Good onya fellas,yesterday after going through your suggestions I decided to start from the start again,After lifting up the boot on the gearstick I could see that as I headed for 1st the reverse gate does move ever so slightly with it as SLR_dave suggested. This morning I booked the old girl in to the local mechanic for Wednesday to put her up on the hoist with me in it so He can see exactly how the selectors are (condition+alighnment).and who knows what else will be spotted,will report back then. Ta for now...