Just to clear up the medical issue:
i called the CAA today...asked about the medical requirements....and they said that their limits for eyesight are +/-3D correction. No provisions for refractive stability or older age......so my -3.5D would fail me on an ATCO medical but pass me on a JAA pilot medical.....
although they say they're thinking about changing the ATCO limit to make it inline with pilot requirements.....but we all know how long that could take......
for the time being I'll be doing my eye exercises.....
g10