Enjoyed reading that Steve ! You're absolutely right, meeting for real (whether friends on the forum or a partner ....or both) is vital !
Look forward to the next instalment, and I don't want to "steal your thunder" Steve... but here's something Steve and I both learned about Steve Ry. I always knew there was expertise on most topics here on the forum...however, Steve Ry is THE expert on writing letters of complaint, so long as the subject begins with "S" :
dodgy Sat Nav sytems
Sweetener dispensers that don't work
Sunglasses that break when they have a "lifetime guarantee"
Speed cameras set for different speeds...
"Steve Ry will fix it"
