Hi again ando - yes, 'a gathering of sorts' is just the ticket for many of us, myself included. And Husky Pup, I think, is alluding to something flexible / conversational / 'inclusive' too in his posts.
Thank the gods and goddesses etc that you do have LR in Dublin, where you live. I've no doubt you'll make the very best use of it, particularly because it's so rare.
And, Non, although I don't know you in person, having followed heaps of your SR posts, I have a hunch that you'll thoroughly enjoy and get a great deal out of the LR books, especially the workbook. Best to you, btw!