sub getSet{ #set or get an attribute of the current object
    my $self = shift;	#the first argument is the object reference

    my $what = shift;	#what to set/get, they key

    if (@_) {       #there is a value to set, ie a remaining arg
        $self->{"$what"} = shift; #so set it into the hash
    }
    return($self->{$what}); #what we set or retrieved
}