Sorted
At last it has happened: I have pulled apart my Microlight Helicopter 42057 , torn down the Telehandler 42061, and dismantled the BMW Motorrad Concept Hoverbike, the B-model of 42063 . I then sorted their component parts, in to compartmentalised boxes.
With Extreme Prejudice. Lots of compartmentalised containers: connectors in one; beams in another; gears and axels and panels. And random, hard to define, parts all in one flat box. I could have probably worked with several more compartments, or indeed boxes, but the process seems to have worked.
So. Many. Elements. Between these sets, we end up with around 1060 pieces, give or take. Of these, approximately 570 are used in this model. This is the first time I found myself with so many technic pieces in one place. This was not helped by incorporating the other technic elements which had made their way into the house over the last few years. I was amazed at how few of these pieces were ‘gears’: I’m sure the the gears what I remembered being the big thing that distinguished those early technical sets from LEGOLand and universal building kits.
This is the first time that I have built from instructions for a set I don’t own, with parts so immaculately sorted. It was a strange feeling. Knowing that all the parts were there, having built the original models, and pulling them apart directly into the sorting box was anathema to my normal building style.
that the only thing happening in the world of LEGO® Retail was the opening of the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre at the Chadstone shopping centre.
This year, we have seen an influx of new tile designs, especially curves and angles. Out friends over at 
If you have seen them already, you know who we have. I’m not up to generating a bag feeling guide tonight, and I know there are a few already out there.
I managed to obtain this set, as well as the BMW Motorrad Adventure Motor Cycle, for $10 at a major department store in Melbourne, thanks to the accrual of Credit Card Loyalty points. Important purchasing tip: do you accrue loyalty points? Frequent Flyer points? I also use the QANTAS frequent flyer store as a way to purchase LEGO. It took me a while to recognise that I have never been able to properly take advantage of Frequent Flyer schemes to receive actual flights, so I am chipping away at my supply of points to obtain LEGO.They also have some recently retired sets – I managed to pick up the Constructable General Grievous figure. 
Around eight years ago, shortly after I emerged from my Dark Ages, I visited LEGOLAND 
California with my family. The Aussie Dollar was running at 90US¢ to A$1: the best exchange rate in years. We got to the store. What followed is a bit embarrassing, but suffice to say it included Cafe Corner and the Grand Carousel 10196. Despite currency fluctuations, the pricing model used meant we could afford these 2 sets, and some more, as well as some luggage to transport them home, and still come out in front. Unfortunately, this involved unboxing these sets prior to returning home. Once the box is broken, you might as well build them, don’t you think? If I knew then what I know now, I would have also picked up a Millennium falcon UCS, and transported them home in fur-lined gold plated shipping container instead. Aah: hindsight. It gives me 20-20 vision.
In more recent years, the Lego Creator Expert team have been producing exceptional sets based on Fairground rides, providing a challenging building experience and great play and display features. In 2014, we saw the release of the Fairground Mixer 10244, followed up by the Ferris wheel 10247 in 2015. Last year it was the Friends turn, with a whole sub theme. The Amusement park Roller Coaster41130 was a highlight for many here! Builders have not been content with with merely adding motion to this to these rides. Lighting has also become popular, with some spectacular third party lighting kits now available especially for them. But I didn’t stop writing this post for the purpose of becoming over whelmed with nostalgia, continuing to chart my descent from a regular human being into an Adult Fan of LEGO, but rather to present the announcement of the latest fairground set, at Play-Time in New York today.