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Introducing myself. I don't know where to put this so I'll put it here as I am first and foremost a collector of puzzles.
I started playing with wire disentanglement puzzles when I was around 6 years old. My grandfather would give them to me so I would leave him alone. Later, when I was around 13 or 14 years old, the rubik's cube came out. Many of my friends got them from flea markets (not originals) and I had to have one. My mom bought me a cube and when I solved it she would buy me another one. My second puzzle from her was a Meffert's pyramid clone that was made in Taiwan and it broke on every turn. There was something wrong with the screws. Later I got my favorite puzzle, a tower of babylon. I still have that one today. Sadly, my other two firsts were lost over the years.
I lived in Germany during the late 1980's-early 1990's and picked up a few toys there, but not nearly as many as I should have, and have spent years trying to find those I missed.
In 1994 I moved to Hong Kong, and became reinvolved with Twisty Puzzles. At that time, there was no forum, just email and newsgroups. In 1998 I was asked to teach a class on logical thinking and immediately thought of the rubik's cube. I called my dad and had him send my old puzzles to me.
I started hunting around mom and pop toy stores here in Hong Kong, traveling to older districts where I thought I would have more luck. I found Meffert's in Aberdeen, and went over and bought all types of puzzles he had in stock. Amazon was just coming online, and I was able to also order from Toys R us in the States. I purchased many puzzles this way. I started going to Shenzhen and doing the same thing. I purchased many cubes there for my students and found many more to add to my collection. If you just take the time to look, you will find many treasures in your backyard.
shortly thereafter, ebay came online, and I started getting all those puzzles I missed in the 1990's. My little collection that took up one plastic box had grown to around 4 plastic boxes. I got out of constant puzzle hunting for a few years while I finished a degree, and out of boredom one day back in 2006 went back to TP.com to see what was happening. I've not left since.
I was reacquainted with Uwe Meffert at Calvin's shop opening and since then a great friendship has grown. I DON'T work for him.
I have attended the HKTGF every year that I have lived in HK, (around 16 now-and yes, I can use chopsticks ) and met many company representatives, purchased many puzzles, have been given many. I have "worked" the fair for both Mindstrat puzzzles, and Tangle toys. So much fun doing this!
In 2008,Pantazis Houlis convinced me to make a webpage. For many years he and a few others in western countries knew of my puzzles, but not the extent of my collection. Once I did this, I was later invited to join IPP, and began corresponding with other collectors around the world on a more regular basis.
I have done a lot of research on Rubik's cube and other puzzles in the hopes of writing a book about them. I'm in the process of it now, but it will take many years to finish. There are so many puzzles out there that I have no information on, and the only way I will get it I am afraid is to find the puzzles.
I really have no idea how many puzzles I have in my collection. I estimate it is around 20,000 but I can't be sure. Not all my puzzles are twisty. Some are burrs, some are wire, some are beads, some are 'games". If I find it challenging, I will buy it.
Yes, I have many many copies of puzzles. Yes, I have reported the copies to the designers. No, I don't get paid for this.
Custom puzzles, I have a few. Maybe 50.? I only buy those that make me say WOW! If not, I leave them to someone else. With the exception of SmaZ's puzzles, I love his work, I have asked him to make me designs that I saw others produce (with their permission) and have most of what he has made. I think I am only missing 4 or 5 of his puzzles. And those are on order. Maybe in a few years I will get them. But I can wait, the friendship is more valuable than the puzzles!
In 2010 I was made a moderator on TP.com. I have been the 'mother' of the forum for many years, and have attempted to cool down arguments and have tried to stay unbiased.
I have done an exhibition in Macau, and have been working with the HK science museum to do an exhibition there. When that will happen I don't know. It is a lot of work, and I need to fit in research for that with work and studies.
So who is Rox? No one important, just a lover of puzzles who has WAY TOO MANY toys!
You can see some of them at www.roxannewong.net. But many are missing. I haven't updated in months with all the other things I do.
I thank you for inviting me to join your forum. If I have knowledge of something I will tell it, if not I stay quiet. Yes, I know what Meffert's is producing next...NO, I do not say what it is. Friendship is more valuable than a scoop on when the Gear cube is coming out! (Old news, but I had the first samples months before it was announced!)
I hope this helps you to understand why I am here and why I post or not.
No, I can't read Chinese and yes I have to use the translator. I can't speak Mandarin, but can speak very bad Cantonese, and understand a lot of that language. But then, puzzles speak for themselves. No words are needed!
(sorry for the bad google translation-I hope the English will fill in the rest)
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【已从魔界退役！勿寻我！】
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发表于 2010-10-17 12:44:18
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发表于 2010-10-17 19:28:48
