thanks dreams. All is OK now. It appears that the broken monitor is working again. But unbeknowns to me the monitor on the other computer also failed and they are using an old one that has a crease in it. Anyway no rushing, but I think two new monitors will be going out there soon.
On a good note - several weeks ago I bought a present for my friend/boss out there and it had been sitting in the post office in town (630 k's away) for the past few weeks. It has finally been collected and should be out there tonight(I love online parcel tracking). I hope she finds the box and opens it. I wanted it to be a surprise.