Expat Focus

Portugal: Ryan Air to make passengers stand/Fat tax?

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:34:03 GMT

I reckon all airlines should charge people per kilo , simply get on the scales with luggage and pay per kilo no problem.

Portugal: Can anyone recommend a builder

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:15:42 GMT

Hi Alan, we used realestate based in Garvao, were we are, but he is having financial trouble and although we were pleased with the work I would not like to recommend him, because of his troubles. Having said that we are getting him to do some more work for us, you just need to make sure you get a good solicitor. I can recommend Nuno Lourenco in Ourique. Sounds like Denny's neighbour is a good bet, sometimes cheapest is not always best. By the way when it's finished, if you need blinds/fly screens, let me recommend Denny, very pleased with what he's done for us so far.

Property for Sale/Rent in France: Renovated Old Train Station Dept 66 Long Term Rental

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:56:35 GMT

Thanks to everyone for your replies - this property is now let on a 3 year contract.

Portugal: Hip replacement

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:47:36 GMT

I have and must regularly attend Outpatients Department at Barlavento Hospital and cannot speak highly enough of the treatment I have received up to now. Fortunately I don't require a hip replacement so can't comment on that op here but Dr Pinto operated on my arm at Hospital Particular last year and I also found him to be an excellent surgeon.

USA: Advice needed

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:13:06 GMT

Hiya All, After all the paperwork was sent off, it went very well, i got a request back to take a medical, which being Ex Services i had my medical records. i recommend anyone coming over to get fully up to date vaccination wise, it could get expensive, i needed one shot $35.00, my medical cost in the region of $400.00, that was in January. March i had my Fingerprints and Photographs done in Charleston, 10 days later i had my Authorisation to Work card, followed a few days later with a date of 21st April for our Interview. The Interview we sat in the waiting room, nervous as couples went in, then one member would be sent out whilst the other was grilled, then all change, that was nerve racking, then we was called in. This Interviewer must have been a Chief Gunner in a previous life, as it was like looking in a mirror, Come in Stand there, Do not sit, Raise your right hand and repeat after me. Sit, He asked my wife a question about a date, she is terrible with dates, so i started answering, Oops, I am talking to her, keep quiet. after a few minutes of talking to us both he actually warmed up and we chatted about military service, he was amazed at someone completing 32 years. we gave him every document he asked for and more besides, he mentioned family pics, so i gave him a CD with about 500 on it. after 20 mins it was all done, no separate interview for us. He had not told us at this point that all was complete, he handed back all docs and ID, with exception of my Authorisation to work card, i asked about it. He smiled and said Green Card holders do not need that That was our Interview Advice, Act like a Married couple, take more documents than asked for Cards/Letters and Pictures, they always tell a Story. Regards John

Romania: City of dirty people, of course Romania

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:12:25 GMT

. I just cannot keep quiet any longer. To me personally, the most important thing in my daily life is a "hot shower" first thing in the morning after that I can face and tolerate anything. The year is now 2009 and my apartment and the whole CITY has not had hot water for 2 weeks because the company that supplies hot water to the CITY has run out of money. The mayor in his wisdom built a musical fountain in Pitesti, cost 1,000,000+ euro, but the people can not have a hot shower or bath!!!Sometimes this country is worse than a third world nation and the government only fools itself, takes from the people, while its members continually live like fat cats. Unfortunately, the people just accept whatever is thrown at them. The people of many countries in the West would demonstrate on mass, as they would not tolerate these conditions or activities. Romania needs a real Robin Hood who takes from the rich and gives to the poor. I am sure some of you might say to me, if you don't like it go home, but that is not a solution for you, or the average person. This country could be so much better for you if the people would stand up for their rights and not accept, dare I say "CRAP" and excuses, sorry please excuse my English. If you see me walking down the street just stand well back <img src="images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Very Happy" title="Very Happy" border="0" />

Personal Finance: Running away from DEBT

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:01:49 GMT

HappyinOz wrote: To try and blame this collapse on individual borrowers is obscene. It's like a car salesman pressuring a naive and newly qualified driver who wanted to buy a cheap, easy to drive runaround into buying a Porsche and then criticising them when they drive it into a wall. The banks had a duty of trust to act responsibly but this trust was violated in the name of personal greed. Having worked with one of the int'l banks directly involved with the sub-prime lending disaster, I couldn't agree with that statement more. More money than you can imagine was lent to borrowers who, even at the beginning of their contracts, had a high risk of 1st payment default...Nevermind falling behind after continuous, regular repayments. High risk, straight out of the gate. Then go on to charge upwards of 30% interest on the repayment amount! Yikes! and furthermore: Yikes! At the same time, borrowers ***REALLY*** need to research, budget and think their spending habits properly thru, before making a purchase, especiallyif it's on credit. I know. I work in Collections! <img src="images/smiles/icon_twisted.gif" alt="Twisted Evil" title="Twisted Evil" border="0" /> Jaded as I may be, I'd like to believe that most borrowers take the money with the full intention of paying it back, and not trying to scam the lender. They may have taken the money for something they felt was "essential" at the time (like a 52" plasma TV for the guestroom, or new livingroom furniture, or a bigger house, a spoiler for your car, or more jewellery, etc.) People need to THINK before they purchase items!! Do-you-really-NEED-it...? Really <img src="images/smiles/icon_question.gif" alt="Question" title="Question" border="0" /> Do you really need to spend a week's pay on dinner and drinks? Do you really need 735 channels in gleaming HD? Movies too? Think. Ah, but we are talking about running: I worked with someone in collections who intentionally ran up all kinds of debt on credit, and then skipped off to south Asia permanently, with no intention of ever returning here. I couldn't believe he did itdeliberately. I felt shame for him. He seemed like such a good guy with a good heart. He must have felt that it was an opportunity to take that outweighed the legal AND moral consequences of his actions. He was a smart guy; He knew it was wrong...Hmm... People run for different reasons though, so even though some people take the money and run on purpose (and I wish much bad karma upon them), others run because they feel they have to, at the time. I don't think either is morally right, but I don't expect everyone to share my belief. Here's how to avoid running from debt: If you can't afford it, don't buy it. Period. Sorry if this was a long post, but I felt it might be interesting to add a view from the collections-side of things. Good luck to all you runners out there. On your marks...get set...SPEND!

USA: I got my Citizenship!!

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:38:49 GMT

Hiya Kirstie, A great big Congrats I got my Green Card issued on 21st April up here in Charleston SC Regards John

Portugal: Plane crash, laugh

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:28:51 GMT

There were three black ladies getting ready to take a plane trip for the first time. The first lady said, 'I don't know bout y'all, but I'm going to wear me sum hot pink panties before I get on that plane. 'Why you going to wear them for?' the other two asked? The first replied, 'Cause, if that plane goes down and I'm out dare laying butt-up in a cone field, they going to find me first.' The second lady said, 'Well, I'm a-going to wear me some florescent orange panties.' 'Why you going to wear them?' the others asked. The second lady answered, 'Cause if this hare plane is going down and I be floating butt-up in the oshun, they can see me first.' The third lady says, 'Well, I'm not going to wear any panties......... 'What? No panties?' the others asked in disbelief. The third lady says, 'that's right girlfriends, you hears me right. I ain't wearing no panties, cause if this plane goes down, honey, they always look for the black box first. __________________

Portugal: P C help from Dr Seuss

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:10:26 GMT

Dr. Seuss on Why Computers Crash If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port, And the bus is Interrupted at a very last resort, And the access of the memory makes your floppy disk abort, Then the socket packet pocket has an error to report. If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash, And the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash, And your data is corrupted cause the index doesn't hash, Then your situation's hopeless and your systems gonna crash! If the label on the cable on the table at your house Says the network is connected to the button on the mouse, But your packets want to tunnel to another protocol, that's repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall, And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss, Till your icons in the windows are as wavy as a souse, Then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang, 'cuz sure as I'm a poet the suckers gonna hang! When the copy of your floppy's getting sloppy in the disk, And the macro code instructions cause unnecessary risk, Then you'll have to flash the memory and you'll want to RAM your ROM, Quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your Mom! __________________