Welcome blueboy - and you are right about the hand luggage. We were "overweight" on the way out and were told we would be charged if the cases weren't lighter homeward. In the spirit of being an argumentative bastard, I asked the uninteredted check-in girl what whe suggested. Her response was "throw some stuff out". I asked if I could stick the 4kgs worth in the hand luggage and she said "yeah, that's fine". I then asked how this juggling would save overall weight on the plane and thus fuel needed. She looked at me like a whipped dog.
Now I must go as the bar is calling and too many green and white hoops are hurting my eyes.