Well, it finally gave way! Temp gauge headed north and steam galore. it was dark (as most nights are!!) and i couldn't see much but it looks like it's coming from under the inlet manifold, therefore most likely the heater tap, or something there... will top it up at lunch time and see if i can spot the leak!

get it fixed fast
I had cracked head just fixed $2200 with the welsh plugs, water pump, rear main seal and injector clean. I lost water all over the place and once I fixed all that there was a hydro lock up as the cylinder filled with coolant after shut down. I have had a radiator split and dump instantly at 100klmhr a few years ago. The temp guage never moved (no coolant means the sensors get no reading.) and the engine cooked. I have had 2 surge tanks with splits that only leaked under pressure. I fixed it by getting and brand new (city ford) $60 AU surge tank and hose ($19) and relocating the tank higher on the strut tower. I figured it was the best and simplest way of trying to reduce the air locks in the head that cause hot spots and cracking. It's a cheap fix and you end up with a beautiful new clean surge tank.
so in summary... replace everything before the head goes ( which it probably has anyway... mine has twice in 330,000klm).

well i got it from workplace 1 (where i am now) to workplace 2 (one of the servo's i work at) and it lost it's water in that trip. (roughly 5 k's) so i've left it there for now. as soon as i pured water in, it came out the bottom just as quick. it's going to 100 bits tonight when i finish to sort it out! the original leak, as described in my first post hasn't been leaking much lately, and this seems to be further to the back of engine bay. i think it's a heater hose or a hose of some sort has given way completely.

Heater hose, heater tap or Welsh Plug!

I had a similar thing happen to me and it ended up being the heater hose had split
Check that as its a common thing to have split.
good luck mate