Thanks for reminding me I'd not been active in a while, busy times. Mailing this from the States at 3.47 your time and really sticking my neck on the line as this is the first time I've started a thread. With regard to 'moaning' shouldn't we (and I only ask) be looking at the big things in life? Look at the lot of a whole lot of others and I'd say, with the best will in the world to moan in Switzerland is dodgy - some criticisms will be valid, I'm sure, but I think we have it pretty darned good. Question -is it about pint half full, pint half empty? I await the barrage and hope my self esteem can withstand it...........regards to you all.....and of course as a newbie it could be that I've missed the purpose of the thread entirely , in which case ignore my ramblings

So you don't really care but you thought you'd react anyway.
Hmm I reckon you wanted a bit more attention!
I'm not brilliant but I think I have an idea where your coming from.
So Jayne 2oo8 just what is your contribution to this site?

At the moment 'Oldhand? not a great deal, hence my hesitance in opening a thread, but think I'm starting to get a feel of it - is it baptisms by fire?

Nah, it's just jump in and make what you want of it. Full stop.

Did you get an automated mesage?

Sure did.........so do you have 'handy hints'?

Nah no hints, just personal survival tactics that have allowed me to tell the tale. Good fun though.

Don't look now, but the forum police may be watching you.

Clearly haven't got a handle on it all so will retreat to observing others posts.................

What makes this thread awesome is the time that the interaction occurred.

What a thread.

I think the answer to the original question is: "The pint may be half empty, but there's a full pint next to it"

It's not a pint, but a half-litre, and it's full.

How right you are Greg! Always dodgy with my quantities but get the essence of it well.........long may it reign!!!!!!!!!!