收藏火柴盒的兴趣 ~ 谷歌点名#7

火柴看是很微不足道的東西，你可能已忘記它的存在。

Matches are so insignificant that you probably forgot they ever existed.

但對我來說，在過去二十多年，收集從初初幾百盒到最後超過一千多個火柴盒,卻為我帶來不少歡樂和美好回憶。

To me, they bring a lot of joy and wonderful memories through my collection. From initially a few hundred boxes to finally over 1000 boxes that I collected over the past couple of decades.

火柴盒是很會說故事的。他們陪我在不同餐廳吃過很多頓美食，有好的經驗,亦有些不提也吧。另外有些火柴盒見證我出門住過的旅館和到訪過不同的地方。

Matchboxes are a great story teller. They chart the restaurants where I've dined and wined, some more enjoyable than others; the hotels I've stayed at and all the wonderful places that I've visited over the years.

有些火柴盒是家人及朋友給我,過程中每一個都帶著自己小小的故事，在我生命中留下點點痕跡。在大多數情況下，我都記得在甚麼時間地點收集某一個火柴盒，因為在那一刻他們都曾在我心中亮起一點點火花。

Some were given to me by friends and family who have helped me build up my collection and that will always leave a mark in my life. In most cases I could pretty much remember exactly when and where I acquired the particular matchbox as they each lit up a little spark at that moment in time.

我也很喜歡在古玩店和跳蚤市場搜尋火柴盒，每次找到時都會如獲至寶，慢慢在箱裡逐個逐個看，然很選一大堆跟老闆討價還價，很有趣噢!

I have also bought quite a lot of matchboxes from bric n brac shops and flea markets from my travels. I love rummaging through the big box of matchesboxes, picking out ones for my collection, and haggling with the stall owner over a few pennies! All part of the fun at markets.

從火柴盒設計和圖片可反映各國如何把文化嵌入一樣微不足道的日常生活用品中。他們也見證著社會的改變。像我以前的收藏品中就包括一個BOAC的火柴盒。BOAC是現今英國航空公司的前身，在70年代初被英國政府私有化。現在真的很難想象可以帶火柴上飛機和在機上吸菸。

The design and pictures on matchboxes reflect how culture is embedded in an everyday simply item. It shows how society has changed over the years. I used to have a matchbox from BOAC which was British Airways before it was privatised by the British government in the early 70's. It's difficult to imagine a matchbox allowed on a plane today, let alone smoking.

很可惜，去年來台灣時理性戰勝感性，我不得不放棄我收藏的全部火柴盒，而我也因為怕捨不得他們而沒有多拍幾張照片留念。

Sadly when I moved to Taiwan rationality trumped sensitivity and I had to give my entire collection away. I was so afraid that I couldn't let go of them that I didn't even take many photos of them.

前幾個月我在台中路經一間古玩店門外見到個一盒子火柴盒。我當時真有心如刀割的痛，也有無限後悔。

The other month I came across of box of matchboxes in a bric n brac shop in Taiwan. My heart really ached when I saw it , and a pang of regret overtook me.

火柴盒，你們好嗎？我真的很掛念你們!
Matchboxes, how are you? I hope you are well. I really miss you.