Helen, you have exposed my scam to add more colonials to my collection, but you do count, so I am prepared to redeem Australians at the Oz Dollar rate on the day.

Thank you to the more considered corespondents for your input, and Smallpliers, it pains me most that you will be absent, but the erudite Moo, and the plain rude Viking have succinctly stated the case that this is a Eurogathering that happens to be in Blighty, not a permutation to achieve a world record gathering of Catters. That will be in the States/Canada in 2006, and I hope the many contributors here will make as much effort to be there.

I doubt my poor village could accomodate the numbers that the mythical 'good' weekend would attract, and in the young tradition of these gatherings, we enjoy the songs and tunes of our visitors, rather than impose our already well known musical genres on them. I mention this to illustrate the need to keep a good balance of guests and hosts.

Thanks for your keys, Les. Is it OK if Oakley and a heifer move in?

Greg