It's that time of the year when I inevitably feel painfully sentimental. I've been thinking back to past travels, Italy and Hokkaido in particular - although that could very well be due to their delicious cuisine - and it really didn't seem that long ago. But it was, and the memories are already receding.
Speaking of travel, 2010 was when I realised that it can also be fun if part of or even the sole purpose is to enjoy each other's company. And I'm talking about groups of at least 4-5. All along, I've planned my trips around taking in as many sights of this big, big world as possible. But sometimes a different agenda - or rather, no agenda at all - is a refreshing change, I guess.
All in all, you could say that 2010 has been a year in which I've just let go of expectations. (Also, it's been a year of aging, but we do not speak of it.)
Yesterday, WG activated puppy mode and kindly accompanied me around as I ran errands. True to form, we managed a visit to the Children Little Museum at 42 Bussorah Street. It houses vintage toys and related paraphernalia that I seriously don't think anyone born in the 80s would appreciate.
Some toys were familiar even though I did not own them (there was quite a kampung flavour). Remember the games we used to play? Hopscotch, five stones, pick-up-sticks - all designed to train one's balance, agility and hand-eye coordination. Kuti-kuti and god knows what other boys' toys to develop strategic thinking. Toy telephones, typewriters, cash registers, baby dolls and prams because every little kid wants desperately to grow up and do grown-up things. These days, a single video console manages ALL that and more via bits and bytes. Yes, it was a very different era before PS3s, MP3s and iPhone4s.
Here are some snaps (yes, the curator is very insistent that one takes loads of photos but I'm not complaining, it makes business sense for him anyway):
Predecessor of Buzz Lightyear (?!) + toy office gadgets. We had that exact owl clock and that typewriter in the back...
Omg I remember having a case like that. The "textbooks" were beyond my time though I remember similar readers containing fables and myths around at home. Antique paperbacks, they are.
Old skool barber shop / hairdresser's setup - gawd, the jars' contents were still intact. Wonder if anyone opens them for a sniff at the good ol' times.
Retro packaging, I like.
Remember those phones? Where you'd hate it if your friend's number contained a lot of 0's and 9's because that meant you'd have to wait forever for the rotary dial?? (Incidentally is it scary that I still remember my first 2 home phone numbers?)
Retro pencils, which to my mind never really wrote well anyway. And those horrendous erasers, constantly rubbing holes in my jotter book.
All this and much more for only $2 admission. Check it out if you're in the area.
Speaking of travel, 2010 was when I realised that it can also be fun if part of or even the sole purpose is to enjoy each other's company. And I'm talking about groups of at least 4-5. All along, I've planned my trips around taking in as many sights of this big, big world as possible. But sometimes a different agenda - or rather, no agenda at all - is a refreshing change, I guess.
All in all, you could say that 2010 has been a year in which I've just let go of expectations. (Also, it's been a year of aging, but we do not speak of it.)
Yesterday, WG activated puppy mode and kindly accompanied me around as I ran errands. True to form, we managed a visit to the Children Little Museum at 42 Bussorah Street. It houses vintage toys and related paraphernalia that I seriously don't think anyone born in the 80s would appreciate.
Some toys were familiar even though I did not own them (there was quite a kampung flavour). Remember the games we used to play? Hopscotch, five stones, pick-up-sticks - all designed to train one's balance, agility and hand-eye coordination. Kuti-kuti and god knows what other boys' toys to develop strategic thinking. Toy telephones, typewriters, cash registers, baby dolls and prams because every little kid wants desperately to grow up and do grown-up things. These days, a single video console manages ALL that and more via bits and bytes. Yes, it was a very different era before PS3s, MP3s and iPhone4s.
Here are some snaps (yes, the curator is very insistent that one takes loads of photos but I'm not complaining, it makes business sense for him anyway):
Predecessor of Buzz Lightyear (?!) + toy office gadgets. We had that exact owl clock and that typewriter in the back...
Omg I remember having a case like that. The "textbooks" were beyond my time though I remember similar readers containing fables and myths around at home. Antique paperbacks, they are.
Old skool barber shop / hairdresser's setup - gawd, the jars' contents were still intact. Wonder if anyone opens them for a sniff at the good ol' times.
Retro packaging, I like.
Remember those phones? Where you'd hate it if your friend's number contained a lot of 0's and 9's because that meant you'd have to wait forever for the rotary dial?? (Incidentally is it scary that I still remember my first 2 home phone numbers?)
Retro pencils, which to my mind never really wrote well anyway. And those horrendous erasers, constantly rubbing holes in my jotter book.
All this and much more for only $2 admission. Check it out if you're in the area.
Drink with me to days gone by
To the life that used to be
At the shrine of friendship
Never say die
Let the wine of friendship
Never run dry
Here's to you
And here's to me
6
comments:
- @ 31 December 2010 18:07 Wan said...
-
Sigh. I need to learn to let go of expectations as you did this year.
Anyway, why do you not think anyone born in the 80s will appreciate the toys? I would kill to have 'em. Oh wait, that's hoarding, not appreciating. LOL. - @ 31 December 2010 18:31 beakee said...
- Oh. I meant appreciate in the sense of remembering with fond nostalgia, or simply just whether you geddit or not. I realise many kids did not grow up with all those "manual" toys and well, I guess having fun is just more complicated nowadays...
- @ 31 December 2010 18:39 beakee said...
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And I'm talking about things like:
- kewpie dolls vs talking/peeing dolls
- small tin toy cars vs radio-controlled trucks
- water pistols vs super soaker water blasters
- tiny plastic military figurines vs action figures with movable parts and a gazillion accessories
- paper balls vs PSPs - @ 5 January 2011 22:17 sharlatan said...
-
I think I will bring danhur.
Oh, and I had the owl clock too! Was it a hand-me-down from you 2? I wonder… - @ 11 January 2011 19:45 monkeycrab said...
- I grew up playing all those games like hopscotch and kuti kuti etc and remember all those old school toys and I'm born in the 80's!!! 1980 to be exact. :D
- @ 11 January 2011 19:46 monkeycrab said...
- Maybe it's not great an idea to publicly announce my age here lol
