Pre-release of Version 2.1.8

[Alan Buxey]

Hi,

> The v2.1.x branch from github up to and including commit
> 1d80707880c1bf94ad1e87be74221a6c7b4cb4c7 has now been running stable for
> more than 5 days for me.  All the previously reported problems seem to
> be gone.  So I'd say it makes a good 2.1.8 release for Christmas.

aye - there were some questions relating to getting some of the older
requested patches put into 2.1.8 too - has that been addressed?

alan