Few quick words before heading for the channel tunnel. Built a quick breadboard just the four power supply connection, resonator 1Y pullup on pin 1 and and led on RB7. With the software recommended earlier in this thread ... nothing... except, as once before when using the crystal if I touch pin 13 then the led flashes, trouble is its flash rate doesnt seem to have much to do with the program !! Jerry you could be right about the epic, I seem to recall having problems with it in the past I will look into it when I get back from the Brussels trip.
Cheers everyone
David M