People often ask me... well, ok, actually: Someone recently asked me how I back up my data on my PC laptop*, and when I told them, they said "wow that's amazing! You should do a blog post on that!".

Well, ok, they didn't do that either, but here's one anyway.

Executive summary

I keep my latest stuff (photos just off my camera, docs I've just written) inside a folder synced with the online backup service Dropbox (that gives you a couple of gigs storage for free). I leave the rest of my data outside the backed up folder.

Every six months (depending on how much new stuff I create) I backup all my data to an external HDD and move the recent stuff out of the Dropbox folder to its more permanent location - freeing up space for another six months worth of new stuff.

The detail

First things first, I only back up my data, not my whole system. My install of Windows XP is about 4 years old now, and while it works fine, if my HDD died I'd think of it as an opportunity to clense the remnants of all those peripheral applications that have come and gone over the years. If the whole thing explodes, or some scumbag nicks it, the question of full-system backup becomes moot anyway.

For online backup I use Dropbox, which simply syncs a specified folder on your HDD with their servers. Since I don't work for the CIA this is fine. Dropbox also have a nice web interface and an iPhone app for getting at your files when away from your machine.

Unfortunately Dropbox use the same "absurd or free" pricing model as (the otherwise awesome) Spotify, thus I only have the 2GB they provide free to play with, which is no help considering I have 20GB of photos and 50GB of music. There are other online backup services of course, but they too only offer a little free space.

Thinking about this though, I realised that since I have a couple of external HDDs that I take manual copies of everything on to every six months or so, all I really need to back up is whatever has changed recently.

Thus I was able to rearrange my docs as follows:

/My Dropbox
-\_INBOX
-\Docs
-\Music Metadata
-\New Music
-\New Photos
-\Web Pages
\Music
\Photo Archive
\Web Pages Archive

Inside my Dropbox

• "_INBOX" is my catch-all folder for downloads and anything I'm looking at right now that I might not keep.
• "Docs" contains all my Office-type docs, and since the folder's so small they're all kept in there. Similarly "Web Pages" has a copy of everything I have online now.
• "Music Metadata" is where I occasionally copy my iTunes XML file to. As I've mentioned here before I'm pretty obsessive about my music metadata, so I don't want to lose it. I can't make iTunes keep it there thanks to Apple's general inability to let you specify data locations (see also iPhone photo caches).
• "New Music", "New Photos" - Music and photos I've added recently.

Outside my Dropbox

Contains everything that hasn't changed since I last took an external HDD backup: My older photos, my music library, websites that aren't live any more etc.

As with anything i post on this blog, this solution won't suit everyone, but for me it means I have everything backed up, instantly, for minimal effort and with zero cost. It'll do until this cloud computing thing takes off anyway.

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(* I think it's fair to say if I had a Mac I'd just buy a Time Machine, because they're awesome and seamless. However I don't.)

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Ever wondered about a good way to attach a couple of golf clubs to a bike when off to pitch & putt? No? Well, it's my blog, so tough. Get reading.

Having found strapping them to my back a bit awkward, and wanting better weight distribution, I dropped into a 'Loonie' (dollar) store and got some self-adhesive velcro.

Stick a couple of 25cm lengths back to back, and wrap round frame and clubs so it sticks to the back of itself (click pics to enlarge):

Note the inner wrap of velcro attached to the frame to stop the whole assembly sliding back and forth:

This only does 2 clubs of course, or maybe 4 at a push, but that's fine for the driving range or the pitch & putt - and I'll leave the strips in my bike toolkit too, because I bet they come in handy for other things at some point.

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About a month ago I had to spend £30 replacing the lock on the boat after I forgot the key and we had to kick the door open. That was quite annoying. Even more annoying when I have a simple checklist I (almost) always use when packing to ensure I don't forget common items.

Anyway, since it's evolved over several years of travelling, I thought you might be interested to see it in case it inspires you to make or amend your own.

Note it's just a single list suitable for long holidays, Glastonbury or an overnight stay (with headings so I can skip sections that aren't relevant any given trip) - because even I can't be bothered maintaining lots of separate lists with chunks of repetition. It's also not exhaustive, instead focussing on the slightly unusual stuff that I often forget.

Paperwork

• Passport
• Money & tickets (or reference #)
• (International) driving licence & proof of address
• Travel insurance docs
• Guide book(s)
• Reading book(s)

Gadgets

• Phone charger
• Camera (+ charger)
• Laptop (+ charger)
• Mini speakers (+ charger)
• International socket adaptor

Clothes

• T shirts / shirts, trousers and underwear
• Sandals & shorts
• Waterproof top & cap
• Long kohns
• Swimming trunks
• Hiking boots and socks

Overnight

• Washkit: lenses, specs, deo, tbrush, towel, wet wipes
• Sleeping bag, inner, thermorest, mini pillow
• Tent
• Ear plugs and eye mask
• Travel wash

Meds

• Plasters (inc. blister plasters)
• Rehydration sachets
• Paracetomol
• Antiseptic wipes
• Sudafed

Misc

• Booze
• Cards and travel games
• Mini kite
• Silver wig
• Folding chair & stool

Keys

• Boat
• Wales
• Parent's place

You see? Keys even have their own section... £30! Dammit!

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Some time ago I posted about how I use customised email addresses when signing up for services so I can track who sells on my address to spamming third parties.

Well I've just had a rummage through my spam folder, and thought it would be fun to tell everyone which charlatans companies have done exactly that:

1. emusic.com
2. ticketweb.co.uk
3. aquasolo.fr

I also get lots to my ebay.com, ebay.co.uk and paypal.co.uk addresses, but they probably got out to an unscrupulous seller while I was paying for stuff, or messaging back and forth - still worth knowing though.

Oh, and note that while I may well have failed to tick a 'don't sell my info box' somewhere along the line, the point is the resulting mail is the nasty 'diet casino enlarging meds' style pure spam - not responsible related companies.

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I think I watch too much tv.

I know it's a common complaint, and there's a lot of good programming out there that I shouldn't feel is wasted time. Nonetheless, I do somehow end up watching too many things that I can barely even remember afterwards. I'm looking at you Property Ladder.

So, I've worked up a short checklist of avoidance tactics, that (mostly) work for me:

• Go out. Any excuse: For a walk, shopping, take some photos, read a book in the park. It doesn't matter. Leaving the flat will always raise my mood.
• Focus. Don't surf the net while watching telly. This is a particular problem for me: I focus quite intently on one thing, flipping between stimuli - catching all of neither, and never quite relaxing and immersing myself in one. Put the laptop out of reach, or turn the telly off.
• If it's late enough, go to bed - get more sleep and be in a fitter, happier and more productive mood the next day. If I'm not tired, 30 mins with a book does the trick.
• Only watch programmes off the PVR, turning the decision to watch into a two-step one. This doesn't wholly work for me, as I still, after all this time, occasionally record crap. I'm still looking at you, Property Ladder.

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