– sells non-NatWest piggy banks and similar keepsakes. /Paris/9896 – for piggy bank enthusiasts.The Collectors Old Toy Shop: 89 Northgate, Halifax, West Yorks HX1 1XF; 01422 822148.EventsWade Christmas Bonanza – Saturday 4 December 2004, 10am to 4pm at Official Wade Collectors Centre, Ford Lane, Ford, Arundel, West Sussex.. “Cariocas like to look after their bodies,” my guide assures me “But that doesn’t mean they are all slim and beautiful. Would I like to see that too? Bar do Mineiro is buzzing with Carioca families tucking into feijoada, a Brazilian stew of black beans and pork, seasoned with garlic and bay and served with white rice. A bar full of atmosphere or a bar full of expats? I opt to stay put.What next? The monastery? The cathedrals? The museums? The Maracana stadium? No, I skip more sightseeing for some people-watching on the beach. Guided tours are available most days, but for the real experience, book a seat for an opera or ballet performance.Best shoppingRecoleta is the upmarket shopping area of Buenos Aires with the likes of Ralph Lauren, Armani and Herm?lining the grand Avenida Alvear and charging predictably astronomic prices. Stick to Argentine shops and locally made products for good value – needless to say, a by-product of all that beef is a lot of reasonably priced leather goods such as bags, shoes, jackets and belts.The regenerated colonial-style streets of Palermo Viejo are where to find the stylish independent boutiques, interiors shops, caf?and bars.

Arte Etnico Argentino, El Salvador 4600 (00 54 11 4833 6661; ), is one example, selling beautiful furniture, rugs and decorative objects that are hand-made in villages using traditional methods Shopping centres are also popular. “We believe investors should hold on to them, as there will be growth in the future.”Where once investors piled into specialist funds for exposure to technology companies, many general UK, US, Japan and Asia funds now buy the same hi-tech businesses for their own portfolios, says Mr Cockerill.So by choosing a specialist technology fund, there is a danger that investors could be doubling up, warns Robert Burdett, joint head of Credit Suisse Asset Management’s Multi-Manager Portfolio.”Investors are likely to hold technology companies already through their core funds,” he says. “This was not the case with some technology companies bought in the late 1990s.”Today, the sector is a shadow of its former self. Even Vodafone’s glitzy launch last week of its 3G mobile phone services has failed to persuade IFAs to suggest anything other than caution to clients who want to buy into technology funds.”Although there is a role for such specialist funds as a small part of a portfolio, there are better places to invest right now,” says Phil Clements of IFA Towry Law.Investment figures for the sector make depressing reading. ‘Tech” and “fund” are still four-letter words for ordinary investors who got their fingers burnt at the turn of the century. Many lost thousands of pounds after a giddy spell in which people stampeded to put money into funds backing hi-tech firms, dot-com businesses and web technology.
At the sector’s peak during the ISA (individual savings account) season in March 2000, a staggering £880m poured into these funds, and companies couldn’t cope with the number of applications. But the bubble burst and, as company prices fell, so did the stock markets.

Many people sold out of collapsing funds such as Aberdeen Technology in disgust; others decided to make the best of a bad job and nurse their losses.The collapse of a number of smaller companies in the sector has meant that technology funds have generally proved poor performers over the past five years, says Tim Cockerill of independent financial adviser (IFA) Rowan & Co.”At least if Marks & Spencer’s share price fell heavily, you would know there was still intrinsic value there and you might get your money back in the medium to long term,” he explains. There are just 25 in existence and these are the most highly valued NatWest piggies of all.”[A golden piggy bank] with a certificate of authentication went for £900 on eBay earlier this year but I’ve never seen one,” says Mr Chown.Given the popularity of its piggies, it is perhaps surprising that NatWest stopped the promotion back in 1988.However, according to a bank spokesman, it was simply felt that the offer had run its course. It should have the incised lettering of “Wade England” (as should all authentic, Wade-produced pigs), and the NatWest bung should be a good fit.Wesley’s clothes are a clue, too; look for a green shirt and blue cap and trousers.Since forgers use a mould to create copies, the fakes are slightly smaller than the real thing, says Mr van-Drunick.If it is rarity that you crave, look no further than the “Rockin’ Max”, owned by Phil Denton of rock band Elixir, an original Wade Maxwell piggy bank that received a rock’n'roll makeover treatment.Look out too for a precious Woody glazed with 22-carat gold leaf and presented to members of the NatWest board of directors and a lucky few competition winners over the years. “There are three forgeries of Cousin Wesley that I’m aware of,” says Mr Chown. “You have to be really careful with authenticity, bearing in mind the price they are going for.”The best way to check is to stand the piggy bank next to one verified as genuine and see how they compare. The Wade Collectors Centre has a genuine Wesley for this purpose and can authenticate models brought in by customers.Its height should be 53/4in (146mm) and it should be 4in (102mm) wide.

In some European countries, including the Netherlands, pigs are believed by many to bring good luck.Madeleine Marsh, editor of the Millers Collectibles Price Guide, offers another explanation: “Money boxes have been manufactured in Europe since the 17th century – and the fat pig was a symbol of wealth.”By the early 18th century, such boxes or jars were known as pig banks in England, according to a less innocent note, the popularity of the NatWest piggy banks has led to concerns over authenticity. David Chown, who runs the Official Wade Collectors Centre in Ford, West Sussex, is bullish in his opinion: “The price has risen every year – it’s an excellent investment.”These mass-produced piggy banks are not such a far cry from their centuries-old ancestors – clay pots that were used to store money. According to the specialist website , one specimen from Bali is thought to date back some 1,500 years. The pots were made from orange clay, known as “pygg”, which could have given the piggy bank its name.There are alternative theories, however. To earn him, you had to open a children’s bond in which £1,000 was invested over five years. But the new piggy bank didn’t enjoy the same popularity as Woody and his family, and only 5,000 were produced.If you had a NatWest children’s account in that decade and can’t remember throwing out the piggy bank, you would be well advised to hunt it down.”Sir Nathaniel is worth £50 to £130, and Woody will sell for £15 to £20,” says collector Piet van-Drunick.

“With Sir Nathaniel, I’ve managed to buy genuine ones for between 50p and £25.”The piggy banks are likely to keep their value too. After Woody came Gerald, Maxwell (named after the late media tycoon, Robert), Annabel – and parents Lady Hilary and Sir Nathaniel.Although NatWest stopped this particular promotion in 1988, another family member stepped into the breach: Cousin Wesley. Within three years, manufacturer Wade Ceramics had produced its millionth pig for the bank.”A deposit of five pounds earned the young saver Woody, the baby pig,” says Jenny Wright, Wade’s collectables manager.Older members of the family could be collected by saving a further £25 every six months.It was some family too. Old Sarum (01722 335398; .uk/oldsarum).Travel information: Wilts and Dorset buses (01722 336855; ), single fare £4.80. Value Taxi Cars (01722 505050), single journey costs approx £15.. Piggy banks are packed with nostalgia and, if you’re lucky, with money as well.