Hence I spend most of my time with my rear shock "locked out" , it is as said before a relic from the past! very comfy when it is rough.

 

Went to get it out this evening, and it has a bloody flat tyre!! Puncture already

 

That's a pain in the saddle. I've had a new bike that developed a flat very quickly after I got it. The tubes can get over stressed where the valve joins the tube, made worse by using a hand pump by the monkey in the shop.

new tubes about £3 each and a pack of ten self adhesive pucture repairs is £5.

If it is a conventional puncture and it happens again then you might want to consider some better tyres. Some very good anti puncture tyres out there these days, just avoid the Armadilo by Specialized.