Thanks mad_jock, that's really appreciated.
Mine is a CAA ATPL issued in accordance with ICAO and JAR-FCL standards. It shows I have an IMC rating for which I was tested again recently, that's additional to my multi crew IR which is also current.
Questions still remaining are...
1. Is an IMC renewal a legal requirement, additional to a current multi-crew IR?
2. I still need to get my head around the term "applied instrument flying" I still don't know what that actually means?
If there's doubt there's no doubt... just ask!