Thanks for that. Unfortunately Bob, my tame builder/heating engineer/welder (who actually welded for England, yes there is a welding competition) has decided to return to England, leaving his girlfriend for another slimmer model and leaving me with unfinished work. I'm sure he could have made one very quickly and easily. I don't think my French is up to trying to have one fabricated here, besides I've seen this on a French sat site which I'm sure will be up to the job.
_http://www.2galli.fr/boutique/fiche_produit.cfm?ref=pied80_100&type=25&code_lg=lg_fr&num=71
The whole scheme is still very much a pipe dream, and will have to wait until the end of the month, when I get back from a week at my mum's.