About Smiggy

Retro computing enthusiast, electronics repair tinkerer, and classic horror fan from Rainhill, UK

About Smiggy

📍 Rainhill, Merseyside, United Kingdom

Hello! I'm Martin "Smiggy" Smith, and this is my corner of the internet. I live in Rainhill, a village in Merseyside, United Kingdom — famous for the Rainhill Trials of 1829 where Stephenson's Rocket proved the future of rail travel. These days, Rainhill is a quieter place, but Smiggy keeps busy!

By day I tinker with vintage hardware and fix broken electronics in my home workshop. By night I'm usually watching classic horror films or playing retro games. This website is where Smiggy shares it all — projects, tutorials, reviews, and the occasional ramble about life in Rainhill.

Smiggy's Interests

The three passions that define Smiggy's world in Rainhill, UK

💻 Retro Computing

Smiggy has been fascinated by vintage computers since childhood. Growing up in the UK during the 8-bit era, machines like the ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro, and Commodore 64 were formative experiences. Today, Smiggy's Rainhill workshop houses a growing collection of restored vintage hardware.

Current collection highlights include multiple Commodore 64s, a BBC Master 128, an Amiga 500, several ZX Spectrums, and an Apple IIe. Smiggy enjoys full restorations — from recapping power supplies to retrobright-ing yellowed cases. Every machine has a story, and Smiggy loves sharing them on this blog.

🔌 Electronics Repair

What started as fixing broken retro computers evolved into a broader passion for electronics repair. Smiggy's Rainhill workshop is equipped with oscilloscopes, multimeters, a hot air rework station, and more soldering irons than any one person needs.

Smiggy repairs everything from CRT monitors and vintage synthesizers to modern gadgets. The blog features soldering tutorials, component-level repair guides, and workshop tips. Smiggy believes in the right to repair — if it's broken, it can probably be fixed!

🎥 Classic Horror

When the soldering iron cools down, Smiggy settles in for a classic horror film. From the Universal Monsters of the 1930s to the slasher boom of the 1980s, Smiggy's taste in horror spans decades of cinema history.

Favourites include Alien, The Thing, Halloween, and the entire Universal Monsters catalogue. Smiggy writes reviews, curates top lists, and dives deep into the history of horror cinema. There's something about the atmosphere of classic horror that pairs perfectly with a dark Rainhill evening and a cup of tea.

Fun Facts About Smiggy

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Tea Powered

Smiggy runs on mint tea. At least 6 cups a day fuel the retro computing and electronics repair sessions in Rainhill.

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First Computer

Smiggy's first computer was a Commodore 64. Loading games from cassette tape taught patience that serves well in electronics repair.

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Halloween Every Day

Smiggy doesn't wait for October. Classic horror movie marathons happen year-round in the Smiggy household in Rainhill, UK.