After nearly 15 months, BG is back where he began - back in my spare room (settling in again) - but a whole lot fatter than when I collected him from Emma last year and adopted him.
He must have gone down by the railway line - which was why no positive sightings (I did EVERYTHING) - and ended up living in an old lady's greenhouse in the next town for a few months until, by chance, I saw him out of my car - couldn't stop, narrow dangerous road, too much traffic - on Tuesday morning. Leaflets all along the roads in that area. Call Thursday morning. The lady trapped him in her greenhouse this afternoon and I picked him up.
He's been to the vet and is fit and well. Pix once he's settled a bit - although he's happily snoozing on the spare bed next to me right now (hooray for wireless!!!)
Sorry I don't post much on here these days - I just don't have time

- but wanted to let everyone know.
If you're reading this and your cat is missing - "do everything" (I'd still not know if I hadn't put leaflets in the houses in that area) - but you still need a lot of luck. I hope you get it, as I did, and that your puss comes home for Christmas too.