I am allowing myself this one immodest whisper and it will close the academic aspect of this project. The cheesy grin pictured opposite records the fact that I seem to have got a first in my degree. As yet this is only a provisional mark but there is sufficient leeway in my various grades to make the outcome all but certain. I am accordingly a happy old man. This puts right the indignity of my 'A' level result from 1978. I may have taken my sweet bloody time about it but I got there in the end.
We shall never speak of this again.
Shortly I will continue the VB project - after a brief interlude of riotous celebration.