I should also have mentioned before today that I have acquired a proper microphone too. I say 'proper', it's a Professional Cardoid microphone, according to the box it came in. It was a discontinued model at work and it went for fifteen pounds. I don't know what cardoid means, to be honest, and I suppose I really should find out, but I do know that it sounds much better than my old one.

All I need now is a mic stand (another fifteen quid), a keyboard stand (twelve pounds with staff discount), a mixer/preamp and a room to put it all in so the missus can use the living room again. She must love me an awful lot to put up with all this