Gentlemen,
I am grateful for all your comments, and I offer my thanks for your time and advice on this subject.
I get a general feeling that the way to go is to do the microlighting first, and then, if I want, to progress to full ppl status. Not withstanding the other comments, I think I will probably go down this route.
Beagle, very many thanks for your input. I will indeed take you up on your offer, later this week if I may? - thanks.
I do hope I can pass the medical! Even (as Genghis says) as an AEO, I have passed the last 32, so unless something has gone seriously wrong, I think I'm in with a good shout! Although the doc did take more interest in my discharge medical, than they ever did whilst I was in the service!! - I wonder why hmmm?
Anyway, my thanks to you all, and I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Regards
The Swinging Monkey
'Caruthers, send Beagle a bottle of the famous you-know-what over, there's a good chap'