I've just got an email from the guy - he thought i was a time waster, somehow scaming him, but he saw my appeals for help on social networks and realised i was genuine and he's gonna phone me tomorrow to arrange things. So, hopefuly, it'll all work out now.

Terry I don't have your phone number any more - lost in the chaos :-(
But many many thanks for being willing: you're a gentleman a scholar and a judge of fine whiskey :-)