thanks to you both.  I'm euro based - so will register with bitstamp and maybe kraken.   Is there much of a difference in terms of the commissions charged/pricing offered?

Is there a thread on here speculating on the direction btc pricing will take?  (I appreciate that even if there is, there's likely to be a variance of opinions and that I can't take that as financial advice...albeit I wouldn't mind reading through it all the same).