Turkey Glue (figure that one out....)

We got a dryer a few months back and didnt consider how much water vapour comes out of one of those things so as a result our laundry room has been like a steam room for the last few months. I have had a part on order for ages, essentially just a big hose, but its fire rated and comes with all special attachments (which i didnt use) and all that stuff so it took ages to arrive. It finally arrived two days ago so I got busy this evening installing it.
 
Here is the dryer in the laundry room/brewery, note pure fancy new shiny pipe out the back.
 
And here is the view from one of the side windows, hose protruding neatly from the gap on top of the window. (is that how you spell protruding?)
 
Here it is inside, a bit less conspicous than i had imagined (conspicious? my spelling is terrribel ;) )
 
And my favourite bit, which i used instead of all the fancy cable ties and plastic attachment yokes.......holding it all together perfectly.......DUCT TAPE. My motto is, if something cant be fixed up with duct tape, then it can not be fixed. I use this stuff ALL the time, in tribute to this guy, especially the good stuff, that cloth duct tape, how handy is that?!?!?

Just to tidy up this blogette, DUCT tape, sounds like DUCK tape, which is an alternative to Turkey Glue (see the title). Funny? you decide. Now over to you bob for sports and weather...........

Arisen from the ashes.....

So, the other day between gigs, I had half an hour to hammer it all back together. Out with the leatherman tool, the hammer and the drill.

And here it all is, a combination of screws and duct-tape (list of things i have made with duct tape) holding it together and at the end i had 3 left over bits of wood....hmmmm

Anyway here it is, right back to the front line, slightly bockety looking and bearing many the scorch wound. On account of its resurection i stuck a picture of a pheonix to the front.

End score: Vandals with explosives 0 - Charlie 1

vrooooooooooooooooooom

So, after much waiting and deliberating over the benifits of having a second car or not, i went out yesterday and got myself an electric fold up bike from these guys.

It has a range of about 50kms on a single charge, top unassisted speed of 25kph, and i clocked 35kph on the way into work this morning without too much effort. the important thing to remember about this is that its a commuting alternative, not an exercise alternative, although saying that, I probably will do more cycling on this bike than my normal one as this will give me a greater range. I can cycle all the way to freo unassisted then get a bit of help with the hills on the way back if i'm wrecked.

Here it is all folded up. It weighs 18kilos and you could fit about 3 of these in the back of a small hatchback easily. It has 3 locomotive modes. Unassisted, so just like a normal bike, six gears. Assisted, where its like being on a tandem going downhill with the wind and Lance Armstrong in the back seat giving it welly, the motor kicks in when your speed drops below 25kph and then the last mode, which is sheer bliss, where you just crank the handle and whizz along just like a scooter. You can switch between any of the drive modes at will, instantly, this morning, I cut my travel time in half by using the power for going uphills

So, i owned it for about 20 mins, and you know it, out came the duct tape (and the beer)

I covered up all that shiny writing with duct tape so now it looks sleek like Knight Rider

Wiplstix Mod

So there we go. All done pretty much, and it still fits in the case with the bow (I thought the fine-tuners on the tailpiece would have been in the way but it worked out just fine)

 
 
Then out with the good ol duct tape. If it can’t be fixed with duct tape it can’t be fixed! I decided on green and covered it good and neat, then I used heavy duty cable ties as attachments for two straps.

 

The greatest Isle in the DIY shop

Yup, velcro and duct tape, cornerstones of any DIY job.

Finns New Gaff

Remember that clothes dryer we bought last week? Well a few beers, some duct tape and a knife and this was the end result. Tis a wee home away from home for Finn. Check out the inner shelves, the outer window box/book shelf and the tennisball for a doorhandle

Then i took it out the back and used some old spray paint we had hanging around from when we painted the vegiepatch (in the background there). Then i printed out a load of photos of the lot of us, and some thomas the tank engine etc and stuck them outside and in.

Add a few toys (note silver letterbox and silver key in the door) and taaa daaaahhh

And this is the interior, with a back door, a selection of jenga bricks and a keyboard. I am going to get one of my old handleld PC's and load it up with episodes of his favourite shows and then stick it inside a cardboard cutout of a telly and tape it to the wall, he is gonna love the thing, and if he doesnt like it I'm moving in!

Semi-automatic violin

We have had an old half size violin at the back of a wardrobe for the last few years and it is of no use to us, so last sunday, whilst enjoying a cold beer on the verandah, i got out the leatherman tool and dismantled a set of speakers and popped them in the back.

Here you can see the speaker assembly, the pod and also a bit of computer RAM to make it look futurey, of course its all held together with duct tape and velcro... not the prettiest sawing job as I was in a rush to prepare for a gig that evening, but I intend to tidy it up next weekend.

Here you can see the two speaker cones right behind the f-holes

And here it was last night at its premiere recital at 228 The Strand

More modifications

I fitted a bottle holder to the bike yesterday evening (not that cycling this thing ever makes you thirsty, but its good to have choices. It will also hold a bottle of beer......)

I got out my trusty leatherman and duct tape and velcro combination and made myself a phone holder for the handlebars, now my bike has GPS, hands free phone, the internet and a music player/radio

Here it is again, I think I might move the torch and install the phone landscape mode later on today to see how that works out

Vrooooooooooooooom. Cycled all over the place with this thing yesterday, did all the errands I needed to do in about half the time it would normally take. This thing will be perfect for gigs too, there are a lot of shows I do where I find parking beforehand really tricky and get stuck in the traffic afterwards too, I can cycle right into the pit with this thing!

Outdoor cinema

We have done a few outdoor cinema evenings here at the strand, but always out the back, and a few times in the bar. Last night was the trial run of our front garden cinema. Here is the rigging, held together with, you guessed it, duct tape!!!!

Here is the sheet, all ready to go now, just have to wait till it gets dark.

We watched the new star trek movie, great craic, popcorn, the works.

A happy audience.

Upgrades...

Here is the new projector screen

Slightly different to the old one in the way that this one no longer needs a stand, it is entirelly supported from the tree by, you guessed it, DUCT TAPE!!!! Green so it blends in like.....

More upgrades......

It is coming into the autumn here so we get the occasional shower, so I felt it necessary to pack my all weather gear this morning on the way to school. Three cable ties and a keyring clip and away we go. (note no duct tape OR velcro was used.....)

All done

Here is where I keep the lock

And here it is all modded up for the mornings ride/glide to work

And here I am 10 mins after leaving the house, already locked up at work. Effortless commute, its exactly like when i had that scooter years ago in cork, but no petrol and it fits in the boot of the car.

Here is another closeup of the motor in the wheel hub, and the businesscard holder i made out of duct-tape with the shops business cards in the side, im gonna be asked a lot about this bike and the guy in the shop was really helpfull so im really keen to spread the word.