Thanks for clearing that up for me. I wondered. I've been called mate on a forum before and I know the Australian who called me it knew I was female. So I figured it was either an insult or just a casual term used in passing. I decided it was the later because other than that we had a friendly discussion.

Doll, huh, well that's not too dreadful. I think you're probably right about it being a term of endearment probably a bit like when some smug old bugger calls a female 'little lady' or 'babydoll' in a condescending tone.

I enjoy acronyms & symbols and such but the techno characters that make up pictures and codes just bobble my mind.