I guess I cannot get documents back to
the places drop down menu unless I risk dragging the original
documents folder from waste bin. It was put there because it did not
work and I do not know why, so that does not seem an option. I may
have done something else wrong.

Not wanting to risk the new documents2 folder I created a new folder,
documents and used that to make link. I dragged to desktop per your
recommendation. I have somehow managed to get two link to documents
icons on the main toolbar plus a link to documents icon on my screen
wallpaper. I have renamed as suggested but the folder type remains
link to document.

So the tool bar shows the expected Accessories, Places, System, a
couple of personal items (calculator, sound, battery) and two orange
folder icon link to document.

Places has lost documents but shows everything else ie home folder,
desktop, music, pictures,video, computer, cd, etc

The original documents is in the waste bin, because I do not know why
it greys out and goes static

and home folder now drops down to
documents (newly created so I do not risk losing my files now residing
in documents 2)
documents 2 (the folder I made last week to be able to carry on working)
link to documents (because I clicked make link)
plus the usual examples, music, pictures, video, templates etc

This is a real pain whenever I want to save everything I have to
scroll down the complete list of files to get it into the documents
folder.

Errr to add to my bewilderment I do not know what my new link to
document icon does. Do I delete one or both?