Hi all,
Firstly many thanks for all the replies, it's great to find such an active forum!
To answer some questions:
1) I'm married with a daughter, so new wife would be VERY expensive!
2) Yes I will report back on Basingstoke ground.
3) Yes my plan is to go here a few times, really get a feel for things. I'm eyeing up some very reasonable priced Miroku's at £450 odd.
4) As a demo that I'm serious I'm selling all my old snowboard kit, as not planning on doing that any time soon. If I do, I'll take up Ski's instead.
Sale of my kit will go towards my gun fund, then it's case of coughing up for Bisley membership for the year. After that, I think I could get her to let me keep and gun but no ammo in a secure cabinet in the garage.