I'm recoiling in horror at the thought of the poor old pound weakening against the dollar, especially as I have tied myself in to a pound/euro deal for when I sell my house here, in the belief that the pound will strengthen. To answer your question Doc H H, I am currently negotiating for a bungalow in a village called East Keal in Lincolnshire. Offer accepted but busy wading through HIPS, surveys etc., before actually signing anything. I'm using most of my savings, coupled with the money from the sale of our apartment, so it's a real stretch, but who knows how long it will be before the house sells. So it's another gamble, this time on house prices rising in the near future.
Dr b, thanks for the 'basket' hint. Like you with another clue, light almost immediately dawned and I could have kicked myself for not immediately recognising the salt in question. Am only now returning to the fray, but it's almost complete.