dipstick

It is quite difficult to overdose on it, but you know what some folk are like - they go a bit bonkers! My levels were at 17 and after taking between about 3,000/6000mg a day (not iu) and they went up to about 120 in 3 months. Think our figures on sunlight exposure are about the same. They say about 20000 per 20 minutes depending on skin tone. Another thing to remember is that if your magnesium levels are low you can't convert d3. Interesting fact since magnesium was normally absorbed from hard water sources and these days we tend to purify and soften water. Could be one reason why there are still people living in sunny climes that get a lot of exposure to sunlight but still have a d3 deficiency?

Silversea, do you know of something to rent in central Portugal? You said to give you a shout earlier on but when I try to PM the system won't send it...

I haven't really got an opinion on the silver situation at the minute but I know a lot of people are promoting it as a cure all. That aside, with regards to the vit d. It has to be vitamin d3 (not d2 which is synthetic) but you can overdose on it when you take it in tablet form so it's always good to have 3 monthly blood tests just in case. You can't overdose on vit d3 if absorbed through sunlight. So sitting out for 20 minutes a day at noon in the summer (without protection) will recharge your stores and is cheaper. I don't have any bullion to lick so may suck on a spoon!

Phew! Not much available to rent that is suitable on the casa sapo site. Plus, it could drive you nuts checking out each small area only to draw a complete blank. Anybody got any ideas of easier sites to search I'd appreciate it. Mind you, it did throw up the idea of looking at the property auctions in Portugal. Seems to be very popular at the minute!

I think Bulgaria property has basically fallen through the floor now. I did speak to someone who had lived there for about 3 years. She said she liked it (but moved back!) but said the main problem was corruption. I promise not to be lured into the countryside by an idyllic ruin - honest. I've lived very rural in the UK and now I've decided that wherever I end up I want to be within easy walking distance of some kind of civilisation. Maybe 3 or 4 kilometers from a reasonable sized town/village? I think I've quoted him on here before but John McCrone said, "Romantisicm is essentially a spectator sport." I agree with him wholeheartedly. And you're quite right, I've got to consider buying something that somebody else will want to buy at some point. If you could point me in the direction of a few agents that deal with long term rentals in the central region I'd appreciate it. Does it get very cold in the north? It's the one bit of Portugal that I rarely hear talked about, so presumed it wasn't popular.

From what both of you are saying it seems that the property price falls in Portugal have really only just started in the last year or so. I wonder if the same can be said for many other parts of Europe?

This is starting to look like my cunning plan to uncover lurkers! Very interesting stuff about the rental situation. I'd never heard about it before. We sit in the UK and make judgements about what's happening with the property market in other countries on the presumption that they all function in the same way as our own. Obviously not. Silversea: What do I expect from Portugal? Well, I'm not quite sure. Then again I'm sure what I don't want. I'm not the type of person that wants to live near the coast and go to pubs and restaurants. I'm looking for a more simple existence in a rural situation where it's seen to be more the norm than the exception? Then again, I am self-employed and I do have mainly european customers, so I need good phone and internet access, so I can't be completely out of the loop. It sounds very patronising, but I am more interested in the culture of the country, in ways such as things they grow, produce and how they do it, - the general rural livestyle - rather than hanging around with ex-pats. Can't speak a word of Portugese and I understand it is the very devil to learn! I'm also not interested in being in a country run by rules. We seem to have become governed by rules in the UK more and more appearing everyday whether they make sense or not. And we adhere to them without question. Although I was talking to a French man the other week and he said, 'haven't the British always been like that. Very compliant?' Ouch. So, I don't think you ever know what it's going to be like until you get there - but it would be nice to have both the pros and the cons to at least be aware.

Sorry about your PhD... It's funny though, your description of academia in Portugal immediately reminded me of university life in the UK. A very safe institution for those employed. Very, very interesting to hear from someone who has seen both sides of the coin and is not a Brit. Yes, I was thinking of at least renting in Portugal to see what it's like. To be honest it's the one place that I get the feeling most Brits actually stay. In France they seem to move in and out like a fiddler's elbow. I did hear someone else describe Portugal as 'chaotic' though. My current impression of the UK is of the illusion of organisation and common sense. It promises much and delivers little. The UK is fine if you stay inside the box. Once you move outside, either intentionally or unintentionally, the system fails. It failed me big-time and all that stuff you mention in your first line (joking aside) I didn't get. I figured that if I am going to live in a system that is unproductive, then I may as well do it where the sun shines and people aren't always at each others' throats. Plus, I am told, the Portugese actually like the Brits? This, of course, could be a complete crock.

Thanks very much for that informative reply. I did wonder whether the prices there had only just begun to fall. Now for the million dollar question: Why are you in the UK and not Portugal? Not meaning to be nosey but do you prefer the UK to live?

No, I haven't. I had one. Redwine: it's not about me wanting to rent somewhere, It's just a general question about where it would be sensible to make the rental payments into - or more to the point, why someone would prefer to use a UK sterling rather than a French Euro account. Edit: Actually, on re-reading I see that Wannabe half answered my question. It should be declared in France, okay. But what would be the benefit to the landlord to have it paid into a UK account in sterling?

Okay, what do people think of Portugal regarding property? Anyone with any practical experience?

Come on you lot. I need some help to figure something out. Would there be any issues in renting a property out in France but being paid in sterling into a UK account?

Actually it's not my property. If the income should be declared in France then wouldn't it be best to be paid in Euros?

Hi, If you live in the UK but rent out a property in France and have the rent paid in to your UK account in sterling, where is the tax paid?

Can I just ask a question? Just how far out of Europe have we opted?