What's the opposite of gilding the lily, Clyde, can't think, comes with age, something evil? But you're right ,it could be a nightmare. I will let you know if my Mandarin works for me, if it's all hail fellow, well met. In the private sector I had reached a good conversational level within 7 months and it served me very well indeed over the remaining years. But as you indicate to me life in the public domain is savage and course, so my golden tongue it seems will cut no ice. I'll give it a go, otherwise I could spend the rest of my life wondering. And I see that I have found a good avenue in this site to report back to. Go East old man and fill your boots. But what I will fill them with remains to be seen.