Time to turf!

Took down a plastic file of childhood awards and other keepsakes from the back of a high shelf in my wardrobe. Decided I no longer wanted to hold on to any of the contents. Items I just shredded and binned included:

* Sticker-filled Little Athletics achievement book

* Membership card for the NBN TV Kellogg's Breakfast Club

* Certificates received from taking part in two 10km fun runs (loved 'em - why didn't I do more?)

* Bunch of cards congratulating me on winning prizes in "The Sun-Herald" newspaper's Super Scene supplement (my sisters won way more)

* Several checklists recording attendance and milestones at swimming lessons each year

* The Bicentennial Memento For School Students given out by the Aussie government in 1988 (actually, that alone I kept)

* Silky, perfectly flat blue, red and green ribbons garnered from annual athletics carnivals (never scored any at swimming carnis)

* Certificates and matching sew-on patches for having learnt "water safety" and resuscitation methods

* Cards commemorating my First Holy Communion and Confirmation as a Catholic (I chose the confirmation name Mark)

* Miscellaneous cardboards from across the years - big and small; white and gold and green and blue; a couple with ruffled or gilt edges - honoring me for good behaviour, enthusiasm in my studies, a Book Week entry, an "assembly presentation", excellent writing, helping and sharing, winning a Year Of The Tree comp, scoring high in a junior spelling bee and taking part in an anti-litter campaign.

It was all another lifetime ago. Those things meant so much then, when I was slowly becoming grown-up Addster and working out who exactly that dude was. Their job is long since done.