Thanks, Shy - I have a pic in my album of the gerbils enjoying the sunshine on the grass outside the 1 Sqn studes crewroom during one of those glorious, endless summer '77 afternoons. Did NOT, however, recall the aquarium! You don't happen to remember what happened to the trandem I bought in York, do you? I remember 16 Course attempting to sabotage it (for which read 'vandalise', only young officers don't do that sort of thing - do they?!), and I lost track of it after I was lucky enough to leave for Shawbury after the 3A.