The Tale of the Slow Travelling PJs
/Finding LEGO-themed clothing in adult sizes can be a problem. There have been times when LEGOLAND theme parks or LEGOLAND Discovery Centres have stocked clothing for adults, but it’s usually limited to t-shirts, jackets or hats. Occasionally there have been t-shirts in Uniqlo, sportswear from Adidas and various clothing from Target US. And, of course, there are any number of print-on-demand or fan-designed products available from various online sources. But this story is not about any of those retailers—rather, it is about Target Australia, adult-sized pyjamas (PJs) and the patience of AFOLs.
The PJs as seen on the Target Australia website
One of the things I like to do is highlight to other LEGO fans when new licensed products become available, with the hope that they will do the same for me. I’m as big a fan of the themed merchandise as I am of LEGO sets and parts. If it’s LEGO branded, I’m interested!
In mid-2021, I posted on Facebook about the licensed LEGO-themed PJs in adult sizes that were available from Target stores in Australia. I was genuinely surprised by the level of interest from other AFOLs in different parts of the world. I don’t know why, but I assumed a similar product would have been available in other countries so there wouldn’t be a demand. It’s rare for Australia to have anything LEGO branded that can’t be found elsewhere.
Never one to deny a fellow AFOL, I took it upon myself to assist as many as possible to obtain a pair of PJs in their preferred size. I then planned to deliver them to people at the Skaerbaek Fan Weekend in Denmark or to ship them directly to their homes. After collecting orders, I went shopping to get more PJs than ever before.
The PJs were purchased, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented international travel from Australia, and the postal service could not guarantee delivery. So I held onto the PJs, and they sat in my hallway becoming a tripping hazard. Time moved on—I tripped over the PJs multiple times—but the pandemic did ease, and the postal system began to return to normal, albeit with a considerable increase in cost. Twelve months after purchase and with the PJs still languishing in the hallway, I realised the cost of flying to Denmark was prohibitive, and I wasn’t quite ready to travel internationally.
As it happens, Richard Jones of The Rambling Brick had said he was attending the Skaerbaek Fan Weekend that year, and I availed of his goodwill when he kindly agreed to transport some of the PJs to Denmark. As I know how precious every centimetre of luggage can be for a travelling AFOL, I only squeezed in three pairs of the PJs with the knowledge that the recipients were definitely going to be at the event. Those three sets were delivered as promised.
The pile of pjs waiting to be Distributed at the Skaerbaek fan weekend
Another twelve months passed, and I continued to trip over the remaining bags of comfy clothes in the hallway. July 2023 arrived, and overseas travel seemed a possibility—and I would probably have room in my suitcase for the remainder of the PJs if I travelled to the Skaerbaek Fan Weekend.
But logistics with LEGO fans are never straightforward, and there were many messages back and forth as I attempted to work out who would be in Denmark and who could receive the PJs on behalf of those unable to attend. September arrived and my bags were full of the PJs as well as a large number of other goodies for other AFOLs.
With so many AFOLs attending the event, it was challenging to find everyone, but almost every set of PJs was distributed to the right person. One set is still travelling around the UK with plans for it to arrive at its final destination sometime in December.
In the end, thirteen pairs of PJs were purchased with six going to the US, five to the UK, and one each to both Germany and Denmark. It was a story and a journey some two and a half years in the making. I learned the AFOL community loves helping others, and that AFOLs can be very patient people.
A happy travelling PJ wearer
Would I do it again? Most certainly! Who knows when or where the next great LEGO gear or apparel will pop up! But helping out other AFOLs is one of the fun and most rewarding parts of the LEGO fan community.
Have you ever had a friend purchase something on your behalf and then had to wait a long time for it to arrive? What’s the longest you have ever waited?
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