Friday night, Jill is out with friends, it is “Daddy, Daughter, and Son time – it happens all the time, when Mammy is not here with us”. This is a little ditty that we sing to liven up the mood of us all missing Jilly. Anyway they asked what are we going to do, and did we have fun prepared for all of us. 2 collections – Ballycullen for random LEGO & Drogheda for LEGO Friends.
Prelude: 8 kgs from Ballycullen
The evening kicked off with a text from our regular supplier in Ballycullen: he had 8 kg of product for €64 (LEGO our drug of choice), of course, we said yes! So Luke, Rose and I piled into the car and headed there first. Then it was straight on to Drogheda for the LEGO haul itself – negotiated and agreed via the Facebook Marketplace.
The Big LEGO Friends Finds
As we arrived in Drogheda and met the seller, the back seat was already humming with excitement – the promise 6 LEGO Friends sets.
Upon arriving in Drogheda and seeing the haul, Rose was over the moon, especially with the Rescue Mission Boat. She jumped up into my arms, saying: “Daddy, I love you!”, which made the seller very happy it was going to a good home and will give Rose years of play in our LEGO Friends city. A special thank‑you to this seller for making Rose so happy, and me also, seeing how she reacted. With every brick she is a little closer to her world of imagination. Rose clutched the Rescue Mission Boat with glee, already deciding it would anchor just off the coast of Heartlake Bay, launching adventures for Olivia, Mia, and the gang.
Luke spotted the Heartlake Pizzeria, imagining it as the perfect Friday-night takeaway joint for our growing LEGO Friends neighbourhood. The Alpaca Mountain Jungle Rescue set adds a whole new ecosystem to our LEGO Friends world, a lush green mountainous trail leading from Heartlake Park into a wildlife sanctuary where alpacas roam freely. Nature Glamping will nestle by the riverbank, a serene weekend retreat just a stone’s throw from the bustling city centre.
Meanwhile, Mia’s House, a substantial build, will sit along the suburban ridge of Heartlake Heights, complete with treehouse and zipline for ultimate backyard fun. Olivia’s Mission Vehicle will serve as a roaming rescue and repair van, zipping between sets to save stranded animals or fix a jammed pizza oven. The Juice Truck fits naturally near the boardwalk, serving smoothies by the shore next to the Snow Resort Ski Lift, which, in our creative layout, doubles as a chairlift to a LEGO amusement park hilltop ride.
With Jasmine and Aladdin’s mini-palace placed just beyond the edge of the jungle, we’ll have an exotic fusion zone where fairy tales meet real-world friendship adventures. All in all, Drogheda didn’t just deliver sets, it delivered a vibrant expansion for our Heartlake City at Redmond’s Forge, blending wilderness, waterfront, and whimsical charm in one unforgettable evening.
For a total spend of just €100, we came away with all of these sets (with the sets, instructions, & boxes all complete:
- 41161 LEGO Disney – Aladdin’s and Jasmine’s Palace Adventures
- 41311 LEGO Friends – Heartlake Pizzeria
- 41324 LEGO Friends – Snow Resort Ski Lift
- 41333 LEGO Friends – Olivia’s Mission Vehicle
- 41369 LEGO Friends – Mia’s House
- 41381 LEGO Friends – Rescue Mission Boat
- 41392 LEGO Friends – Nature Glamping
- 41397 LEGO Friends – Juice Truck
- 41432 LEGO Friends – Alpaca Mountain Jungle Rescue
Estimated MSRP total across confirmed sets: well over €300, maybe up toward €400. That means for only €100 we got exceptional value, more than 70% off retail.
Pit‑stop Fun: Applegreen Lusk
On the way back, we stopped at the Applegreen in Lusk, because they have a House of Play beloved by the kids. While Rose and Luke played soft‑play, I treated myself to a Double Burger King Whopper. Then the kids each got a Kids Meal, which included two cool Naruto toys
Rose decided she wanted a donut, and I wanted a tea, for the journey home. We watched the sunset across the M50, content after one more successful “mission” together as a family.
Final Thoughts
What started as a text about 8 kg of product turned into a magical evening of LEGO treasures, family joy, and sweet memories. Paying just €100 for a stack of sets worth well over €340, it’s the perfect example of smart hunting + great family moments.
Thanks again to the supplier for the haul, and especially for the biggest reward, seeing Rose’s joy with the Rescue Mission Boat. Here’s to many more Fridays like this!
Summary at a glance:
| Set | RRP (€) |
|---|---|
| 41161 – Aladdin’s Palace | €29.99 |
| 41311 – Heartlake Pizzeria | €29.99 |
| 41324 – Snow Resort Ski Lift | €59.99 |
| 41333 – Olivia’s Mission Vehicle | €19.99 |
| 41369 – Mia’s House | €69.99 |
| 41381 – Rescue Mission Boat | €87.72 |
| 41392 – Nature Glamping | €29.99 |
| 41397 – Juice Truck | €19.49 |
Total MSRP ≈ €350–380, purchased for €100. Not bad at all!
LEGO Friends City Expansion
Here’s a visual layout of how the LEGO Friends Drogheda haul could be integrated into a 4×3 baseplate section of Heartlake City at Redmond’s Forge:
- Top row (Row 0) allows room for Aladdin’s Palace and future expansion zones.
- Middle row (Row 1) becomes the bustling activity and town center: Rescue Mission Boat docked at the waterfront, Pizzeria and Juice Truck as food hubs, and Olivia’s Mission Vehicle as a mobile service point.
- Bottom row (Row 2) features nature and residential builds—Alpaca Jungle, Ski Lift, Mia’s House, and Nature Glamping.
