I just looked at the link supplied (static variable hack) and this looks like the root cause of my confusion.

It will take a little time to be sure but it is a much better place to be than where I was ;)

Many thanks for your patience and the reference.

In reply to Re^4: scope of an autovivified variable? by rmcgowan
in thread scope of an autovivified variable? by rmcgowan

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