Tried to order stuff from Germany today but the website Checkout and Payment stuff would not work. Emailed them and they said I must disable Google Translator in Chrome. Works great now.

I need to get a prescription for my blood pressure tablets. Is it cheaper to go to a private doc? I do not yet have SS and my medical insurance does not cover pre existing conditions.

First of all, try registering with the health centre in your area. If they won't register you at this time, ask what documents you need.

A pharmacy will sell you tablets (the same or an equivalent, providing they can establish that they are such), without the need for a private consultation if you have a packet of what you are currently using to show them.

You won't get the discount you'd get if registered with the health service if you do the latter, though.

Ukkram are you sure about high blood pressure being in your exclusion list. Check out your contract with your health insurer. They usually don´t go that far back considering that high-blood pressure is something that is happening earlier in life (junk food etc) insurance companies would run out of costumers pretty soon...

I have only been here for 2 months and still have travel health insurance that excludes existing ailments.

I see a few posts from people who have lived in South Africa. I would be grateful if anybody has any advice on owning a car, parking etc. I am looking at buying a villa away from tourist hotspots where we can have a quiet life, but still enjoy restaurants, views and beaches.

Do we have to worry about home security and break-ins? No, I am not a newbie to living in foreign countries, I just have zero knowledge of Portugal and the way of life.

Any help will be very gratefully received.

Went to 2 pharmacies today and both said I must get a script from a doctor as my medication is scheduled as such. Plain Moduretic/Adcoretic for blood pressure.
I showed them my script from my doc and my empty boxes but they insist that I get a new script.

Crime is very variable depending on area; where there are concentrations of expat villas there have been a lot of break ins. Out in the sticks, not so much. Not anything like as bad as south Africa I don't think

I live in Odeceixe, where we have a population of 600 of which 10 are police officers. It's a pain to be so heavily policed, but the crime rate is very very low.

Buying a car is expensive compared to some Euro countries, but cheap labor rates keep repair costs down. fuel and highway tolls expensive, annual road tax not too bad.

The Pharmacies are tightening up lately.
I can still get a lot of things from my local one, now that they know me.
They told me that it partly depends on whether it's one of the subsidized meds. For those they have to be scrupulous about the paper work.

Our old pharmacy wasn't, and now it's shut down and the pharmacist is in jail...

Next question.
How to get to London from here the cheapest way?

I don't want to fly over as I want to see the countryside no matter how long it takes.
Any suggestions?

Bicycle.

Ha!!
You'd think in this wonderful equal opportunist 'every one the same' EU they would harmonise tax rates, minimum wages etc etc.

Fat chance .....We're all being fleeced!!

My Eldest son did Poole to Gibraltor by push bike in 12 days. But he was a very fit Royal Marine.

So don't laugh at the suggestion of using a bycycle it can be done.

Peter

However, if you aren't into long bike rides then drive to Gijon in Northern Spain (around 900-1000kms from the Algarve) - take the LD Lines ferry to Poole, (if it hasn't stopped for the winter) or St Nazaire in Brittany, drive to Le Havre and then ferry to Portsmouth - LD Lines call that the 'land bridge' route. It's around £300-£400 cheaper than the Brittany Ferries from Santander or Bilbao - even cheaper if you book a Pullman seat instead of a cabin.

I have heard that you can get good prices on returning cruise ships on the leg from Lisbon to Southampton, but have no details.

was he a member of the unit based in Poole, in which case it does not surprise me just a walk in the park to those guys!