Amazon Time Capsules

I was inspired by 'The Accidental Journal' by Rob Walker, to scroll through my Amazon purchase history to see some 'time capsules' of my life since I discovered the online store that stocks everything.

I looked at each year of orders and tried to recall the significance or joy for each purchase:

• 2023 - This Lego set, the skyline of Paris sits in our house in Spain as a signifier of where my wife comes from. It sits opposite a skyline of London.
• 2022 - 100 stick-on googly eyes. I laughed remembering these. I bought these to stick on my webcam to remind me to look there when I am talking. A top hack.
• 2021 - Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey. A hybrid biography/self-help book, bought on impulse but a lovely read.
• 2020 - Kardia Mobile EKG sensor. Covid made a mockery of my brain, there are a lot of medical gadgets in 2020.
• 2019 - Funky Hawaiian Shirt. The year I went to Las Vegas for a sales kick-off conference, this was my shirt for the fancy dress day.
• 2018 - Doctors coat / Nurse Outfit. His and hers fancy dress outfits for a 40th party.
• 2017 - Brio, My First Railway. A first birthday present for a relative.
• 2016 - A folding guitar stand. My son was learning to play the guitar, this still sits in our spare room waiting for him to visit.
• 2015 - A Microsoft Band. Does anyone remember this short-lived gadget that would try and transform our lives?
• 2014 - Of Mice and Men (GCSE Pass Notes). Hard to believe those important exams were ten years ago for my son.
• 2013 - Marrakech Travel Guide. Such a fantastic short trip, great memories.
• 2012 - Tallula Rising by Glen Duncan. I loved Duncans books, I need to go back and reread some of them.
• 2011 - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. My son and I played this for hours and hours on the Xbox.
• 2010 - The days run away like wild horse by Charles Bukowski. I bought this to read a poem at a funeral. I'd forgotten about that.
• 2009 - House Season 5. We were obsessed with Doctor House, I remember buying this so we could see the new season just a few weeks before it started on Channel 4.
• 2008 - The Distance Manager. I'd obviously just started managing my first distributed/remote team. I invested in a bunch of books to help get me up to speed.
• 2007 - Rummikub Travel. This still goes on a lot of trips with us.
• 2006 - Dualit Toaster. Struggling to believe that this is 18 years old, still in our kitchen. Possibly my favourite kitchen gadget over time.