Cheers for the responses everyone

I am looking at a 18-250 from Sigma or 18-270 from Tamron
but have heard only good things from my mate who has a Nikon 18-200 VR on his D80

Cheers for the suggestions guys

my eventual kit will probably be

11-16mm f2.8
35mm f1.8
50mm f1.8
55-200mm F3.5-5.6
18-2XXmm
50-500mm f4

plus all the extra bits that come with being a photographer