84, Charing Cross Road

Updated Post on 24 April 2010, 25 July 2011


84, Charing Cross Road
Author : Helene Hanff
Publisher : Penguin
Price : U.S. $13.00
ISBN : 0-14-014350-5













I was first attracted to this book by it's cover. A black & white photograph of the bookshop. Cover Design by Chin Yee Lai and Phototgraph by Alec Bolton.
It was first published in 1970.
A simple yet touching story about the author Helene Hanff correspondance with a used book dealer Frank Doel in London.
It lasted 20 years. 1949 to 1969.
There is something magical in their letters.
Something so warm.
I felt I was being brought into their time 1949.
Why I like this book so much was that I could sense their genuine friendship and love.
In times now, I can only feel that the world is getting colder.
People tends to be more suspicious of others. (I do too.)
Most people just want more gain. Thinking mostly of their own needs.
Of course, there are still plenty of good ones but I feel it's just not enough.
Reading this book was a wonderful experience.
Don't read this if you never like reading letters…………

Post Additions on 24 April 2010 :
2 days ago, my friend told me there is a movie made for this book!
So I google for the movie and it was released in 1987.
Better late than ever, now I'll have to go find the DVD of this movie.
Have anyone seen this film?


84 Charing Cross Road
Directed By : David Hugh Jones
Cast : Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins
Released Date : 1987

Post Additions on 25 July 2011 :
Finally, I've found the DVD of 84, Charing Cross Road.
Watched it last night and it was very good.
Both Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins put up a great performance in this movie.
The movie set bookstore looks great in the movie.
A place filled with so much old and rare books. It's beautiful...
It's really kind of sad that the actual bookstore no longer exists now.
As I was searching more informations on 84, Charing Cross Road, I came upon this great website. It simply covers all the informations that lingers in one's mind that needs to be answered about this special place and the people. http://www.84charingcrossroad.co.uk/
One day, I really hope I can be able to visit London again and to see this actual location.

Movie Magic - When I was a Kid

sI was still a little kid when I watch my first star wars movie. I think it was the "Empire Strikes Back".
I thought everything was real, there really was such a galaxy existed, no one ever told me it was all created by George Lucas. I would dreamed that when I grow up, I would want to live in space.
And that I want to fly in the Millenium Falcon and play with R2-D2.
Now I wanted to know how they actually make these movies.
Imagine George Lucas can acutally come up with so many characters.
Everyone has their unique traits. Everyone has it's place and time. A reason to be there.
I can only wish that one day I can actually see these movies props or visit the skywalker ranch.
I wonder how the "Skywalker Ranch" will be like.
To me , that' the closest place on Earth to feel like you are actually in the Star
Wars galaxy.
Am reading the Making of Episode I - The Phantom Menace by Laurent Bouzereau & Jody Duncan.
If you are like me, curious to know how Star Wars was created, get this book.
It is very informative and I like the art works of Mr Doug Chiang
There are many beautiful sketches of Episode I pictures inside.
Of course, there is also the other episodes to making of Star Wars book.
I will be reading them after I complete Episode I book first. About 15 pages more to go…

How I spend my day

Today, I'm a little lazy. Have not work on improving my blog like yesterday.
Breakfast : Koko Crunch w/ cold holicks drink. Am eating the Koko crunch because of the free spiderman toy. Green Goblin.
Went to the aquarium shop to buy a battery pump because I got a letter from the HDB that they are cutting the electricity supply from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm for servicing of don't know what riser ? ? ?
I got the pump along with 4 cute little orange molly fishes and 4 red guppies.
Got home, cooked lunch and dinner together, save the trouble of needing to think what I have to eat.
Spent my entire afternoon watching the japanese anime " Inuyasha ". Only at boxset 3. Still a long way to go. Total 13 VCD boxset.
Ate a " Bub's " ice cream - Lava brownie. Then felt too fat, so I went to cycle...at home. On a exercise bike.
Evening time, got out to buy batteries for the fish pump. Brought some cakes.
After dinner, I was shocked to see my cherry shrimps gone......... Does guppy eat shrimps ? I remember seeing 5 cherry red shrimp and 1 rocket shrimp the night before. Now all I see is 1 cherry & 1 rocket shrimp. Hump.... TANK UNDER INVESTIGATION.
Played the GBA Pokemon game " Mystery Dungeon" - Purity forest.. which I hated most. Died at 81 storey. For those of you whom had played this game will agree with me I guess. Reaching 99 storey is no easy stuff. I've once reached storey 98 & died !!! Imagined the anger in me that day, almost crashed my game boy.
Then switched to practising my guitar, my out of tune play. What to do, so long did not play..... An hour later, gave up. Fingers pain !!!!!
Now watching the 10 pm U channel hong kong drama and typing this.
This is " How I Spend My Day "

Great Joy

Aha... I've finally got a counter and a guestbook for my blog.
I got mine at Bravenet.
To me is was a big step forward in learning.
Pssp... I just don't know if it works. Let's Pray.

New Look New Name New ME !

Today, I did a major change over on this blog.
I changed the template and most importantly, I changed the name to astrogalaxy.
It used to be "joeystarwars.blogspot.com".
I figured the the name needed to be changed, as more things can be added instead of only star wars.
So I hope you all like me new identity !

Star Wars Collectibles 1st Anniversary

Last month (May 2007), it marks my Star Wars collectibles mania collection for 1 year.
I haven't been buying any lately because :
1)Lack of space. Any collectors will agree as toys generally takes up plenty of space!
2) Budget. Money is tight.
3) Too lazy to arrange and clean up those toys.
4) Feeling stress

Here's my summary for collecting a year :
A) Lightsaber Scale 0.45 = 9
B) Figures with playsets, scenes.. = 33
C) Multi-Packed Figurings, w/ creatures = 20
D) Episode I Figures w/ Battle Droids = 16
E) Single Figures = 152
F) 12 " / 6" Doll Figure = 31
G) Kotobukiya Vinyl Scale 1/7 = 10
H) Galactic Heroes Twin Figures = 10
I) Vehicles = 6
J) Titanium Die Cast Vehicles = 19
K) Micro Machine - Vehicles & Figures = 23
L) Micro Machine Playsets = 11
M) Action Fleet - Vehicles & Playstets = 12
N) Bend-Ems Single Figures = 10
O) Transformers = 7
P) Lego = 10
Q) Autograph Photo = 4
R) Film Cels = 3
S) Plastic Models = 4
T) Food Collectibles = 33
U) Misc Collectibles - Keychains, magnets, Pins....etc = 50

Had wanted to list every item but I don't really feel like doing this now. So, please make do with this miserable summary. But...... when I have the time, I would really like to list everything out with pictures of each toys and their details. Like year made, manufacturer, size..... etc.







































My favourite R2-D2 cup.

My Dream Holiday ! Rancho Obi Wan House

Updated Post on 5th July 2008 - Added Steve photo.

Where would you like to go for your next holidays ?
Go on a shopping spree ? HongKong, USA, Korea, Japan ?
or a relaxing beach at Maldives ?
Or maybe the exotic lands of Tibet, Egypt ?
As for me, I very much would like to visit is the the "Rancho Obi Wan" .
When I saw those snapshots of his collection, I went crazy……………….
I don't think it is open to public for visiting. You need to be invited to be there.
Some lucky guys were being invited there, I wonder how ?
Any tips for me?
Aha...or sneak me in!!! Just Kidding!

I found this photo on the web. I think it's a very COOL picture.
Credits : Photographer unknown.It probably belongs to Steve.

He's name is Steve J. Sansweet.
Written a lot of Star Wars books too.
He's massive collection of Star Wars will make any Star Wars drool.
He has everything from Action Figures, Dolls, Lightsabers, Lifesize Figures, Lego, Books…etc.
Anything to do with Star Wars, you name it, I think he's got it.
Visit "www.starwars.com" and you will see some pretty cool pictures of his house.
Must see, you must ! May The Force Be With You !

Organizing Star Wars Toys

For many of you whom had been collecting Star Wars, we all know it will be going on and on….
Storage of the toys could be quite a problem.
There will always be something that will catch our eyes and we will buy it.
But when we bring it home, we need a place to put it.
I started out putting my collection into carton boxes.
But I find it rather tedious whenever I wanted to get something out to see.
Also I sometimes do not know which box contains what toys.
Ended up having to take eveything out for a search of an R2-D2.
So, after all the mess, I decided to get some shelvings.
The shelvings need not be expensive, solid wood types.
As the toys are usually not very heavy.
Like the Gorm shelves they are selling at IKEA will be nice and sturdy.
Next, will be the arrangement of the shelves.
Usually depends on what type of collections you have.
It will be good to pre-plan the distance between your shelfs.
Later adjustments will be quite tedious and difficult.
Especially if the room is small and space is a constraint.
So fix the distance and let's hope that we won’t need to change it.
















I used those PVC plastic (for wrapping books) to pack my action figures into a 6 piece set.
As shown in my picture, I find it quite convient to view it together.
But try not to pack more than 6 as the PVC will become quite filmsy and hard to handle.

When wrapping, do not wrap too tight or too loose.
Too tight will cause your action figures cardboard to warp.
Sometimes the PVC plastic will also shrink due to hot weather.
So, it will be a good idea to constantly check on it.
If wrapping too loose, your figures will start to tilt here and there. Overlapping each other.

For some to the figures cardbox that has a unique rounded shape.
Like the "Revenge of the Sith" series.
It will be hard to pack then together.
Instead, buy mini storage boxes.
Brought mine at Daiso -$2.
Like those in the pictures.
Can also used plastic bags to wrap individual for protection of the figures.

Setting Up Webpage

Got a very bad headache last night.
Might be due to thinking too much about Star Wars.
Now it's much better after 2 panadol and 1 ice pack.
There is so much that I want to do that I ended up doing nothing.
Thought of getting my own domain.
But I'm still confused as to how to go about it.
Like which domain web hoisting to use ?
How to set up ?
Chosing a domain name ?
Creating the web pages ? Is it difficult ?
Which software to use ?
How much it cost to set up ?
See….. I'm lost.
Anyone there to give me some pointers ?

Toys, Toys, Toys !!!

Does it ever occur to you that toys could well make you broke ! Signed.
Almost every Star Wars toys I could set me eyes on, I wanted to own ! I spent so much that I've bursted my toys money budget for at least a year. So for the next few months, I think I better stay home !
I started seriously collecting these only in May 2006. Imagine all the stuff that I've already missed when all the 6 episodes were in movies. The popcorn cups, newspaper reviews, movies collectibles toys...etc. Can you imagine ! That is alot alot of miss out !!!!
So to make up for all my lost time, I went on a crazy search for Star Wars Collectibles.
Almost everyday, I would go to a toys shop or departmental stores to look for Star Wars after work.
Now I currently own :
Mini Lightsaber - 9
Figures w/ Playset, Scenes - 25
Twin Figures or Figures w/ creatures - 14
Single Action Figures - 108
12" Doll Figures - 19
6" Doll Figures - 2
1/7 scale Vinyl Figures - 3
Galactic Mini Figures Twin Set - 10
Vehicles - 4
Titanium Die Cast Vehicles - 12
Micro Machines Figures - 17
Micro Machines Playsets - 10
Action Fleet Vehicles & Playsets - 10
Lego - 4
Autograph - 2
Misc Star Wars Collections (keychains, bobble heads, Burger King Cups, Watch, Electronic Games, Poster, Pez, Pin, Games..etc ) - 49
The above was the result of my 4 months of Star Wars madness.......
I ended up having to buy three IKEA wooden shelvings to display my collection.
These toys are rather bulk and takes up alot of space.
So you can actually imagine how messy my whole house was.
I'm thinking of taking some pictures and post it up soon.
Some of the toys are really cool.
Some are funny, like the potato head of Darth Vader.
Some are scary.
Anyway, I like them all the same !!!!
May the Force Be With You.