(‘Dead Kitten’ == the pink fluffy thing hanging from the left head-can)
(with grateful thanks to Nadeem at “Fabric House”, stall 244/245, Victoria Market, Nottingham)

This actually all started when my ancient Motorola L7 mobile died last Christmas; or rather, when the central bevel fell out from the O-ring, making navigation ultra difficult. The Moto was old – (2005) predating even the earliest iphone – but had originally belonged to my brother (now deceased) so I tried super-gluing the bevel back in.

In February 2016 I dashed to Newark to see The Flying Scotsman pass by & my attempt to photograph it faltered due to the bevel. That was the last straw. Discarding the Moto felt like discarding my brother for a second time, but it had to be done.

These are the steps to the Dead Kitten, and also what brought me to be mapping for OSM:

1. Buy a Vodaphone Smart First 6
   (£20 GBP for me, although now is £25) - perfectly stunning value
   (use a PAYG plan + switch ‘Data Usage’ OFF in Settings to avoid vast monthly payouts; that still allows Internet Access via Wi-Fi)
2. Obtain OSMtracker & install on the mobile
   (other tracker apps are available)
3. Use some Sony ZX310 AP Headphones (with built in microphone)
   (£29.99 GBP last year from Boots)

Mostly I use just 2 features of that tracker:

1. Record voice notes
   (20 seconds works for me)
2. Take photos

In practice there turned out to be problems with the Voice Notes, and particularly because it was Spring & the wind was often blustery. At first, I was speaking directly into the mobile, but wind flutter often drowned it out. So, I tried the 3rd step above; the external mike was better, but only reduced it a little.

Two friends are professional artists & film-makers; they pointed out that outside microphone-booms use a Dead Cat (that is the fluffy ‘sock’ that covers the mike). I thought to try it & hence spoke to Nadeem. The Dead Kitten works perfectly!!!

An unforeseen feature is that now, in those head-cans & with a silly little shocking-pink Dead Kitten, I look like such a twat that all my former problems with the Middle-Class have just melted away. Result!