Many thanks.

I bought the Cherry Brandy first and then wondered whether it would work, and I next bought the Kirschwasser which I conclude is the better bet.

Thanks also for your explanation.

The way I've been brought up (UK) if you ask for help and someone makes a generous attempt with their time to help but is unable to - it is considered good manners and courteous to thank them for their interest in your problem or dilemna. It would be sarcastic to thank them for their "help" if they were unable to help. So acknowledging that they cannot help and thanking them for their "interest" in your problem seems well mannered and courteous and perfectly appropriate .... to me that is! I say this as a pesron who is sometimes somewhat irritated when going to trouble in providing help to people on FT when they ask questions - when they never come back and simply say "thanks" to those that helped them in the thread. So my starting point is that not ackowledging and thanking someone who has doen their best to help is rude and I routinely say thanks for either the "help" or "interest" as appropriate. I know others sometimes find it irritating - because people have their time wasted when they dip back into a thread that interests them only to find the word ...."Thanks"! But my "thank you" rate for receving help ... or attempts .... is 100%.

From my point of view and much more importantly - there was also no hint of any possible misunderstanding with the person because the exchange in question finished with a very good natured (I believe )

...... so it certainly sounds like sparkchaser interpreted my thanks in the decent way intended.

Thanks for explaining some of the rudeness directed at me ........