quick update - should have been done a week or two ago but ive been stupid busy
had a starting problem recently as some of you may know, so after ticking off most of the usual suspects, plus playing on how it wasnt starting the best guess (from Bri) was the ignition barrel. so ordered a 2nd hand replacement and began to take appart the old one for testing of the replacement barrel.
stripped off the plastic cowling and i got the ignition switch at the back or the barrel disconnected
3 nuts to get it and the plastic cover off
and found a bit of the solder has come off - ah! suspect.
so as its supposed to look like this (example shown on my spare)
i decided to resolder it
and the car started

and then again later that day.
BUT the next day it refused again.....
a slightly different noise, clicking involved, battery seems reasonably charged but charged it anyway
no difference so thought battery is fooked. got a new one (failed test in shop) and fitted that and then we got back to no clicking - ooook.