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23) My fanciful day

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my fancy day 01

Remembering when I was a little child, I fell sick and lie on the floor with my mum by my side.  Those days, a family of seven, were all cramped in a one-room flat.  I have to sleep on the living room floor left with not much choice.  That night, my mum used this straw fan to cool me down and put me in comfort.

I remember clearly I told my mum something from the bottom of my heart. “Mum, I’m okay! I am alright!”  Since then, I never forget the story about this kid and his mum and the fan in her palm.  This is one fancy memory I have.

my fancy day 02

In those days where air-cons and electric fans were considered luxury items, to cool ourselves down we either relied on the nature’s wind direction or the hand-held straw fans.  This very authentic fan made of straw is one essential item in every household to refresh each individual soul.  With the humid weather we are having on the equator, we just have to keep fanning till we reach our dreamland.

This simple light-weigh fan has many usages and it emits fragrance of natural straws each time you use it!  The Satay man needs it for his wavering stove.  Some use it to chase away mosquitoes while some use it to tout business.

my fancy day 05

Olden days, to express herself more dramatically, grandaunt matchmakers carry it with them all the time.  Or most probably is she trying to cover her hard-sell body language on the potentially singles that she is trying to unite?

But for now, it is no longer a drama prop in my house.  It has its special role to play in my home.  It beautifies a corner of my home and it brings back some warm memories I can’t erase.

my fancy day 03

While the light beam seeps through the fan, a glow seeps through my heart with reminiscence.  I wish I could be the fan in my mum’s hand.

 my fancy day 04

What this simple fan has provided me is not just the precious cool wind, it is the uncountable fanciful days I had with it and going to have with it.  Would you agree..?

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Author: Sydney Fong

Hi, I am Sydney, a Singaporean. Making a living as an Architectural Illustrator, visionary. My blog entails categories of my interest, joy, upheaval of life and its destiny. Every post has its own characteristic. It conveys a story of its own, and the life of its owner.

56 thoughts on “23) My fanciful day

  1. “The fragrance of natural straw”…I feel like I am there, lying on the floor of your flat. You brought that memory alive.

  2. I felt the breeze 💨💨of this wonderful story blow back memories of the hand fans I used to use in church. Thank you for sharing your precious memories.

  3. Oh such a beautiful memory Sydney, Thank you so much for sharing it with me, I feel I was transported to your living room floor and feeling the love of your dear mother!!!

  4. The fans are beautiful and so are the memories that go with them. They make me want to do a dance with fans. :) I am making a special little post about the fans. Look for it later.

    But you may not find it where you think it should be.

  5. I always enjoy reading the artifacts you have taken photos of and written about them This fan is another one. I must ask my family to get me one from Hong Kong or Singapore. :)

    • You can get it from other Asia countries too, is about S$1.00 in local.
      When ever I look at your header image, I feel like an enchanting garden waving at me!
      Thanks, Opalla! Have a great day!

  6. This is beautiful. Every moment counts, and everything becomes meaningful when you live the moment to the fullest!

    • I was born in the 60s, whether you believe it or not, I am still living in the simple and plain era.
      I know I can’t change the past and I don’t intent to do that, because this is my root, root of my soul!
      Thanks Lily! Thanks for your compliments!

  7. Absolutely lovely Sydney, thanks for sharing :)

  8. Beautiful post – you write so well, and I enjoy the pictures!

  9. The fans always remind me of the story about the legendary Chinese holy monk.

    • When I bought this from the shop, the cashier asked me whether want any plastic carrier carry along?
      I ask her, if you don’t gave me any carrier I’ll be walking like the legendary monk!
      She laughed like a spring rolls after hearing me said that and I think I give her a better day!
      Thanks, chris! You are always so kind to me!

  10. Sweet memory!!! good post!!!

  11. I remember this fan. Beautiful post.

  12. I remember these rans! My grandmother used to have them. And when they’re new, they have a certain smell. I love these fans! There is an art to handling them and generating the breeze. They also serve as less painful swats for when we used to misbehave!

    • Thanks, Mary-Ann! This is awesome invention, apart from banana leaf fan, this is the most down to earth fan design.
      Magically, with this fan, it can’t fan away my sweet memories!

  13. Your mam is a very nice person.Fans keep us cool.

  14. Pingback: Fan Dance « ladysighs

  15. This is a wonderfully reminiscent post, I can almost imagine I am there :)

  16. What a lovely memory! And what a lovely post! I love the photo of the light beam coming in through the fan….I think that might be your Mum’s smile shining through at you :)

  17. I agree! I love these manual fans. Had those when I was young as well, and to be true, I enjoy refreshing myself with these much more than the electrical fans. Lol :)

  18. loveely memories olf Singapore in this post..can imagine how it used to be

  19. i remember when i was a kid, my grandma and elder aunties all have this fan with them, and they fan themselves and us kids while telling us a nice story… now i’m homesick again waaaaa… T_T

  20. We have one like that here at home. We bought it in the Philippines.

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