>>>Dear xara: I think you are really trying to do it the hard way.<<<

yes, yes, I know. Here's why I've chosen this method:
1. I've had extremely bad luck ordering from unfamiliar sites.
2. If Barnes and Noble has a UK site I can't find it.
3. Problems with Amazon:
a. they are indiscreet with their mailing/customer lists. having recently been victim of fraud, I'm even more wary than ever about how companies choose to handle privacy issues.
b. we (my husband in particular) do not support companies with software patents.