Noted a few days ago you had posted you were moving to Portugal. How is it going so far? Are you working there or setting up own business? I'm sure lots here would be interested in your adventures.
I'm very thankful to be connected to the world again - I was starting to get cabin fever! PT promised an ADSL line weeks before I arrived but it only got installed and working yesterday; monopolies, huh?! The weather here is changeable - it can be 25c one minute and lashing rain the next but it's getting warmer every day. I've a 4X4 which is a bit of a tractor but very practical at going up hills and down mud tracks! Most things are much cheaper here - cigarettes at €2.60, wine about €1.50 for a bottle of drinkable red and 75c for a beer in a bar!
Now I'm online I will probably be hooking up with www.mortgagesoverseas.com to help buyers from Ireland and the UK who are looking to buy in Central and Northern Portugal. So far, and don't forget I've only been here a couple of weeks, the market for holiday lets is pretty saturated but there is a shortgage of property for long term rental - I'm renting what is normally a holiday home whilst I look for a house or a plot to build on as are another couple on the estate. I'll post more as I get to know the market and also the mortgage options.