Living History!

The lure of the black-and-white house is appealing to many expats. But for British tour guide CAREY COOKSON, the historical significance of these colonial homes ran a lot deeper. Here she tells us all about living and raising the next generation in a little slice of Singapore.

- GEORGINA HOCKLEY

What brings you to Singapore, and how do you make a living here?

I’m from the UK originally and met my husband David while living and working in London. Just three days after we got married we moved to Singapore for his job. David had been an expat child in Malaysia but for me this was my first long-term stint abroad and I couldn’t wait! The timing seemed perfect and we were both excited to start an Asia adventure together. 

While in the UK I worked as a Blue Badge Tour Guide and it’s a career I have continued in Singapore – I work as a Singapore Tourism Board accredited tourist guide (@ToursByCarey). It’s a vocation I love. I read History at Edinburgh University and have always had an interest in history, arts and culture – so it’s a job that rarely feels like work. It’s rewarding to meet all sorts of people, find out where they are from and bring Singapore to life for them. 

Have you always harboured a desire to live in a black-and-white house? 

Considering my passion for the past, it was probably only a matter of time until we moved into one. Even when we were in our serviced apartment I visited quite a few friends in black-and-white houses and we were tempted to take the plunge. But at that stage we didn’t really understand the bidding system and opted for a soft landing in a condo in Bukit Timah. We loved the area and it was a great start to Singapore life. But before long we made it a hobby to check out all the different black-and-white clusters around Singapore and weigh up the pros and cons of each.

What made this particular colonial home stand out to you?