Intermittent Tickover loss and Autobox switching

Please tell me this isn't a sign of something expensive on the way.

Stopped at some traffic lights this morning and the car kept revving then almost cutting out, at the same time the 'upshift' arrow light in the instrument display was flashing in unison. When the light came on the revs died, when the light went off they recovered to normal tickover levels.

Now this is the first time it has done it and also the only time. There are no service lights etc visible, car has another 5k before service due, I also posted regarding performance - could this be linked? - are the autobox and engine ECU's so tightly linked.

Have any of you wonderful people experienced this? quick fix or a sign of impending doom ...

The wifes Passat got broadsided and totalled on Thursday (she's fine) so I really don't need the T4 playing up right now.