Sideface: An update re my dying "100/10Mbps" cable connection.
At my second attempt I managed to get onto VF faults after "only" 35 minutes.
The CSR was helpful and friendly and advised me that I should ring before 7am to avoid a long wait  <<<  Geekzoners, take note

I was talked through connecting my PC directly to my modem, in case my router was the cause of the slow connection (it wasn't).
I've been asked to record my "routerless" speeds for 2 days and then ring back.

So far my speeds are even slower than yesterday - by 3pm I was already down to 10Mbps - this does not "normally" happen until after 6pm - I await 9pm with interest.

Will keep you posted ...