SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!
Adam Weatherly, 36, knows what he really, really wants
Sitting in the family living room, our house looked like an antique store. Living in Virginia, my home was the essence of all things American.
Jason, my brother who is six years older than me, collected everything Dolly Parton.
You could say it was a nine-to-five obsession!
Listening to Dolly every second of the day, it’s not a surprise that ‘Dolly’ was my first word.
My mum Judy, 70, loved Elvis.
She had even thought about naming me after the King of Pop.
My dad Gerald, 70, loved western movies.
When I turned four, my aunt handed me a present.
Ripping open the wrapping paper, I revealed a Strawberry Shortcake doll – a real 90s treat!
‘Amazing!’ I gasped, instantly hugging my new friend.
Hitting my teens, I was a big Spice Girls fan.
Hearing something on the TV in the living room that caught my attention, my ears pricked.
‘Spice Girls dolls are due to hit stores later this month,’ the news presenter announced.
I need them all!
Collectables were a family tradition after all – it would be rude not to.
However, the first release slipped through my fingers.
It was impossible to get hold of one doll, let alone them all.
Six months later, I noticed a second release was due. Circling the article in the paper, I needed to up my game if I wanted to get my hands on one.
‘Dad, please can we go and get them?’ I cried, waving the newspaper in his face.
Priced at only £6.50, I could buy them with my own pocket money!
‘Quick, get in the car,’ Dad said as I jumped for joy.
The first shop was a disaster – the shelves were completely empty.
And, I didn’t have any luck in the next shop.
‘I’m sorry Adam, I just need to get some oil for the car before we go,’ Dad sighed.
Walking miserably behind him, I was on the verge of tears.
As Dad stared at oil, I noticed a plastic box on a higher shelf.
I recognised the face staring back at me – Posh Spice!
Clutching her in the car journey home, I couldn’t believe my luck.
However, I never played with her or opened the box.
She just sat, in mint condition, on a shelf waiting for other band mates to join her.
Every birthday I would either get more dolls or cash to be able to buy them.
Searching ebay, I would keep an eye on rarer Spice Girls dolls, winning almost every bid.
23 years on, I now have a huge collection of 400 superstar dolls.
If I had to guess, I would say they are worth more than £36k. They even have their own room, with dolls stacked side by side, they span across all four walls.
This year, 25th anniversary Spice Girls dolls are hitting the stores.
I need these dolls like I’ve never needed them before – to complete my very own Spice world!
I needed to up my game