Mrs Lacey and I were having an interesting conversation over the weekend: If you were only allowed to own three albums, what would they be? It's all very well coming up with a top ten (I think I could just about manage ten), but THREE?! It's just too difficult. Every time I came up with a possible solution, I immediately changed my mind, or remembered an album I hadn't previously considered. Three's not enough. Go on, you try it. Can you come up with just three definitive albums? If you can, let me know.

So I've finally got round to ordering some more rechargeable AA batteries, and I'm hoping I've got some decent ones. I've gone for 2200 mAh ones, with a charger that also works in the car. Thought that'd come in handy for when I'm on holiday! I can just envisage going camping with a bag full of car chargers - one for my phone, one for my ipaq, one for my batteries - it'll not quite be the "escape from technology" that it's supposed to be at this rate! Ah well.... needs must. Being without broadband is one thing. Being without gadgets is a different matter altogether!

It's occurred to me that now I've successfully set up GPRS on my phone, I can be ultimately geeky and take photos with the phone and then upload them to Low Fidelity via my iPaq. I'm not quite sure how yet, but I'm sure it's possible...

The Tunecast works quite well, all things considered. It's not as good as a direct connection, but it does the job. Bearing in mind my only other options are a whole new car stereo, or a CD changer conversion (both of which are expensive) it'll do for now. I think I'll have to get a windscreen mounted holder for the Zen so that the transmitter is close to the aerial, but other than that I think it's a fairly neat solution.

On a different note, I've just spent about 30 minutes on the phone to Orange trying to get a Bluetooth GPRS connection set up between my Sony Ericsson T610 and my new iPaq. It's a ridiculously convoluted process which no-one would ever be able to sort out on their own. It doesn't need to be so complicated. When I was with O2, they provided a little application to run on your PDA which automatically configured GPRS. If they can do it, why can't Orange?! Ah well, it's up and running now, so I'm able to email and web-browse on the move. Not that I'll ever use it of course, but it's a gadget isn't it?

Just received the Tunecast, but haven't had a chance to test it out yet because I'm obviously not in the car at the moment...

I've just ordered a very cunning gadget - a Belkin Tunecast FM transmitter. This little box of tricks enables you to transmit the output of your MP3 player (in my case the Zen NX) via FM, and then tune your car radio in to the same frequency so that you can listen to your music through your car stereo! Quite an elegant solution really, but with one small downside. They're illegal in the UK, because they're classed as an unauthorised FM broadcast. Ah well, never mind...

The gadget arrived at 11am, and I've managed to waste an entire day at work playing with it. And I have to say that, whilst it is essentially very similar to my old one, it is so much nicer to use. The ergonomics are better, the operating system is better, the additional software is great and the bluetooth features are very useful. I like it. And now I've been a bit lost without a PDA for the last few days - I haven't had a clue what I'm doing, or when, and I haven't been able to read Wired News on Avantgo in the toilet. I'm very pleased to be reconnected to the world once more!

I've finally stopped procrastinating and ordered the iPaq 2210. Finally! I think I've given it ample thought over the last few weeks (or is it months?)!

I've noticed that my gadget buying always displays a similar pattern. It is a very drawn-out and considered process, and comprises four distinct stages.
1) It has all the functionality that I want and need, without compromises or workarounds or bodges
2) the price is right i.e. a lot less than retail
3) the reviews of it all say that it's the best of its type, and
4) I have saved the requisite amount of money for the purchase
It is, therefore, the right time to buy. It should be here at this time tomorrow! Ooh, I'm getting that familiar "new gadget excitement" feeling. I have done well here.

The iPaq 2210 price just keeps going down. Do you think if I left it long enough it would eventually be free?

Bleugh. I feel ill.