I feel your pain... in reverse. I live in the States and Americans get up so early they think nothing of revving their several-hundred litre pick-up trucks with stero blaring at 4 in the morning. It's not unusual for people to be cutting the grass with a petrol mower at 6am in the summer, and it is considered OK to call someone after 6am. If school is cancelled, 5am is not too early to call. (IT IS IN MY BOOK!) Once it's light I stand no chance of getting back to sleep, even if I've only had three or four hours. Gits. ...and don't tell me I should Americanize -I have! I used not to surface until the afternoon! ;) Now I get my children on the schoolbus at 7.15. But 4am? Please cut it out....... (sorry, was I ranting there? I love living here, but what's the hurry to wake up? Let sleeping monsters lie, I say.) monster