Expat Focus

Spain: Hello

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:52:52 GMT

Wow David thank you so much that is so helpful. Our car is due its MOT in the March so what we plan to do is take it off the road this March (we will be in Thailand) have it MOTd when we get back in April, that way it will still be legal until April when we get back from Spain the following year . We are coming down on 6th November this year for a few days to take a look at the places to rent which are on offer. Would love to meet if anyone is arround?

Egypt: Swine Flu

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:46:29 GMT

the last case/person that contracted bird flu h5n1 in egypt has expired as of the 27th of july.

Monthly Photo Competition: August Photo..Village transport

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:54:12 GMT

Nice photo and the Fist of the many that may come in. Thank you, TheGrocer

Bulgaria: Car for sale

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:37:42 GMT

LHD or RHD? Company or privately owned? Whereabouts in UK?

Portugal: picking figs

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:23:57 GMT

know what you mean I dont really like them , just feel guilty bec ause there are so many did have one with fresh cheese, honey and natural yogurts and pine nuts for breakfast it was nice think i will put some in spices and alcohol and leave them for the winter leave the bulk to the wasps

Currency Transfer/Foreign Exchange: Foreign Exchange Morning Update 29/07/10

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:55:53 GMT

The following update is provided by the official Expat Focus foreign exchange partner, World First. To request further currency transfer information or a no-obligation quote please click here. Mervyn King Only Dents Pound Not even the dovishness of the Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has been able to dissuade investors and speculators from backing the pound; something that is raising eyebrows in many a strategist's office, not least mine. Everything the Governor said was warning of more potential downside whether it advising against reading too much into Q2's better-than-expected GDP growth or emphasising that the future of the inflation curve continues to look uncertain. As soon as Mervyn King sat down sterling followed the well worn path and headed lower by as much as 0.5% against the USD and EUR. It was at this point however that, instead of seeing a new wave of selling lower, we saw market participants use the fall as a buying opportunity and drag the price higher. These gains carried on to levels of 1.5635 for GBPUSD and GBPEUR and 1.2020. The pressure is for further sterling gains on both pairs but we think that we need to see a pop higher in GBPEUR to facilitate a move upwards in GBPUSD. At the moment the GBPEUR cross is finding it difficult to break through the 1.2020 level (0.8319 in EURGBP terms). On an interesting note the Chief Investment Officer of the world’s largest currency hedge fund has said that today is the end of the euro rally. Most of this based on the belief of another cyclical low in the coming 8 months that drives risky assets through the floor. Moving into the southern hemisphere we saw an increase in interest rates from the RBNZ last night. The board decided to increase the cost of borrowing from 2.75% to 3% stating that ‘annual CPI inflation has been near 2 percent for the past five quarters. As the economy grows, inflationary pressures are expected to pick up.’ ‘Given this, some further removal of monetary policy stimulus is appropriate at this stage. Even after today’s move, the level of the OCR is still very supportive of economic activity. The pace and extent of further OCR increases is likely to be more moderate than was projected in the June Statement’ NZD is down 0.2% against the Aussie dollar, but up 0.9% against the greenback and 0.5% against the Japanese yen. It is the busiest day of the data calendar today starting with German unemployment at 08.55 and UK Mortgage Approvals at 09.30. We also have European Consumer Confidence at 10.00 and US Initial Jobless Claims at 13.30.

Portugal: TENJEWBERRYMUDS

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:52:43 GMT

<img src="images/smiles/icon_lol.gif" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" border="0" /> <img src="images/smiles/icon_lol.gif" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" border="0" /> <img src="images/smiles/icon_lol.gif" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" border="0" /> I like it, I like it. Thank you for a good laugh to start the day but the frightening thing was I understood it. <img src="images/smiles/icon_eek.gif" alt="Shocked" title="Shocked" border="0" />

Egypt: Relocating

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:36:22 GMT

Hello Juanita, Welcome aboard We will try to search for such groups of your interest ...but in the same time , if you didn't find what you are searching for..why don't you intiate it That will be a great thing with so much entuthiasm to be created here .. Hope you will like your stay here in Egypt and if any question , please feel free to ask , this friendly community is ready to help ..:)

Qatar: schooling for autistic children in qatar

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:11:11 GMT

i have just been offered a job in qatar and we are very excited about the move.but we have a 7 year old son who has aspergers(a form of autism)does anyone know where he can be educated in qatar(doha). thanks, scott.

Italy: New life in Ravenna

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:01:46 GMT

i have just moved to Ravenna from England (Newcastle) with my partner through his work. We are having a fab time enjoying all the lovely eating and drinking establishments. we would love to meet up with any English speaking ex pats living in the area to learn more about things here. Sally