A lifelong love affair all began with blocks
Jon Hutchison can’t let go of Lego.
The 35-year-old builder has had a lifelong love for the colourful blocks, but in the last 15 years, he admits he’s developed an addiction.
He spends so much time on projects in his Hibiscus Coast garage, wife Keryn calls herself a Lego widow.
It could be worse though, Hutchison says.
‘‘It’s not motorbikes or cars. It’s expensive, but it’s not high risk.’’
The Lego love affair began when Hutchison was a kid. His two brothers were never as into it, and he had his favourite toy largely to himself.
He grew out of it in college when it stopped being ‘‘cool’’, but his passion came back with a vengeance in 2000.
Visiting a hobbyist show, Hutchison was disappointed to see there was no Lego on display.
He went home, dug out his old set, and got building, but his childhood blocks didn’t quite stack up.
‘‘I thought I had lots as a kid, but as an adult it’s never enough,’’ he says.
He began buying used sets from Trade and Exchange, and discovered he wasn’t alone in his obsession.
A Lego club was born, which has since grown to around 60 adult members.
Hutchison estimates he has up to half a million Lego pieces in his ever-changing collection.
He has good dreams of finding rare discontinued sets whilst shopping, and nightmares about Lego disasters.
The number one toy in the world, Hutchison says the Lego available now is far more varied than in his childhood.
‘‘It’s changed a lot but the core concept is still the same,’’ he says.
A wider range of colours and textures is the biggest change Hutchison has noticed, along with the increase in female figures in different roles.
The hobby still draws blank stares from many people, but Hutchison says he loves having a hobby he can share with his kids.
You can see Jon’s Lego city display and around 50 more from other Kiwi hobbyists at the Auckland Brick Show, open all Labour Weekend at Trusts Arena, 9am5.30pm. Schools wanting to support the show can go into the draw to win Lego prizes.
Visit aucklandbrickshow.co.nz for more, or email info@aucklandbrickshow.co.nz.