Today, I went out with a friend to enjoy some nice food and coffee at a kopitiam. It was a simple outing, but something inside the kopitiam caught my attention and took me back to my younger days.

The walls and shelves were decorated with old items, including colourful cassette tapes, vintage equipment, toys, and an old television. Among all these displays, the television caught my eye the most.

Looking at that old TV brought back a childhood memory that I have never forgotten.

During the 1970s, when I was young, my family was poor and we did not have a television at home. We lived in an old bungalow where several families rented rooms, so there were many children around.

Back then, one of the popular TV shows was Ultraman. It was the only TV show we children were allowed to watch, and we all knew very well when it was on.

When the time came, we would gather at our landlord's doorway, with so many children standing together, eagerly watching the programme. Of course, I would be there too!

Sometimes, we were even luckier. Our landlord would give every child a banana as a treat! It was such a simple gesture, but it became another precious part of those childhood memories. Even after all these years, I can still remember those moments so clearly.

Looking at the vintage TV at the kopitiam brought all those memories flooding back. For a moment, I was reminded of the little girl I once was, standing among the other children, watching Ultraman and sometimes receiving a banana as a special treat.

Life was different back then. We had fewer things, and not every family could afford the comforts that many people enjoy today. Yet, we found happiness in simple pleasures — watching our favourite programme together and enjoying the occasional treat from our kind landlord.

As I looked around the kopitiam, I also noticed the many cassette tapes displayed on the wall and other old objects arranged on the shelves. It was interesting to see how these things from the past had become decorations today, reminding visitors of a different era.

Another item that caught my attention was a traditional game called Papan Tikam. Seeing the colourful board brought back memories of the old days, when similar punch-and-pull-tab boards could often be found in traditional neighbourhood grocery shops, known as kedai runcit.

During the 1970s, these colourful boards were a familiar sight in local shops. They were part of the simple, everyday scenes of life in those days, long before modern entertainment and digital games became common.

It was lovely to see this old-fashioned item displayed at the kopitiam. Just like the vintage television and cassette tapes, it reminded me that even ordinary objects can carry a little piece of our history and bring the past back to life.

When I told my granddaughter about Papan Tikam, she became curious and said she wanted to go there to experience it herself. Her reaction made me smile. Something that was once familiar to me has become something new and interesting to her. It reminded me that sharing our childhood stories is one way to help the younger generation discover how different life was in the past.

This outing was more than just enjoying food and coffee with a friend. It became a little journey back in time, reminding me of where I came from and the simple experiences that shaped my childhood.

Some memories never fade, no matter how many years have passed. Sometimes, all it takes is an old television — and the memory of a little banana — to bring them back. ❤️

Looking back, I realise that the happiest memories are not always about the things we owned, but the little moments we experienced and the kindness we received along the way.

We may forget many things as the years go by, but some memories remain close to our hearts. Sometimes, an old television, a childhood game, or even a simple banana can remind us of a time when happiness came from the smallest things.

We cannot turn back the clock, but we can always treasure the memories that time can never take away. ❤️