Ah well Jim, I know how you feel. My ancestors have been out here in Down Underland for.. well... My descendants will be able to say that their ancestors etc etc etc, and of course, our lot's claim to fame is that we conducted a highly developed form of agricultural insurance and a mutual assistance and property protection system based on the contemporary evaluation of cattle. This was a very popular economic enterprise for some centuries (well, we liked it) until the government decided to stamp out private enterprise and showed the good sense to get some o' thae hairy wild heilanders intae a uniform.

Thanks for the suggestion about ridding myself of my allergy to the sea-side, but I don't think I could ever take Brighton seriously... not that I try to take many things seriously anyway... after all those terrible old innuendoes about Brighton at the week-end, which could only be aggravated by a "clothing optional beach". Does that mean I CAN wear the waistcoat to go with my neck-to-knee striped outfit, or maybe even the navy blue knitted article?

Also, I'm afraid (or maybe I should be glad) that La Belle France is just a teeny wee bit further than a ferry-ride away from me. Our nearest overseas neighbour would be across the bridge to Bribie Island... which will mean abso-bloody-lutely nothing to anyone without a detailed map of Queensland, and asking to get your moolies marinaded would just be asking for trouble over there.... They eat their young y'know.

Oh yes, by the way, I changed the name to protect the innocent as the membership form said there was already a macca on the lists.... Gawd help him.