As I sit here, surrounded by kit, I'm reminded that it's time to prepare for the taxman once again. Lets get the books to the accountant on time this year...... Lets check the inventory and see how much "we" ( aka me, set to impulse-buying mode) bought this year in a vain attempt to resell it because "we" thought that it was cool.

Well, there are far too many PCs for a start. And laptops....... and why is there a box of media card readers which look like Barbie doll accessories ??? and webcams..... and USB data pens..... and USB hubs..... and VOIP phones which only work with SKYPE.......

Well the truth of the matter is that as a "trader" you accumulate stuff during the run of the game. And the accumulation loses value the longer it is on the shelf. So lets cut our losses. Lets build it into our own workshop kit requirements. As good an excuse as any. The obvious problem is that the kit then becomes an "asset" instead of "stock for resale".

So I have a TV Tuner that "enhances" the sale of the display kit. And a widescreen TV which doubles as a monitor. And a couple of colour photo printers. And a colour laser printer for doing catalogues etc. And a multi-function printer/scanner/copier which is arguably the most useful kit I ever bought ( Canon MP370 ). There are a couple of beautiful cases which only I thought were leading edge. Everyone else says that they're ugly.

And then there's the work in progress, 3 systems which I hope someone will take a shine to this week. And a laptop and printer "deal" which is being transported around the country to a prospective buyer. And so it goes.

So what did it all cost ? Far too much, is the only reasonable response. Its all been relegated to last years accounts. Therefore it has now no value at all. Cheapskate strategy for accumulating kit. But it provides what I intended it to be, a suitable workshop for the Journeyman Geek.