If there’s one toy that’s stood the test of time for children around the world, it’s Lego.

These simple plastic building blocks brought me countless hours of joy as a small child.  Before internet, mobile phones, computers, Nintendos and Play Stations, I used to sit for hours, and hours and hours, building Space Lego.

Space Lego was before Lego Star Wars, and Mars Mission Lego and such things.  In fact, when NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia returned to Earth from its maiden voyage in April 1981, I was sitting on the floor of the family lounge room, watching the television with amazement and trying as hard as I could to build my own “Lego Columbia”.

But with the advent of the aforementioned internet, mobile phones, computers, Nintendos and Play Stations, and distractions like girls, schoolwork, cars and part-time jobs, the Lego was put safely into storage.  For the last 25-odd years at least, it remained so.

When my new Best Lego Friend, (Maddison Rose, aged 7,) suggested that we play with my old Space Lego, I whole-heartedly approved.

Here’s some of what we got up to on Friday:

AND just to prove that this prehistoric Space Lego withstood the test of time, even the flashing lights worked on one of the spaceships!  Remember that this is before the age of light emitting diodes, surface-mount components and new-fangled electronics.  Only the best incandescent globes were used here:

Then sadly, before I knew it, it was time for Maddy to head home.  Damn, time flies when you’re having fun.

I’m sure Maddy’s mum has some much more incriminating photos of me building these things with Maddy, which are bound to show up on someone’s MyFace somewhere.

Does anyone else share the same affinity with Space Lego?

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