Hello Mark,

> 
> 
> Status of the domain name (eg. ok, pending transfer, pending delete)
> 

These are values that derive from the EPP protocol.
See section 2.3 of:
http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-provreg-epp-domain-04.txt

> 
> Could someone who knows the answer clarify for me whether 
> 'pending transfer'

This refers to transfer between registrars (ie change of
registrar-of-record).

A registry may insert a delay between when a transfer command is received,
and action is taken on that command.  This can be useful to allow a period
where the command can be cancelled by the registrar.  A <transfer> command
can be sent with a op attribute set to "cancel".


> 
> And what does 'pending delete' mean?  It implies that a 
> decision has been
> made by some entity (the Registry or some other?) to delete 
> the domain name,
> but the deletion hasn't actually been done in the Registry yet.  

If a registrar initiates a <delete> command, the registry may insert a delay
(e.g 5 days) where the registrar can ask for the command to be reversed
(there is not a protocol mechanism for this - it must be done manually by
the registry).

A registry may decide to put a name into a pending delete status after the
domain name has expired.  A registrar may still be able to renew the name in
this status, but the name would not be available in the zonefile.

In addition the registry may insert a period after the name can no longer be
renewed (e.g 7 days) where the name when the name would become available for
registration by another registrar.  Note there have been problems with
registrars aggressively going after recently deleted in names in the .com
registry.

Some of the details of what actually happens at the registry are still
fluid, they are being worked out during the testbed process with oversight
by auDA.


 > 

> Now I'm struggling to keep up!

I think we all are :-)!

Regards,
Bruce Tonkin