Yes, I've already got the Swift system going and checking out Paypal.
Thanks again to you all for saving me hours of queuing up in a bank to try and get info!
Captain

Thanks Al-garb, Lazer Blazer and e-Richard - what a helpful bunch of replies.
I shall try paypal and the IBAN system, and incidentally sounds like my Caixa Deposito Geral is not doing me any favours with the 13 euro charge just for the pleasure of them receiving my money!
Thanks 2 U all.

Hi, Every time I receive a cheque from abroad into my Portuguese bank account, they charge 13 euros for the pleasure of receiving it! even when the cheques are Euros from Ireland! GRRRRRRR :( Does anyone have any ideas :idea: how to receive money without having to lose a chunk of it in this way? :?

Difficult to know, isn't it...They dont have all those timber skirting boards to worry about here.

I've got a 2 bed flat and it's quite tidy but the walls need a lick of paint. Anyone have any idea of rates for painters here? I dont need any woodwork done, just walls, in white, nice and fresh again.

Thanks all of you - I shall try mild detergent spray. These were the first herbs I've grown as I collect wild ones like fennel, marjoram and thyme from round here ( Algarve).

Anyone here have green fingers? I've been growing basil plants from seed, they were looking great, and suddenly they've been attacked by little black thingies!
I cant spray anything on them as it would ruin the flavour of the basil.
Any tips?

Thanks all of you, and I'm especially interested to hear John1's experience. The DVLA website says that foreign MOT's aren't acceptable for renewing a UK tax licence so I'm intrigued about how you managed that John1. Maybe I can avoid a pointless drive up to the UK....

Anyone have experience of this :) - I have a UK reg'd car here and need to get it UK taxed and so UK MOT'd. I dont want to get it matriculated here, as I'll be going back to the UK within the next 5 months, but I just dont want to have to take it immediately. Seems a bit daft to have to drive all th...

Hi Piglet,
There is an excellent chartered surveyor we used who was very thorough and efficient, and gave us a lot of helpful advice.
Contact details: CT Surveys. e-mail: carlthom@lycos.com
Tel: (00351) 916388119