Ah, bugger...

a very expensive satchel this was (even if only paid about £35 for it, the tk maxx label assured me the full price was more like £150), and so i was pretty annoyed that after just a couple of months use the strap parted company as i walked to work today. BAH.

however, i seem to have fixed it, so fingers crossed - i really can't face the struggle to find another new one, as i know so exactly what i want that it took me about a year to find this one!