Complete empathy Steve, companies have a habit of doing this as a nice Christmas present, if you remember Carillion threatened me with this at this time of year seven years on the trot.
Have to say when it finally came it was a shock but turned out to be a good thing. I know from our conversations you have/had other opportunities, hopefully these may still be an option and as for Ross, " Dave says" Well he is young, good looking, taller than his dad and a hard worker to boot, he won't have a problem