My parents were pillars of their community and our house was very much a focal point for local fun and fundraising activities. When I was small, it seemed to me that every day folks swung by to chat about this or that with my mum or dad. Our living room, the hallowed space where I worshipped TV, faced the street. I had, therefore, the greatest vantage point to observe approaching guests.

"Halt!" I'd cry, opening the window. "Who goes there?"

Most of the time I already knew, but I liked the phrase, and the attention. It was my ritual, and patience with my shenanigans was a prerequisite for entry. My favourite visitors were the ones who properly played along. A chap named Stanley always had a joke for me. He'd pay tribute with a laugh and I'd bid him welcome, bellowing his arrival throughout the house as he approached the front door. 

Then there was dear old Harry, a kindly old gent who I think saw in me the spark of a kindred spirit. In his youth, Harry was something of a collector, with badges being the objects of his affection. As if by magic, then, he took to passing them along to me, one or two at the window, every time he came to the house. It quickly became a thing, and soon I had a small box of pinned treasures, not all of which were from Harry, as I'd let it slip that badges were now the keys to my heart, and the means by which access could be gained to our house without fuss or a fight. And lo, my stock did grow... As did my obsession.

Americans! I'm talking about pins. 

Badges were plentiful in the Seventies. Back then, seems every film, product and organisation used them for marketing, handing them out like candy at Halloween. They'd come stuck on the covers of comicbooks. One day you'd post an envelope stuffed with promotional crisp packets, the next more badges would arrive. Plus every newsagent, post office, toy shop, pound store and cinema sold badges like there was nothing more exciting than affixing a logo, slogan, sketch or photo to your lapel. Which, of course there wasn't, as badges rocked, and hard.

Badges were the gateway drug to me becoming a collector. By the time I was 13, I was mainlining Star Wars merchandise like a fiend and fully devoted to the hunting and gathering of stuff and things for life. I stand by that choice. 

Collecting has kept me in touch with my childhood self. I liked that guy, and he deserved to stick around. Collecting has kept me young and silly because there are enough adults in the world. Nothing has kept me younger, though, or sillier, than badges. They are the time machines that take me back to the window of the house I grew up in. They are the treasures with which I've wilfully ruined the lapels of every coat and jacket I've ever owned. I am the magpie and they are my shiny things. Also, as my collection has grown, increasingly space has decreased, so small precious things are far easier to find a place for. Which is just as well, because Blu Goblin are getting into the badge business, and business is going to be good. 

We're talking full-colour stamped metal pins that fit in your hand and fill your heart with so much nostalgia, it might feel like it's gonna burst. It almost certainly won't, though. In terms of what's available right now, there's a great range of badges from Looney Tunes and Angry Birds to Hanna-Barbera legends Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo and Wacky Races. Like, you can have Dick Dastardly's Mean Machine chasing Penelope Pitstop's Compact Pussycat and the Ant Hill Mob's Bulletproof Bomb across your tee. or your bucket hat!

Full disclosure, by the time I was ten, I wore a denim bucket hat covered with badges. Because that's what cool kids wore, and I was a cool kid. Well, cool-ish. I often think back fondly of that stupid hat and just now am realising that I can buy a new one and use it to display all my new Blu Goblin pins. There. It's decided. 

Before heading off to explore the site, and do check out the badges as they're so much fun, please take a moment to sign up to the newsletter so we can keep you apprised of new drops, exclusive offers and fresh Blog Goblin fun. Excelsior!

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