& it wasn't a complete loss after all
we got Marie's new phone working as a modem with the laptop, & there seems to be no reason why we couldn't use it with the psions too, once we get the right plug adaptor
(which is in hand) Marie's off to work tomorrow of course - I'm tempted to do bank holiday things but it wouldn't be fair without her really - best stick to tidying & maybe a walk along the beach with the new digicam in hand:-)