I need some advice

If you need a great degree of control over an LCD's contrast setting you really need a static voltage refrence IC.

okie, but it doesn't make sense, the circuit as you drew
i had 1.7v between diode and gnd ( with or without timer)
but 1.2v with the battery parralleled
the orignal timer only requires 1.2v button battery
at 1.7 v the timer is disaplying normaly,
this is really making me confused...

ahhh i'm fed up with it lol, i've resoldered as you drawn, changed the ni-mh batt, now i just hope it'll work out..

thanks lot for all the help you guys have given, much appreciated..
i'd probably be gone for a long time now..
*off the aussy for furthur studies*