Change

In a lifetime spent backing a number of wrong horses, I'm on the verge of completing a trio with Sony.

My first colour tv was a 13" Sony Trinitron, bought in 1974. That was a real stayer. I bought it after observing BBC riggers throwing them from person to person at outside broadcasts with no ill effect. It finally went to the tip after 14 years' service, when the only colour it could produce (in addition to black and white) was green.

Naturally in the battle of video recorders, I couldn't imagine Sony Betamax being beaten by the group of Johnny-come-latelies backing VHS. Duff call - though not perhaps as duff as my old dad, who chose Philips V2000.

Now I learn that Sony are stopping making Minidisc players in March. I chose a four-track Minidisc mixer as my "gift" from the BBC after 25 year's service. It was a long-time before I made it work - it uses data Minidiscs, not music Minidiscs.

• It was a marvellous 25 year's celebration. Jenny Abramksy read selections from my personal file - including a puzzled letter of reference from my college tutor, who couldn't really imagine why anyone would want to employ me.