Hey guys, it's Stormness, back again!

I took a bit of an arena sabbatical. With the loss of our son, at first I threw myself into the internet and my online friendships, but as I started dealing with the loss better and re-entering the real world, I needed to put a lot more effort into keeping my real-world relationships functioning. And so the arena fell by the wayside.

But my life is so much better emotionally and more organised now, and I can afford a little me time. Although it's hard to find with a new baby on the way. Converting our guest bedroom back into a nursery after painstakingly removing all traces of the previous one. We never thought we'd get here, but here we are, healthy and happy, and with a strong, healthy baby kicking around in my belly. And so I'm back at my pony home, not buying, or doing much selling either (although I have a massive box I still need to get through, and an even bigger box of fakies that need to be catalogued and sorted, and a whole bunch sold) but I'm here!

When I am collecting, I collect all gens except 3.5 and 4.5 (are we still calling them that? I remember a debate around when I left, just as they started coming out) vintage fakies, and MLP colouring books, G1 & G2 and the 5 mile press editions of G3 & G4. I also collect MLP media (games, CDs and DVDs) and that range of things seems to expand constantly, with me picking up random pony 'things' all the time, despite not 'actively collecting' at the moment.

Can't wait to see you all around, the old faces and the new alike! 

There are two types of Concerned fakie, both are super cute. There's the one that's pictured, and a slightly smaller version with tinsel hair and Pinkie Pie's symbol. I got both from markets at Chinese stalls last year. These stalls both had bucketloads of knockoff toys, gadgets, that sort of thing. I only paid a couple of bucks for each of them. Chinatown in your nearest larger city is likely your best bet. You could possibly still find them online though, I'm not sure though as I haven't stumbled across any - and I haven't been actively looking as I already have several.

I'm kind of obsessed with One Piece at the moment.. I read the manga and then go back and watch the anime, because manga just doesn't work as well for the fight scenes.

So pretty!

I love the appy's too! I have Renegade, Snow Patch and Papoose, and Ah Pah Al and a pair of Spicy Salsa twins (one was a gift). I also have the mini stallion Hurricane, he's technically a fleabitten grey, but eh, technicalities! I like to think of him as a leopard appy.

BubbleTea: You got some nice ones! They look like mostly the early years classic collection horses which can be tough to find in decent condition. That bottom-right one I believe is a Breyer - also a nice find!

I haven't had too many really bad ones, just a few really dirty ones in lots. One bowtie who'd been 'customized'  with white-out. I cleaned her up more to find out who she was more than anything really! My friend once found a Ringlet in the dirt. She was always a sort of more brownish yellow in places, but her hair came up perfectly fine!

urgh.. dishonest sellers everywhere these days!

I found a lot the other week that was titled "pre-2000 my little ponies and fakes". I collect both! I clicked so fast!

Not a single one in the entire lot of at least 2 dozen ponies and fakies was pre-2000. They even had a photo of a hoof stamp that read 2002!!!

Age spots in themselves are not contagious, so the short answer is: No.

The long answer is a bit more complicated.

Age spots are often seen alongside plasticizer leakage, and that is the agent that causes the vinyl to be flexible to break apart from the 'solid' particles and 'leak'. It's like the pony is sweating, and those vapours and liquids can damage other plastics in contact with them - so plasticizer leak IS contagious, and ponies should be quarantined for the duration - you'll know when it's done, your pony will remain dry after cleaning, and will be fit for use as a weapon!

Also, the conditions that cause these reactions in the plastic are obviously going to cause the same/similar reactions in other similarly-sized pieces of plastic of around the same age, with a similar chemical make up. So if you notice a pony that is showing symptoms of degradation, check your environment. Is it cool, dry, and not in direct sunlight? Yes? Was the pony always in such conditions? Maybe it's just a pony that's had a hard life before you showed up. In that case there isn't much you can do except quarantine if it's leaking, and look forward to said pony being a useful piece of nightstand decor - for use as a throwing star in the case of an intruder (those horns/ears/hooves could definitely take out an eye if aimed right!)

Bumping this, looking in particular for DVDs!