It's the launch of the I Didn't Throw It Away Blog Train, and I am trying to unlock the reasons why we keep certain things yet readily throw away others. Is there a story behind every item that we keep? How do we form that special connection with them, and why does it last so long? Every day from today until January, one blogger will share with you the things that he/she has kept for over 20 years, the stories behind them and why it wasn't thrown away.
To kick everything off, the blog train will start right here! For all the posts in this blog train, please click here or on the icon at the top!
There are quite a few items in my household that are over 20 years old. In fact we still use them and I am really amazed that they have lasted so long. You have probably seen a few in my earlier blog posts - the thin leather belt that my mum had worn when she was a young lady, and the stuffed toy that my grandma gave me when we first met.
I've never threw these in the bin - the monkey is still on my bed as it reminds me of my gran, while the belt is still in good condition and I have worn it countless times. I think I didn't throw away the belt because it is unique and it's at least 40 years plus! They don't make them like this any more!
Childhood Books
I didn't own that many books when I was a child. In fact, my dad encouraged us to use the library (something I still believe in) - he said it was a waste to buy books, read them once and then leave them on the bookshelf, plus we couldn't afford space for books in our small flat! These are the three books that I owned as a child. If I remember correctly, these were birthday presents.
Vacuum Lunch Flask
When we lived overseas, we experienced cold winters. As our school tuck shop did not provide proper meals, I would take a lunch flask with my hot lunch to school. I remember mum waking up early in the morning to prepare our lunches and store them in this Aladdin vacuum flask. Mum made a small pouch to go with it!
Yes, I still have it, and yes, I actually used it when I started working! It still works and it is in tip top condition. I used it again when my son was on his first solids! This is the only vacuum flask that I have used.
It was made in Nashville, Tennessee. Apparently, the factory no longer exists but production has shifted to another part of the USA.
To kick everything off, the blog train will start right here! For all the posts in this blog train, please click here or on the icon at the top!
There are quite a few items in my household that are over 20 years old. In fact we still use them and I am really amazed that they have lasted so long. You have probably seen a few in my earlier blog posts - the thin leather belt that my mum had worn when she was a young lady, and the stuffed toy that my grandma gave me when we first met.
I've never threw these in the bin - the monkey is still on my bed as it reminds me of my gran, while the belt is still in good condition and I have worn it countless times. I think I didn't throw away the belt because it is unique and it's at least 40 years plus! They don't make them like this any more!
Childhood Books
I didn't own that many books when I was a child. In fact, my dad encouraged us to use the library (something I still believe in) - he said it was a waste to buy books, read them once and then leave them on the bookshelf, plus we couldn't afford space for books in our small flat! These are the three books that I owned as a child. If I remember correctly, these were birthday presents.
I loved reading the books and didn't want to part with them even when the family shifted homes and we needed to clear out some stuff . I think my attachment to the books is because of what my dad had said about knowledge (ie books) should not be thrown away, my dad gave me his books (all academic) from the 50s and 60s, so I have a little collection of his. I actually used one of the books (trigonometry) to help me in my A-level maths because it explained everything clearly compared with my school texts! I'll definitely be passing them down to my son!
Vacuum Lunch Flask
When we lived overseas, we experienced cold winters. As our school tuck shop did not provide proper meals, I would take a lunch flask with my hot lunch to school. I remember mum waking up early in the morning to prepare our lunches and store them in this Aladdin vacuum flask. Mum made a small pouch to go with it!
Yes, I still have it, and yes, I actually used it when I started working! It still works and it is in tip top condition. I used it again when my son was on his first solids! This is the only vacuum flask that I have used.
It was made in Nashville, Tennessee. Apparently, the factory no longer exists but production has shifted to another part of the USA.
Why Didn't I throw Them Away?
I definitely have a strong connection with the three books, and they bring back childhood memories. Whenever I read or show them to my son, it's my way of sharing with him my best childhood experiences. Even the vacuum flask conjures up images of my mum's creamy corn soup, and steaming hot soy sauce chicken with rice on a cold winter's day.
Follow the Blog Train
This post is part of a blog train hosted by Green Issues by Agy on "I Didn't Throw It Away". We have become such a throw-away society, but there are some things in our households that we still keep. Why is that so? Perhaps this blog train can unlock the reasons behind it! Follow the daily posts on this blog train and read about the stories behind the things we have kept for many years and why we didn't throw them away.
Tomorrow Joey from from JoeyCraftWorkz will share with us the stories behind the things she didn't throw away. Joey is a stay-at-home mum who loves to craft and sew, and lately she has taken up quilting.
All posts will be shared on my social media platforms!
1 Dec Green Issues by Agy
2 Dec JoeyCraftWorkz
3 Dec Gingerbread Mum
4 Dec Mum in the Making
5 Dec Dominique's Desk
6 Dec Prayerfull Mum
7 Dec My Lil Bookworm
8 Dec Simply Me
9 Dec Mum Craft
10 Dec Mad Psych Mum
11 Dec Growing with the Tans
12 Dec Mums the Word
13 Dec The Kam Family
14 Dec PeiPei.HaoHao
15 Dec Xavvy-licious
16 Dec Adopt an Ami
17 Dec Angel Hearts Crafts
18 Dec Lapis William
19 Dec Rhinestic's Knick Knacks
20 Dec Hello, Mrs Tan
Christmas Break!!
2 Jan Rude Record
3 Jan Refab Diaries
4 Jan Creating My Way to Success
5 Jan Recycled Fashion
6 Jan A Vintage Crafty Adventure
7 Jan Cucicucicoo
8 Jan Sum of Their Stories
9 Jan Fafafoom
10 Jan Vicky Myers Creations
11 Jan Little Did You Know
12 Jan Mountainsno
13 Jan Penelope Cake Fashion
14 Jan The Little Treasures
15 Jan Swoodson Says
16 Jan Notes to Ginny
17 Jan Purfylle and Feather's Flight
All posts will be shared on my social media platforms!
1 Dec Green Issues by Agy
2 Dec JoeyCraftWorkz
3 Dec Gingerbread Mum
4 Dec Mum in the Making
5 Dec Dominique's Desk
6 Dec Prayerfull Mum
7 Dec My Lil Bookworm
8 Dec Simply Me
9 Dec Mum Craft
10 Dec Mad Psych Mum
11 Dec Growing with the Tans
12 Dec Mums the Word
13 Dec The Kam Family
14 Dec PeiPei.HaoHao
15 Dec Xavvy-licious
16 Dec Adopt an Ami
17 Dec Angel Hearts Crafts
18 Dec Lapis William
19 Dec Rhinestic's Knick Knacks
20 Dec Hello, Mrs Tan
Christmas Break!!
2 Jan Rude Record
3 Jan Refab Diaries
4 Jan Creating My Way to Success
5 Jan Recycled Fashion
6 Jan A Vintage Crafty Adventure
7 Jan Cucicucicoo
8 Jan Sum of Their Stories
9 Jan Fafafoom
10 Jan Vicky Myers Creations
11 Jan Little Did You Know
12 Jan Mountainsno
13 Jan Penelope Cake Fashion
14 Jan The Little Treasures
15 Jan Swoodson Says
16 Jan Notes to Ginny
17 Jan Purfylle and Feather's Flight
Your monkey looked like it is in good condition! I have a stuffed toy rabbit which has been with me since I was in kindergarden!
ReplyDeleteOooh, are you going to share this in your post ? :-)
DeleteI think we all have things like this Agy that are as much a part of our lives as they are objects. I'm looking forward to reading about everyone else's objects that they've kept and their reasons why!
ReplyDeleteLove the stories behind your precious things from the past. Thank you for sharing. From Karen at http://ruderecord.wordpress.com [jumping on board the blog train in the New Year]
ReplyDeleteI remember those lunch flasks! It's funny how we hold on to some objects and let go of others. I have a couple of pans that I've had for over 30 years. If it ain't broke . . .
ReplyDeleteI think those lunch flasks were extremely popular!
DeleteWow that leather belt has lasted that long?! How! Awesome. This is such a wonderful blog train. I can't wait to read the rest! I'm next!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I can't believe it either :-)
DeleteI love these items Agy, and the reasons behind keeping them. I had that Sleeping Beauty book too - what great memories looking at your photos!
ReplyDeleteI think I discovered a few readers had the same things as me!
DeleteI used to read Noddy as a kid too!! We got real tatty ones for less than $1 at the secondhand bookshop :p
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed with the vacuum flask! They sure don't make things like that any more...
No, I don't think they make them anymore, not even to that standard!
DeleteSo sweet and interesting! We used to have the same sort of Aladdin thermos when I was little and I'm willing to bet that my mother still has it! :) Lisa
ReplyDeleteI think she might still have it - they are really sturdy!
DeleteLove the post! I must tell you that I have the same Sleeping Beauty book : )
ReplyDeleteIn fact I have three books - collections by Disney and I will keep them forever.
Also have many things that are more than 20 years old - what can I do? Sometimes I just cannot let go of the past and its stories :)
Thanks for popping by Maya. I think because the books are classics so we want to keep them :-)
DeleteHi Agy,
ReplyDeleteI love this Blog Train idea. I can so easily relate to this issue. I have closets and storage units full of items I have held onto for too many years which I really must address. Thanks for initiating this cool project. It's inspiring me to declutter.
Good luck with the decluttering, Deborah!
DeleteGood luck with the decluttering, Deborah!
DeleteI remember those lunch flasks, Agy. I think perhaps we keep some things for sentimental reasons and are happy to discard items that have little meaning. If only my leather belts from 20 years ago still fitted, I'd still be wearing them. Instead, my daughter has some and the rest went to charity, except one. A brown leather belt I made myself. That one I'm keeping!!!
ReplyDeleteThe lunch flask has and is still serving me pretty well. I have taken it to the office to carry my office lunch too :-)
DeleteLove that vacuum flask! And you're right to keep that belt; I love hunting for belts at vintage stores because they just don't make them like that anymore! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI love my mum's belt, Mira. It's still in good condition!
Delete