>Didn't say you made it up

I know, I was joking.

>Just thought that in case something can reset oApp.lInitialize - for whatever reason - the first test may think it's initialized and when it executes the next line it isn't anymore. ie, as long as nothing resets oApp.lInitialize, you are right.

OK, but that could happen anywhere/anytime ... IOW, after the lock as well as before it.

>But wouldn't a static initializer be more clear in this case ?
>

>private/public static Dictionary TheDictionary = LoadDataDictionary() ; // as long as LoadDataDictionary()  returns a dictionary
>

Probably ... but we don't know how Michel has implemented the LoadDataDictionary() method, he hasn't said.

~~Bonnie