Appreciating What TS Stuff You Have, Opposed To What You Don't Have..... (1 Viewer)

[Desertkiwi]

Just thought I'd share this wee moment with the forum......over the Xmas break, we had some out-of-town relatives up to visit. They have three young lads, one of which has just turned 5yrs.

Well, he spotted my display cabinet of TS figures in our lounge (a bit of a mix of K&C, Conte & Britains) and for the next hour he stood on a chair with his little nose pressed up against the glass, supported by his dad.....he was absolutely fasinated and of course was desperate to get them out to play with.{eek3}

This was a great moment for me, observing a little bloke enjoying my collection, sharing an interest and asking tons of questions.......The one question he asked which I struggled a bit to answer was 'why do you have some many soldiers?'

We stood there for a moment and I thought ....yeah I do have a few now, don't I. Infact my collection is quite small really, I just spread things around abit with vehicles and buildings etc.

The point I'm making is that when $'s are tight and some of us are not able to purchase quite as much as we used to, it's good to take stock of what you've got and be thankful for what you do own, opposed to moaning about the ever increasing wish/wants list you might have and can't afford......it took a wee chap to remind me of that and it was a golden moment really, especially as i think I've found a budding junior collector to encourage into the hobbie.....^&grin

Just thought I'd throw this out there and see what other similiar expreriences some of you may have had and also thoughts about your collections etc??

Cheers Toddy

 

[Lo1863]

Toddy,
Wow!!! What an amazing/touching story! I am really glad that you shared this. I too find myself sometimes wanting more additions to my collection and to read this really puts it into perspective. My collection at the moment is not that very large, but I am sure if any young chap was to look at it, they would have the same reaction as your friends son did.

One story I have was when I was young I remember going with my Grandfather to this store in our town that caried all kinds of coins. My Grandfather was a HUGE collector of coins (I now have his collection after he passed) and in this store were also several dioramas of World War II scenes (mostly German) that the stores owner built. I was always mesmerized by these and would stand there looking at them through the glass the whole time we were in there. I still have that same reaction though when I walk into any toy soldier shop and see their displays. Wonderful times...

 

[Napoleon1er]

Thanks for sharing that! What you say is so true, and as a matter of fact, I was thinking the same thing myself. I think my late New Years resolution is to make more creative dioramas with what I have. Don't worry dealers, still buying, but just trying to appreciate what I have as well.
Sandor

 

[jager7080]

Just thought I'd share this wee moment with the forum......over the Xmas break, we had some out-of-town relatives up to visit. They have three young lads, one of which has just turned 5yrs.

Well, he spotted my display cabinet of TS figures in our lounge (a bit of a mix of K&C, Conte & Britains) and for the next hour he stood on a chair with his little nose pressed up against the glass, supported by his dad.....he was absolutely fasinated and of course was desperate to get them out to play with.{eek3}

This was a great moment for me, observing a little bloke enjoying my collection, sharing an interest and asking tons of questions.......The one question he asked which I struggled a bit to answer was 'why do you have some many soldiers?'

We stood there for a moment and I thought ....yeah I do have a few now, don't I. Infact my collection is quite small really, I just spread things around abit with vehicles and buildings etc.

The point I'm making is that when $'s are tight and some of us are not able to purchase quite as much as we used to, it's good to take stock of what you've got and be thankful for what you do own, opposed to moaning about the ever increasing wish/wants list you might have and can't afford......it took a wee chap to remind me of that and it was a golden moment really, especially as i think I've found a budding junior collector to encourage into the hobbie.....^&grin

Just thought I'd throw this out there and see what other similiar expreriences some of you may have had and also thoughts about your collections etc??

Cheers Toddy

Desertkiwi ,

I had a few similiar situations...one being my sister-in-law's son who is also five years old , happened upon my curio cabinet while looking for me...When he saw the TS's in the case i literally say his jaw drop & he just stood there staring at them...Another instance my other sister-in-law has a four year old daughter who became intranced with my Ted Toy's Confederate Cavalry column , although i believe it was more for the horse's than the soldiers themselves...
I also feel my collection is small by the standards i have seen on this forum...But as you say , i am happy with what i collect & buy , because i only buy what i really like...I have a six year old daughter , who when my TS's arrive from Treefrog Treasures inspects every vehicle & soldier with me...Which makes me smile , she is almost as excited about my stuff as i am...
Good Luck with your apprentice...

Cheers ,

Joe

 

[waynepoo]

Hit the nail right on the head Toddy, I for one have never grown up, I have loved all things miniature be they soldiers, vehicles, buildings, ships and planes since I was knee high to a grasshopper and I'm becoming more of a big kid as I get older. As long as it's just playing and fun and we don't take it too seriously why not I say. The younglings in the family when they stand gazing in awe at your collection is a true buzz, but I am careful at the same time to try and not glorify war when I explain to them what it is all about which I hope gets across to them but on the other hand it is a great way to let them know about their Great Grandfather and Great Uncles, Grandfather and Uncles and what happened to them all those years ago. A top thread, who said our Kiwis brothers don't know anything but Rugby and sheep.....:wink2:^&grin
Wayne.

 

[Desertkiwi]

Thanks fella's......great to read ya feedback. Yeah i'm with you Wayne, I think we're all big kids deep down, some more than others.....:wink2:

I saw a lot of myself in this little guy's interest and it made me smile to myself.......my folks use to joke, that as a kid, when we visited the local mall many many moons ago they could leave me in the toy shop and after an half an hour or so, would always find me almost in the same spot, right in front of the TS & military models shelves.......hehe how things have NOT changed...^&grin

I've also found it interesting about how some 'girls/ladies' seem to enjoy some aspects of the hobbie too.....my daughter whose in her late teens now, has always commented on my collection and keen to know about any knew additions.....I remember she talked me out of selling off a tank once and was strangely horrified that I was even thinking of it.

 

[Desertkiwi]

Hit the nail right on the head Toddy, I for one have never grown up, I have loved all things miniature be they soldiers, vehicles, buildings, ships and planes since I was knee high to a grasshopper and I'm becoming more of a big kid as I get older. As long as it's just playing and fun and we don't take it too seriously why not I say. The younglings in the family when they stand gazing in awe at your collection is a true buzz, but I am careful at the same time to try and not glorify war when I explain to them what it is all about which I hope gets across to them but on the other hand it is a great way to let them know about their Great Grandfather and Great Uncles, Grandfather and Uncles and what happened to them all those years ago. A top thread, who said our Kiwis brothers don't know anything but Rugby and sheep.....:wink2:^&grin
Wayne.

Wayne mate ....we've also becoming experts on the origins of the Hobbit & all things Middle-Earth and Peter J is currently working on a new movie about rugby mad Hobbits fending off an army of zombie sheep{eek3}^&grin

 

[waynepoo]

Wayne mate ....we've also becoming experts on the origins of the Hobbit & all things Middle-Earth and Peter J is currently working on a new movie about rugby mad Hobbits fending off an army of zombie sheep{eek3}^&grin

To late mate someone has beaten him to the Zombie sheep bit, but Rugby mad Hobbits isn't that just a tourist movie about New Zealand?.......^&grin
Wayne.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gEDUDmZkyc

 

[Desertkiwi]

To late mate someone has beaten him to the Zombie sheep bit, but Rugby mad Hobbits isn't that just a tourist movie about New Zealand?.......^&grin
Wayne.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gEDUDmZkyc

You've nobbled me again Wayne mate and seen right through my cunning plan....:tongue:

 

[TomNT]

Very nice post Toddy and great thread to put things in perspective as far as Toy Soldiers go. I have a 6 year old son (going on 7) who doesn't live with me but when he visits, his eyes light up at my collection. I am like you and im terrified when he plants his hands on the display glass {eek3} but he does know they are off limits, at least until he is older and of course one day when he will inherit my collection. He is more of a car person and does make a bee line to look at my small 1/18 scale die cast car collection, but he does always take time to look at my little men and vehicles. I think we should all appreciate what we have as many people in the world cannot afford to get into this hobby due to the cost of living ect and when you see the expression on a kids face, it does kinda make all these arguments on scale, prices, yours is better than mine, what you collect, brand bashing ect look pretty ridiculous.

Tom

 

[The Military Workshop]

Good thread.

Just had a fun 6/7 year old boy in the shop and he had a great time looking at all the displays. Obviously the
figures not suitable for him but told him and his parents about plastics at a shop nearby and the possibilities of
him and his Dad shooting each others armies with their Werfer (spelling ?) guns. Already collects military badges wo
hopefully an other kid who will grow up with an intertest in history.

Brett

 

[PanzerAce1944]

That is ever so true............Appreciate what you have NOW ! Besides as collectors..............the more you have......the more you want anyway :wink2:

 

[kogu]

This is a very nice thread, and I am happy to add my post to it :smile2:
Appreciating what I have right now, is exactly what I am practicing as we speak :wink2:
Too often, a collector gets all wound up and anxious about "must haves" and "needs to complete" and such things.

Since little kids were mentioned, I do have a 4 year old grandson, and he loves to hang out in "my room" with me where lots of Toy Soldiers are around.
Mounted ones are his favorites.
I do work nightshifts, and go to sleep in the morning around 7:00 to 8:00am, getting up in the afternoon between 2:00 and 3:00pm.
Usually by then the mail carrier came by, and there is nothing better for my grandson, as when a package was delivered for me.
He gets it from the front door, and as soon as I get out of the bedroom, he is right there with the good news "Opa, you got a package. Do you want to look at it? Come on. Let's open it".
Well, of course, I want to open it :wink2: :smile2:, and he is right next to me, and sometimes when the figures are not too delicate, I let him take them and put them on my desk for a close view.
On the days, when there is nothing to open, he waits until I have the computer on and then comes around, saying "Opa, wanna look at horsies? Spinning horsies?"
Treefrog has the 360 views on a number of their listings, and my grandson loves to sit on my lap and going through the online catalog and picking mounted figures that do have the 360 feature.

Don't know, who really enjoys those times more, but chances are it is me ^&grin

What a wonderful hobby.

Konrad

 

[Desertkiwi]

There's some really great feedback coming through on this Thread now.....a big thanks to all those contributing, cheers guys.

I'm probably sounding like a big soppy bloke, but it's very special spending time with kids who take an interest in your hobbie and it's really nice to share that time with them.

I'm sure shop owners like Brett, must get a real buzz seeing kids so keen. I have to say Konrad, what a wonderful story mate, thats magic, pure gold.{bravo}}

 

[The Military Workshop]

I would not mind spending some time in Konrads room so long as he was not there and did not search me when I left ^&grin Of course the suitcase and asking him where the boxes are might give the game away.

 

[uksubs]

Well I've got a seven month old boy and eighteen month old girl and I'm sorry to say there more interested in playing with my iPad at the moment , as for me I'm just happy to add to my Figarti train / v2 diorama when I can and when I get time but I find it a great way of chilling out ^&grin

 

[Desertkiwi]

Well I've got a seven month old boy and eighteen month old girl and I'm sorry to say there more interested in playing with my iPad at the moment , as for me I'm just happy to add to my Figarti train / v2 diorama when I can and when I get time but I find it a great way of chilling out ^&grin

I'm sure your kids will grow up loving that train dio mate, especially when they go mobile{eek3}^&grin

Happy times!!

 

[thebritfarmer]

My 7 and 5 year old nephew love to look at my soldiers, they like the red ones (24th foot Zulu Wars). They asked if they could touch them, I said maybe when they are a little older. My oldest nephew piped up and said "Yes Cole, we have to wait until we are older and have the experience to appreciate them and handle them with care!" as serious as you like he was too.

From the mouths of babes, gave me and my brother a chuckle that did.

 

[jazzeum]

This is a very nice thread, and I am happy to add my post to it :smile2:
Appreciating what I have right now, is exactly what I am practicing as we speak :wink2:
Too often, a collector gets all wound up and anxious about "must haves" and "needs to complete" and such things.

Since little kids were mentioned, I do have a 4 year old grandson, and he loves to hang out in "my room" with me where lots of Toy Soldiers are around.
Mounted ones are his favorites.
I do work nightshifts, and go to sleep in the morning around 7:00 to 8:00am, getting up in the afternoon between 2:00 and 3:00pm.
Usually by then the mail carrier came by, and there is nothing better for my grandson, as when a package was delivered for me.
He gets it from the front door, and as soon as I get out of the bedroom, he is right there with the good news "Opa, you got a package. Do you want to look at it? Come on. Let's open it".
Well, of course, I want to open it :wink2: :smile2:, and he is right next to me, and sometimes when the figures are not too delicate, I let him take them and put them on my desk for a close view.
On the days, when there is nothing to open, he waits until I have the computer on and then comes around, saying "Opa, wanna look at horsies? Spinning horsies?"
Treefrog has the 360 views on a number of their listings, and my grandson loves to sit on my lap and going through the online catalog and picking mounted figures that do have the 360 feature.

Don't know, who really enjoys those times more, but chances are it is me ^&grin

What a wonderful hobby.

Konrad

This has to qualify as one of the best posts I've read on this Forum. If this doesn't bring a smile to your lips, nothing will.

Brad

 

[Louis Badolato]

This is a very nice thread, and I am happy to add my post to it :smile2:
Appreciating what I have right now, is exactly what I am practicing as we speak :wink2:
Too often, a collector gets all wound up and anxious about "must haves" and "needs to complete" and such things.

Since little kids were mentioned, I do have a 4 year old grandson, and he loves to hang out in "my room" with me where lots of Toy Soldiers are around.
Mounted ones are his favorites.
I do work nightshifts, and go to sleep in the morning around 7:00 to 8:00am, getting up in the afternoon between 2:00 and 3:00pm.
Usually by then the mail carrier came by, and there is nothing better for my grandson, as when a package was delivered for me.
He gets it from the front door, and as soon as I get out of the bedroom, he is right there with the good news "Opa, you got a package. Do you want to look at it? Come on. Let's open it".
Well, of course, I want to open it :wink2: :smile2:, and he is right next to me, and sometimes when the figures are not too delicate, I let him take them and put them on my desk for a close view.
On the days, when there is nothing to open, he waits until I have the computer on and then comes around, saying "Opa, wanna look at horsies? Spinning horsies?"
Treefrog has the 360 views on a number of their listings, and my grandson loves to sit on my lap and going through the online catalog and picking mounted figures that do have the 360 feature.

Don't know, who really enjoys those times more, but chances are it is me ^&grin

What a wonderful hobby.

Konrad

Konrad,

Best post ever, my friend!:smile2: For me, nothing beats sharing my collection with my seven year old son Alec and my 5 year old daughter Ashley. Watching them getting as excited over a package as I am makes a good day great.:wink2: