David Kraal

Born in Singapore in 1937 when the population was barely 1,000,000 — today it is more than 5,000,000... and I am shaken and stirred by the weight of numbers in my everyday life, but bonded by the small band that is my family, my everything. I was a journalist for 30 years at the national newspaper The Straits Times. Writing remains my main interest. I am working on a novel covering 200 years of Singapore, that's more than the modern history of the land. I have had my poems and short stories in print. A collection of my newspaper columns was published in a book titled "The Devil In Me" which met with fair success, selling close on 2,000 copies. I have published a cookbook, gardening book and a family history in three volumes. I was an avid golfer till a bad back felled me: I was a member of the Singapore Island and Country Club and represented SICC and Keppel Club in the league, winning the title on three occasions. I am a Life Member of the Singapore Cricket Association and played league cricket till I was 53. My hobbies are gardening, collecting traditional Asian recipes, Krug champagne, Devil Curry, jazz, supporting Manchester United — and spoiling my six grand children.