Tom_castlefan

You definitely live up to your title - this is one of the most thorough reviews I have seen on the site. Brilliant, keep it up! Tom

A silly price for 5 figures I'm not interested in Thanks for notifying us of this though Tom

A lovely idea, but it's too expensive. I expect it will go on sale (eventually), which is when I may pick it up. Tom

This. A very nice, detailed creation. Tom

If this turns out to be true, i'm interested to see all of the new figures. Tom

Very nice set design, I could almost see this being sold on shelves. Tom

I really like this, especially the cannons! Good job. Tom

I would love to see either a zoo or farm theme, as then I could use the parts in my castle mocs. Also, the pitchfork piece could make a return! Tom

Thanks for this - I'd only seen some of these pics, so its nice to see them all consolidated in one place. Tom

I love this game, and I love your figs! Tom

I think she's sort of accepting that she wont be able to control my funds much longer. I also raised the idea of setting up a savings account, and I think she is keen for me to do that, as at least then she will know I am not frittering all my money away on lego. Also, she handed over my bank card, so it looks like I'm onto a winner. I think the current arrangement will be putting at least half my monthly wages into a savings account. I earn between 180-300 a month, so I will still have plenty of money left over to fund my hobby, as well as buy clothes and other needs/wants. I'd like to thank you for all your help and support. Perhaps people could continue adding to this thread, as there are others like me with similar issues - the thread could even be renamed (how to deal with pushy parents? ). Thanks, Tom

Another cool castle wars vig Good job! Tom

I am forced to do choice B as it is - I have no choice but to do chores, but at the same time, I no longer get pocket money at the age of 16, as is custom in our house, which is part of the reason I have a job. I definitely will raise some of the more appropriate points with her, though as I have said she is often unreasonable. I think having my dad there as support will help too. Also, I have to wait for august for my exam grades, but I am reasonably confident I have done well. It looks like I may have to wait until then. Thanks for all your advice and support Tom

See she'll happily let me buy console games and such. I think part of the problem is space, but my lego collection is currently not that large that it takes up much room - I use a small 4-draw unit, plus a shelf for my current models. I definitely agree with the bank card idea, and will talk to her about that soon.

You raise some very interesting and valid points. I'm happy to let her hold onto my card, but from now on, I am going to insist on having it when I want it, and through this I will be able to spend as and when I like. Part of the reason she does this is because both my parents believe I should be saving for other things, such as a car - I will be driving at the end of the year, 17 in December. I'm not trying to defend her - I think it's just hard for her to accept I'm growing up, though at the same time, she doesn't exactly want me to retain a "childish" hobby. She wants to keep me somewhere in between, and I intend to talk to her about it. See now, I already drink and have an interest in women However, I am sensible about it - I don't binge drink, and she doesn't mind that I do drink. However, whilst she holds my bank card, she maintains a certain degree of control over me - I will probably raise this issue with my dad, as he is the fair one, and whilst strict, will hear me out, and undoubtedly take my side if I can present a good argument. Tom

Thanks for all your advice guys - I mentioned it to my mum, and she is considering, so i'll wait and see... it had better be the right answer Tom

Know your place woman!

Haha, I don't think my dad would be very happy if I clubbed her with anything However, I may try badgering her. She may cave eventually, and if so, then I can get back into the arrangement.

I could have hobbies far worse than collecting small plastic bricks... I don't see why parents encourage us to get jobs, then restrict what we can spend our hard earned money on. Tom

My dad and I had an arrangement where he would use his ebay account to bid on things I requested, with my guidance of course. He would then pay via paypal, and I would draw money out of my bank to pay him back. This works well - I have spent roughly £120 on lego off ebay, and he had no problem with doing this. However, my mother had since decided that she no longer wants me buying lego, without caring to explain her reasoning to me. She has also instructed my dad that he is no longer allowed to purchase lego on my behalf, and why he doesn't really mind, he does not want to go against her in what she has said. She also holds my bank card and pin number, meaning I can not easily draw money out and go and spend it on my hobby. Also, I would only be able to get away with it once, as once she discovered what I'd done, she'd probably make sure I could only buy things when she was there too. I feel it is completely unfair - it is after all my money, and I should be able to do with it as I please. I have a good job where I make about £200's a month, which I don't think is bad for a 16 year old. She feels however that my hobby is childish, and that I should of outgrown lego by now, but I think I should be able to decide that on my own. What I ask you, is how should I go about this? My mum has no sense of reason, so trying to persuade her would be like talking to a brick wall, and if I argue with her, then there is no way of me being able to buy as I please. I could always try to drag my dad into it, but if push-comes-to-shove, then he will take her side. Any advice is appreciated. Tom - A hopeful lego fan.

Breathtaking, and seemingly able to defy gravity... Wish I had the same amount of grey bricks he does! Tom

Requesting a catalog scan, so I too can appreciate this Tom

These are wonderful. I particularly like the watchtower, the penguin sub and two-faces van. They are all really good though. Tom

An extremely thorough review - you definitely do this set justice. Looks like a fairly interesting set, and that comes from someone who isn't particularly a fan of lego Indiana Jones. Tom

They're both good, but I prefer the second one.