Since Suwanee's post about Good Times. I have been reflecting on my own 'good' childhood memories and the toys that meant so much to me.

I used to escape into my own little world and play by myself for hours at a time.

When I was 3 I was given this Family Tree House set (It was a hand-me-down from some friend of the family). I loved it and they even had a dog. The little boy figurine looked just like me and I could pretend I had a happy family. I still have everything but the actual treehouse (it fell to bits) and my kids love them too.


Then at about 8 I got my first and only lego set. It was a real 'boys' toy. The rest of the lego I played with was my older brothers. This was mine...just mine.



At 10 I got my first Transformer. I loved Transformers so much. I used to watch a lot of cartoons on TV (escapism again) and this was a toy from a real live TV show. WOW!!. This is Blaster. I really wanted Optimus Prime but now Blaster is more special to me. I sold him at a garage sail when I was about 15. I bought another one a few years back.



Just wondering if anyone else had some special toy/s when they were a kid that remind them that it wasn't all bad.

Lee

Since I'm a master a tracking down this stuff mate - who cares about the shipping cost to Oz when it's treasure like this? - found the treehouse(s):

http://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html;jsessionid=4A675144D5576864289B170F1C2FA652?_nkw=1975%20Kenner%20Family%20TREE%20TOTS%20TREE%20HOUSE%20Complete%20w%20Box&_itemId=310290258088

Mine was the Flying Sub from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (a 1966 model kit by Aurora):

Lancer

My wife she kill me. Lol. I nearly bought one a few years back......maybe now is the time???


WOW that sub looks AWESOME!!!! I didn't know cool was invented back then

Lee

Provided the wife DOESN'T kill you, I can guarantee you and the kids will be fighting to see who gets to play with it.

I truly love this stuff Lee and I've become particularly good at tracking down/limiting myself to the exact items, usually in great condition. It's done wonders for Little Lancer. Don't say I didn't warn you!

My "cool" was Irwin Allan's Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space and The Time Tunnel...it WAS the Space Age, after all ;-P

I got my first Transformer when they debuted in 1984, then took a break from about 1990-1996, then got right back in again. Like getting reacquainted with old friends.

I have about 800 now, conservatively. Also some Macross Valkyries and Brave Of Legend pieces that fit the aesthetic and round out the ranks. Though the number that is "mine" is slowly decreasing, as rather than buy new ones for my son, I just give him mine! Not the treasured specimens obviously.

So as far as happy memories go - when the time came, I had the Transformers animated movie on in the background as I lost my virginity. Nerdy girls are awesome


Matt

Matt - You ARE a Legend!!!!

I'm married to a Starwars Nerdy girl sadly.... no gold bakini though

Lee

I think we all need a dose of this kind of medicine once in a while...




The Lego airport...a favorite...planes, blocks, what's not to love about this?


OK, this is not my Lego city, but I made many a massive metropolis like this one. They had residences, businesses, industry, an airport..and zoning. I geeked out on these.






















I used to have dozens of Matchbox cars. This is the only one left...and is now on my desk at work.




















And finally...The football game of red LED lights and a shrill whistle. A bit of trivia: the sound from the first version is heard in Supertramp's "Logical Song."


Will

Hey, Suwanee, it's EA Games on the phone. They wanna talk to you about SimCity. ;-)

Well, Lancer...as far as SimCity goes...I more or less do the real thing on a larger scale M-F 8am-6ish pm.

Little wonder where that comes from...

Will

LOL!