def _checkServer(self, address, port):
        """Check that the TCP Port we've decided to use for tunnelling is available

        .. todo ::

            - update key arguments values and definitions with defaults
            - update return values and definitions
            - update usage examples and text
            - update docstring text
            - check sublime snippet exists
            - clip any useful text to docs mindmap
            - regenerate the docs and check redendering of this docstring
        """
        self.log.debug('starting the ``_checkServer`` method')

        # CREATE A TCP SOCKET
        import socket
        s = socket.socket()
        self.log.debug(
            """Attempting to connect to `%(address)s` on port `%(port)s`""" % locals())
        try:
            s.connect((address, port))
            self.log.debug(
                """Connected to `%(address)s` on port `%(port)s`""" % locals())
            return True
        except socket.error, e:
            self.log.warning(
                """Connection to `%(address)s` on port `%(port)s` failed - try again: %(e)s""" % locals())
            return False

        return None