INSPIRED by fellow Gazette columnist Clinton Rogers, I thought it apposite to stick my oar into the mobile phones debate.

You may have read of Clinton’s frustrations with modern technology and his struggles with phone hackers.

I’ve not been hacked, touch wood, although that’s always a risk. I do though receive plenty of spam calls. Fortunately they’re easy to block.

Don’t get me wrong - I need my mobile.

It lets me remain in touch wherever I am; updates me on news and how Somerset are doing in the cricket; allows me to send and receive emails, take photos and play games; wakes me up; pays bills; reminds me of appointments; and means I avoid BT landline fees.

Yet despite the benefits, I morph into one of the two moaning elderly geezers in The Muppets when discussing mobile phones.

Phil Hill.Phil Hill. (Image: Phil Hill)

Here are some of the things that get me going.

In my doctors’ waiting room, a patient’s name flashes up on the screen informing him the GP will see him now. No one moves. Then a nurse appears and calls the patient’s name. Yep - he’s on his phone. He waves her away, saying: “Just finishing this call. Won’t be long.” Rude.

I’ve been held up in the queue at the supermarket till while the shopper in front takes a call the moment they’re asked to pay.

How often do you see a couple in a restaurant both on their phones? Whatever happened to conversation?

Then you’re chatting with a friend when their phone rings and, without further ado, they answer it and repeat what they’ve just been telling you, leaving you in limbo.

Clinton Rogers: ‘Technology is a wonderful thing – when it’s on your side’

In the gym, you’re been eyeing a piece of equipment as part of your workout programme, but a sweat-free member has been sitting there for 20 minutes solely sending and receiving WhatsApp messages.

On the bus, a passenger spends the journey screaming personal information you don’t want to hear down their phone.

Another bug bear is people in A&E and visitors on the wards at Musgrove Park Hospital who on arrival immediately plug in their mobile to charge it.

Repeated nationwide, it must add a tidy sum to the NHS electricity bill. I feel tempted to yank the charger from the socket, but it would probably cause a riot, leading to overworked hospital staff having even more injuries to treat.