Monday, August 11, 2025

Warmer sounds

 

We may be heading into another heatwave this week so layers may end up being off and sleep might happen downstairs as hot air rises (and how in this house) so I've got most things done in advance which has taken a bit out of me but less than the attempt to do same during that heatwave.

I've checked up on the record racks to ensure things are more upright rather than snaking with bulges to avoid major warping issues.

There's been a few new record arrive in the last few weeks, mainly classical and one came a few days ago. 


 Issued originally in 1976, this was an early classical lp I did have but it runs for just under an hour which is a lot to get on a single lp so it didn't sound as good as it could.

Recently though the original four channel tape was found and that has been used, remixed on the fly  cut directly to vinyl over two discs now.

It unusually for classic records was also cut at 45 rpm who audiophiles maintain sounds cleaner, something that specialty popular labels having been doing for a while and it does now sound fuller while at the same time allowing to be cut louder does reduce surface noise which is telling in the quietest moments and decaying seconds of notes.

It was well worth it. 

Monday, August 4, 2025

Cuteness my way

It is August and it feels like ages since I last made a post a bit like this, shifting interests, other things intruding a bit more than is necessarily good for me, some issues elsewhere around things and the odd hole emerging.


Way back around 2009/10 I liked going to BHS in the City Centre because they stocked a good selection of things like cute knickers and socks that easily matched everything else I wore however broad that might be compared to so folks tastes.

Things like cute animals such panda's, pretty hearts and stars tended to feature or just more pale pastel designs but they've been gone for ages.


So Neko me chose cats that happened to be stocked by Accessorise In Style (their spelling NEVER mine!) on CatBay tm in a super soft finish in this ankle length design which is ideal for the summer months when you need something between shoes or trainers and your lower paws.

And they're just fine.

Monday, July 28, 2025

Likes an that

We'd be normally away this week but for reasons that's not happening this time so we're looking at other things rather packing cases like really what are you about as this girl as not everyone is the same even some might think you *ought* to tick their boxes.

Really I'm not in with the more uber-frilly sort for a number of reasons that include practicality as a person like me who struggles with dressing and isn't very stable doesn't need something with lots of buttons, tie-up fastenings and so pouffed out skirts and dresses I may catch myself in them, falling over.

I'd need help with things like that which isn't really what other peoples breaks are for by a long shot. 

 
 
It's not that I don't like dolls in their frilly outfits, bows and a bit of pink and objects that more decorative than functional and currently I'm colouring in Barbie but I like being out of doors more and that's not the environment that lends itself to frilly stuff not least on walks when you'd easily get tangled up and no I'm not really into classic "little girl dresses" even you might get me into some a bit frillier than what you'd normally expect.
 
I've been dusting off some classic 80's albums by Haircut 100 and Nick Heyward in the cd racks and this one featuring a reproduction of a postcard of Lake Louise, On. is one from 2017 I liked rather a lot and they're on tape.
 
Well one started off as a tape originally and two were taped back in the mid 1980's on an early hifi set up I had. I just love songs and singing.
 

Monday, July 21, 2025

July round up

Cooler weather most certainly suits me better that's a fact and one era I like to get out to is Hassall Green which isn't so far away  along the canal which is fairly busy at this time of year making their way from the Midlands to Runcorn and beyond in the North.

Fortunately apart from being on the Salt Line, the local bus does pass near it which helps as walking along the main road to Sandbach large portions without any kind of pathway isn't for the fainthearted.
 

There's been a few records in replacing a number that went AWL many years ago which have been cleaned sleeved and played. 

 In other news Hacker T Dogg will be joining the Blue Peter team as presenter number 44 from September 5th according to Friday's reveal on the show before it takes a summer break although activities have been posted on the Fan Club page for people to have a go at during that period before the new style show resumes.

Monday, July 14, 2025

Hot changes ahead

 

Phew it's been a very hot weekend with my head feeling rather like it's been baked despite keeping in the shade and drinking a lot of fluids as really when you run hot like me you really don't do warm although as I type this, the Steak pie is in the oven.

I also can see something going out to the junk pile as a 2019 Chromebook is having major dns and remembering  connections issues as it drops out of sites that you elect to stay logged into and lose connection.

I suppose you can look at that as a incentive to rationalize the machines as there are limits to just how many you really do need around and just transfer over to memory sticks the pictures linked to each internal account as they are the only things that matter as thanks to Google passwords and log in stuff is shared across different machines via the Google Account.

For lap usage I prefer the track pad rather than trying to balance machine on lp with mouse and mat somewhere within arms reach to do things as much as with Windows machines Mouse can be less likely to overshoot.

At least my renewed cds do sound great through the system apart from looking just fantastic in their replica sleeves.

Monday, July 7, 2025

Revisiting things

 

It's warming up again but not as bad as it was last Monday, that was something else so thoughts were looking at a few things I'd started over the decades and completing them not least with my cds as having made some changes to  the stereo over the last year or so I'm re-listening to a number and hearing a few things I hadn't noticed before on things like Lyin' Eyes from the DCC Gold version of Eagles - Their Greatest Hits.

I am finishing off a series of Beatles related titles that got paused just before Covid and decided a several decades kind of a version of a much lp would really benefit from a copy in not just better quality artwork but on better plastic material to stamp out the disc from.


2016's Live At The Hollywood Bowl wouldn't win any awards for the front cover, worse than the original tickets and tiny photo of the venue on beige background but was remixed to reduce the at times excessive audience screams that could almost obscure the bands performance.

This newer version feels better for higher quality card and even having a proper inner sleeve to protect the disc as cardboard soon marks discs when you take them out unless your very careful and pinch the slot open first.

Monday, June 30, 2025

"Tell me what you really want"

It feels warm already as here on saturday I'm typing this weeks blog up after an week trying to figure out how much of the old routines still applies and those which may need to change which isn't help be contradictory tales hours later.

To be quite honest I really feel like a break a totally swap over of roles to something more limiting but where I can just play and where possible help out a bit totally out of adult roles rather than being deluged with no holds bar medical stuff from dawn to dusk.

Just being more "carefree", playing games and that really the thing and we'll have to see if there's a hope of anything later this year or next remotely like that given how things are going on the communication or lack of front.

Fortunately I have comics which help to keep your spirits up.

This year isn't shaping up well and we're only just over a half way through.