Life has been a mass of confusions and conundrums since October last year. And is still ongoing. It has been a very strange mix of unwanted stories. Stress persists still after months on months of different scary illnesses, unlooked for impactful episodes and events, a Status Quo description of daily life attached to Frankie the Cat wanting to always be outside (he has to have, for safety reasons, a 50 feet rope lead and harness and gets tangled up continually in trees, around garden furniture, etc.). Being of a Bengal and Maine Coon mix, he is a really hyperactive feline. Apart from a couple of hours sleep in the day he simply doesn’t keep still. The constant attention required truly wears us both down.

Stress on a daily basis persists. Even yesterday, a loud clattering bang noise came from upstairs. Frankie the Fella cat had jumped up onto my Apple Mac home studio music equipment collective and the studio monitor came crashing down with the screen hitting the desktop. Initially I thought the expensive screen and mixing desk would be broken. It wasn’t luckily. Keyboard, mouse, CD/DVD writer, microphones, etc were all over the Den’s floor. I felt like crying.

However. Summers’ Philosophy? Negatives have to be replaced with positives. To seek to think more clearly and calmly. To meet and tread life’s ongoing pathways softly and gently. To live life quietly and with grace. And ultimately, be respectful to the fact that, in general, being alive and waking up daily with new hope for your ongoing journey is a beautiful gift.

A few weeks ago the VeeDub Bus was finished concerning the fitting of the new ‘all singing and dancing’ carburettor. So the engine is much more reliable now and has eliminated the frustrations of the old stock Solex VW standard original one cutting out when ‘idling’. Used to be that I would approach a road’s junction, slow down in traffic, etc. and the engine always stalled. Frustrating to say the least. Now? The new Weber Twin Port carburettor doesn’t miss a beat. And much more powerful too. It was a pleasure driving the VeeDub for a week a few weeks ago. Down to the local Ynyslas beach/dunes a few times and the Cwm Rheidol riverside. Grandchildren loved the week’s visit here in Wales a few weeks back with the Dub being back again as a little highlight amongst the beach and riverside vibes.

The following weeks after the family visit, the VeeDub Billie the Buddy Bus, went back to the workshop and is currently having a few bodywork patches resprayed. This after a couple of weeks of new metal work under the chassis and around the wheel arches being welded in. Now all is safe and strong again. Trouble with living near the sea’s coast? Sea air can really affect and be detrimental to an old classic vehicle’s bodywork. Over the years causing unlooked for rust. Why? The metal of bodies of classic VW campers are constructed from stamped steel panels. These are welded together. Steel! Not stainless steel. The work done? I have the local restoration guy Paul to thank for it all. A true VeeDub Guru. So Billie has a new lease of life.

So other VeeDub social and music project plans? I bought this Bluetti Power Station below. It will improve the quality of the VeeDub Social and Music Making Inclusions because it is basically an efficient 2,000 watt power source for providing many electrical item opportunities. Four three pin plug banks, DC 12 volt input, USB C and A ports, etc. for various electrical items. Basically has AC, DC and USB ports.

The ways it can be charged are numerous. Firstly, in the house using mains electricity (simply plug it in and about an hour and a half later it is fully charged). An outside charge up can be obtained by using the VeeDub’s 12 volt battery (through the cigarette lighter port) when driving along; an electric port on a campsite; or a bank of four jointed Solar Panels can be set up quickly and we can go eco friendly. The Bluetti can last up to 36 hours before needing recharge depending on what is being used.

Music production? The Tascam Model 12 music mixing desk system can now be used in the VeeDub with opportunities to have other musicians plug in too. Microphones, guitars, keyboards, electronic drum kit, etc. to be considered. All music played collectively by musicians and singers out in the open air can be recorded and captured on the Tascam SD card. A little ‘jam session’ of sorts. Then, when home, upload the Tascam’s SD card outdoor captures into the indoor Apple Mac M2 recording system. Then the resulting music can be worked on and polished up.

Be nice to get an outdoor vibe of well being and happiness going.

Kettle on, bit of food cooked, camp log fire lit under a star filled sky, live music being played from various musicians, music listened to from CD’s……what’s not to love about that.