SUNKYSPEAKS

How I spent my Sunday afternoon upcycling an old shelf into a toy box.

When Bernard grew too big to fit under his favourite table, we had to remove the shelf in the middle. But what to do with it? … aww, look at little Bernard! 

Over a year and bit later, I had an idea. So I hacked it apart to build a toy box for Bernard.

2 hours later here we have it! All cut up and painted in our usual bright colours. I made the sides slope up for Bernie can step in and grab the toys. Also allowed me to use the off cuts for the back.

One happy customer! Even though he doesn’t look that happy - he is! … he just woke up from his nap. Aww.

30 records, 1 iPhone.

Let me start off by saying this, Wanda Jackson totally blew my mind the last 2 weeks, I am totally in love with her and her sound. Other loves from the last selection of 30 records were Ray Condo and His Ricochets - Swing Brother Swing! and The Reverend Horton Heat - It’s Martini Time (The Rev is back for another 2 weeks with another record this time). 

This time I’m looking back to a few punk albums from mid-late 90’s that I really loved, Kerplunk! and Life Won’t Wait to name a few. Plus wanting to to understand some new albums that didn’t click on the first listen or that I’ve just avoided …

The Living End - The Ending Is Just The Beginning Repeating, I’ve avoided listening to this album since it came out. Why? Well this band meant so much to me and with each album since Roll On it has been a let down. I’m sure others out there have loved their albums, but before these there was a real rockabilly/punk sound that I personally think hasn’t been there since. It’s been boring paint by numbers music, with some bland lyrics from Cheney. Anyway, I’ll see how I go and see if it clicks … if not, this might be the final goodbye to following their new music. 

01. Adalita - Adalita
02. Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See
03. Beck -  Sea Chnage
04. Bill Haley and His Comets - See Your Later Alligator
05. Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi
06. The Cure - Wish
07. Day of the Dead - Kill or Be Killed
08. The Decemberists - Her Majesty
09. Elliot Smith - Figure 8
10. Elvis Presley - Elvis
11. Feist - The Reminder
12. Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials
13. Green Day - Kerplunk!
14. Handsome Furs - Face Control
15. Hepcat - Right on Time
16. Hillbilly Hellcats - Rev It Up With Taz
17. James Dean Bradfield - The Great Western
18. Jimi Hendrix - The Ultimate Experience
19. The Living End - The Ending if Just the Beginning Repeating
20. Marianne Faithfull - Kissin Time
21. Mates of  State - Bring it Back
22. No Doubt - Return of Saturn 
23. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
24. R.E.M - New Adventures in Hi-Fi
25. Rancid - Life Won’t Wait
26. Reverend Horton Heat - Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em
27. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker
28. Sonic Youth - A Thousand Leaves
29. Suede - Head Music
30. You Am I - Hi-Fi Way

30 records, 1 iPhone.

It’s been another fortnight and selecting another 30 records. Last time the collection made me realise there are some bands I’ve tried to click with on numerous times and for whatever reason, they just don’t do anything for me. The records came as recommendations and while on paper I ‘should’ enjoy them, I just don’t. That’s really been a part of this process for me over the years, giving the attention to an album I’ve acquired in the past and seeing if the love has gone-remained-increased … for some it had gone, some it was never there (The Libertines being a prime example, seriously I’ve tried and tried). 

I fell in love with Purple Rain over the last 2 weeks, this is the album that I’ve enjoyed in the past but over the last few weeks has become something more to me. So good work Princey Princey! Also from last time I’m on a huge Elvis Presley kick at the moment and looking at my last.fm it shows. So from that sort of ‘kick’ it has influenced my collections to be my usual rockabilly sounds, with a bit of punk/ska thrown in … and of course my usual The Smiths/Morrissey combo.

Also friends would notice that this year, haven’t had a single Smashing Pumpkins record, which is rare for me … I’m planning on not listening to any (or minimal) Pumpkins until Oceania is released (at this stage) in March. The idea being, fresh ears for a fresh band. Everybody needs a break from the band they love every now and then, right? 

The list:

01. April March - Paris in April
02. Ash - Free All Angels
03. The Beatles - A Hard Day’s Night 
04. The Brian Setzer Orchestra - The Brian Setzer Orchestra
05. The Clash - The Clash
06. The Creepshow - Run For Your Life
07. Elvis Presley - Star Mark Collection
08. The Hives - Veni Vidi Vicious
09. The Horrors - Secret House
10. The International Noise Conspiracy - The First Conspiracy
11. Jenny and Johnny - I’m Having Fun Now
12. Little Richard - Long Tall Sally
13. The Living End - Hellbound
14. Morrissey - Bona Drag
15. No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom
16. Patsy Cline - Greatest Hits
17. Placebo - Placebo
18. Plumtree - Mass Teen Fainting
19. The Ramones - Rocket to Russia
20. Ray Condo and His Ricochets - Swing Brother Swing!
21. The Reverend Horton Heat - It’s Martini Time
22. Rockin’ Ryan and the Real Goners - Cry of Midnight
23. Ryan Adams - Demolition
24. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
25. The Smiths - Louder Than Bombs
26. The Suicide Machines - Destruction by Definition 
27. Tim Rogers and the Twin Set - What Rhymes With Cars and Girls
28. Wanda Jackson - Queen of Rockabilly
29. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
30. The 5.6.7.8’s - The 5.6.7.8’s

My Grandfather’s His Master’s Voice fridge, circa 1950.

Above is a 1950’s His Master’s Voice (HMV) fridge and was owned by my late grandfather (Pop). Ever since I was a small child he would say to me “One day Simon, that fridge will be yours.” He passed away 6 years ago, then recently my Nanna has moved out of their house into an aged care facility and now their house of 35 years is empty.

My Nanna has allowed me to move this wonderful family treasure to our house, I feel so privileged to have such an amazing piece of commercial white-goods design in our home. The first photo shows where the fridge has lived in their garage for 35 years.

Just looking at the design, once you compare this to modern day fridges, the level of design effort is far superior - but size just doesn’t cut it, so it will be our ‘second drinks fridge’. From the large oval shaped handle to the detail of design on the ‘Frozen Food Chest’ section, I’m totally in awe with this working bit of art.