Things
You get attached to inanimate things. They come to feature in your life like familiar friends. Look at my two chums in the photograph above. On the left is my old shower radio - inexpensive but invaluable. It has accompanied pretty much every shower I have had in this house for twenty years. How many times have I stood there soaping this pulsing temple of flesh and bone listening to either Radio 4 or Radio 5 Live? That little radio has taught me so much about politics, history and science. I have even enjoyed countless editions of "Woman's Hour" and Nicky Campbell's topical phone-in programme. There have been innumerable battery changes but finally, finally my faithful companion is kapput, deceased, voiceless and well... gone. You don't see this model any more and besides it bears no company logo. All it says on the back is "Made in China". In seeking a replacement, I discovered that smartphones and little bluetooth speakers have pretty much taken over ...