Two out of three

Project Repair The Bass Guitar is proceeding well, I have two of the three components I ordered in hand (tuning knobs and nut, waiting on strings). None of the parts are the right part, but they'll be 'good enough' parts, at least enough to get noise out of it.

For a total spend so far of around $20, I'm hoping to end up with a functional (if ugly) bass guitar. I'm not counting the files, they're tools that I'll be able to use on other projects.

I'm not planning on joining a band or playing in public (or playing properly if I'm honest), but I'm hoping it'll satisfy my creativity itch. And if it doesn't, then at least I'm not too out of pocket.

Test drive

Not something I do too often, but today I had a chance to take a PT Cruiser out for a test drive.

Very nice car to drive, they nailed the gearbox on this one. Was able to do a bit of city driving just using first and second (less gear changing ment less effort and stress driving in city traffic), and long legs for driving on the highway. Was comfortably doing 100km/h in fourth, with fifth gear still in reserve. I'm a tall person, so I appreciated the headroom.

What I didn't like was the placement of the window controls (all four in the middle of the centre console) and the dim setting on the dash / radio were too dark. Not sure if this is a setting that can be changed by the user, but it was dark enough that I essentially just had a blank, black screen that couldn't be read.

Admittedly, when I turned the headlights off and they went back on normal settings, they were bright and easy to see. But for safety, I drive with the headlights on and in sunny conditions, couldn't make out the screens.

Also, I definitely didn't like the layout of the engine bay. I had to replace the battery (hence the reason for taking it out for a drive), and it was very awkward and required other parts to be removed in order to remove the battery.

One of the main reasons I dislike cars designed by computers...

Back home

Back at home again, so much warmer!

Been back about a week or so, didn't have much to write about. I've finally gotten around to ordering bits to repair the bass guitar. We picked it up off the side of the road in  ... uh ... 2016? A while back anyway. Missing a few bits but the body and neck seem straight. It has one string on it and when I tested it, it seemed to be working.

Spent about $22 so far, so that's not too bad an investment. Until I get these bits on, I won't know for sure if the guitar is good or not. If it isn't, I'll re-assess and decide if I want to put more money into it or just walk away.

I'm trying to sell the acoustic guitar, so if that sells, that'll cover some of the cost and also free up a guitar stand (reducing required expenses).

Fingers crossed!

Krispy Kreme

Landed in Adelaide about a week ago and noted that there was a Krispy Kreme donut stand in the lobby. Thinking about it all week, get back here and order a box to take home for the family and get told they accept card only, no cash.

Oh well, maybe next year. #SadPanda

Radelaide

Down at the south end again, at least only for a few days this time (about six days total including travel time).

Travelling is fun, but it is better when it is for fun with family, instead of for work with time away from family. Oh well...

Focus Group

After 12 years or so of filling in surveys, answering emails and following dead ends, I finally got to be a part of a focus group. :)

Admittedly, it was about political stuffs, but I got to be a part of it and I got paid! Also admittedly, not that much - but I'm not complaining. Was a bit different, was a bit of fun, was a little boring... but it was something I'd been trying to get into for over a decade.

Scratch that off the bucket list. :D

New swimming PB

I'm not the best when it comes to swimming, in fact I'm usually one of the last ones finished. So I'm not usually a fan of swim sessions.

Today I managed to do twelve laps of the 50m pool (jump in one end, swim in various strokes to the other end, then get out and walk back to the first end).

That's 600m in one session. Whoo!