Well I signed up with Mt.Gox as well and it looks as though it's not as complicated as I first thought.

This is something I only found out after I made my first BTC withdrawal from an exchange and wondered why it still wasn't showing up days later. It took pretty much all day to download all the blocks. It also takes quite a while for the official Bitcoin client to start running when I open it on my machine, but it does eventually.

I'm guessing it might also be affected if your ISP has any sort of traffic shaping too, especially if the Bitcoin prog. is seen as a p2p application.

I knew you could deposit to MtGox via international wire transfer, although I don't think I can do that online and I live out in the sticks. Also I think the bank fees are sizable for international transfers? I might sign up and give it a go anyway.

Well, only 2 hours 15 minutes online and 6 posts to go I guess. 

I used to skeptical of bitcoin, mainly because I couldn't see any way of getting some in the UK. Then along came Intersango, who I've got all my bitcoins through so far. I live in the UK and as far as I can determine there aren't any other ways of doing it that aren't risky, expensive or complicated. Unless someone can enlighten me otherwise, that is?   

Well, I haven't made a formal introduction yet, so hello everyone. My name is (something) and I am pathologically obsessed with Bitcoin. I'm from the UK and hope for more exchanges for me and other UK-er's could use with minimal hassle. I've mostly used Intersango who I've been very pleased with.

If I'd known about this 4 hour thing earlier I'd have registered before I felt the need to post. Eh.

Guess this is an introduction anyway.

In the meantime, if anyone else with a vague knowledge of banking/UK law wants to go over to the Intersango thread and point out the only legal reason a bank can freeze an account without explanation then please do.