All I was doing was auto-jumping and sometimes manual casting to train skills while I was eating.
Jumping was done via G110 macro.
I was using the journal functions just fine in the middle of this, checking the stats once in a while. Now I can't even use the ESC menu to save, etc so have to use the console commands.
I can use the Function keys and arrow keys but the mouse pointer can't interact with any menus.
looks like I may have to go back to earlier save as reloading from one didn't have the problem, but it doesn't solve what caused it if it happens again.