Brilliant thanks for the advice mate, so do you think letters are a waste of time? Or a good introduction point?
Also do you think it would be worth getting a local mentor if I can so I become a known face around here to start with, this was my other idea. The only problem I had with that is I thought why, when they are so hard to get would anyone want to let me go out with them.
I'll follow the letters up with visits for now and go from there I think...