Thanks for the recommendations for suitable software to retrieve lost photos. I will give each of them a try.
My first digital camera, a Canon G7, after many years of semi-professional SLR's and large format plate cameras, with all the wet chemistry that goes with them. Darkrooms being solitary places and not conducive to marital stability I opted for the digital route.
Naturally, one first plays with what the manufacturer gives you, before shelling out on additional equipment.
However, I rapidly invested in a 1 Gb SD card, so should be well enough equipped for most of my purposes. Unfortunately Canon, in their wisdom, seem to believe that cameras are purchased only by kids who have grown up through the technical revolution. They have not allowed for those of us who are still powered by steam and find that too many buttons and knobs to press will cause a cerebral malfunction!
The basic software provided does not appear to include a recovery program.

Colyn.