Studio Update

I just finished watching the Beijing 2008 Olympics opening ceremony and was astonished at the visual effects, the precision of the performers and of course the pyrotechnics. What an immense amount of planning organising and logistics must have gone into this event...almost as much as has gone into the transferring of my studio from matchbox sized bedroom to garage.

Currently the instrument shelf is in place (which spans almost all the way across the garage), the area is also now carpeted, with a large red and gold Persian like design piece of carpet which matches the gold velvet David Lynch style curtains which currently cover the window, but will eventually wrap around the room. The whole decor of the room is starting to look rather Buddhist. The leather lounge and two rocking single seater matching chairs (which also double as great reading chairs) are also in place. But my greatest (though most torturous) achievement award of the week goes to the large shelf I managed to construct.

Now I must establish that I am no carpenter, though enjoy building stuff, or more honestly seeing a good looking finished product which I know I built. This week though it was not to be. Firstly I had trouble with drilling into the brick wall. After melting the tips of a number of masonry drill bits and sheering numerous screws, I had my shelf brackets up. As I placed wooden shelf on them, I noticed that there should probably be another bracket in the middle (due to the slight bow in the centre of the shelf ) whilst also noticing that the shelving was quite lot deeper than what the bracket arms extended, but it'll do. I was proud of my half arsed job, and started loading up the gear. Needless to say, a few hours later, i heard an almighty crash from the other end of the house. I didn't need to ask myself what has made that god awful sound, my keen sense of intuition and the inevitable (though against all hope) was spot on. I spent the rest of the afternoon clearing up the debris of a shelf and contents that (as much as they struggled) could not hang on to the wall. I slept on it that night to return to the scene of the crime the next day.

With my next attempt, I decided to use ramset plugs which were supposed to carry greater weight, but as I tested the bracket, once again it pulled out of the wall. I was frustrated and confused. I spent the rest of the afternoon testing different wall plugs and screw lengths until I had a combination which seemed successful, so I went with it, changed all the plugs, used longer screws, added two centre supports, and finally placed the shelf on the brackets. So far the monolith still stands, and I feel confident about loading it up without a repeat collapse.
This little experience (in addition to many similar botched construction attempts) convinces me that my tendency to do things my way, then the right way is still alive and well in my nature. Good to see I haven't changed.

This coming week I will move my computers and other music gear into their new home and sort out and organize my mess of leads and various bits and pieces (hopefully I will have room for everything). I should be up and running around mid week. After that the only sounds I expect to hear from the room are musical ones.

I will leave you with an apt soundrack to the week

Cheers.
Ecca (the shelf erecta)



Soundtrack for the week.