A necessity: A short-wave radio. After my first tour of America, I found I had to take a radio with me because I missed British news too much. I need that reference point when I'm away.

A luxury: My G3 laptop, which has almost replaced the short-wave radio. I use it to listen to the Today programme via the BBC website wherever I am in the world. I write my lyrics straight into the computer, too.

A memento: It changes, but, at the moment, it's a feather that one of my sons gave to me last summer on holiday in Australia. It brings back some very happy memories of the time we spent on the beach out there.

If only: A mobile kitchen. I like simple, home cooking and I miss it when I'm on the road. I've experimented with cooking on the radiator of my car, but it's not quite the same. Still, I have discovered that my driving time between Leeds and Liverpool is sufficient to prepare a nice bit of poached fish.