#The VeeDub Bus, Uncategorized

The VeeDub Bus.

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My VeeDub in better days. The Rheidol Valley. Wales, UK.

I believe the dream of promoting the blog theme regarding ‘Retired Nurse in a VeeDub Bus’ is now coming to the realisation and conclusion of ‘It is getting very close to the decision of it being a no-no’. Is it actually worth it!

It isn’t an option presently for getting out in the Bus to create any blog themed ideas. No camper van lifestyle experiences to write interesting blog content. September last year I was toying with the idea of recording music in the VeeDub after getting a new lease of life in focusing on being a musician again with purpose. By also getting an ambience of outdoor vibes and get togethers with local musicians and simply playing and sharing ideas. I had/have been watching similar themes on YouTube over the months. I was fascinated with one guy, Marten, who is inviting street musicians into his camper van studio. An essential central place for recording them live.

Great link to a YouTube site below. This first linked site below is by Marten, a young sound engineer. He also has many more uploads on his YouTube site too. Just a few examples below of many.

https://youtu.be/ZEblEp0FKW8?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/JXI2qYueKKA?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/5SkymnEZ_Fk?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/q1c289fAP0U?feature=shared

Ynyslas Dune Bay. Wales, UK. A 15 minute drive and therefore a whisker-kiss away from my house.

Back to my Bus. The VeeDub Bus still hasn’t hit the road since last September after picking her up. I have no desire whatsoever to actually get in her and drive. I don’t trust the safety of her any more. It doesn’t need an MOT as a historic vehicle. But I always make sure it has one. Currently? It is months upon months out of date. I need MOT reassurance before taking her out again after almost 7 months of inactivity. After spending out on it last year, and many year’s previous to that too, it still has problems.

Petrol gauge not working since picking her up last year; the engine stutters and cuts out; rain through the driver’s window finds itself pooling inside the door frame and then ended up getting the cab sisal floor matting soaking wet (bought new last year and now stain discoloured); split rubber hose on the window washer system which dumped the full washer water bottle content all over the sisal matting too; ruined and mouldy door cards that have been replaced recently, but are in danger of getting damp and warped again; the driver’s door entry foot plate to stand on and get into the bus is broken and held up with string; a fair few paint areas around the arches and door seams are blistering badly; rust is appearing; splits in the painted side panel work welding joints are appearing; battery continually flattening and needing recharging; etc.

New sisal matting before it became patchy with water stains.

It is just a collection of niggles that give me a reluctance to feel positive about the old bus. So it just sits there on the drive. And the weeks….on to months of persistent rain here in Wales, UK, aren’t actually giving any motivation to sit out somewhere on a beach, in forestry, by riverside or lakeside whilst gently strumming a guitar whilst the kettle boils for coffee making inside the VeeDub.

The inner green sanctum from a couple of years ago.

The recent music aim, I have recently written blogs about, has been to consider recording my self written songs and getting the technical needs to achieve decent home recordings. Apple Mac laptop or desktop choices from their M series allowing high quality home recording studio options. It would be brilliant to get that equipment set up inside the VeeDub. But it will take so much effort. So once again, despite feeling tired and overwhelmed, I have to drag up an air of determined positivity and focus upon self motivation. I’m actually not sure I can anymore.

I’m just getting a little too old now. But I could never give up on the Bus.

PLEASE TAP ON THE PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW TO ENLARGE.

The bottom drawing above is the cover of a book of poems. The inspiration for the drawing came from our VeeDub. The artist, a friend, took photographs of the inside of our VeeDub for inspiration.

24 thoughts on “The VeeDub Bus.”

    1. Hi cookie. Niggles are problems that are both irksome and also get in the way of going out in the VeeDub with confidence. Basically they are little ongoing conundrums that keep arriving to test you. Built in 1972, she hasn’t all the modern abilities that can be easily sorted. Engine cutting out and spluttering to a halt is not great. And now the damp inside and outside issues. We have had months of rain over here cookie. It seems to have been the worst winter for rain that I can remember. So no sunshine for elongated drying out possibility.

      The reason I can’t give up on her is the knowledge of past amazing experiences with her. And, as you say, the music/musicians in a VeeDub Bus ‘hippy/Bohemian/hipster vibe that is a fantastic hoped for. The YouTube videos of similar ideas I have been watching are inspiring. Spot on with your comment…..It would be amazing to do a ‘band on the run’ scenario story. Paul McCartney’s Wings and that album especially? Genius. Cheers cookie. Great comment as always.

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  2. Is there an undercover area for the bus Gray? Like the idea of turning it into a recording (music space). Only one suggestion (reading between the lines) just take your time. All the best with the VeeDub – it’s way cool or as my son would say “funky fresh”. Cheers Shep

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    1. Hi Shep. I don’t own a garage at front of my house. So the ‘funky fresh’ Dub gets less fresh with the perpetual damp weather. Being close to the sea also has salt in the air. So in sitting out in the elements it suffers. I always had the idea of doing podcast chats from the Dub with a bit of music thrown in. Since this new project presented itself last year, the ideas have developed into the recording in the Dub. I’ve seen it done when I’ve looked a few years ago. I bought a solar panel and converters to get a power supply for iPad recording on my Shure MV88 mic with use of GarageBand. Be great to get a laptop loaded with decent Logic Pro recording abilities in the mix too. You’re spot on concerning taking time. It’s just frustrating that obstacles keep appearing recently. I suppose it’s good that I seem to be an eternal optimist. As you, by your encouraging words here, are too Shep. All the best.

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    1. Ynyslas has been a very frequented place since moving up here almost 30 years ago. Visitors of family and friends have spent whole days there with the VeeDub providing ability to cook and make drinks. This last winter’s, and still current, rain has halted popping down to the bay and walking through the dunes to the beach and open sea views for months now. It’s overcast and raining this morning!

      Taking the VeeDub on short excursions here in the rural aspect Sheila is a great idea. But it still involves a fair few miles. Also, we are not in the back of beyond. There are vehicles seen when taking a drive from our house. We live in a village, located on a main South to North main through road, and tourists are keen on our surrounding offerings. So other vehicles are often around. We have motorbike enthusiasts visiting the area often too. Once a week over the summer weekends they gather in Aberystwyth, about 10 miles from our place, in their hundreds. Richard, if witnessing them, would get inspired to write a song! Great value comment of yours. Worth far more than two cents. 😊 Cheers Sheila.

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      2. You wouldn’t enjoy the rain volume presently Sheila. Just watching the Welsh news on TV. How it is impacting badly on both crop and livestock. It has been months upon months since last year. But when Wakes is dry and has sunshine, there is no better place on Earth. So life changing moving here 30 years ago. My Dad and Grancher were born in South Wales. My Grancher moved to England when my Dad was very young to find work. Worked in Massey Ferguson tractor company. All the best.

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      3. Very cool about your family ties and the tractor company. Massey Ferguson tractors were the brand my dad and family members felt were best.

        I hear you about all the rain, Gray. Yes, too much or too little isn’t good for the crops. I never thought about the livestock, but if they have no shelter I can imagine it would take its toll on them too.

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      4. Exactly the right thought regarding shelter for livestock and new born’s. The farmers were talking of the need to keep livestock indoors due to waterlogged fields. And it being contraindicated for long periods.

        I did take some film photographs of vintage MF tractors being used still in old farming threshing methods. A local project with a number of farmer enthusiasts taking part. These local farmers asked me to take a series of black and white photographs as a story board scenario. And the day spent was wonderfully hot. Up in the hills. The farm overlooked that same sea in the video too. Cheers Sheila.

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  4. How disappointing, but understandable. I like the idea of using it as a pseudo music studio or as a worse case scenario, using the veedub as the place for inspiration or engage in mindfulness. On a personal note, I love the sisal matting.

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    1. Cheers Danny. The sisal matting can be bought in individual pieces. So I don’t have to keep buying the full kit. I will replace the cab floor one again later down the line. I had to replace the new under seats ones due to them getting absolutely soaking wet. So these under seat ones were the third set. The cab floor has a thick underlay addition too. So will need to get that too probably.

      The Dub sits on our driveway overlooking the open fields and onwards to seeing the thin line of the sea’s presence. The sliding door is on that side for sitting, grabbing a coffee and simply taking in the view. So a great piece of advice from you there. I often did Mindfulness meditation when arriving and parking up somewhere quiet. As you say, it was very inspirational for calming fractious nurse work experiences.

      The dashboard has magnetic lettering in one of the photographs here which says about it being a ‘green sanctuary’. I have always felt that way about the Dub. Hence waiting a while, like Shep the harmonica (harp) player says above in a comment, and let the answers evolve into sorting this one out. All the best Danny.

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    1. You are looking at the very beach which we have walked over and over hundreds of times since moving here. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to drive to from our house. The little town over the bay is called Aberdovey. A beautiful place, but packed during tourist seasons.

      When the camera drone goes the other way, over the dunes, to look inland, our little village lies ‘over there’. So you are witnessing, in this beautiful video, exactly my surrounding local environment Sheila. And thank you for sharing. I have never seen this one and sat and watched start to finish. Very calming.

      Now you can understand my comment re: tourists. Cheers Sheila.

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  7. It’s such a shame that your VW bus lets you down like that. I know from my father’s bus experience that maintaining an oldtimer is time-consuming and expensive and that you need to have the necessary skills to keep it all affordable. Hopefully, by the summer months approach, you will be able to patch up your VW bus to enjoy it again. Best regards Gray.

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    1. Thank you Pascal. I wish it were like keeping a vintage fountain pen alive. Far less expensive. And sometimes, like fountain pens, hunting down original parts can present you with further problems regarding their current efficacy. Especially second hand used. Original non used parts are hard to find. Modern parts replacement is getting extremely expensive suddenly too. After the UK left the EU and Covid happened, the prices rocketed! Your Father had great choice in a vehicle though. Lovely to own when they behave. All the best Pascal.

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  8. Definitely worth the revamp, Gray … has such a wonderful look to it
    spent a lot of time hovering around my dad when he fancied a revamp…was fun too lol.

    best wishes, Gray 🤍🙏

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    1. With retirement Destiny and now an old aged pensioner 😆 I do have to prioritise with the music needs too. Currently looking at the best Apple Mac laptops with the best inherent structure to record songs. And it is a bit eye watering to how much they cost. Keeping the VeeDub afloat and able to use it confidently on the road takes cash considerations too. So reality says that I have to seek what is most important to focus upon. Music wins hands down. I trust in what will be, will be presently. If I can record my songs over the coming year, and see progress, then a few odd periods of inactivity can be VeeDub related. Thank you for your positivity. Much valued. Your Dad sounds like a very interesting and adventurous man. Cheers Destiny.

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      1. Understandable and true to your music winning hands down… (wishing loads of cash you way lol🤭 your VeeDub really looks like it will make a lovely project to work on)
        Ah…my dad-he was a really interesting (not too adventurous lol) and wonderful person. You remind me much of him 🤍

        my pleasure and most welcome, Gray…wish everything of the best for all the hopes you have 🙏

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      2. Thank you Destiny. Cash! What’s that. 😊 Lottery draw here in the UK tonight. So fingers crossed. Thank you too for your Dad comparison. That’s a very nice comment. All the best Destiny. 🙏🏽

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      3. lol, fingers crossed 😁
        we too have those lottery draws here…and each time I say I hope I win it…my daughter reminds me I have to buy a ticket first 🤭

        welcome and thank you , Gray 🙏

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