Swan magnifying glass

 We look forward to walking through the old town and going to vintage shops in the countryside. Some of those stores are full of really old rubbish, and I don't think I'll ever come back. Nevertheless however, sometimes I can find something really good. Authentic, antique and vintage items from the good old days. What I found the other day is this lovely swan of magnifying glass. 

This is not only cute, but also not fake like the modern ones. The price was about the same as one lunch with coffee. With my swan you can see smiling girl among the serious-looking guys in the picture.  ( This old photo was in an old poetry book. Perhaps the first owner used it as a bookmark. )

So, be brave enough to entre an old store in an old town. You might even find something wonderful from a far-off era. Items made in the past are good quality. And I think, things you discover like them are like small bonuses in the life.  

　古い町並みの骨董店やビンテージショップに入るのが好きです。なかには本当にガラクタばかりなのもあって、そういう時は、もう二度と来ないだろうと思う。でも時々やっぱりいい物を見つけるのです。先日は白鳥の形をした虫眼鏡を見つけました。とても気に入ったのは可愛いだけでもなく、現代のような偽物でもないところ。上の写真の中の真面目な顔をした男たちに交じって一人、笑顔の女の子がいるのがわかりますか。（ちなみにこの写真は古い詩集に挟まっていたもので、最初の持ち主がたぶんシオリに使ったと思われます。

こんなふうに見つける物は人生の中のちょっとしたボーナスみたいなものじゃないでしょうか、古いお店があったら勇気をもって入ってみてください。遥か遠い昔からの、なにか素晴らしい物が見つかるかもしれませんよ