Windows 7: Rationalise my e-mail

I currently have an old XP and a windows 7 laptop. I have always received e-mail via Outlook Express on my XP. My email address is linked to my provider Virgin Media. I also have a Virgin webmail address as I am often abroad and want to access my mail whilst away from home. I did also start to use the Livemail facility in Windows 7 but complications with receipt of mail made me stop doing so. Now, if I want to view mail via my laptop I log into Virgin Webmail.
Following some recent problems with Virgin Inow want to change provider.
With this in mind I wanted to set up an e-mail account elsewhere and let my many contacts know of the new address way ahead of the switch. So, I tried to set up a G-Mail account ( as reading along suggested this to be a safe and useable option for a novice like myself) but somewhere along the line in setting up my account I gave them my @Virgin address and Google inow has this as my primary account. What I wanted to do was have an address using the first part of my current e-mail but ending @ Gmail .com. I have got myself in a real muddle with all these accounts etc. Will I still be able to use G-mail (without the @virgin address). Will this be the best thing to do???? How do I set all this up now??? Any advice most welcome. One final complication is that my XP is currently grinding to a halt so I guess my Outlook won't be around much longer. Please make it simple as I am an oldie and as you can see find all this confusing!!