23) My fanciful day
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.
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.
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.
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.
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..?
AddGrainOnEarth 
January 19, 2013 at 1:43 am
Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
January 19, 2013 at 1:56 am
Thank you, thank you! 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 2:11 am
“The fragrance of natural straw”…I feel like I am there, lying on the floor of your flat. You brought that memory alive.
January 19, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Thanks,Sara! I am glad you like it so much! You take care, have a peaceful weekend! 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 2:26 am
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.
January 19, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Thanks Yoho! I appreciate you spent time reading my post! Cheers! 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 2:33 am
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!!!
January 19, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Yes, I miss her!
January 19, 2013 at 3:02 am
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.
January 19, 2013 at 12:12 pm
Meme always cheer me up, how I wish you stay next door! 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 3:02 am
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. 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 12:19 pm
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!
January 19, 2013 at 3:43 am
This is beautiful. Every moment counts, and everything becomes meaningful when you live the moment to the fullest!
January 19, 2013 at 12:28 pm
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!
January 19, 2013 at 5:48 am
Absolutely lovely Sydney, thanks for sharing 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Hey! You are welcome, I love kongfu panda too! 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 5:57 am
Beautiful post – you write so well, and I enjoy the pictures!
January 19, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Have to write well, if not somebody will kick me out, Haha!
Don’t swing too high, watch out the plane! 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 8:58 am
Feeling nostalgic…. 😀
January 19, 2013 at 12:37 pm
Thanks, Chow! I love cooking too, but I was quite busy lately, once I get more settle down, I’ll steal some recipe from your Blog!
Watch out, I might be there any time, haha!
Enjoy your weekend!
January 19, 2013 at 4:38 pm
🙂 Thanks.
January 19, 2013 at 11:33 am
The fans always remind me of the story about the legendary Chinese holy monk.
January 19, 2013 at 12:45 pm
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!
January 19, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Sweet memory!!! good post!!!
January 19, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Thanks, Rexlin! I ,love you too! 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 1:33 pm
I remember this fan. Beautiful post.
January 19, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Thank you! 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 2:57 pm
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!
January 19, 2013 at 3:16 pm
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!
January 19, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Your mam is a very nice person.Fans keep us cool.
January 19, 2013 at 7:30 pm
I hope she hear you! Thanks for reading!
Hey, enjoy your weekend! 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 8:03 pm
[…] to me on her return from a visit to China. I thought they were for hot dishes. I follow Sydney at addgrainonearth. He always posts so many interesting and fascinating things about his […]
January 19, 2013 at 8:07 pm
http://ladysighs.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/fan-dance/
Come see my fans and dance with me 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 8:26 pm
Yes, I am coming my fair lady! 🙂
January 19, 2013 at 8:30 pm
LOL
January 19, 2013 at 11:57 pm
very nice
January 20, 2013 at 12:07 am
You mean the fan or the story? Haha!
Just kidding! Have a peaceful weekend! Cheers!
January 20, 2013 at 12:16 am
natural for the kids
January 20, 2013 at 12:33 am
Agree! 🙂
January 20, 2013 at 12:35 am
have a nice weekend
with regards
advocatemmmohan
January 20, 2013 at 12:39 am
You too!
Sydney
January 20, 2013 at 2:49 am
This is a wonderfully reminiscent post, I can almost imagine I am there 🙂
January 20, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Thanks, Rachel! Let’s get a fanciful day!
January 20, 2013 at 3:21 am
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 🙂
January 20, 2013 at 9:36 pm
Yes, in fact I started to realize, they are at somewhere!
Thanks Angeline!
January 20, 2013 at 11:44 am
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 🙂
January 20, 2013 at 9:12 pm
Frankly, the more you use, the more calmer you are! Try that! 🙂
January 20, 2013 at 3:54 pm
loveely memories olf Singapore in this post..can imagine how it used to be
January 20, 2013 at 9:07 pm
You may like to buy one, keep it for sunny day! 🙂
January 21, 2013 at 9:58 pm
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
January 21, 2013 at 10:10 pm
This fan is very eco, sometime I fan it like a old man!
Homesick is the sweet and the bitterness of life! I understand, I specially dedicate this song to you! I understand….
January 21, 2013 at 10:17 pm
thank you, the melody is so sweet and looked up the lyrics as well. 🙂
well, i just have to be patient till my next home leave, and find cures to my homesickness other than booking an air ticket, LOL
January 21, 2013 at 10:20 pm
Yes, meanwhile focus on saving! Oops, may be you don’t need that! 🙂
January 21, 2013 at 10:57 pm
yes, i have to! to buy more gifts next Christmas! hehe! thanks for reminding! 🙂
January 26, 2013 at 5:46 am
We have one like that here at home. We bought it in the Philippines.
January 26, 2013 at 11:23 am
Yes, is good to use it often! is Eco! 🙂