Just a quick update on continuing with the VeeDub Bus vibe and taking ideas for YouTube upload ideas onto the open road. The umbrella term that is the Gray Summers Cloud 9 VeeDub Bus project. Thinking about the blog themes I’ve written about over the years, a fair few subjects have been considered. Aromatherapy, black and white film photography, vegetarian cookery, artisan coffee and teas, fountain pens and script, music in self songwriting, complementary therapy, nature, gardening, walking, my wife’s Wholefood shop…and lots more. It’s nice to have little oddity write ups that bring freshness to one’s life. And recording to video of such mini enquiries and adventures involved in life experiences ‘on the road’ could be a nice future consideration. But focus is currently on playing and capturing music in the VeeDub.

The music and songwriting project that is currently called ‘Frail Autumn’ is, and has always been in other past guises, a massive part of my life. Of all the blog’s thematic inclusions over the years, the Frail Autumn project, alongside the past bands I played in in the 1970/80s, are all a ‘life essential’. It will be a blessed relief to capture further musical ideas on the road ahead.

The VeeDub Bus has a compact space interior to consider. I was thinking where to house the bits and bobs required for outdoor music production. Larger items like a guitar or two, an amplifier/speaker combo, a djembe drum, etc. can be bungee held down in the back of the Bus. Smaller stuff like guitar/microphone leads; various electrical leads; all the different XLR/USB/MIDI/jacks/etc. connectors required to the technical recording stuff; microphones; the small compact AKAI MIDI professional keyboard, a few choices of small percussion instruments like tambourine, egg shakers, etc…….all need a decent housing container. The list of smaller useful items goes on and on, so it would be good to have one central container choice to dig into and say ‘Eureka…..we have one!’ Musicians would understand these small considerations. ‘Gray….you got a spare plectrum….lost mine. Or an E string. Just broke mine’ they may ask. ‘Sure’ I can say. And dive into my suitcase of tricks.

The lightbulb went on last night. If I am to make YouTube videos of a visual collective vibe? Aesthetics are a huge consideration in Summers-land. An ethnic/bohemian/vintage feel to suit the visuals. Visuals that a worn Tip-Top Hat and collared waistcoat feels comfortable amongst.

Tapping on the images below enlarges them.Cheers.

You lovely small band of blog friends who regularly visit my write ups know my love of vintage and understand this philosophy I cling to. Also. My favourite Pinterest email sends I have received recently have been Vanlife owners with ethnic/bohemian van/bus interiors. It feels like ‘Home’. Simply put….people in general like pigeon-holing the various genres of quirky and unusual stuff that present visually in life. Gothic, steam punk, bohemian, diverse Harajuku Japanese street fashion, Hygge, etc. Identifying and feeling a comfortable familiarity that certain genres, even though not belonging yourself to the philosophy, have a feel good aspect. You feel safe with their presentations. I’m currently looking at Friluftsliv lifestyle. Very much based on open air life, Nature’s Fix and its impact on improving holistic health.

Anyways. Back to storage and the lightbulb moment. My revelation was the Revelation named leather vintage suitcase I bought from a reclamation centre called CRAFT (Ceredigion Recycling And Furniture Team). Now based in the centre of Aberystwyth, Wales, it has many amazing finds. This amazing old treasure needs some leather food. Give it some support to carry on without falling to bits through dry status. Smells old inside presently. Not damp…..just that certain ancient complex musky aroma garnered from years of staying closed, without fresh air to waft away the captured left behind nuanced ‘notes’, and now needs some new aromas throwing at it. Choices to regain a rich, earthy, sweet, resinous vibe with some well chosen oils and nourishing creams. Essential oils like Frankincense, Myrrh, Benzoin and Geranium Bourbon steamed into the inside fabric and rubbed in Sheraton leather cream to the outside leather should do the trick. The suitcase has an extendable ability. Two metal bars on the back and the lock mechanism on the front can be lengthened and therefore giving a deeper internal space availability. Easily enough for all equipment considerations.

So, solution found. The Revelation Suitcase. Be nice to get a vintage roof rack on the front of the VeeDub to tie it down to. Very, very expensive though. And money is very tight for a state pension pensioner in these crazy inflated times. It can wait. There’s always the Bus floor space.

Cheers all.