Would it be possible to add a menu item up there next to say home and before help that links to recent unread topics...as in;

http://www.southerndownhill.com/forum/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=34&action=unread

I have this bookmarked but thought others might find it useful?

Can then use something like the following to mark them all as read (need to add session verification);

http://www.southerndownhill.com/forum/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=34&action=markasread;sa=all