New PB on deadlift

We've shifted focus a bit from pure cardio to more strength-based training. As a result, we do more "pick up something heavy, then try and pick up something heavier" sessions.

I'm pretty tall, but I've never had a lot of upper body strength. Part of the training regieme involves deadlifts, which I never did much of.

On Friday, I managed three sets of 10 reps at 60kg (olympic bar plus two 20kg plates). I could probably do more as a single lift, but the objective is to do sets of ten, which makes sense to me.

Never mind that one of the skinny females then used that combination as her starting weight! I'll still take my new pb, and keep working on improving it (hopefully without damaging my knees... )

Gone analogue!

For that retro feel!

My previous watch was on the way out. The watch itself was fine, but the band had previously perished and the replacement band that I jury rigged to put in there was a cheapy which was on the way out again.

Since it wasn't worth spending money on buying another band, and the sockets where the band mounts were getting damaged I figured it was time to get a new watch.

I was looking at buying another cheapy from a local store or online when my wife surprised me with a watch. It has an analogue face instead of digital. Digital is my preferance (probably just me being lazy) so using analogue is a touch more effort - but got a new watch!

Ugh... worst feeling eva

Setting an alarm for the next day for work.

We were away for just over five weeks, and although it was busy, it was a different tempo to normal work. And change is like a holiday, right? Anyway, back to regular schedule from tomorrow.

So have to set the alarm again...

Back home

After about five or so weeks away, now back home again. <3

Was good to spend time on the road driving (though the seat did get quite uncomfortable after a while), was not so good spending time in the dirt and being grotty.

I took some writing stuffs with me, in case I wanted to write things down, but got down exactly zero words. Didn't help being constantly distracted...

But the important thing is I'm home again.

Three out of three, done!

I was nearly devo earlier on today when I thought the neck of the guitar was bent!

I ended up looking on eBay at replacement necks (around $60) and kit guitars (about $160) but then started looking if it was possible to straighten a bent neck.

After a bit of mucking around, I worked out the tension bar in the neck (which keeps the neck straight against the pull of the strings) was done up too tight, and that was why the neck was bowed.

It might even be the reason why the previous owner threw the guitar out (I picked it up off the side of the road three years ago). So I scored a bass guitar for about $24. Sweet!

Three out of three, but...

The good news is the strings for the bass guitar arrived. And they're the right length! #Winning

However, I stuffed up with the nut (the little bit at the end of the fretboard which holds the strings up). The one I ordered is too short, so the strings rub against the frets, producing a most unpleasant sound. #NotWinning

I'll have to rip that nut off and order a new one, which probably won't arrive until after I head off interstate.

A bit disappointing, but should only be a minor hurdle (assuming I don't break anything getting the old nut off).

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.