Thanks, Andy - I never got round to fixing the errors in that version, which I nicked from the Web somewhere long-forgotten.

I'd go along with all your suggestions, with the sole exception of the bellies! I've always heard it as "eight" - the word "ale" is unlikely to be used in that way in Ireland, in my expereince.

Regards
p.s. I used to count corncrakes many years ago - never had occasion to count crates....