That code seems to have done the trick
My link to photoplog is absolute and added to my portals side menu block as are most, but theres a few default links using similar globals I am wondering if i could fix these in a similar way. I will give them a go later as the sidemenu block has relative links using variables to the portalhome forumhome and one or to others inside conditionals. Theres other blocks that also link to various sections of both portal and forums that I cant add to the left column casue of the issue. If it fixes the few variables in the portals side menu block i may have to write up a huge list for the other block types.
I am thinking if thats whats nesseacry it would probably better making a seperate file for it all and using a require call at those points instead ?