Memories of Childhood

Here are two texts that we considered the other evening in a language game. The boldface expressions may prove useful to you in future writings. 

Text 1

One of my earliest memories is sitting on a beach in Malaysia with my parents. I was probably about four or five at the time. I vividly remember watching the fishing boats heading out to sea, and the smell of fish being barbecued nearby. I grew up in a town on the east coast of the Malay peninsula. Kota Bahru, it was called. It was a wonderful place to grow up, and it was there that I developed a taste for the wonderfully spicy Malay food.

Anyway, the other day I went to a Malaysian restaurant and had a bowl of mee goring, spicy fried noodles. I have to say it really made me feel nostalgic for my childhood. I took one mouthful of the noodles and the memories came flooding back. Now, looking back, I think I can safely say those were the happiest days of my life.

Text 2

When I see a child kicking a ball around, it evokes strong memories of my childhood, and in particular of meeting Thomas for the first time. He’s my best friend, you see, and we go back a long way. Well, right back to my early childhood, in fact, when I was growing up in a small village called Berwick Salome. We met at primary school. Which one? My mind’s gone blank and I can’t remember what it was called, but I am sure it will come back to me. I vaguely remember it had the word briar in the name. Briarwood? Briarley? Something like that. Well, I first met Thomas on my first day at school. He was on his own, in the playground kicking a football against the wall, so I just went up to him and we started talking.

Anyway, the other day I went back to Berwick Salome to visit an elderly relative. As soon as I drove into the village, it brought it all back, that small boy all by himself in the playground, kicking a ball around. Memories are powerful things, don’t you think?