Welcome to ManLab, where the calloused hand of the modern male tugs at the chainsaw of achievement. Today, we explore the dream of becoming a rock star, no matter how old you are, even if you’re currently a 40-year-old accountant. We’re grinding a different kind of ax and making our own sustainable bog roll. And, of course, we’re delving into the world of ghostbusting—more on that later.
One of the highlights of our ManLab series was our ingenious bog roll alarm system, which alerted us when the roll was empty. Our system then sent fresh supplies via the ManLab Integrated Railway Transport Solution. But all hell broke loose when our producer, Will, found himself without any bog roll, and instead of heading to the store, we decided to get creative.
We took an 80-year-old willow tree, full of magic and mysticism, storm-damaged and rotten, and turned it into usable toilet paper. Using proper lumberjacking techniques, we safely felled the tree, then made our way back to the lab. Here, we mixed sawdust with old jeans, flax wool, and even a paperback of Richard Hammond’s autobiography, turning it all into a bog roll-specific pulp.
Making our homemade bog roll was a laborious task. We used a simple mold and deco setup and a household vacuum cleaner to extract the water, converting the pulp into usable squares of toilet paper. It may have been a crude method, but the result was eco-friendly and oddly satisfying. The bog roll, albeit a bit scratchy, was a triumph of ingenuity over convenience.
Next on our adventure, we faced a common masculine dream: becoming a rock star. While most of us ended up with ties and accounting jobs, we couldn’t let that teenage rock star dream die. We embarked on a mission to reunite failed bands, giving them a second shot at glory at the High Voltage Festival. After auditioning several bands, Love Fungus emerged as our chosen champions.
Their story was compelling. Imagine splitting up 20 years ago over a stolen steering wheel and now getting the chance to play alongside rock legends. The band members were back doing ordinary jobs but dreamt of one last chance to shine. With the nerves of playing at such a large festival, the band needed all the encouragement and rock star tips possible. But they proved that age is just a number when it comes to chasing dreams.
The High Voltage Festival crowd welcomed Love Fungus with open arms. They stormed the stage, guitars blazing, reminding everyone that you’re never too old to dream. The band’s camaraderie and joy were infectious, and they left the stage not just as a reunited band but as an inspiration to thousands.
Alongside our musical escapades, we also tackled the fear of ghosts in true ManLab style. Spending a night in the haunted Lympne Castle, we tested popular fear-reduction techniques and faced our irrational fears head-on. Despite ghostly pranks and eerie noises, we learned that confronting your fears with scientific detachment and a bit of humor can demystify even the spookiest of legends.
And finally, we solved the age-old problem of losing essential tools at home with our innovative ceiling storage solution. Using a combination of magnets and velcro, we created a space-saving marvel that kept screwdrivers and Allen keys in sight and within reach.
At ManLab, we’re not just about solving problems; we’re about exploring dreams and confronting fears with creativity and a dash of humor. Whether it’s living out rock star fantasies or facing paranormal phenomena, we live by the motto that it’s never too late to try something new and bold.
