I've made some progress with this problem.

 string ResourceFile="/App_GlobalResources/GlobalResources.resx";
 string localizedText = Localization.GetString("EMAIL_PROFILE_UPDATED_BODY", ResourceFile);

Gets me the resource from the resx file.  I am assuming that the Localization object will take the localised version. If this is the case then I still have the problem of the tokens in the text which is:

Dear [User:DisplayName], Your profile on [Portal:PortalName] has been successfully updated. Sincerely, [Portal:PortalName]

Is there some way to autmatically replace the tokens in this text with the current users data?

 thanks

Gus

thanks Seb, that's a great help,

took me a while but i came up with this code which does the job. It looks up the email template for body and subject in the resources file, localises it, replaces the tokens and sends the user an email.

If I'm doing something wrong or undesirable please let me know.

thanks

gus

// get the localised email message and send the user an email
                string strResourceFile="/App_GlobalResources/GlobalResources.resx";
                string strlocalizedText = Localization.GetString("EMAIL_PROFILE_UPDATED_BODY", strResourceFile);
                string strlocalizedSubject = Localization.GetString("EMAIL_PROFILE_UPDATED_SUBJECT", strResourceFile);

                DotNetNuke.Services.Tokens.TokenReplace dnnTknRepl = new DotNetNuke.Services.Tokens.TokenReplace();
                dnnTknRepl.AccessingUser = DotNetNuke.Entities.Users.UserController.GetCurrentUserInfo();
                
                strlocalizedText = dnnTknRepl.ReplaceEnvironmentTokens(strlocalizedText);
                strlocalizedSubject = dnnTknRepl.ReplaceEnvironmentTokens(strlocalizedSubject);

               // lblError.Text = strlocalizedText;


                string strFrom = strPortalEmail; // portal email
                string strTo = ui.Email;         // user email
                string strSub = strlocalizedSubject; // email subject
                string strBody = strlocalizedText;   // email body
                // now send the email
                Services.Mail.Mail.SendEmail(strFrom, strTo, strSub, strBody);