[jQuery] [forms] [ajax] Form submits, success message displayed but no data seems to be passed to php file

[HairyJim]

Hi all,

I have this Jquery code, below, which I was hpoing would pass the data
from the form over to form processing script  but the problem I have
is that the success is returned but the processing script does not
seem to get the form data passed to it.

I have tested the script is called by just firing a success email off.
What am I doing wrong, I'm lost in the forest and can't see the trees!

I am including jquery, jquery.validate and jquery.form

$(document).ready(function()
{
        $("#myform").validate({
                submitHandler: function() {
                        $.ajax({
                                type: "POST",
                                url: "thanks.php",
                                success: function() {
                                        $('#contact_form').html("<div 
id='message'></div>");
                                        $('#message').html("<h2>Contact Form 
Submitted!</h2>")
                                  .append("<p>We will be in touch soon.</p>")
                                  .hide()
                                  .fadeIn(1500, function() {
                                          $('#message').append("<img 
id='checkmark' src='/images/
check.png' />");
                                  });
                                }
                        });
                }
        });
});