Thank you Clive. The problem with using the PS E2 help was that it goes hunting for Explorer, which I bin whenever I find a copy has sneaked onto my computer, but opening it from Firefox, I have now found the instructions and seen that the 'clone stamp' is an alternative to the 'pattern stamp' tool...however I think I will continue with my own technique which is copying and pasting what I want.

An example below which is a sister shot to
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...500&ppuser=780
but with the handrail cloned out my way

http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...1&d=1146165342