A Few of My Favourite Things
Over the past 15 years or so, I have been collecting a few ornaments, pictures, wood carvings etc. from all manner of places. I call them my favourite things. The all manner of places being; markets, junk shops, souvenir stalls and even supermarkets. You get the picture. Anything, anywhere, whatever catches my eye, and I consider reasonable value.
The items don’t have to be antique or unique, just something that appeals to me for whatever reason—most of my favourite things I have bought in Thailand, some in the UK. The whole medley of effects rejects and defects resides at our village house in Udon Thani Province. Not that it is too much of a collection. Just simple bits and pieces.
My Favourite Things – Bits & Pieces
The Buddha Face wood carving is arguably my favourite thing. You can get an idea of its size by comparing it to the half-hidden cowboy hat on the left of the photograph—some size. I bought the three-piece wood carving at Tha Sadet Market in Nong Khai. I’m not sure how much I paid; it was a few years back.
The wood carving used to hang on the wall, but it now leans against it. That makes it easier to clean, and if needed, reposition elsewhere. I don’t hold my hand up for buying the two chickens. That said, I kind of like them just where they are. The sheathed sword was from Nong Khai as well.
This three-piece band needs an explanation. Three very different items indeed. I cannot recall where I bought the Buddha Face. I only know it was somewhere in Thailand. The laser engraved crystal book is from the UK. The book has the Lord’s Prayer engraved on it. The large and small pebbles came from our village garden. All three, to me, represent that all religions can live in peace together on this Earth (pebbles). The way the world is at this moment – feuds, wars, terrorism – the band may need a fourth member to work some magic.
Another of my favourite things. I bought them in two separate lots. I thought they’d go well together and still think so today. They all came from a Japanese junk shop in Phon Phisai. Sadly, not long after the shop shut down. That was disappointing because I used to enjoy going on a treasure hunt whenever we went to Phon Phisai.
Fighting Elephants
We are back to the top picture and more. There are now two elephants. The one on the left is from Thailand, and the smaller elephant journeyed from the UK. The bowl is another junk shop bargain.
Most of my favourite things get placed in my showcase. The picture above is one from the early days of its development. The three-piece Buddha Face has now replaced the top photograph, and I have added some other bits and pieces. I was astonished when I checked through my recent pictures and didn’t have a more up to date one. That disappointed me. You can view some of the updated showcase pigeonholes in the gallery below.
Click on any of the photographs to enlarge them and to see a slideshow.
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