarated at the change in her fortunes. Though she is determined to put the past behind her, she still shudders when she recalls that fateful day in July when two women approached her as she was shopping at the market and persuaded her to meet a medium nearby. The man told Mdm Lee that she was jinxed. To rid herself of her bad luck, she had to bring all her jewellery and money with her the next time they met - for his blessings. Superstitious and somewhat afraid, Mdm Lee did just that, meeting him and the women at the bus terminal. Said Ms Yeo: "They performed some bogus rites and (Mdm Lee) placed her bag of jewellery and money on the floor. "After some chanting, the man told her to not open the bag until she got home. She did so dutifully and was devastated to find fruit and mineral water in it - no money, no jewellery!" Mdm Lee told Today: "I was very upset about the incident and when Karen suggested the book project, I didn't know what to think. I went along and so many people have been really kind, so I'm a little consoled." Said Ms Yeo: "It was a huge blow to her to lose her money which she had painstakingly saved. She's very thrifty and, even today, she mends her shoes herself." Ironically, Mdm Lee, who is uneducated, has never read a book in her life. But her skills as a cook - she does mouth-watering chicken rendang, dark soy sauce chicken and mee siam, among other dishes - are well documented in the book, along with inspirational quotes and illustrations. Already, 150 copies of the book have been pre-sold to family and friends. All the proceeds will go to Mdm Lee. Log onto www.shelfordpress.com learn more about the project and buy the book. By Tan Hui Leng