I had only one dinky toy growing up. It was a die-cast lorry. I played with it the whole day. Dinky cars were a luxury many could not afford in Sri Lanka.
I did not think much of dinky cars again until later.
My childhood fascination with dinky cars erupted again when I saw them in toy stores in Dubai. In my early twenties as a young man, I was late to the party to play with dinky cars. I started acquiring them to make up for my lost time.
Why vintage area models?
The supreme era of automobiles occurred from the 1920s to about the 1940s. The models from that era are exclusively detailed and beautifully made. They were colourful and had distinct features, strong characteristics, shapes, and detailed wheels. Pieces of art. They are snapshots of history from a bygone era.
I have 18 vintage models.
I have a range of models, passenger cars, racing cars, trucks, lorries, utility vehicles, buses, tow trucks and ambulances in my collection. All of them are from that ace manufacturer of dinky cars, Matchbox from the U.K.
How did you get them in Dubai?
I got them from one of the largest toy stores in Dubai, part of a chain of toy stores in the U.K. My friend from my teen years, Keith Bocks, who worked there, helped me to collect them, a few at a time.
It is interesting how cars have changed over the years.
Yes. I grew up in the late sixties and seventies, fifty years after Henry Ford introduced the first mass-market car, the famous Model T. Transportation was never going to be the same from then onwards. More than a century later, we have autonomous and electric cars. Self-driving cars will be the norm in a few short years.
How old is your collection of Matchbox cars?
They are over 40 years old now. They are so well made; one could never guess they were made nearly a half-century ago. My collection has traversed three continents; made in the U.K., bought and collected in Dubai and now secured in Australia.
What are their brands?
Some of these brands exist today. Ferrari, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, Bugatti, Ford, Renault, Hispano Suiza, British Leyland, Packard Victoria, Yorkshire, Crosley, and Mack Trucks.
What do you plan to do with your historic collection?
They are for my descendants, particularly my grandchildren and the future generations. I hope one day, they would marvel at such a beautifully crafted set of vehicles made in the early 1900s and cherish them.
A Child of Curiosity How inherent inquisitiveness became a key driver in learning experiences. Denzil Jayasinghe · B orn in the mid-20th century, I am a product of the post-World War II era. My parents, who were teenagers when the war commenced, married in the 1950s. As a representative of the baby boomer generation, I was born under the astrological sign of Capricorn, the tenth sign of the zodiac. My birth took place at Zoysa Nursing Home, a renowned institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka, around 5 in the morning. Sri Lanka, known for its tropical climate, is a beautiful island nation south of India. This climate appealed to me, and I sought similar weather in my twenties, spending them in Dubai, where the winter resembles an Australian summer. Raised by religious parents, I held them in deep affection. However, the church teachings posed a paradox for a young mind, instructing one to love God more than one’s parents. I initially adhered to the Ten Commandments and other societal norms in ...
Demons and Devotion: A Family’s Pilgrimage Denzil Jayasinghe · “Demons and Devotion: A Pilgrimage to Tewatta” is a short story by Denzil Jayasinghe about a family’s pilgrimage to a holy site in Sri Lanka. The story follows Denzil, the eldest son, as he reluctantly accompanies his devout parents on this journey to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Although initially sceptical, Denzil reflects on his childhood faith and his family's hardships. However, the pilgrimage turns unexpectedly when an encounter with a priest who claims a demon possesses Denzil creates tension and leaves him angry. T he air hung heavy with a solemnity that felt out of place for a silver wedding anniversary. Denzil’s father, whose pronouncements held the weight of scripture, declared, “We are going on a special trip to the holy place of Our Lady at Tewatta. This day, showing God’s blessings, will be a private event for our family.” On a recent arrival for a two-week holiday in Sri Lanka...
Shattered Innocence A story of a needle Denzil Jayasinghe · “Shattered Innocence. A Story of a Needle” by Denzil Jayasinghe is a short story told from the perspective of a lad who discovers their father injecting insulin . This discovery shatters his innocence as he grapples with the reality of his father’s diabetes and the fear and uncertainty it brings. The story explores themes of family, responsibility, and the challenges of facing difficult realities. T he pre-dawn light filtered through the window, casting a pale glow over a scene that shattered my world. We were lost in the quiet routine of getting ready — me for the apprenticeship, my siblings for school, and my father for his work. I wandered into my parents’ room, searching for the familiar black comb. What I found wasn’t the comb but a sight that froze me in my tracks. Father, stripped down to his white undies, his usually strong face creased with worry, was doing something… di...
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