Errors trying to run apt-get update

[don.munyak]

I believe you assessment about python3-apt being a little buggered
Tried to update, install & reinstall python3-apt
Tried to update apt-get

sudo apt-get install python-apt
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install python3-apt --reinstall
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt autoremove

ultimately came across a similar thread, with similar issue
advice given:

cd  /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages
ls -la /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages
sudo cp apt_pkg.cpython-36m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so apt_pkg.so

These all work now.
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install

Thank you for your assistance.