AS I sit writing this article for you I am 30 feet away from the poolside bar, the palm trees are waiving gently in the breeze, the sky is blue and everything is really ‘cool’, here on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia.

Both hurricanes, Irma, then Maria, managed to miss this area completely. So I am contemplating my next vacation, or should I buy myself the latest iPhone? The costs are not that different, especially if the boss (Mrs Kingston) sees it and wants one as well. So, another holiday, or two new shiny iPhones?

Well had you been buying your first cellular mobile phone from me back in 1986 it would have been fixed in your car, the monthly subscription was £25, national calls were between 25 and 35 pence per minute, there were eight memories and last number redial all for around £2,000 plus 8 per cent VAT on everything. So why the complaints?

But I digress. Trust me when I say the new class of ‘fancy-phone’ is here, it is here! Does this smartphone stratification mean the end of a wonderful era of universal technology, where everyone had access to the same stuff no matter their budget? Most definitely! But are fancy-phones good news? They will bring excitement and innovation back to the smartphone game. Your smartphone won’t have to be exactly like my smartphone any more. But maybe this year’s kickass iPhone X at £1,200 just might look like next year’s kickass £650 phone. Or will it?

Last year’s iPhone 7 launch saw hundreds of people camping overnight outside Apple stores nationwide. I know, I was there, at the Milton Keynes outlet on behalf of a very important client to collect the only two handsets I was allowed. This year, the 8 and X attracted only 14 people to the queue outside Apple’s flagship store in Oxford Street.

I haven’t touched on the advances that have been announced but I gather that facial recognition, cinema quality cameras and a host of other features are available on the top end products. (I always wanted to be a movie producer).

How about yourselves? Do you feel that the new breed of fancy flagship smartphones are overpriced these days, or are the latest innovations worth the growing cost to you?

Mmmmm… I’m thinking…thinking…YES… Mediterranean Sea, Pacific or Indian Ocean… not sure which, one of those, but don’t tell Mrs. K, don’t want to get overruled.