I was logged in a few hours ago, clicked to buy something......and went to some check announcments message.  That was all I could get to for hours.  I've just logged back in to find I've bought the item (phew - seller's last one and the only one on eBay - and no longer available in Oz anywhere it seems including the company's own retail site). 

Hopefully eBay will now let me pay for it!