those urban blogging legends...

I wanted to wait until I had pictures, but I'm about to burst...

You know those stories you read on blogs where someone walks down the street and finds a vintage Singer out for council pickup? Or maybe a gocco by the side of the road... you wonder why fate has dealt your friend such a wonderful hand. You're very happy for them, but you're also quite green. Green with envy...

Get out your emerald diffusing glasses now, friends...

Imagine being in a Japanese thrift shop looking for a few vintage canisters. (thank you Little Tokyo Shops for the tip) You're walking in an utterly crowded store... barely shuffling and you hear a tell tale crash. An entire bookshelf of glassware has fallen to pieces... realizing you're safely away from kitchenware and not to blame, you look up and look around. You're startled, but you see something collecting dust in the corner. You know tht vivid yellow box. You've seen it before... but only on ebay.

There it is staring back at you. It's a Gocco and is says 300 yen (about 3.50 AUD). Holy Moley, you're in heaven. You move a picture frame to get to the box and you realize its not sitting on a shelf. No, it's sitting on 3 more Goccos. Startled you ask the price and the man confirms they are 300 yen each. "Buy ink mesh for 100 yen". You don't really understand the man's Japanese but you nod and smile and he just keeps loading you up with far more than you can possibly carry and far more than you could consider fitting in your luggage.

You don't care. You'll master Japan Post, if you have too. You've spent 1300yen (about $15) and in that moment, you own a B6, PG5, PG10 and a PG11. You own a bucket load of supplies too.You test all four at the hotel assuming at least one will be a dud... likely the only with old prints from 1987. They all print. They all are a dream.

I am a lucky girl, my friends. I must have done something right in another lifetime.