One down
Let me have a crack at answering at least one of the questions. Seems the best way to log into the backed (for me at present anyway) is to provide a bogus password, submit that, get the error and then submit the correct one. Not sure if this is a bug (no one else is complaining so I would assume not ) or a setup issue.
As for the hack for Australia, I'll just have to learn patience.
Roger