just to report that YouTube videos now play faultlessly, doesn't matter whether I use AOL, IE7 or Firefox.

I assume it was just a problem with my newly enabled broadband line following recent move. AOL did say it would take ten days to settle down (hey , I don't understand why either ...)

thanks to everybody for their suggestions, Tattie Bogle I will no doubt see you again at the first Tuesday at Balerno soon