If you need to pause for a long time setup a pause loop with several short pauses to total the time. Get into that habit and when you do need to use an interrupt you will be ready.
I can go with that. I liked Henrik's microsecond pauses solution to the INTERRUPT PAUSE problem, which is what your'e saying / reiterating.

Regarding the cable, this isn't what I'm looking for is it? It's the other that needs to be a 'male' connecter is that right?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=29968