I started hanging around the toy shops in Plaza Singapura and Bugis Junction with my daughter after she got into Marvel comics and Dr Who.
I may have also been influenced by a few of my toy-collecting colleagues (all male, of course), who display their collection on their desk like an exhibit.
I have bought toys for my family and my colleagues as presents. I have bought McDonald's Hello Kitty toys for myself as a joke.
But lately, I've been buying more and more toy collectibles for keepsake, from the Sharknado Funko Pop vinyl figure to the Lotus Esprit car from The Spy Who Loved Me.
Does that make me a collector?
The answer may lie in how thrilled I was to discover the toy collectors' paradise at China Square Central yesterday.
How come I didn't know about this place before? Did you?
I just happened to be there to meet an old diver friend from the navy, Stewart, whom I hadn't seen in years. He had rented a stall in China Square to sell his collection of toys, DVDs and music books at the weekly flea market.
After my reunion with Stewart, I walked around the building and was astounded to find the number of toy shops there.
On top of that, half of the flea market were also selling toys. The other half were selling vintage stuff like old watches, phones and postcards. Some of the toys are old too.
Here's a bunch of photos I took with my Narrative Clip.
By the time we left the building, my daughter got a Captain American T-shirt ($28) and a deck of Captain America cards ($2) ...
My wife got this naked headless doll ($30)...
And I got this Alfred E Neuman as Green Lantern action figure, which Stewart gave me for free (thanks, man)...
This Hot Wheels Flintstones car for $4...
And from a flea market seller, Greedo ($10, no box) of Star Wars.
He shot first.
I may be going back to China Square next Sunday. Stewart promised me Wham's Last Christmas single on vinyl.
No, I'm not going to start collecting vinyl too. I think.
