(sorry for the double post, but i wasnt able to post links without posting atleast 1 message)
for those interested here is the LCD+keypad shield i have, on retrospect i think it might have been easier to buy a seperate LCD and keypad, for coding. and if it is i might buy a seperate one anyhow.
http://www.ekitszone.com/Products/3-lcd-keypad-shield-for-arduino.aspx
one imeidate issue i can see with this shield as it covers all the PWM ports, so i'd have to use jump leads etc anyhow to connect it in the final project and while prototyping.