Reverted back to 17.0~b3+build1-0ubuntu0.12.10.1~mtn1 but this was broken too now.
Then I ran it with -safe-mode which worked fine, so I disabled all the plugins.
16.0.2+build1-0ubuntu0.12.10.1 worked fine now too and I subsequently enabled all my extensions again and added the global menu plugin and it still seems fine.
I'll close this now as the root of the problem seems extensions related.
Sorry for the noise.
Reverted back to 17.0~b3+ build1- 0ubuntu0. 12.10.1~ mtn1 but this was broken too now. build1- 0ubuntu0. 12.10.1 worked fine now too and I subsequently enabled all my extensions again and added the global menu plugin and it still seems fine.
Then I ran it with -safe-mode which worked fine, so I disabled all the plugins.
16.0.2+
I'll close this now as the root of the problem seems extensions related.
Sorry for the noise.