PlaymoFriends
General => Collector's Corner => Topic started by: Timotheos on November 05, 2007, 03:33:14
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Do you buy too much Playmobil? Obviously if you have to sell the house (and the kids) to support your hobby, that's too much Playmobil.
But, if you're keeping within your income limits, what is too much?
I keep meaning to order the three fairy tale sets, but I keep delaying. The plastic accumulates in the basement. The boxes accumulate. I throw more onto the pile. "Look, Ma, another Lion Faction archer. Got ten of them."
Is this a hobby, or a mental disorder?
I'm mostly joking. But, I come from a family of collectors (my grandfather continued buying the best hunting equipment long after he went blind and had no intention of ever using it). Other members of my family collect so much stuff (every star wars doo-dad, every new movie DVD, every new music CD--and I'm referring to the same family member!) that they seem to be on automatic pilot, mindlessly burning cash, the ultimate retailer's dream.
On the other hand, there is a method to our (Playmobil collectors) madness--customizing, creating scenes, analyzing details. So, in fairness, I should compare the hobby to model railroading--not to my crazy relative who buys every movie DVD ever made because he still has a few dollars from his paycheck he hasn't spent yet.
Maybe I can spin this into some sort of moral virtue.
"Every klicky you buy keeps the island of Malta free from poverty and civil war."
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Hello, Tim ...
Is this a hobby, or a mental disorder?
I can't believe that you would ask such a ridiculous question!
Of course it's a mental disorder. We are all absolutely nuts! ... :lol:
And, the worse part about it is that we all know it ... And, love it! ... :love:
Welcome to the playmobil looney bin, Tim ... ;D
All the best,
Richard
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:)
in the sane side:
- i buy only one theme (the pirates);
- i never buy repeated sets;
- i never let a box unopened;
- i let my stepson and my nephew play with them (if they promise not to loose any pieces and not to break any part)
8}
in the insane side:
- i buy all the pirate sets i can;
- i buy only bnib sets;
- i get really nervous when new sets are released and i still don´t have them;
- i have 95 sets.
fortunately, trying to mix the 2 sides together, i never felt that i spent money i didn't had.
the "one family" only strategy is a big help, i think.
tha fact that i have all the old sets also helps me from spending too much money on ebay insanities.
i would maybe do it if some old famobil sets would appear...
at first, i got some starnge eye-brows movements. now that i have part of my collection on display, people tend to look at it with a certain degree of respect...
my conclusion is that too many sets are not too much. :)
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- i buy only bnib sets;
- i get really nervous when new sets are released and i still don´t have them;
at first, i got some starnge eye-brows movements. now that i have part of my collection on display, people tend to look at it with a certain degree of respect...
my conclusion is that too many sets are not too much.[/font] :)
Hi Cachalote,
What do you mean by "bnib"?
Your point that a lot of playmobil brings more respectability made me laugh.
I think the sheer force of numbers intimidates the viewer. They gotta take it seriously when there is over 1000 kilograms of plastic staring back at them.
Of course it's a mental disorder. We are all absolutely nuts! ... Laugh
And, the worse part about it is that we all know it ... And, love it! ... Love
Every once and a while I take friends to the basement. I feel like Bluebeard about to give his wife a glimpse of the closet she wasn't supposed to ask about.
Me: "Would you like for me to show you something? I keep it in the basement. Come along. Come along and see."
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I think the sheer force of numbers intimidates the viewer. They gotta take it seriously when there is over 1000 kilograms of plastic staring back at them.
Every once and a while I take friends to the basement. I feel like Bluebeard about to give his wife a glimpse of the closet she wasn't supposed to ask about.
Me: "Would you like for me to show you something? I keep it in the basement. Come along. Come along and see."
Hello, Tim ...
You seem to be well on your way to becoming a certifiable Playmobil lunatic!
I'm almost finally finished with putting together an inventory of my entire Playmobil collection (please see attachment).
If and when you ever see yourself reaching this stage of madness, please seek professional help ... :lol:
I'm afraid that it's too late for me ... 8}
All the best,
Richard
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BNIB = Brand new in box. Sometimes you'll see MISB, Mint in Sealed Box.
I confess I have probably bought too much Playmobil in the past 3-4 months. In London shops I've bought Vikings, Romans, Castles and Knight sets, plus quite a few specials.
I've bought a couple of batches of Direct order only figures from the Playmobil site, plus a couple of spare parts orders.
Through eBay I've bought yet more, lots of loose figures and occasionally mint sets.
However I've settled down a bit now, partly because I have so much stuff to play with, partly because I have enough figures to do lots of things with. I still see eBay auctions I'll bid on, but I won't pursue if they go beyond my comfort level.
Of course I still see sets that, though they don't "fit" my themes, would still be entertaining to use for picture stories.
If I hadn't spent the money on Playmobil, I'd probably just have squandered it on food, household bills or clothing.
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Thank you for sharing your list Richard. I feel so much better about my collection now ;D
I want more Steck.
And a trireme. And the fairy tale sets. And any of the sets with animals I don't have. But other than that I am happy with my collection. 8} Most of the time.
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Thank you for sharing your list Richard. I feel so much better about my collection now ;D
NO, NO, TIM (Tiermann) !!!
The "list" wasn't posted to encourage you or to even make anyone feel better. It was posted to help STOP the madness ... before it's too late!
I am literally a prisoner of my Playmobil addiction! I can't stop collecting those little smiling klicky faces! Don't let this happen to you too ... 8}
Help me ... I think that I'm turning into Klickyman ... or maybe Klickyricky ... :o
(see attachment)
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quite interesting list, Richard :P
I am sort of relieved now about my collection :P
well, to be on topic, I think as long as you can still pay all your (other ;) ) bills plus having a little comfort, you're on the safe side.
To focus on one theme is a good thing - but I never managed to get this right. All historical themes are tempting. So I decided to focus on "the" historical theme in general (but even this is hard).
btw: Is this the basement where you keep your playmobil, Richard?
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btw: Is this the basement where you keep your playmobil, Richard?
Actually, Arizzo ... If you click on the "quote" link below, you can see the secret place where my Playmobil collection is safely hidden ... ;)
Click on the "quote" link above! ... "Quote from: Richard on April 08, 2007, 16:40:50"
If that doesn't work, click HERE (http://www.gardenwargames.com/tour/01.html) ... :)
All the best,
Richard
edit: added additional link
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" - - - - - - - - - "
(finally lost consciousness)
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When I die I want to go to Richard's Playmobil world.
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I'm almost finally finished with putting together an inventory of my entire Playmobil collection (please see attachment).
*Gulp* Ok, with my little collection (http://www.jr-x.de/playmobil/sammlung/sammlung.php) I'm still far away from this, although my wife already complains that I'm mad about Playmobil ...
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*Gulp* Ok, with my little collection (http://www.jr-x.de/playmobil/sammlung/sammlung.php) I'm still far away from this...
I love the way you have all the information you need at a glance on one page. I must do something like that myself one day. 8-)
Confession time... :toot:
About five or six years ago, my older sister and I inherited a reasonably large sum of money. (Probably enough to buy a brand new small car).
She spent hers wisely by having a lovely new kitchen installed. (She has always been more sensible than me. :P)
*ahem* I probably should have done the same, but I decided (perhaps foolishly) to keep my 1970's era kitchen, complete with its brown melamine worktops and orange doors. ::) I was at the peak of my interest in Playmobil at that time, so I convinced myself that I could live with the hideously outdated decor for at least another 10 years and spent a good proportion of what I received on klickies instead. :-[
My current collection would be a heck of a lot smaller had I not done this. I look back on it as a rather crazy thing to do, but I am comforted by the knowledge that the money spent is invested, rather than wasted, and could be easily recouped (or even increased) by selling the Playmobil at a later date, if things ever got really tough. Hopefully, it'll never come to this. :crossed:
In early 2006 I finally logged all my sets on a database so that I could have some kind of record to refer to. To save space, I would often store smaller sets inside the boxes of larger ones, but I couldn't always rely on my memory to help me find them easily afterwards. I've now included this info on my database.
I don't know how many complete or near complete sets I have altogether (since it's broken down into several separate lists), but I do know that I don't really have room in the house to buy much more Playmobil - not until some of the children leave home, that is. ;D
Now that spending money and space is tighter, I really only buy sporadically - and then only when it is something very special to me... such as the Fairyworld sets. :love: It's difficult because I see lots of new Playmobil sets that I would love to have, but I know I have to resist temptation or there will not be enough money left to pay the bills. :(
And yes... I still have the same kitchen. :doh:
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Hello, Jochen ...
*Gulp* Ok, with my little collection (http://www.jr-x.de/playmobil/sammlung/sammlung.php) I'm still far away from this, although my wife already complains that I'm mad about Playmobil ...
You are the most organized/organised person that I have ever known ... :wow:
I am now thinking that perhaps I should organize/organise my own inventory as you have done ... 8}
As I browsed through your collection, I also thought about how much we should all thank both Heather and Bart for all that they have done for our hobby.
Thanks for sharing your collection with us, Jochen!
All the best,
Richard
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Hello, Sylvia ...
Confession time... :toot:
This thread is indeed taking on the tone of "True Confessions" ... ;)
However, none of us should ever forget that we are all incurable Playmobil addicts who should probably be "locked up" for our own protection ... 8}
Thank you, Tim (Timotheos) for starting yet another thought provoking topic!
All the best,
Richard
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You are the most organized/organised person that I have ever known ... :wow:
Thanks for the praise. But that's not only being organized for its self purpose, but just to have an overview about which sets I acutally have. I couldn't spent that much money on Playmobil that I wouldn't care if I had a set twice or even more. So I need to track somewhere if I already realized a long-cherished whish for buying (at an auction) a certain set or not. Searching for a set a long time and finally buying it sometimes let you forget the last step that you already bought it :P
As I browsed through your collection, I also thought about how much we should all thank both Heather and Bart for all that they have done for our hobby.
I only can agree to this: many thanks :wow:
A picture says more than thousand words and so it is very helpful to have the opportunity to reference to the pics and even the inventories without doing all the work by my own.
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However, none of us should ever forget that we are all incurable Playmobil addicts who should probably be "locked up" for our own protection ... 8}
I'd like to be locked up in one of Richards storerooms then :P
just for my own protection ;D :lol:
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I have inventoried my Playmobil since I started collecting two years ago. I now have 570 sets. some are one-klicky sets and some are larger sets. I have them listed on 3 spreadsheets.
The main spreadsheet has the sets listed by theme. The 2nd spreadsheet has them listed by date purchased. And the 3rd spreadsheet has the sets listed by stock number.
These tell me I have 570 sets, 15,697 pieces, 1,235 klickys, and 392 animals, birds, etc.. with an investment of 5,587.54 USD.
And my family all think I an just not right in the head. You do not want to see my totals of my 30 years of collecting LEGO.
-- Donmobil
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Hello, Arizzo ...
I'd like to be locked up in one of Richards storerooms then :P
just for my own protection ;D :lol:
If you are applying for the position of "Playmobil Guard" ... Sorry, Arizzo ... The position has already been taken ... :)
see attachment
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If you are applying for the position of "Playmobil Guard" ... Sorry, Arizzo ... The position has already been taken ... :)
Hi Richard,
well, being a "Guard" for your Playmobil wasn't exactly what I meant .... :P
Cheers
Arizzo
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Hi Richard,
well, being a "Guard" for your Playmobil wasn't exactly what I meant .... :P
Cheers
Arizzo
Did you want to be a "prisoner," Arizzo ... ???
If so, then you will have to talk with this fellow ...
please see attachment
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Hi Richard
Prisoner? Well, sort of - for a short time ... I'm sure the guard can be bribed ... he he he :lol: :lol:
cheers
Arizzo
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Hello, Arrizo ...
Prisoner? Well, sort of - for a short time ... I'm sure the guard can be bribed ... he he he :lol: :lol:
Bribed ... ??? Look at that smiling face and decide for yourself about whether or not this Prison Guard can be bribed ... :)
see attachment
All the best and good luck,
Richard
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Hello, Arizzo ...
If you are applying for the position of "Playmobil Guard" ... Sorry, Arizzo ... The position has already been taken ... :)
see attachment
Hi Richard, is that seriously the security guard for your estate? Make him dress like a Playmobil!
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Hi Richard, is that seriously the security guard for your estate? Make him dress like a Playmobil!
:) ;) :D ;D :lol:
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NO, NO, TIM (Tiermann) !!!
The "list" wasn't posted to encourage you or to even make anyone feel better. It was posted to help STOP the madness ... before it's too late!
I am literally a prisoner of my Playmobil addiction! I can't stop collecting those little smiling klicky faces! Don't let this happen to you too ... 8}
Help me ... I think that I'm turning into Klickyman ... or maybe Klickyricky ... :o
(see attachment)
Hi Richard,
Quite a list you have there and I thought I had a crazy collection (over 1500 related Playmobil items). I am a misb collector, they are even crazier than the average Playmobil nut, because they don't open it, they don't play with it, all they do is displaying it if there's still space around. I have noticed that you have a quite a lot of Schaper sets (are they all misb ?), so my question is you're probably from the US, where else can you build up such a large collection of Schaper sets ? I have quite a few Schaper sets myself, but all were bought on ebay. I'm still looking for the beautiful blue and black Schaper displays from the seventies. I have 2 Schaper dealer catalogs in which those displays are featured. I have never seen them on ebay, do you have them ?
Greetings,
Eddy
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Hi Richard,
Quite a list you have there and I thought I had a crazy collection (over 1500 related Playmobil items). I am a misb collector, they are even crazier than the average Playmobil nut, because they don't open it, they don't play with it, all they do is displaying it if there's still space around. I have noticed that you have a quite a lot of Schaper sets (are they all misb ?), so my question is you're probably from the US, where else can you build up such a large collection of Schaper sets ? I have quite a few Schaper sets myself, but all were bought on ebay. I'm still looking for the beautiful blue and black Schaper displays from the seventies. I have 2 Schaper dealer catalogs in which those displays are featured. I have never seen them on ebay, do you have them ?
Greetings,
Eddy
Hello, Eddy ...
I am not an MISB collector. However, I do save all the boxes which ARE in mint condition. And, many of the sets that I have are MISB, just because I haven't had a reason to open them ... ;)
Please tell me which of the Schaper black and blue displays that you are asking about.
Yes, all of the Schaper sets were bought in the United States back in the 1970s when our daughters were young and I had an excuse to visit the toy stores ... :)
It is interesting that you are collecting Schaper Playmobil. Because, I remember back in the 70s how frustrating it was not to be able to get all the German Playmobil sets. In the mid 1980s, we took our family to Europe and visited Zirndorf and Dietenhofen. We realized how "deprived" we had been by having only the Schaper sets ... ;D
Now, on eBay, the old Schaper sets seem to be in demand. It's funny how values change ... ;)
All the best,
Richard
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Hello, Eddy ...
I am not an MISB collector. However, I do save all the boxes which ARE in mint condition. And, many of the sets that I have are MISB, just because I haven't had a reason to open them ... ;)
Please tell me which of the Schaper black and blue displays that you are asking about.
Yes, all of the Schaper sets were bought in the United States back in the 1970s when our daughters were young and I had an excuse to visit the toy stores ... :)
Hi,
I'm talking about the toystore displays (where the Playmobil boxes were put in) Schaper used in the late seventies, early eighties. I can try to make a picture of the 2 catalogs I have. Do you have any Schaper catalogs, because the displays are listen in them (well at least in the 2 Dealer catalogs I have from 1978 and 1979).
It is interesting that you are collecting Schaper Playmobil. Because, I remember back in the 70s how frustrating it was not to be able to get all the German Playmobil sets. In the mid 1980s, we took our family to Europe and visited Zirndorf and Dietenhofen. We realized how "deprived" we had been by having only the Schaper sets ... ;D
Now, on eBay, the old Schaper sets seem to be in demand. It's funny how values change ... ;)
All the best,
Richard
Yes, Schaper sets are getting in demand, too bad there is so much competition on ebay. I also have some Mattel sets (which to my knowledge were only produced in 1985) misb and 2 Mattel catalogs where the whole Playmobil range is listed. My biggest treasure in my collection besides the 30 blister I have, is the 3980 rollercoaster (misb). I also have a Famobil castle 3446, but with the Playmobil logo on it, that's also quite rare. I also love the many Spanish exclusive sets that are out there (starting with the number 39**).
Greetings,
Eddy
Edit: adjusted quotes RS
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I'm talking about the toystore displays ...
Sorry, Eddy ... Don't have any.
... the 3980 rollercoaster (misb).
I have been curious about the price that you had to pay for this Japanese exclusive. If you are offended by my asking what you had to pay for it, I apologize ... And, please ignore my question (and my bad manners).
All the best,
Richard
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I was always curious as to where one finds such rare items . It is a neat set and i am sure i will never get them as i like to open everything for the kids and I to play with . Do you travel the world hunting down every little private toy shop hopping they have old stock hiding in the store room :lens: ? I start imagining a quest like Indiana Jones but instead of snakes you have other shoppers & your Bible is the Collectors Guide. With how good it feels for me to get common sets you must get quite an exhilaration finding some of the rarest set out there .
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Sorry, Eddy ... Don't have any.
I have been curious about the price that you had to pay for this Japanese exclusive. If you are offended by my asking what you had to pay for it, I apologize ... And, please ignore my question (and my bad manners).
All the best,
Richard
What do you think ?
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What do you think ?
Hello, Eddy ...
If I were "buying" the Playmobil Roller-Coaster, I would try to get it for no more than $500.USD. If I were selling it, I would try to get at least $1,500.USD for it. But, I would try to hold out for more than $2,000.
So, If you got it for less than $2,000.USD, you got a bargain. If you paid more than $10,000.USD, you are, IMO, a "professional" collector!
So, what did you have to pay for it?
All the best,
Richard
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Hello, Eddy ...
If I were "buying" the Playmobil Roller-Coaster, I would try to get it for no more than $500.USD. If I were selling it, I would try to get at least $1,500.USD for it. But, I would try to hold out for more than $2,000.
So, If you got it for less than $2,000.USD, you got a bargain. If you paid more than $10,000.USD, you are, IMO, a "professional" collector!
So, what did you have to pay for it?
All the best,
Richard
Hi Richard,
660 euros (including shipping), so not bad at all. I don't have any intentions of selling it, but if one day I do, I'm sure it will get a high price. It could very well be the only set that Epoche Japan produced, because the other sets that (rescue boat and astronaut) that are listed in the Collector are Korean and not Japanese.
Greetings,
Eddy
Edit: corrected quotes RS
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660 Euros! ... with shipping!
That's about $970.USD
CONGRATULATIONS!
Eddy, you got a real bargain! Well done!
All the best,
Richard
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How come I feel sane? 0)
Mayby my little armies not more than 6700 klicky (soliders, officiers and gentry) are protecting me from boying and hoarding playmobil - they keep me from saving the blue boxes. They make me collect just the old ones, and they let me spend some money on making them more and more... and more... :yup:
I am doing this for 29 Years now....
I don't think thats crazy Is it 8}
Regards...
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I remember back in the 70s how frustrating it was not to be able to get all the German Playmobil sets. In the mid 1980s, we took our family to Europe and visited Zirndorf and Dietenhofen. We realized how "deprived" we had been by having only the Schaper sets ... ;D
This was my story as a kid growing up. I grew out of playmobil, partially, I think, because I had no exposure to the really nice steck sets. I saw pictures of the castle on the side of the old jousting boxed set, but as far as I could tell, that was a display-only setup. No steck sets reached my growing up area around Erie, Pennsylvania. The pirate ship was the only major one.
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How come I feel sane? 0)
I don't think thats crazy Is it 8}
If you really need to know, you could try electro-shock treatment. If after the treatment, you no longer desire to collect, then you know it was crazy.
I think this sounds like a very objective approach.
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I'm told Playmo once did a dancing bear with a handler. I always wanted that!
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I'm told Playmo once did a dancing bear with a handler. I always wanted that!
Wow! This really needs a clarifying context!!! :hmm:
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Wow! This really needs a clarifying context!!! :hmm:
Maybe this isn't what you were looking for? ... ;)
(see attachment)
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Ohhhh Richard, you 'hit the nail on the head'!!!!! We are all totally dysfunctional, the trick is to function at a sustainable level! 8-)
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Ohhhh Richard, you 'hit the nail on the head'!!!!! We are all totally dysfunctional, the trick is to function at a sustainable level! 8-)
lol
ok I'm interested ;D
please tell me more ?
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Richard ,
every day you make me feel better
I owe you
didnot read this topic until now
can you please please please come over and make my inventory ?
this is amazing , wot time you have to put in to keep inventary
and respect , all in perfect condition
can you adopt me ? ;)
we'll have the biggest collection of the world ;D
and as we both crazy , think we'll get along ;)
the wise man and the Elf 8}
well , we officially are three now
The gothfather in Germany , MrPainterElf and Richard
beklöpt , getikt ,crazy ;)
please anyone reading this
DO NOT FOLLOW OUR EXAMPLE
:-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[
On the other hand ;D
Playmo is good theraphy
I'm doomed ;D
I defenitly buy too much playmo
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please anyone reading this
DO NOT FOLLOW OUR EXAMPLE
Everyone ...
PLEASE, please heed Michael's advice!
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But don't you always want to see how close to the edge you can get without falling into the abyss?
Gepetto
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But don't you always want to see how close to the edge you can get without falling into the abyss?
Gepetto
I tried that once over an open sewer in Korea.
After you fall into the abyss, it helps being close to the edge and maybe having at least one friend who can still see straight.
Otherwise you have to wait for the dawn patrol by the MPs.
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I tried that once over an open sewer in Korea.
After you fall into the abyss, it helps being close to the edge and maybe having at least one friend who can still see straight.
Otherwise you have to wait for the dawn patrol by the MPs.
This brings to mind one of my favourite lines, from one of my favourite movies ... The Wind and the Lion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind_and_the_Lion), "The edge is no place to play!" ... ;)
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This brings to mind one of my favourite lines, from one of my favourite movies ... The Wind and the Lion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind_and_the_Lion), "The edge is no place to play!" ... ;)
lol that explains a lot , I live on the edge for years 8}
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Richard - I am happy to see photos of your collection as it will help me the day my husband tries to tell me collection is too big.
Warning - An enabling comment to follow....
I do want to let people know who are waiting to buy the three fairy tale sets that they are IMHO a MUST have. Go! Buy them :) I keep checking the German site to see if they will release more (Rapunzel? Aladdin? 1001 Arabian Nights...)
Snow White and Cinderella are incredibly done (although as I have mentionned before the fact there are only 2 of the 7 dwarfes in the Snow White is silly. The Hansel and Gretel one was not as big a hit in our house. Possibly as that is not one of our favourite stories. I would kick myself if I missed acquiring them.
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Hello, PS3S ... :wave:
Richard - I am happy to see photos of your collection as it will help me the day my husband tries to tell me collection is too big.
If you should ever find it necessary to show the photos to your husband, please tell him that you have no idea where I live ... :lol:
All the best,
Richard