I’m off to sunny Milton Keynes for two days, with an overnight stay, in a couple of weeks.
There’s a gig on the Stables and I’m staying near the Bowl, around the corner from Ikea.
Mrs F keeps muttering about tidying up my vinyl. What are the storage units called?
Is there anywhere else to go on a night out in MK?
Probably Zaphod or some kooky shit like that. I mean the Ikea not the nightclub.
KALLAX!
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/27534/
is the correct answer
Yes. you may want to also nail/glue some hardboard on the back as records tend to fall out.
Only if you push it in too far
(… and cue Moose)
It used to be hell getting your Billy up.
Almost as much fun as ‘three more from them later’ is making up Ikea product names.
Such as BRONKIAL, or PANTIGIRDL.
ARSEL
NIPPL
FLANJ
3 products that I (almost) convinced Mrs D actually existed
I was going to mention the same thing. I used some wooden strips about 1/2″ x 1/2″ cut to length to stop the records hanging their arses out the back. The Kallax thing works like a dream except for the cats using the spines of my albums as a scratching post. I have considered some kind of perspex door to protect them. The LPs, not the cats.
Ikea sell inserts to add a door to the front of each section. £9 each in the UK. Not sure if the hinges would be a problem though.
The inserts look to slot in easily:
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/storage-furniture/shelving-units-systems/kallax-insert-with-door-white-art-20278167/
Or you can buy units with doors already attached:
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/storage-furniture/shelving-units-systems/kallax-shelving-unit-with-doors-white-stained-oak-effect-spr-59197453/
Cor, I wish there was an IKEA near here.
Inserts slot in easily…. you do this on purpose.
Keeping Moosey’s entendres doubled is the true purpose of this blog.
Surprised you haven’t worked it out by now.
‘Open me Kallax’s doors’.
Filth.
Kallax to you ‘n’ all!
They even do it in walnut, so it will match my speakers.
Rosewood… mahogany… teak?
Kallax. Easy to put together. Did my second 2×2 unit in about ½ an hour, and they look nice too.
When you’re done, do post a shelfie.
Sean Connery with an iPhone?
I have a couple of 5×5 units of Kallax’s predecessor, Expedit for books, albums etc. Same size internal sections (13″x13″) but Kallax has a slightly slimmer exterior frame. There are also some handy inserts available. For instance to turn a section into 2 drawers for CD storage. Other inserts to turn them into cupboards and storage bins for miscellaneous bits & bobs.
I used to live in Bletchley late 80s to early 90s. It was piss poor then. Surely it must have improved? I think there’s a theatre there now but otherwise, I expect it’s got the same stuff as everywhere else. I was trying to remember where there were gigs but other than the Stables, I don’t think there really was anywhere.
On a Tuesday night, I have a choice of jazz or classical at the Stables, or a heavy metal covers band in a pub. Since I don’t drink or like heavy metal, thank goodness for the Stables.
There was a place in Bletchley a fair few years back. I remember going there to see Zappa tribute band The Muffin Men.
I remember going to see Bill Nelson at The Stables quite a while back and Bill being annoyed that, in those days, artists selling their own CDs inside the building were obliged to give a cut to the venue. Bill solved this by selling his CDs from the boot of his car in the car park.
When I saw Jane Siberry at the Royal Festival Hall (in 2001) she did something similar:
“If you buy them from the table in the foyer, the venue takes a cut and I have to increase the price by 25% to cover it. Or you can buy them direct from me from the lip of the stage.”
Trouble was, a sold-out RFH holds lots of people and the queue was huge.
I discovered this at the recent Richard Thompson gig in Southend. The support act said they didn’t have any merch as the slice to the venue meant they would be losing money on every item sold. I had always been under the impression the act got the money, but apparently not. That sucks!
Some venues do seem to be stuck in a timewarp – last time I went on tour, it varied a lot. RFH cut was something like 40%.
In this day and age, you can order online from your smartphone via the performer’s website and the artist can hand-deliver to you (in the car park outside the venue).
The Stables is my favourite venue in the world. The staff are vaguely Acorn Antiques but it has a charming vibe and the acoustics are good. Easy to get to, parking is ample .. what’s not to love?
Failing that there is an IMAX cinema but a stone’s throw from the aforementioned IKEA. A good throw mind.
There is The Hub in the town centre that offers quite a few eateries (Brasserie Blanc, Loch Fyne and the like). Loads of places to drink if that takes your fancy.
Then there is the theatre which probably has something rubbish on like panto with Shane Ritchie .. although thinking about it, that probably starts in a couple of weeks. Have a look online.
A couple of multiplexes .. a casino ..
Er, and that’s about it. Certainly a lot more than when I first came to live here. Not as much as a major city though.
You might want to see if there’s any bands on at The Crauford Arms in Wolverton. It used to be a bit of a dive but it attracts quite a few live bands. Who knows? You might strike gold and get to see the exulted Solstice who play there a couple of times a year 😂
The Hub: Is that what used to be The Point?
If you think the Stables staff are Acorn Antiques then you’ve clearly never been to Worthing (which is where people move to before they move to Bexhill on Sea.) We still have a weekly Tea Dance to The Mighty Wurlitzer at The Assembly Halls, which is where my wife is going to see The Osmonds next week. Actually, just three Osmond brothers not including Donny or Jimmy. Only 100 tickets sold so far. An uninterrupted view of the stage and no queue for the toilets.
Thanks. Turns out John Otway’s on a couple of days before I arrive but nothing there on my big night out in MK. There’s The Four Seasons in a Uruguay style on at the Stables.
Because of a tedious medical condition, I’ll probably eat in the Premier Inn. I can manage gammon and a jacket spud without too much risk.
Pity cos Crauford Arms is a nice venue. Far better than the Stables as far as I’m concerned but then I prefer no chairs and an atmosphere to comfy chairs and sterility, the main downside is the parking!
No chairs and no parking? No way! I love the Stables personally, for the reasons given by @cozzer above. I’ll add there’s a nice pre-gig restaurant but you have to book as it’s small.
Solstice?!?!?! They still going, bloody hell. First ran into them in the `80`s, lovely people.
I think I still have a couple of their albums.
All bands are still going!
Even the dead ones!
They’re all back to haunt us.
The ungrateful undead.
With the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra!
In a petrol station near you!
Another up for the Crauford. Also in Wolverton is the rather lovely Bier Garten, but I have a horrible feeling that it is only open Thursday to Sunday. I’d avoid the ‘city centre’ if you can help it as there’s very little of any worth. If you’re staying in the south, near to Bletchley I would suggest a trip out to Woburn, which has some lovely little pubs and the like (such as the Black Horse). I work in North MK (hence my Wolverton knowledge) but it has little else going for it, in my opinion.