As I sit at my desk and contemplate - from r to l - my iPod Classic (music), my iPod Touch (PDA & games), my Kindle (books), my iPad (media & internet) and my iMac, I am beginning to wonder if I am over-gadgeted!

Then I began to reflect on all the gadgets I have had over the years and wonder which was my favourite. On balance it has to be this:

The Psion Series 5; a way-before-it's-time PDA which allowed text origination and editing, database management, email, diary, contacts, etc. All controlled via a very usable keyboard and a touch sensitive screen. The clamshell design closed with a satisfying certainty and they looked so cool. I loved mine - all three of them - and was heartbroken when they became obsolete. Still miss them to this day!

Other nominations?

(Apologies if we have done this before)

Prompted by the Retro Crimbo thread - in which I recognised so much - I got to reflecting on the things that tell me Christmas is coming.

1) Deccies and the tree - obviously, although I was brought up in a house where the tree went up on Christmas Eve, but was lit by candles in a magical ceremony every evening.

2) Christmas cards - coincidentally our first one arrived this morning.

3) Parties - when I was younger there were always lots of parties at Christmas. As I grew up, parties became dances and once I entered the world of work there was always a Christmas Party. Tonight we're off to a black tie dinner dance and it really does feel like the start of the festivities to me.

So what does it for you?

Oh, and there's this...

http://www.recordoftheday.com/news-and-press/article.php?contentID=1729

On this occasion, in the august company of Mr Eamonn Forde.

Congratulations to both!

Firstly, my apologies to those who are either (a) bored with this subject, (b) incandescent about this subject, or (c) confused about this subject. I'm in category (c).

Here's the thing, hitherto I have signed up for the podcast via iTunes and it has downloaded itself, as and when available. As a subscriber, I followed the process outlined in last week's announcement and was successfully signed up . I now find that I have two sets of podcasts in my iTunes Library - and on my iPod.

It seems to me that I only need one set, but before pressing the Delete key, I wanted to seek the experience of others. I also don't want to run the risk of losing the back catalogue as they still provide hours of listening pleasure.

So my question is: "Can I safely delete the 'old' podcasts and rely on those which come with the new process always being in my library and on my iPod?"

We're meeting friends at Ascot races on Saturday. Once the horses have done their thing, we get 3 hours from these worthies:

Jason Donovan
Kid Creole and the Coconuts
Jimmy Somerville
Paul Young
Toyah
China Crisis
Odyssey
Altered Images
Brother Beyond
Visage

I've never seen any of them live - the 80's was not really my era - but I am familiar with some of the singalongs. So, at racings end, will it be worth staying on or will it all be a disappointment, excepting Clare Grogan of course?

Fraser, do we get a cover image for the Latitude CD?

...Hip! 2 CDs this month - Hip! Suede on the cover - Hurr...Eh??????

Speech Radio Personality of the Year at the Sony Awards.

What the judges said: "A true original. A personality who’s found new and innovative ways to use the techniques of radio, delivering a unique verbal barrage, creating an endless stream of compelling ideas, and developing an obsessive following, both in London and nationally."

Excellent news! It is now compulsory for hats to be worn on the side of the head in tribute.

...and I know it's a little premature but we have barbecued for the last two nights and it feels like high summer. Tonight we had piri-piri prawns cooked on the barbecue with a rice salad and some piccolo tomatoes with basil and shallots. Of course the bottle of Sardinian White wine may have helped, but what's not to like about sitting out in the late evenIng sunshine listening to the birds settling down for the evening. And, it's only April!

Am I alone?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8449423/Spotify-halves-listen...

...or her for that matter, on the cover of Edition 99. A quick flick through reveals Lenny's pie gets another outing, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Probe records, Mr H on Truth and Fiction and Mr Ellen on Rock WAGs. Plus Best & Worst Royals - no really - and Trevor Dann on Music & Mayhem at Radio 1. Job's a good 'un!

We recently discussed broadband providers and some were extolling the virtues of BT Infinity. Mr H also tweeted to the effect he was impressed when his was installed. Emboldened, I took the plunge and committed to a Phone+Broadband+TV package. They have just installed the broadband element.

Holy Shit! How quick was that? 36mps download and 8.25 upload is the answer. Really impressive and a painless install - it even talked nicely to my Apple wifi network. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

I am now one very happy camper!

There has been a certain amount of 'grumping' around here lately, aimed broadly at the consequences of aging and the things we have left, or are being forced to leave, behind. Whilst I am in tune with a lot of that grumpiness, can I offer another perspective?

My point is that as you get older, compensating unexpected pleasures can be found. In my case, having "retired early" a few years ago, I have taken up Ballroom Dancing. Not my first choice of retirement activity, but the GLW wanted to do it and so I acquiesced. A couple of years on, I find that I don't have the two left feet I always thought I had, I enjoy the sense of moving together in synchronised harmony and it's really great fun. This has surprised me.

My other example is the fact that I have gone back to school to learn Italian. As a child of the 60's, I have certainly left it late to develop my language skills. With enthusiastic support from Patrick C of this parish, I decided to go to an evening class for a pre-GCSE course. It's proper school mind, homework, tests and evereything! I have amazed myself with my progress, developed an accent and become able to understand some of what is being said to me - in a foreign language. It's also great fun. This too has surprised me.

So, at a time when I felt I should either be tramping the golf course, stacking shelves or digging the garden all day, I have found unexpected pleasures to reinvigorate my life when I feared it was calcifying. I guess my point is that aging changes us and stuff falls away, but other stuff can take it's place and bring different, unexpected pleasures.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a310388/bbc-orders-more-mrs-browns-b...

So did it get better then, or did remain true to its apparent target audience? (A 'fan' asks)

...and they're coming back - or at least three of them are. That's one reformation I didn't expect. They will be touring in May. God help us all!