Hi Waz,
No worries, it's been a bit of a slow process for me so I haven't been on too often.
Originally it was a lighter oak colour timbermate that I filled all the pores and sanded it at 180. We then changed our minds and decided to pop the grain with black ink which I am about to sand back with 180, 240 and possibly 320 depending on the stain I will be using to make sure it takes to the wood grain. If its left over colour tone I know I can easily go to 400.
I'm waiting on my brother to decide on a colour but some sort of burst like pictured above maybe. I have ordered some Cosmetic Grade Natural Mica Powder Pigment Soap Candle Colorant Dye so I'm waiting for that to arrive. I saw DB recommend the stuff in one of his posts.