Hello everyone and thanks for the rapid replies.
Displcd Brit, the route you speak of sounds the most intruiging (not to mention cheapest!) - Do you happen to know of the top of your head how I get my lovely old brown book swapped for a new one?
I'll go in and bother my local FAA office (luckily 5 miles from my house!) and see what they have to say.
Wessex boy, how did you know I am a Air Law addict?
I'll update you all (or y'all in the local dialect) as to the results.
Cheers,
Gareth.