ScuzzBlog: Diaries May 2026
Entry 24th May 2026: Post 1: Your Amiga Journey - Over when its over.
Your Amiga Journey - Over when its over.
Many that endured the Amiga years are probably through with
it now and have long disposed of their kit. They may still have
the odd disk and magazine lying around but life pressures gave
them new challenges to task and new adventures to enjoy. No doubt
at times the memories flood back and sometimes even there is a
desire to relive the past. However, it is never the same, and
that is because they broke the link with the past. Matters may
have been different had they kept what they had but without it
the only thing they have are the memories.
So what is better ? To keep what you have for eternity or let
go of the past and live for the future. It is human nature to
move on and I would suggest it is the most healthy path to take.
Which brings me to the point of this blog and the simple matter
of just what happens when the kit outlives the user. It is a
real problem. Recently I read about a guy , who I assume had
died, leaving all of his treasured Amiga machines without a home.
All were destined for the tip had it not been for an interested
party that salvaged them. The guy who died had not planned for
his own demise so how do you think he would react from the mist
of the netherlife if he could witness his kit being taken from
his home into the arms of another.
I can only speak from my own view on matters given that I guess
I will die at some point and my beloved collection will be either
saved or trashed.
My collection was only ever assembled for my benefit. No different
to anything we choose to collect. I guess the scale of my collected
worth is an issue. I never had any plans to split the kit up or
to dispose of anything. The items are all logged , recorded and
stored in a way that, although tricky to recover, are in places
that I know where to find them. I still have my original computers
and all the various additional kit, magazines and media. That
goes for most things I have purchased over the years. But then
I accept I am a strange beast in that sense.
So what happens if I pop my clogs so to speak. My best guess is
it will be thrown into skips and disposed of as the house has more
value empty. Whether any of the items find their way into other
peoples collections is not something in my control. For me the
link between me and my passion is severed at the point of my demise.
It no longer has any purpose. It only makes sense as a whole entity
for my enjoyment whilst I am living. I didn't obtain the collection
for any grand plan to save historical computers for future generations.
From what I see there is plenty of old kit to satisfy museum
requirements, and so much is recorded. There is no risk of it being
forgotten. So recycling is the most likely conclusion for all I
have. But then I will be long gone and beyond caring.
I don't think I would have been happy knowing that someone stepped
in at the literal death and salvaged what I had. If I had not made
any specific plans for the kit's life beyond my grave you should
not presume you have first dibs on anything. In truth an absence
of any directive to the different should mean the possessions of
the dead should be cast out with the boat and burnt with the body.
In my time collecting I have been the recipient of items that
are known to have been salvaged from someones deathbed. In those
circumstances I have consciously maintained all that was with
the items to preserve the memory of the original owner. The link
between a true passion and the person that created that particular
bond is pretty sacred. I know this from my own experience. I don't
think anyone could ever understand just how a collection is ever
assembled or the way it was used.
A bit garbled, sorry, but unless I was to meticulously go through
item after item with a possible recipient of what I have I would
prefer it all to be disposed of. As I have said many times, the
collection lives and dies with me. As cruel as that may seem.
And finally.. As much as I have spent years labouring over this
website to talk about the collection I believe in confidence that
there is nobody in this world that understands just what I have
and what it means to me.
PS I have no interest what so ever in financial worth. I never
look at the collection for its value. I spent my money and got my
joy and that is all that matters.
By the way I don't just collect computers. I have mentioned before
that in respect of another of my passions I have over 600 items, many
in their original boxes. I shall say no more.
Your Amiga Journey - Over when its over.
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