I managed to get a little more done on the storage cabinet.
It is now turned right end up and after getting some paint it looks like this:

I still have the doors and shelves to do, but it is getting there.
The drawer is not a true drawer but the remains of a foldaway ironing board, pulling it out it now harbours my surface plate made from a piece of polished granite floor paving. The granite plate is mounted on a thick cement base when I renovated a small toilet some years ago. It is definately flat enough for my purposes.

The "drawer" is cleverly desigmed, fold down the "drawer front" ...

...and lift up the "drawer" which now is above table level and free for access from all four sides...

... and by storing some of the measuring out tools at the same place, it will be easy to work.

The rest of the cabinet will be equipped with drawers on runners behind the doors but I think you can guess the mess I will be hiding there.

BR
/Peter