31/03/2024 - 'Square vinyl records?' by David

Over the last few months, I have been cataloguing my vinyl records on Discogs website, which also gives you an estimate of how much they are worth. I started collecting vinyl in the 70’s, when vinyl was at its absolute peak, and luckily, kept them all during the CD revolution, which was then followed by digital downloads, at a time when many of my friends sold, or even threw away their collections, as record players went out of fashion. 

In the last few years, as vinyl has had a rebirth, and players are back on the shelves, I acquired some decks and a mixer, and have been DJ'ing in pubs around Southampton under the name DJ Tintin, after my childhood hero.

The resurgence of vinyl has been as pleasing, as it was surprising, and I have been adding to my already large collection with new, and second hand albums and singles from record shops, auction sites, and charity shops. 

Cataloguing my collection has taken quite a while, but I have now completed this enjoyable task, and have the all important numbers. I have 306 albums, 776 7" singles, and 186 12" singles, which includes 10", 78's, coloured vinyl, picture discs, flexi discs, and shaped discs - a bell, a pig, a heart, a star, and even a few square ones!

It was interesting seeing how much each record is worth too. Some are worth a couple of quid, some are literally worth nothing, and some are worth a lot of money. My most valuable album is David Bowie's The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars  which is worth anything between £17 and £249 depending on condition, while my most valuable single is Everything But The Girl's I Didn't Know I Was Looking For Love 7" ep, which is worth between £8 and £129. Altogether my whole collection is worth over £5,000, which seems incredible, but it's also a little scary to think how much money I have spent on records in my lifetime! 

I have rehoused my decks and records in our new house and my 7" singles are now back in the chipboard box that I made as a teenager and has been up in the loft ever since. 

The amount of different people and departments that Alice and I have had to contact since my diagnosis has been huge, and quite overwhelming at times. We are so glad that the hospital and the services in the community have been prompt and professional, and that government grants and various charities are out there and available to us, but the phone calls, forms, and emails pile up and it's a full time job. Luckily, I'm retired so have the time to go through what is required, but Alice is juggling working full time with organising and assisting me, and we go to bed absolutely fatigued, though for very different reasons. 

By early evening, after doing very little exercise all day, my legs are tired and I'm ready for my bed, while Alice, who has been working all day, just wants to sit on the sofa and relax in front of the telly, before dragging herself upstairs. 

One of the benefits that I have applied for will hopefully allow her to cut her hours as I become more dependent on her around the house. Personal Independence Payment (PIP), is available to anyone under the state pension age with a physical or mental health condition or disability, and I have been advised to apply for it. There are two types available. The daily living allowance is for people who need help with every day tasks, and the mobility allowance is for anyone who needs help getting around. I'm hoping to qualify for both, then Alice can work less for the NHS, and more for me - aha!

I've applied for a blue badge to help with parking closer to the amenities. I had to answer lots of questions about my mobility and I answered them honestly. It asked how far I could walk and I just told them what happened last Sunday. Alice held my arm and we walked the short distance to the supermarket from the car park. Once there, I pushed a shopping trolley around while Alice ran around finding what we wanted, but after about 15 minutes I really needed to sit down. Only after a cheeky oat flat white, which the barrista called a 'floaty' - clever eh, was I able to walk back to the car, so again, I hope that I qualify for a badge.

I've also completed a power of attorney form so that Alice can make decisions on my behalf if I'm ever in the situation where I can't communicate my wishes. 

I will also have to write a will to indicate my wishes for my death and funeral, but hopefully I will have lots of time to enjoy myself before any of these documents are required. 

Onto the good news now. On Good Friday we travelled to the island to my mum's for a hot cross bun family meet up, followed by the obligatory chocolate raffle!

In the evening, my DJ friend, Michelle and I shared the decks at Sounds And Grounds, a record shop/cafe in Cowes, and it was packed out! We work very well together, as she plays 50's and 60's, and I play 70’s and 80's.  I also enjoyed showing my niece, Erin, the ropes and she had a go at pressing a few of the buttons.

It was great to see so many of my friends had come to support me, and we raised £325 for the local branch of the MNDA. 

On Saturday we went to Moors Valley parkrun in the New Forest, and it was sunny and warm, which was lovely after so many cold or wet parkruns over the winter.

I voluntered as a marshall again while we wait for my running buggy, and I was given Glenys' corner, which is the last turn before the finish so I was encouraging everyone to a sprint finish.

We had a book and plant swap afterwards and I gave away my Jack Kerouac and John Irving books to my friends, I hope they enjoy them as much as I did, especially On The Road, and A Prayer For Owen Meany, two of my favourite books. Alice picked up 3 lovely plants and they all have found homes around the new house. 

I got to cuddle a baby, and also got a photo with a bearded Easter bunny, and not many people can say that! 

On our drive home from parkrun, we were nearly involved in an accident when a lady fell unconscious behind the wheel and rolled her car right in front of us. Alice was first on the scene and called 999, and then talked to the lady, keeping her calm. Trapped in her car, she was mostly uninjured but frightened so just needed reassurance until the fire brigade came to free her. After giving our statements, we were free to go and headed home for a coffee. While decompressing with Andy on our new sun loungers, we were happy to discover our garden is a real sun trap and I can't wait to lay out there all afternoon as the day gets sunnier. 

Alice has now counted out all the cash donations that we have been collecting at our fundraisers. The bag was getting really heavy and we were getting worried about having such a large amount of money in the house. I searched the Internet for the 20 best places to hide cash in your house a day there are some great locations. In a container in the fridge, under the ironing board cover, in the toilet cistern, within a aluminium foil roll, inside the pages of a random book, even under the cat litter tray! I went for inside the bread maker, as it's always at the back of the cupboard. We had £3860 in notes and coins and we both feel much happier that it is now safely out the house.

When added to the online donations on our Just Giving page, our total raised from the seven fundraisers that we have organised since my diagnosis last July, is over £8,000 which we are so proud of. Thank you to everyone that has attended or donated at any of the gigs, DJ sets, or the walk.

We have decided to call a halt to the fundraising for now and will spend some quality time together, as we have some lovely things planned now that the days are getting warmer and brighter. 

My eldest daughter Rachel, is getting married in less than a week, and I'm so excited. I have been writing my father of the bride speech for a few weeks now, and I'm so glad that I don't have the pressure of having to be as funny as the the best man does. It will be a lovely, and very emotional day. 

When I was diagnosed last July, the very first thing that I asked my consultant in clinic, was if I would be able to walk my daughter down the aisle in 9 months time, and he assured me that I would be able to. It's every father's wish to walk their daughter down the aisle so I am very thankful for any mobility that I still have, and any steps that I take after next week are a bonus x