OK -- after the very useful feedback from my correspondents below I am back on Facebook and trying to make it work again, for me and for everyone else. I was <a href="http://davidhewson.com/2011/01/do-tell-should-i-go-back-on-facebook/#comments">particularly struck by Gary Slinger's advice</a>: keep a private page for friends and a public one for readers.

Makes a lot of sense so that's what I'll attempt to do. You can reach the public page using the icon at the top of the page or following this link. It's always nice to hear from new people and I'll do my best to offer answers and news when I can. The private page can be found through a simple Facebook search and I would very much like to get back in touch with the people out there I actually know through that means.

Thanks for your advice. I feel like a newbie out there!