Actually the 18-55 can focus quite close to 1:2,9 good enough for most flowers at least.

A 50mm lens isn't so expensive though, neither is a 28mm that gives you even more magnification but you need to get closer even I believe.

Then you've 3 ways to get a closer focus.
1. Extension tubes - discuss here
2. reverse ring - it's actually a ring with a lens-mount and a filter mount which enables you to use the lens in a reverse way so with the rear to the front.
3. couple ring/stacking - you need a ring with two filter threads and with that you can reverse mount a lens onto another lens. You could use the DA50-200 for that with a 50mm lens, it would give you 4 times magnification (200mm/50mm) with a 28mm lens that would be (200mm/28mm) 7 times even. The only problem is that not all the combinations work so you must be a bit lucky.

#1 & #2 offer you the best quality.

You should be able to send it back within a time limit if the product was not what you expected it to be when buying on line and they must refund you fully.

Still it's a pain when you want to try out two lenses to see which one is better

As you said it was the old one.
Sigma also have a 12-24, I wonder how good that one is?

Here you go, a Pentax 250SD - 3000mm f/12 link
Is that big enough?

I believe Hefty has another version of this lens.
It looks like a fun thing to play with but for the rest?

I think you will find that only the digital bit has been changed, I wander how useful it would be... you might be better of with a specialized book for the software you use and maybe magic lantern book for your camera?
Just an suggestion though, don't know how good it is

Thank you for clearing that up Gwyn

The law is a bit different here with this matter because pedestrian and bicycles are "protected" in traffic, the one driving the car is always wrong even if someone jumps infront of your car.

Mike your country is one of the exceptions then, I'm just surprised not having an heart attack or something

Hopefully you understand that ignoring a stop-sign is against the law in some countries and the police here can only ask for your ID when you breach the law and that's why I used that as an example not knowing UK was different.

Mongoose we're also allowed to jay-walking (never heard of that one before) but I'm talking when you use a pedestrian crossing with a traffic sign, if you go through the red stop-sign I would be surprised if that's allowed in any country.