This memoir covers the three years in the 1950s during which a young RAF serviceman was called up for National Service and based in Singapore for a tour of duty in 81 Photographic Squadron at Seletar Airbase. Based on diaries, notes and letters, Ted Wilkins describes life in the Squadron and the aerial survey work concerning the "terrorists" during the Malayan Emergency. Through these pages, the author warmly describes how he embraced the customs and livelihoods of Singapore's pleasant, always-smiling people, bringing to life all the excitement of exploring a new and fascinating country, so far removed from the author's previous country life in the UK. The climate, the people, all the hustle and bustle, the flowers, the clothes and colours of this "magical glamorous island" are all lovingly captured.