OK, sounds like a PICkit2 device is a good thing from all replies.
No I'm NOT looking for a project :-) I have too many half done things laying about already.

I'll look at buying one then, but I got to say the DIY ones have lasted me longer than the commercial one I bought for $150 some years ago. It was a Warp-3.... Lovely bit of hardware, but software support sort of died after what I thought was a short time. Pity because it was serial and could be used now with a USB-RS232 converter if it supported current PIC's.

I guess MicroChip isn't going away anytime soon, but they are about to release the PICkit3 and I wonder if PICkit2 support will wane ?