LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Tues Nov 14th

Good afternoon !

We are safely back on terra firma after our Lusty lurch into the land of the tar: hope you enjoyed it even if it was a bit cold!

Now, in the spirit of warmth and pre-Christmas kindness, tonight's programme is most generous in its offering to you: we will take you, live, to the premiere of the new James Bond movie: Tamzin will be there and she's got Daniel Craig in her sights...

We will have a competition for those Oasis fans among you: tickets to a screening of the new documentary film about the boys and the chance to quiz Noel on one of the greatest bands of the 90s.
As if that wasn't enough, we reveal who has won the first tranche of the People's Millions and offer you another couple of candidates to choose between: Up to £50k on offer! Glen is in command but it's your call.

So, where is our less loving side? Where does our brutal journalism cozy up to our loving side?

Ken and Caracas - we still think there are questions to answer and Simon is still asking them. Why the Venezuala trip and then why was it cancelled? And a London Embassy in the Venezualan capital? Our report and your thoughts at 6.

Chrissie with the weather and the rest of the news, including the latest on Eurostar: Zut Alors! Anywhere else to be than ITV1 at 6.

See you there.

A & K

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Mon 13th Nov

Hello from the London Tonight team.

It was a very different journey to work for Alastair today. Forget South West Trains, leaves on the line in Woking, iced up points around Norbiton and a broken down train at Earlsfield (before SWT complain, I should point out there were none of those problems this morning. That I know of). For Alastair, this morning it was a Chinook ride onto HMS Illustrious on the Thames.

Why? Well, we've a very special programme tonight, live from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier.

We'll show you Alastair's flight - we'll see a day in the life of the flagship - and we'll talk live to the Captain.

All that - plus the People's Millions is back - tonight you can vote for the project you want to get a fifty thousand pound "Big Lottery Fund" grant.

And we're on the Cutty Sark to find out how the renovations are going on that unique vessel.

All that - live from Illustrious - at six.

Stuart
Editor, LT.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 10th Nov

Good Afternoon,

It's chilly outside, so stay in with us. There's plenty to keep you informed and entertained on tonight's programme.

We start with a terrifying tale of robbers who snatched people off the street and forced them to hand over their pin numbers - before raiding their bank accounts. Full details at six.

Elsewhere, a tale we think is a bit of a talking point. An animal centre in Kensal Green claims it's under threat .... because of new parking restrictions. The problem, a residents parking zone will mean ambulances, on standby for sick creatures, will no longer be able to park outside for free. The solution, so say its supporters, is to make the Mayhew Animal Centre a special case and exempt it from the new rules. We'll be bringing you the details and asking for your opinions.

It's all aboard The Illustrious for our reporter Phil Bayles. The aircraft carrier's in the Thames ahead of Poppy Day on Sunday and Phil's live in Greenwich for us with a sailor's eye view of the Royal Navy Flagship.

It's Friday so a bumper hamper of entertainment's on offer. We've an interview with dance act Faithless, a trip to the movies with our critic James King AND of course our usual whizz round a whole raft of ideas for things to keep you busy in the capital this weekend.

Chrissie's getting into the nautical spirit too...she's broadcasting her weather report live from the Cutty Sark.

Oh, and a great competition for you.

All waiting for you at 6 o Clock.

T&W

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Weds 8th Nov

Good Afternoon and Welcome to our mid-week message!

Gone but not forgotten, our dear Mayor winged his merry way to Venezuela to finalise the oil-for-public-services-advice deal last week...... but then decided he'd go via Cuba to have a chat about the Olympics..... and pop in to see how Fidel Castro was doing.
Now Ken is a serial election winner in Brent and for London Mayor but, hard to believe, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez suddenly decided Ken might not help HIS election prospects so the visit was cancelled. Odd? It gets odder. Arriving back at Gatwick this morning, not a word passed the normally over-worked lips of our Mayor. Instead he just hummed. And hummed. Simon Harris is trying to get to the bottom of this Latin American-cum-Cuban mystery.

Fighting gun crime is an absolute priority for the Met because it is an absolute priority for most Londoners. Rock stars, fashion icons, youth leaders - all have spoken out against gun-crime in an effort to dissuade young Londoners from carrying and using guns.
So why are Puma producing a new trainer with an image of a machine gun on them, with the slogan 'I Steal For A Living'? And why are they launching the new fashion-shoe in London? We are concerned and think you might be, too. So Phil is on the case and we want to know what you think.

Different sort of fashion: you'll need a dinner suit or long-frock if you win tonight's spectacular competition: tickets for the premiere of latest Bond blockbuster Casino Royale. Strut your stuff on the red-carpet but you must be dressed to the nines. Details at 6.

Is your hospital on the hit-list of possible closures in the latest round of health service reforms? The Department of Health didn't want you to know nor did they want us to know. But we do and so you will... if you tune in.

Southend 1 Man U 0! Say no more! Well, actually, we will be saying quite a bit more: Glen is in giant killer mode from the home of the country's longest pier and shortening odds for Cup glory.

And, a dream come true: Chrissie, not only on the weather, not only on a white Christmas but really, truly, honestly.... on ice-skates!
StratoCumulous and a dollop of double salkos, just for you.

Toe-loop your way in our direction at 6.

Don't forget the Black tie and evening gown!!!!

A & K

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Tues 7th Nov

Hi there.

Its a dreadful question but what do you think is the biggest killer of young people in London. Cancer? Drugs? Alcohol? Or what about violence....knives or guns?

Well its none of the above. Watch at 6 to find out...you'll be shocked and surprised as London Tonight highlights the campaign to tackle it.

Now Mayor Ken Livingstone might be a long way from the capital but he's never far away from the headlines. This time Ken is in hot water...or perhaps that should be oil over a visit to Venezuela where he was supposed to be discussing a supply of the black stuff for London. All sorts of excuses have been given but the long and the short of it is Mayor Ken didn't meet with President Chavez and now he's got to justify the cost of the trip. We've more on this tonight.

On the lighter side of life we've got an amazing James Bond competition with a trip to Nice and loads of goodies for the winner, we'll be taking a look at a massive night in the history of Southend United as they entertain Premiership leaders Manchester United in the Carling Cup and then there's the latest band to re-unite, Genesis are getting back together, Phil Collins and all, for a World tour.

Oh yes and Chrissie Reidy's been up in a flying boat as well!

See you at six!

W&K

PETER PAN COMPETITION WINNERS

Well done to Jan Walters, Rosemary Rose, Maureen Aylen, Emma Holmes, Sharon Payne, Kate Wyatt, Ross Powell, Jack King, Neil Francis and Simon Morosoli. You'll be hearing about the family tickets to Peter Pan very soon.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: 9th Nov 2006

Hi there.. could cracks be appearing in London's plans for the 2012 Olympics?

Two weeks ago Olympic Delivery Authority chairman Jack Lemley resigned after less than a year in the job. Today one of the country's most famous Architects says he's thinking about boycotting the Games.

Find out why Lord Rogers is angry at six.

And where do you stand in the red and white debate? Wearers of the traditional poppy are being accused of glorifying war and are being urged to consider going for the white version as more Christian sign of peace and remembrance.

Then there's the changing of the guard. Forget sombre think secret service. For a change the soldiers did their thing to the tune of 007 movie's today....find out if they were shaken or stirred by the experience.

Another major switch on is taking place at Oxford Street...once again the best place to watch the turning on of the Christmas lights is live on London
Tonight - and we've also got another fantastic competition - tickets to see the fabulous Peter Pan on Ice.

Look forward to telling you all about those stories at six.

W&T

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Mon 6th Nov

Afternoon everyone.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend with lots of very loud fireworks. Shame they went on until 5 in the morning...

And it looks like there'll be fireworks at City Hall for some time to come. Remember last week's surprise when the Mayor of London rocked up in Cuba? "We weren't expecting that", we said. "Well", says Ken, "that's because we wanted the media to concentrate on my trip to Venezuela"...
Fair enough. So we did. Only now he's not going. We're TOLD the trip's been cancelled at the 11th hour because elections in Venezuela mean President Chavez won't have enough time to chat with our Mayor. Seems a bit strange to us... AND to Simon Harris who was waiting in Caracas with open microphone. He'll have the full story nonetheless.

Next, a horrific story about bullying - not just name-calling or pushing and shoving in the playground. Last November, Natashia Jackman was stabbed in the eye with a pair of scissors at school in Surrey - and she talks about her experience for the first time today, even claiming the school tried to make her feel responsible.

Marcus Powell reports on the tragic tale of Charlotte Adams - hit and killed by a car as she walked home from a Christmas party. At the wheel, one Emmanuel Amoah, wasn't qualified to drive and he ran from the scene. But there was no running from justice today as he was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court.

In a very different vein, anyone who saw 'X-Factor' on Saturday will have seen a very cross Simon Cowell indeed - the 'King of the Caustic Comment' not a little put out that one of his acts got the old 'heave-ho'. He's rather optimistic about the prospects of a new signing of his though - a choir of kids called 'Angelis'. Jasmine Lowson's been to meet them.

Now - question: What do you want from a home? Well, it seems ladies want one thing - and men want something completely different. Cue lots of jokes. Architects designing flats though take it all very seriously indeed, actually tailoring blocks of flats to boys'... or girls' needs. Damien Steward has the low-down on that.

And what's more - Phil Bayles will have news to put a smile on green-campaigners living in the Heathrow flightpath... one of London's biggest stores puts a smile on the faces of those who lost thousands when a Christmas savings company collapsed... and let's hope Chrissie can put a smile on all our faces with her look at the weather.

We'd better get cracking. See you at SIX.

Ben and Katie.

DATELINE CARACAS by Simon Harris

Well, it makes a change from City Hall. We have been here 24 hours now awaiting the arrival of Ken Livingstone, so what are my first impressions of this extraordinary city? It is very chaotic and certainly dangerous. Consider this: the local off licence next to the hotel does not have grills and bars as protection but a very powerful man with a bullet proof vest, a sawn off shotgun and a belt full of cartridges!

Most of us when we travel rely on a checklist of essential items to ensure nothing vital is left at home. Passport, currency, suntan lotion etc. For this trip I added one extra item. A poppy. After all we are just days away from November 11th. It turned out to be a big mistake. Caracas is a violent place (see above) and never more so than during an election campaign. Venezuela goes to the polls on December 3rd and the campaign is in full swing. It is almost certainly one reason why Ken Livingstone is here. The current president, Hugo Chavez is a left-winger with some explosisve anti-American opinions. Our mayor is his new best amigo. There are almost two dozen candidates but the front runners are Chavez (champion of the poor) and Manuel Rosales (favourite of the middle classes). Rosales' supporters wear blue, the Chavistas dress in red. They haven't heard of the British Legion here, let alone Poppy Day. So if someone walks through arrivals at Caracas airport with a red flower in their lapel it can only mean one thing. He must be a Chavista. That almost certainly accounts for the chilly reception I got from the front desk at the hotel. But it could have been worse. A colleague from another news organisation was lucky to escape a severe beating from a Chavez supporter. His crime? He was wearing a Nike baseball cap. Blue.

I am afraid to say the poppy will not be making another appearance in Caracas.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri Nov 3rd

Hello!

Friday November 3rd - and just forty eight hours from Bonfire Night. Lots of us have been chatting about Sunday night - some are going to school events, a few are off to the Battersea bash and others are planning something in their own back gardens.

It's fireworks, bonfires, warm wine, hot chocolate and marshmallows time again.
Unless you live in Tower Hamlets.

The Council have funded a firework event for sometime but this year the organisers don't want a Guy... nor do they even want a fire. That's because it would bring back memories of the 17th century Catholic plot, led by Guy Fawkes, to blow up the Houses of Parliament as King James 1st ( 6th of Scotland, and a Stuart points out Alastair ) performed the State Opening of Parliament, and the cruel and unusual punishments meted out to poor old Guido and his incendiary buddies.
So, instead, there will be the reading of a Bengali folk tale.

The temperature of the "politically correct Vs politically incorrect" debate in our office was enough to mull a gallon or eight of wine and roast a million marshmallows.
Marcus will report and Tamzin and Alastair will ask you for your views

Old Man River should pull his weight a bit more when it comes to global warming, some say. And London's network of Canals. Well he and they will, Estelle tells us. Think less Eddie Stobbart and more Ancient Mariner and you'll be on the right track.

Its enough to make you cry.... Tracks of My Tears and.... Tears of a Clown: it must be a case of smoke getting in your eyes..... sorry, I'm off on one: Tamzin has been talking to vocal legend Smokey Robinson. Ah - what a combination.

Mark Eccelston takes us to the movies and, yes, we will have his take on Borat.....

Chrissie has her weather and, finally, we will give you a special edition of What Not to Miss!!! All the firework displays and parties we could find.... apart from Tower Hamlets.

See you at 6.

A & T

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: 2nd Nov 2006

Afternoon: sorry we are a little later than usual but we have been rushing around trying to make sense of some complicated stuff....
....not least the shooting of an alleged armed robber - (we have to say 'alleged' for legal reasons which is just a small example of how careful we have to be with stories like this).
Anyway, it seems the team, or some members of the team, who shot Jean Charles de Menezes dead at Stockwell Tube station were in action a few days back at a building society in New Romney, Kent. A man was shot dead and there's to be an investigation - that is par for the course. But there's an almighty row about whether it was a Stockwell Team member who fired the fatal shot: and, if it was, was it a bit early for him or her to be back on the job....? Ben will make sense of it for you.

You may have heard the very moving readings on radio of letters a dad wrote to his daughter, despite the fact that she had been killed in a level crossing accident. Jasmin has been to meet him and I defy you not to be touched by his love and passion.

The Olympics will bring no quick fix to London's tourism industry so says the European Association of Travel Agents. Kill joys or the bringing of wise and sober warnings? Estelle speaks a number of languages and will let you know.

Ken is going to Venezuela: we knew but were told to keep it a secret for security reasons which we did until he blurted it out on the radio (That's two mentions of the radio: Ed.) (That's because I listen to radio in the morning rather than watch TV: Alastair). Marcus wants to know why and so do we and we think you might too. Apparently it is about oil for transport advice. With me now is a Black Cab driver... Or not, perhaps!

Jeremy Clarkson gets very Jeremy Clarkson about fast cars, petrol cans and other utterly riveting things from the MPH show. Divided opinion on this one so you decide but I'll warn you, even the antis think it's funny.....

And Chrissie will, on this freezing November evening, tell us why September and October were the hottest on record and what lies ahead in her magic world of meteorological mystery!

See you at 6 ; gosh, that's getting a bit close......

A & K

London Tonight: Wednesday November 1st

We start with a couple of shockers: Michael Stone the convicted Ulster Loyalist killer tells us, in his first TV interview, why he had Ken Livingstone in his sights: literally.
And American Jack Lemley, the former Head of Delivery for the 2012 Olympics, quit amicably two weeks ago. Now he's told American journalists it was all because of meddling politicians and spiralling costs. Not a word of that was said when he left amid back-slapping and glad-handing. Who was spinning whom and what is the real truth? Simon Harris is on the case.

Also this evening Jon Gilbert looks at a dramatic rescue and recovery exercise on the Thames that just left the survivors and victims' families of the Marchioness disaster asking why so many of the safety promises, made in the wake of the tragedy, remain unfulfilled.

And the premiere of a movie which is a kind of SpinalTap for the 21st century: Steve Hargrave treads the red carpet as Tamzin stays in the warm alongside Alastair.

See you at 6!

A and T

London Tonight; Tuesday 31st October

Afternoon!

Now then. His dad's a notorious rabble rousing Muslim cleric, challenging convictions for incitement to murder and race hate offences. He himself was jailed for a terrorist offence in Yemen, plotting to bomb targets in the US and the UK. And yet he manages to get a job on the London Underground. He doesn't work there anymore... But now Mayor Livingstone has waded in with both size 10's, saying that he doesn't have a problem with this young man working for London Underground, as he doesn't actually have a criminal record in Britain. We speak to one woman who lost her sister on July 7th ... And she is extremely upset by the Mayor's comments. We'd like your views on that one too.

We've day one of the trial of 2 teenagers charged with killing young lawyer Tom ap Rhys Price just yards from his home earlier this year, stabbed at Kensal Rise tube station.

We've reports of a really serious health warning on a new shock horror flick out this week: Saw III .. Not my favourite kind of movie I must confess .. And it seems I'm not alone. The London Ambulence Service have already had so many call-outs from people who've either fainted or felt queasy during the film that they're telling people not to go if they're faint hearted. Is this a case of any publicity is good publicity?

We're at the footy as Chelsea take on Barcelona, and with Angels the costumiers on their busiest night of the year... Pumpkin suit, anyone?!

And then for a touch of showbiz, we're live on the red carpet at TV's oscars, the National TV awards.. Hosted by Sir Trev, attended by a galaxy of your favourite telly stars. Gorgeous.

See you at 6!

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Mon 30th Oct

Afternoon,

Hope you all had a lovely, relaxing weekend with plenty of DIY for those who love it, and not a paint-brush in sight for those who don't. (It's okay to admit it.)

Now, this evening's programme and we start with the most appalling story. Last Christmas, Billy Gregory was murdered in a Woolwich pub - today his killer was jailed for life. For Billy's family though, the fight for justice goes on because his brother, Terry, was ALSO murdered... Christmas time 2002. Ronke Phillips has been speaking to their family.

Marcus Powell, meanwhile, has the latest on hundreds of families' battle over Buncefield. The oil depot blaze in December last year forced them out of their homes and, they say, hit them hard in the pocket. What they want is the company that owns the plant to admit liability. It could be a long journey and it began in the High Court today.

A rather quicker journey, come 2012, will be the train-trip from St Pancras to the East End or, more precisely, London's Olympic village. All thanks to the 'Javelin' a new train that, ahem, SHOULD be up and running then. It's not been built yet so Simon Harris has been playing with models.

Glen Goodman, though, went to the zoo. Bless. And while he was there he took a look at a young bird (steady...) that's rather lucky to be here. The Socorro dove died out in the wild back in 1974, but London Zoo is hoping the new addition will father a whole new generation.

We'll also have news on London's house prices (good for home-owners, bad for buyers - again)... Jon Gilbert's take on a film premiere with a difference... Tamzin Sylvester's at the 'Q' music awards... and Chrissie has the weather.

Why on earth would you be watching anything else.

See you at SIX... (or indeed SEVEN, if you forgot to put your clocks back)

Ben & Katie

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 27th Oct

Hello.

There's a new frontline in the fight against knife culture.It's at one of our busiest stations and it involves scanning passengers using a metal detector.But you don't have to go through it, so just how useful is it going to be?

A notorious bottleneck in Surrey is heading for a cure.Any driver caught in tailbacks on the A3 in Hindhead will welcome the plan, which involves digging a tunnel in a scheme costing more than 300 million.It'll cut through National Trust land, but trust bosses say they have to be pragmatic and have given the plan their blessing.

How many of you dreamt of becoming an astronaut when you grew up?How many of you still dream?Well, we talk to the man whose dream came true: London astronaut Nick Patrick.He joins us from Houston, where he's preparing for his mission on board the Space Shuttle in December. Some pop stars never grow old - they don't even fade away.Like Little Jimmy Osmond: all grown up and talking to us live in the studio about music, life and touring with other 70's legends.

And keeping to the theme of looking back.Where we you in 1932?Here are a few things to jog your memory:The average cost of a house in Britain was 540 The BBC starts a regular television service West Ham suffer a run of defeats that won't be repeated until...right now.Yep, Alan Pardew's men have lost eight on the trot - and he's the bookies' favourite to be the first Premiership manager to part company with his club this season..they're even taking bets on it happening within hours of Sunday's game against Blackburn, if the Hammers make it nine in. So, with all that, Upton Park just has to be our football focus tonight.

Ken (Hammers fan and Assistant Programme Editor)

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: 26th October 2006

Right ho.

We've just heard the Kiyan Prince murder trial jury's gone home again, so another day of waiting for his family.

Meanwhile though, the shocking tale of a young student who drank a bottle of water after a party.. not knowing it had been spiked with liquid ecstacy, the date rape drug. It didn't just drug her.. it killed her. Ben's been investigating.

We're at the Arsenal... at the new Emirates stadium to be precise, where they were expecting the Queen today to open it officially. Sadly she couldn't go, as she'd pulled a muscle in her back, so send Philip instead. We are wondering if they'd already engraved the plaque.. ?!

A story that could be the nanny state gone mad.. or a caring employer. One council has banned people from smoking in their own homes, if a member of the council staff, like someone delivering meals on wheels for example, is visiting. What do you think? Your comments please.

We're in Paris for the launch of the Tour de France.. Why? Because next year it actually starts in London, which is going to be an amazing spectacle .. and a good dry run for the Olympics, too.

We're also talking to Russell Crowe about his new film. And it couldn't be more different to Gladiator if it tried...

So all that, plus the papers and the weather, at 6. See you then!

Katie and Alastair.

LIGHTING UP LONDON (Part 2) by Stuart Thomas, Editor

Exactly 24 hours after I first wrote about it here, the good people at the Corporation of London have turned the lights on.

St Pauls looks wonderful.

I can put my torch away - and CoL - thank you...

WILD CAT CHASE by Marcus Powell

An hysterical woman phones Essex police to say she's seen a puma on the prowl. Cue major investigation.

The Weald country park near Brentwood is not exactly the place you'd expect to see an American mountain, more the back woods of Essex, but the wildlife round here is apparently extraordinary.

A police armed response unit and helicopter were sent out, yet this morning there were just a few tame park animals about - although a herd of wildlife photographers were on the prowl - so we were taking no chances. I stayed parked safely in a car seat while my cameraman sampled the wilds of Essex but he's had hostile environment training - which is more than I have.

We told the rangers we were in search of a puma or the dead deer which had been savaged. So apparently were 200 other people who'd all been alerted by the police, but all the deer were happy and healthy so surely this was just a wild cat chase. Undeterred and knowing Pumas live in trees we went out fearlessly on foot.

Then we saw it large - black - and legging it -but no its an old shaggy dog - some story!

So was anyone taken in? You'd have thought after 50 sightings in recent years - and not a Puma caught - the police might have given up the chase. We have....

London Tonight: Wednesday October 25th

Hello everyone.

Time to get your goat again: where do you stand on Chelsea Tractors - 4x4 Fiends - and, now, Richmond Range Rovers? Lots of us love 'em, even envy 'em - but most of us accept that many of them are mega-polluters. (Not all, however, as a recent survey showed that one, the Hummer, was rather better than you might have thought.....)
Anyway, Richmond Council wants to slap a higher parking permit price on them in a bid to save that delightful bit of the planet that is south west London and north east Surrey. Simon's on the case and we want to hear your thoughts. Peep-peep!

We're talking to the lovely Zoe Ball about saving the planet's most endangered species: celebrities get to chose the one they most want to save. Quite why Michael Portillio went for the Hyacinth Macaw is beyond us though we can only assume that David Suchet used his "little grey cells" to choose the Giant Panda.
Anyway it's a lavish new ITV series where you will be invited to take part: Zoe explains all.

And to cap off the theme of making the world a better place we are running a competition where you can win a wind turbine to cut your electric bill ... or the voucher-equivalent. Tune in to have a chance.

By the way, if you think you've seen a puma in Brentwood you may very well have seen a puma in Brentwood. A nervous Marcus, still recovering from having been stomped on by a dancing, prancing horse has gone all Sherlock Holmes for us in north London.

A train fell off the tracks at Waterloo last night: no-one hurt but lots really fed up with the delays that are still continuing. It even made Alastair late this morning - but not so late that he isn't poised to have a grumble! Ben's down at Waterloo.
Borat is in Leicester Square! The scourge of Kazakhstan hits the silver screen tonight and Tamzin is there for you - lucky minx.

If there isn't something there for you then I am an Azerbaijani!

See you at 6.

A & K

LIGHTING UP LONDON by Stuart Thomas, Editor

If you've got lights on a timeswitch in your house, you'll know that - as the nights draw in - you need to keep changing that timeswitch to make sure you don't end up in the dark.
Well, it's the same for St Paul's Cathedral.
Every year in mid-October I ring up the good people at the Corporation of London and remind them that it's getting darker earlier, and that London Tonight viewers can't see St Pauls.
If you've watched the programme in the last couple of nights, you'll know it's now very dark by about 6.15pm - and you can't see much behind our presenters. In fact it's pitch black. Well, I've made the call. Now we wait.. and if you know anyone with a very bright torch, drop me a line.