It started with Shirls, Vigo, Tiger the cat, and a camera. They were part of a three for GBP 5, customise it yourself deal. This was back in June last year.
Last month, we went to BRICK 2015, the annual Lego show at ExCeL London. It was a fantastic experience, and we ended up spending the whole day there. There were many impressive private collections on display; but what impressed me most was the creativity that kids possess. One of the activity we participated in, was to create an item to be placed on a UK map. We naturally decided to build a house, which ended up being very colourful due to the lack of similar coloured pieces; but ultimately, it looked like a house. Ask a kid to do the same, and they will build all sorts of interesting architectures. While some appears impossible, they are all refreshing nonetheless.
At the show, we were gifted a free Christmas tree set. Additionally, we decided to get Vigo the husky he always wanted, as well as a couple of chairs and some greeneries for them both to enjoy. Just before the end of the show, we managed to sneak in an order for a custom engraved Lego brick with their names on it. When we got home that evening and put everything together, there were hardly any space left with all the newly acquired items. Unbeknown to me, I was about to receive a trike, a hedgehog, and a Christmas stocking made of Lego bricks for my secret Santa present the very next day.
A week later, while out doing our Christmas shopping, we ended up at the Lego store. Inspired by the experience at BRICK, we decided to custom build a house for Shirls and Vigo using the random mix and match pieces. We designed, planned, collected, counted, and filled up a small pottle with the required Lego pieces. We must have spent well over an hour in the store. All that effort was worth it in the end.