Over the past few weeks, I have experienced a few “Triggers” which I felt I could write about.
Firstly, I’m a coin collector, not in a big way and nothing too serious.
Since we have had such a warm and dry summer I haven’t spent as much time in the garden as I usually would. I have instead spent a lot of time doing “Indoor Activities” i.e. cleaning out cupboards, draws and boxes that I have not looked inside of for years.
My first “Trigger” was when I came across a small plastic box with a clear lid on it. I knew straight away what it was. After all I had seen it many times over the last 71 years.
It was an English Five Shilling commemorative coin, known as a “Crown”. I have saved it, have looked at it and have been very proud of it over the years. It is without a doubt the oldest thing I own. Even older than my Teeth, which I used to have.
The reason this “Crown” is so special to me is because it was given to me by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In 1953. I was 1 year-old at the time. Apparently, it seems, every child born around that time was given one of these Crowns. I was no one special, but I can tell you, my 1953 Five Shillings Queen Elizabeth II Crown Coronation Commemorative Coin is very special to me.
Firstly, I’m a coin collector, not in a big way and nothing too serious.
Since we have had such a warm and dry summer I haven’t spent as much time in the garden as I usually would. I have instead spent a lot of time doing “Indoor Activities” i.e. cleaning out cupboards, draws and boxes that I have not looked inside of for years.
My first “Trigger” was when I came across a small plastic box with a clear lid on it. I knew straight away what it was. After all I had seen it many times over the last 71 years.
It was an English Five Shilling commemorative coin, known as a “Crown”. I have saved it, have looked at it and have been very proud of it over the years. It is without a doubt the oldest thing I own. Even older than my Teeth, which I used to have.
The reason this “Crown” is so special to me is because it was given to me by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In 1953. I was 1 year-old at the time. Apparently, it seems, every child born around that time was given one of these Crowns. I was no one special, but I can tell you, my 1953 Five Shillings Queen Elizabeth II Crown Coronation Commemorative Coin is very special to me.
My second ‘Trigger’? Whilst I was going through all my Junk, I cleaned out a few old and not played, for a very long time, LP records. I cleaned up an old Turntable and, lo and behold, I was a teenager again. I began looking for the first LP I had ever purchased. Yes, here it is. I was working in the city; I had saved enough money to go out and buy my first record. It was 1968.
Naturally, there were a lot of LP records of all the Pop Music Bands in the sixties. I didn’t take too long to find the one I wanted. A Green coloured cover, a picture of the band on the front of it and a few songs that I liked plus a few others. I paid the man $5.50; it was mine! I was so happy. The train just seemed to be going so much slower that day whilst I was on my way home. The LP or the Album, as they call them these days, was “More of The Monkees” by the Monkees. Obviously. This was their second LP - their first LP, simply called “The Monkees”, came into my collection later. Yes, it still works and still sounds the same. Yes, it does have a few scratches, but that makes it sound more authentic, and it is 58 years old.
Naturally, there were a lot of LP records of all the Pop Music Bands in the sixties. I didn’t take too long to find the one I wanted. A Green coloured cover, a picture of the band on the front of it and a few songs that I liked plus a few others. I paid the man $5.50; it was mine! I was so happy. The train just seemed to be going so much slower that day whilst I was on my way home. The LP or the Album, as they call them these days, was “More of The Monkees” by the Monkees. Obviously. This was their second LP - their first LP, simply called “The Monkees”, came into my collection later. Yes, it still works and still sounds the same. Yes, it does have a few scratches, but that makes it sound more authentic, and it is 58 years old.
My third ‘Trigger’? I thought, well if I’m going to be sitting around all day listening to music, I might as well check out the video cupboards too.
I like to keep everything in order, numerically, alphabetically, by age, whatever.
Videos? Well, I will talk about the first video I recorded.
After going with a mate to Stan Cash Electrical in Braybrook, I bought my first Video recorder. It was a P A L system, Betacord. It was 1985, a Saturday afternoon. A gentleman asked if he could help us. I said we were looking for a video recorder. He asked what sort of TV I had. My stupid mate said, jokingly “Oh, he sold the TV so that he could buy the Video player”. The poor, serious, salesman spent the next 10 minutes explaining to us that we would need a TV to work the Video. He then proceeded to try and sell me a TV also. Poor thing.
Anyway, I bought the recorder, got it home, set it up, then practised recording something. The first thing to come on TV was a Torvill and Dean Ice Skating show. My wife and I loved them dancing to Bolero! So, yes, we kept it, and we still watch it.
I like to keep everything in order, numerically, alphabetically, by age, whatever.
Videos? Well, I will talk about the first video I recorded.
After going with a mate to Stan Cash Electrical in Braybrook, I bought my first Video recorder. It was a P A L system, Betacord. It was 1985, a Saturday afternoon. A gentleman asked if he could help us. I said we were looking for a video recorder. He asked what sort of TV I had. My stupid mate said, jokingly “Oh, he sold the TV so that he could buy the Video player”. The poor, serious, salesman spent the next 10 minutes explaining to us that we would need a TV to work the Video. He then proceeded to try and sell me a TV also. Poor thing.
Anyway, I bought the recorder, got it home, set it up, then practised recording something. The first thing to come on TV was a Torvill and Dean Ice Skating show. My wife and I loved them dancing to Bolero! So, yes, we kept it, and we still watch it.
(Just in case you're feeling nostalgic!)
Tom Barnaby
February 2025
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