Thanks for the sympathy!  I've had an idea, I could either, take it into work and put it in a vice to see how flat it would go, or put it on Ebay (as slightly scratched - £5 off).   What would you do? Perhaps its repairable?

By the way Geert, her big brother, Canon 20D, was tucked safely under the seat, so I'm not quite camara-less, but I  like the compact when out on the hills.