Ok guys. I give up.
I've tried every script that's been offered.

I appreciate all your attempts.
I've been looking at the help files all day.
And with the different syntax used by the different scripts I'm now hopelessly confused.

I'll start fresh tomorrow.
I can send /away from the command line
and it will send my away message.to the channel.
But if anyone in the channel types my nick, my remote does not respond with a reply that I'm away and will be back etc.

It like my system doesn't realize that it's AWAY.

Sorry to bother you guys, I'm a little old and this isn't coming easily. lol