It's a mixed tap, when I turn it on some water goes around the bit where the tap is mounted. Its stainless steel and leaving a build up of white scale..I'm cleaning it daily.
I am the same Little old bird - except that it is my cold water tap in the bathroom sink. I have had it replaced twice but that oul leak still comes back and I am not paying for another one.
I just keep a little sponge thing at the back of the tap and it soaks the water which will have to do me for now.
If its a mixer tap, you probably need a new mixer tap cartridge. Relatively simple job if you are vaguely good at DIY and loads of videos on youtube. The main problem is, there are several different sizes of cartridge and you won't know which one you need until you take it apart!!