Talking of financial things :p

Chris's beetle needs a new drivers side rear window mechanism. Cost is about the same as a weeks holiday for 2 somewhere warm or one person to fly to Canada. Nuts. Don't believe people who tell you VWs are better made or more reliable than other 'lesser' makes.

Also looking at buying more lab kit, but reading the small print in descriptions is so important, and I've just managed to not buy something that seemed like a good deal - except replacing the missing parts would more than double the cost.