@ rh142: I'm not sure about this, but I presume what's bothering you is (only) the "litmus paper". The initials surely refer to the new c. then introduced, just as the "acid" refers to the old one.At least that's the way I see it; NOT an anag (=I don't see one).
And @ livs: very touched by your concern for my plight! I am so ignorant of everything technological, even what we have installed here, it might be better for you to contact an expert like "james", too. I can only say everything suddenly worked beautifully with the same Java update you mention (I seem to remember the numbers in the labyrinth of technicalities I had to go through). I'd rather have a future free of such problems (to take up that key word again)than the 100 pound prize. And btw apparently the G.X. Editor is probably quite unable where he is to diagnose the many different tech. probs. that inundate him every day, so my rather harsh criticism was perhaps unjustified.
On the more general q. of my "satisfaction" with the G. in France, you may not have gathered a few months ago I had to cancel my (expensive) subscription because the editions were arriving far too late to be worth such an expense. And as the paper is only available here 1 day later at a high price a long way from here, I now have to make do with the virtual one, & I'm one of those old-fashioned people who will never be reconciled to that.
To sum up, I find it absurd that in our day & age there is absolutely no way of seeing a British paper regularly in Europe within a reasonable delay at an affordable price -- but that's the way it is!
Good luck with your problems & sorry I can't help much directly. Despite everything it WAS a very fascinating puzzle I was amazed to be able to finish alone, tho' as usual of course some of the parsing had to be explained to me! gk