Thursday, 22 October 2026

A New Building Project Begins

So I'm finally able to start my dream project of building a cabinet for my 32" smart tv.
The whole project has been delayed due to my local Homebase store closing down, where
I had planned to buy all the MDF timber as well as getting all the timber pieces cut to size.

So amazingly I've got ahead of myself by buying this ready made up cabinet (above) from one
of our local Charity shops. I've already taken the doors off plus bits of the inside and it's
ready to add some extra parts, but it's not going to be easy building in the two large speakers
as well as the tv itself.
And of course it can't be rushed but hopefully it can be completed before the build up to
Christmas as the building of it is hogging up much of my studio flat.
Is it possible that when finished it might just be a bespoke one off, not seen anywhere else, 
although I have seen some stand up models on spindly legs. But it's the low standing
floor models that appeal to me, and not seen since the 1980's in American homes like this
one below.


Below is the plan for what I'm hoping to create. And of course a 32" smart tv would 
be ideal, as anything larger would then require a larger cabinet.



Below is the sticky back plastic Fablon that I've ordered from Amazon, having looked
over hundreds of colours and shades. And this one is perfect and just the one I've been
looking for. It'll give the tv cabinet a real woody look.

Wednesday, 21 October 2026

No 15 From My All Time Favourite 90's Dance Classics

SALTWATER BY CHICANE

The closing out of the decade of the 1990's gave us this wonderful tune that for me was the
sound of Summer 1999. And it also reminds me of my several visits to Cornwall that Summer.

It was written and produced by deejay, composer and electronic musician Chicane, better known
as Nicholas Bracegirdle. And the haunting vocals are by Irish Folk singer Moya Brennan from
the group Clannad, and Sister of Enya. I was so sad to hear of Moya's passing earlier this year.
I still treasure many of my Clannad CD's.
Clannad had the knack of bridging the gap between traditional Celtic music and Pop.
So you can imagine my excitement when this first came out as it gave some well needed
exposure for Moya along with Clannad.

Video kindly uploaded to Youtube by

More of My Home Movies


 

So here above we have some more edits from my old home videos, including some brief
shots when I sat for an artist. Although to be honest I wasn't overawed with the artist's
sketches. I think the video clips were more interesting.
More of my other videos posted HERE

Monday, 19 October 2026

No 16 From My All Time Favourite 90's Dance Classics

If ever there was a monster anthem from the golden days of Dance and House Music,
then it had to be this one by The O.T Quartet titled 'Hold That Sucker Down.'
Originally released in 1994, it steered Dance Music into a new direction called Trance.

Video kindly uploaded to Youtube by

Monday, 12 October 2026

No 17 From My All Time Favourite 90's Dance Classics

For my next Classic Dance tune I've chosen the iconic 1991 'Papua New Guinea' by The Future Sound
of London. The duo consist of  Gary Cobain and Brian Dougans who first met in the mid 1980's
while studying electronics at University in Manchester, although they might not describe it
as a Dance tune. But it certainly was a different sound. And it may have even been a forerunner
to the new Ambient and Chill out sounds that were soon to take off.

VIDEO KINDLY UPLOADED TO YOUTUBE BY

Above Gary Cobain and Brian Dougans back in the day. 
And as featured in an archive magazine
article HERE

Ingenious


Last week while passing one of the houses here in North London I saw this cleverly built
garden seat, and it was all made out of timber from a wooden pallet.
Of course this takes me back to August 2021 when I found a huge wooden pallet and created
a large plant container for the front of my house. And building the actual plant container was easy enough. The hardest part was breaking up the wooden pallet.
And so 5 years on and the plant container is still holding up.

That Summer Building Project can be seen HERE

No 18 From My All Time Favourite 90's Dance Classics

In 1993 The Dance Music scene was really getting into it's stride. Clubs were doing good
business and clubbers knew that something special was happening.
And so a top tune that I took to that year was this one by Monie Love. Of course there were
several mixes, but I particularly liked this Fire Island mix. Although it does actually sound like
there's a gospel vibe to it.

THE POWER - FIRE ISLAND MIX - MONIE LOVE (1993)

VIDEO KINDLY UPLOADED TO YOUTUBE BY SOULFUL EXCLUSIVE