It's better now than it was earlier when I posted.
I'm computer savvy & this was an definitely an anomoly to performance previously from same location, system etc from the last few days. As initially noted, other site performance was fine, just this one. Not only was it slow, when the pages did load they were incomplete - many images missing (the dreaded red x) or even just the blue background was all that appeared & saying it was 'done'.
However
1. XPpro & IE6
2. yes
3. All of them including this forum - it took forever just to get the post new thread field to come up.
Also note I do not seem to be alone in this experience today -
http://www.triumphrat.net/850028-post12.html
However as stated, at this time of writing now it seems to be performing at 'normal' loading speeds again.