Strange ... no drive then ok

Good evening,
excuse in advance a bit of a long post ...
The better half went to go out this morning, put it in 1st and as she was lifting the clutch it stalled. (This TD5 takes some stalling. It'll usually beat the handbrake hard on) Then couldn't get it out of gear. I've had it jacked up both ends. All the wheels are free, not binding. Put it in neutral in the transfer box and hand brake off, I can then move it, so its not the handbrake stuck. A bit of tugging, got it out of gear. Still in transfer box neutral, started it up and put it into 1st. Revs dropped and I thought it was going to stall, dipped the clutch and tried again. Something seemed to give, and then I was able to go through the gears ok. Transfer box back into high range and now all is well. It felt like something was binding and then gave. Clutch is ok, wheels ok, handbrake seems to be ok too. Mate said could be linings coming adrift on handbrake shoes and occasionally binding but I'm not convinced ... any ideas please?

it couldnt be hand brake if t/box was in neutral, it could have been a stuck baulk ring ,does gears stick feel loose with a good bit of play

Nope. It feels quite positive, as it always has done. When it goes into (any) gear it is quite decisive, not sloppy at all. (Not like the old 2A we had, that was like stirring porridge!

check the oil level and for contamination,and if it does it again see if its repeated in all gears

Thanks. Of course I should've done that tmoz - its dark now, and I've some red fluid in a glass beside me...

An update...
Drained the gearbox oil to find quite a bit of water had got in, making a bit of an emulsion. Can only think it has been drawn in from the breather. Anyhoo ... filled it with the recommended MTF and all seems well. Haven't had a chance to get it really warmed up yet but the gear changes feel fine. Hope this has sorted it, but it is still a mystery what actually caused it to behave like that. Mate says it could have somehow gone into one gear without properly disengaging from another ?? Is that possible?