East Coast Living

QI and JAMES MCCARTNEY have a long and rich expat trail that eventually led them to Singapore, where they live in an “old but endearing” Joo Chiat home with their four children.

Where are you from originally, and what brought you to Singapore?

We’re a family of cultural mutts! James is English and Scottish by lineage, born in Northern Ireland, and grew up moving around Germany with his father’s military career. Qi was born in northeastern China (as close to Siberia as you can get on this side of the border) and moved to the Philippines with her father’s diplomatic career, then went to the US for university and graduate school and moved around the US and Asia with her job for many years. We finally settled down in Singapore “for good” during COVID, after having our youngest daughter here. We have four children, aged 12, nine, six and two.

Where did you first live when you arrived, and why?

Qi: I lived on Emerald Hill for a while and loved it. But when I walked up the hill at dusk, I would peer into the dim light of beautifully renovated shophouses and dream of one day living in one myself. After a few more stints abroad with my job, when I settled back in Singapore and met James, he convinced me to move "out" to the East Coast. I was sceptical at first, but now I can't imagine living somewhere far from the ocean breeze.

James: I was drawn to the laid-back lifestyle of the East Coast. There are so many pubs and restaurants, plus the beach and family-friendly activities within walking distance. My wife and I bond over our common love of food and a shared inability to sit still for long. So being able to take the kids out on our bikes to the Barrage, cross the water to Gardens by the Bay, and go for a long walk past the wakeboard park and East Coast Food Centre keeps us well-fed and active.

What areas and types of properties did you look at and why?