ok, i've validated the index.html file. only has a warning now about assuming utf-8. i've checked the meta tag and it is correct, so maybe it's 10gbfreehost that's overriding it. checked the console panel and faq at 10gbfreehost and couldn't find any options relating to this so have decided to live with that bit for now. but all other errors are fixed

onto the rest:
changed to margin: 0 auto 0 auto; in #wrap but still not centred

the side menu (called avmenu) isn't correct (pics attached). on my local version there's a gap between the bottom of the font and the bottom of the block its in. on the online version this gap is gone and the announce section below is thinner (or the font in it is wider).

i tried adding a height: 1.7em; to #avmenu li a { and this worked locally (i.e. if i made it 2em it was a greater gap), but on the online version the same change does nothing

one last thing:
when i open the local version i get a popup in ie7's info bar saying that it has restricted scripts and activex for this page, but i don't see it having that anyway

PS also validated the css file but it had no errors