The sound of searing metal, drill bits tearing into silver support rods for the bathroom, a brand-new toilet – it seems a shame to use it. A sink with hot and cold water, it’s the evolution of a space from dump to dreamland. An abandoned beige laboratory evolving into a colourful atmospheric music library, creative place, safe place, cosy, warm, inspiring. As we get closer to the completion of Phase 2 we have to start thinking about Phase 3 and the actual move. Oh, the size of it and the relief of it being here, we are going to be consulting the moving company for dates soon, probably as summer wanes and autumn waxes because wax doesn’t like the heat.

I skipped out, away from the fumes and the screaming metal, it was like waking up to Rob Halford from a mid-morning nap. The crew were working on multiple rooms simultaneously, trying their best to get everything done as quickly and as properly as possible, no shortcuts around the back of the chippie over the fence and via the supermarket bins, this is every bus stop. Haha. They paint the large walls with rollers and they paint the details with small brushes, it’s lovely to see people do things properly and thoroughly.

Outside in the summer street heat, I made my way down to Tubitek to tell Rui that my Dry Cleaning was warped (haha, again), he said to bring it back and he put another copy behind the counter for me. Rui recommended a dentist who he called in advance and told him about me needing help, preparing him. I dropped in at the music store to let Vitor and Carlos know I was back and then dropped in on Chico at the second-hand store (Tubitek’s Jorge was walking by) on the way home and bought the Portuguese picture sleeve, seven-inch single of Led Zep’s Whole Lotta Love, it’s cool to have a Zep single, The Archive swooned.

I have a habit of buying records that I like the look of but I don’t know and haven’t heard at all. Today I found Demick/Armstrong’s Lookin’ Through (1972). Northern Irish guitarist, Herbie Armstrong, was in Fox and Yellow Dog and also played with Van Morrison. The drummer is Henry Spinetti, a Welshman from Cwm. Everybody knows who played sax on Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street (Raphael Ravenscroft) but who was the drummer? Now you know. Cwm is famous for two others, actor Victor Spinetti who appeared in all three Beatles films and surely must be related to Henry. Dry World Snooker champion Mark Williams is also from Cwm.

Another album I found was by Cupid’s Inspiration, I know the name, I know they had two hits, Yesterday’s Gone and My World, but I don’t remember the tunes and I’ve never seen their album before (on Nems). The Archive cried with joy.