With the impending demise of free Audioboom accounts I explain why I won't be taking up the new offer, thank audioboom for years of service, and let my listeners know where else they can find me out there on the world wide web. I also take the opportunity to raise my concerns about the potential loss of important historical records if audio accounts are deleted without first being archived in some way, and about the challenges of retrieving one's content, with thousands of posts to save. I repeat here though, as I stated in the recording, that I sign off with no bitterness towards Audioboom who have supported free accounts for a long time now despite a changing business model, allowing many of us considerable freedom in what and how much we recorded. I wish them well with their future direction. I can also be found at: http://anchor.fm/bearingaway http://twitter.com/BearingAway http://www.bearingaway.co.uk

My fourth Toastmasters Speech, on the subject of authenticity #Toastmasters #PhoenixSpeakers #London

A plethora of thoughts, ideas and utterances fills a physically empty Turbine Hall. More information here: http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/bruce-nauman-1691/long-read/raw-material #TateModern #TurbineHall #RawMaterial

I ring the Bell of Peace in Hiroshima, Japan. Visit http://www.bearingaway.co.uk for more on my trip.

Mark Rogers and I are off to Japan and in this, hopefully the first of many audio and video recordings from the trip, I look forward to the journey. You can follow the trip at http://www.bearingaway.co.uk and http://twitter.com/BearingAway Big thanks to Paul Hopkins and Claire Randell for the theme music.

In my third Toastmasters speech I address a subject which is quite close to home, mainly working a guide dog. I must confess that, despite good feedback, this wasn't my best speech ever. The introduction was far too long and I could have done with planning the ending a little better. Fellow guy dog owners may also notice a little bit of poetic license being employed! Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy it. #Toastmasters #PhoenixSpeakers #London #Speech #Speech3 #GuideDog #Training #Working #Dummies #GuideDoggingForDummies

I joined Phoenix Speakers, a London Toastmasters club, back in October 2016, and this was my first speech, delivered shortly after. I talk here about what led me to join, including losing my confidence speaking in public and battling to regain it. The feedback on this speech was remarkably good, with the main recommendations concerning my tendency to stand quite still and clasp my hands, rather than appear more natural. I think there was also a suggestion that I should have slowed down a little #toastmasters #speech1 #icebreaker #2016 #PhoenixSpeakers

Fifteen Minutes was my second speech at the Phoenix Speakers Toastmasters club in London, made on the 8 March 2017. It interweaves the idea of 15 minutes of fame with the story of my own moment in the limelight 10 years ago, when the story of my gene therapy operation was reported on around the world. Unfortunately I was distracted a couple of times during the speech, once by my own side comment and once by noting the time lights changing but not knowing what colour they were on. I also trimmed the ending a little as I thought I had less time left than I did. Nevertheless the feedback was positive about the structure and content, even if it could have been a little slower and perhaps I could have worked on my stage presence a little.

After holding out for almost a year in order to keep messaging functionality and avoid the risk of losing existing recordings, I have finally succumbed to pressure and updated to the newest version. This is something of a test recording to see if I can upload from the iPhone voice memo app. Let's see if it works…