Practical tips on how to learn Spanish

andy, thanks for the wise words taking everything on board and can see why in 16 years here I have not achieved any great level of Spanish will try to do better now.  the older the brain the harder it becomes but no reason not to try.  I sat and thought of all the words I do know and surprised myself at just how much I do even though I say I don't speak Spanish whenever asked so just to build on it will help.