[This is the real ThirtyOne]
A "busy " Saturday. Got woken up by the wife, when she returned from her morning exercise run, a little after nine o'clock, where I jumped out of bed to call the ISP to get the problem of yesterday sorted out. I guessed they would exchange the unit (it is theirs after all) but the support guy just went ahead with a total reset and reconfigured it. I could just call again if it did not help. Hrmph.
My daughter was going to bowling with a few of similar kids so my wife and I drove her there at 11 o'clock. Then we had a few hours until 3 o'clock for the pickup again. So we went to a new(ish) shopping centre in the arfea (Spinderiet) for a brunch, then onwards to a small(ish) conferenace centre where there was a "Wellness Exhibition". This consisted of near-touch healing, stones with energy, and biodynamic-cosmic cremes or herbal teas and such like. I bought on small stone for 10 DKK .. it was pretty. We also manged a quick rush through a supermarked for some evening meal stuff prior to picking up our daughter. They said she scored best.
Back at home, I had to spend a few hours to reconfigure the router with my choice of securty setup, MAC adresses, NAT passthrough and that sort of stuff, that got lost during the mornings reset (and which he forgot to mention). It is also is usually my day to make dinner. I then realized I had gotten a few days behind in my blog so that is what I am doing whilst the TV drones on behind me with the National Grand Prix song contest to decide who will represent Denmark for the European final.
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Day ThirtyOne (Thirty)
[This belongs to Day Thirty]
Rise and shine at 5.20 am. Actually I had slept a bit irregulary, probably worried I would miss the alarm clock? Into the car for the "short trip", arrived well in time at 9.05 am. No queues or other hinderances on the motorways, even though I passed the "three point area" (3 towns in east Jutland) during rush hour.
The work went well. First a little consulting about this and that, then a "firedrill" (see if the backups actually were usefull in restoring the database). We finished ahead of time, just around lunchtime. So after lunch they had "a small intriguing question". Yes, the question was small and on appearance easy - but it proved very intriguing indeed! The solution when I finally found it (after a good hours work with plenty of aids from a few colleagues via mail and phone) was just one small command, and the problem went away. I learned a new feature/trick of Oracle that day.
2.48 pm in the car, homeward bound, arrived 6.30 pm (occasional queues and congestions on the motorway)
At home a minor catastrophy awaited - the internet connection was gone. Either the router had given up or a fault elsewhere in the central. I twiddled with the obvious things, and after a half hour the line was up. All well. A few hours later it dropped out again, came back a while later ... Unfortunatly the support for the ISP was closed for the day.
Rise and shine at 5.20 am. Actually I had slept a bit irregulary, probably worried I would miss the alarm clock? Into the car for the "short trip", arrived well in time at 9.05 am. No queues or other hinderances on the motorways, even though I passed the "three point area" (3 towns in east Jutland) during rush hour.
The work went well. First a little consulting about this and that, then a "firedrill" (see if the backups actually were usefull in restoring the database). We finished ahead of time, just around lunchtime. So after lunch they had "a small intriguing question". Yes, the question was small and on appearance easy - but it proved very intriguing indeed! The solution when I finally found it (after a good hours work with plenty of aids from a few colleagues via mail and phone) was just one small command, and the problem went away. I learned a new feature/trick of Oracle that day.
2.48 pm in the car, homeward bound, arrived 6.30 pm (occasional queues and congestions on the motorway)
At home a minor catastrophy awaited - the internet connection was gone. Either the router had given up or a fault elsewhere in the central. I twiddled with the obvious things, and after a half hour the line was up. All well. A few hours later it dropped out again, came back a while later ... Unfortunatly the support for the ISP was closed for the day.
Day ThirtyOne (TwentyNine)
[This belongs to Day TwentyNine]
Yesterday, some of it in the evening, I had composed a largish mail detailling all the missing prerequisites for the Norwegian machine in London. They replied immediatly, that this would take them time to answer, so the rest of the day I was just treading water. Went home early, as I was to visit a remote customer next day (almost 4 hours drive each way).
Thus the amount of twiddling with the computer or anything else was limited in the evening, and I went to bed early. So early I forgot to blog, actually before 10pm and that was a record early night this year.
Yesterday, some of it in the evening, I had composed a largish mail detailling all the missing prerequisites for the Norwegian machine in London. They replied immediatly, that this would take them time to answer, so the rest of the day I was just treading water. Went home early, as I was to visit a remote customer next day (almost 4 hours drive each way).
Thus the amount of twiddling with the computer or anything else was limited in the evening, and I went to bed early. So early I forgot to blog, actually before 10pm and that was a record early night this year.
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Day TwentyEight
Another Quite Ordinary Day.
My main item at work today was a complex installtion done remotly on a machine in London for a company in Norway whilst sitting in Copenhagen. In the afternoon I finally got the access codes and could start checking the machine for prerequistes prior to installing. Nothing accomplilshed all day, in other words.
Well, dinner was a non-happening, too; we had "eat what you find in the fridge". Normally we have proper sit down dinner for the four of us. There are three potential cooks in the household (unevenly divided) but on some days, nobody can be bothered. Besides, the leftovers have to be eaten some time before they grow hair.
Found an update that needed to be put on my router after the increase in download speed. The ISP company had sent the info to an OLD mail address I checked almost by accident. The patch was put on and now it should be full speed ahead on the internet highway.
My main item at work today was a complex installtion done remotly on a machine in London for a company in Norway whilst sitting in Copenhagen. In the afternoon I finally got the access codes and could start checking the machine for prerequistes prior to installing. Nothing accomplilshed all day, in other words.
Well, dinner was a non-happening, too; we had "eat what you find in the fridge". Normally we have proper sit down dinner for the four of us. There are three potential cooks in the household (unevenly divided) but on some days, nobody can be bothered. Besides, the leftovers have to be eaten some time before they grow hair.
Found an update that needed to be put on my router after the increase in download speed. The ISP company had sent the info to an OLD mail address I checked almost by accident. The patch was put on and now it should be full speed ahead on the internet highway.
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Day TwentySeven
A normal working day, a normal evening at home.
Some of my colleagues mentioned they had problem with their internet connection at home (sponsored by our company to enable 24 hours service to our customer). This was due to the download speed had been increased from 8Mb to 20Mb. Nice, but that also explained the occasional dropout I had been obeserving on my home machine. I thought it was some minor flaw in my new machine, but this explanation fitted the bill. This did not explain how to get rid of the problem, however.
Some of my colleagues mentioned they had problem with their internet connection at home (sponsored by our company to enable 24 hours service to our customer). This was due to the download speed had been increased from 8Mb to 20Mb. Nice, but that also explained the occasional dropout I had been obeserving on my home machine. I thought it was some minor flaw in my new machine, but this explanation fitted the bill. This did not explain how to get rid of the problem, however.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Day TwentySix
The day began with the swimming hall, with the wife and son. Afterwards a stroll in a shopping mall. Bought two brightly coloured shirts. Nothing really happened today, but that is the point of the free Mondays. Work tomorrow.
Oh, yes, the dinner. Had to throw the porkchops out, as they smelled bad when being fried. We had fried eggs instead. The porkchop were within their dates on the label, but I trust my nose more.
Oh, yes, the dinner. Had to throw the porkchops out, as they smelled bad when being fried. We had fried eggs instead. The porkchop were within their dates on the label, but I trust my nose more.
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Day TwentyFive
An even layzer start on Sunday than Saturday yesterday. Some of us pottered around in dressing gowns in the morning, no formal breakfast, just a bit of sunday paper reading and ditto internet.
The afternoon was spent at my wife's aunt for lunch, which ended about five'ish. Unusually my son had agreed to come along because it was "just lunch". He is not a fan of familiy gatherings, as we just talk talk talk. Around four o'clock his patience had been used up, and he left to take the trip back home with public transport. It being Sunday (longer intervals between each bus/trains) and that the trip being "across" the normal radial pattern of the routes, meant that we arrived home in the car before him. He was NOT pleased, when he arrived, and it will be some time before he will come along again. Pity, but he is grown up enough to decide for himself.
Today is my brother's birthday and he lives far off (16 hours drive according to the GPS) so we usually indulge in an hour long telephone conversation about life and anything else. I just finished that one. Yes it was late, and I barely made it before the day was over, but that is part of tradtition, too.
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Day TwentyFour
Saturday - lazy start, my daughter managed to lie in bed until 1pm! Did the grocery shopping with her. I cooked two soups (one vegetarian, mostly for my wife, one with sausages) and then we sort of vegetated in front of the flat screen(s), i.e tv and computer.
Friday, 23 January 2009
Day TwentyThree
Another simple working day with a very short revenue earning engagement - a review of a customer's design of a system. Otherwise talking to colleagues, helping them.
At home, after dinner, three of us went to a local café where we played a few rounds of a cardgame; "Donkeys Game".
Yes, definitly what could be called an ordinary day.
At home, after dinner, three of us went to a local café where we played a few rounds of a cardgame; "Donkeys Game".
Yes, definitly what could be called an ordinary day.
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Day TwentyTwo
Short two hour talk with a customer about software migration (it aint easy or without pain = costs money) and then catchup on ordinary office workstuff.
At home, the wife had been to an evening parent meeting outlining some of the future occupational possiblities for our special needs daughter, and they are not cheerful.
At home, the wife had been to an evening parent meeting outlining some of the future occupational possiblities for our special needs daughter, and they are not cheerful.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Day TwentyOne - a chance encounter
Today work involved doing the last of the three day course, I've mentioned a few times or days ago. This course is held at the customer site. Went there with bus and subway, rather than the car, in particular as I managed to get out of the home at the scheduled time. While I was changing between the bus to the subway, I saw my wife bicycling past! We just managed to wave to each other. Neither ofus had thought of that today our routes intersected.
On the way home I bought flowers. Not of any other reason than that I was happy seeing here, unexpectedly, in the morning. And she is lovely.
On the way home I bought flowers. Not of any other reason than that I was happy seeing here, unexpectedly, in the morning. And she is lovely.
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Monday, 19 January 2009
Day Nineteen - including Cheese and GPS
The normal "run" around the lake with my wife. Unfortunately, I get a pain in my right knee after 500m or so, and have to walk the rest (with a few pathetic attempts to run a little every now and then). That the knee has been going on for some time, is only by race. My wife takes a different path to do running on her own. She is probably about 23 times better at running than me. That left me taking a minor detour past the bakers to pick up some fresh bread for breakfast.
Otherwise, I used most of the day at ... yes, you guessed right! ... twiddled with the computer. It is now as good as complete. The challenges were to put old mail accounts back, even though it is a new machine, and this is not webmail but a normal pop3 client. In addition, I want that large amounts of data (documents) is on the D drive, not C drive. Tricky for the shared documents. Last, but certainly not at least, when reusing a data disc and reinstalling with new accounts, the ownership has to be adjusted i safe mode.
The work was briefly interupted by the normal shopping, which for a change we did in our immediate neighborhood (no need to use the car) and thus included buing the cheese in the chees shop. This cheeseshop is NOT liek the (in)famous one from Monty Python - rather the shopkeeper keeps urging us to buy more :-)
We also bought a new GPS for the new car, it ended up with a Navigion 2110Max. We will see how it works tomorrow. It has worked out where I live :-)
In the evening we lit up up the fireplace - there was some sad remnants of the Christmas tree still in the livingroom, and we "de-installed" it with a garden shears and fed the fire with that. Cosy, and definitely 100% recycle and CO2 neutral.
Otherwise, I used most of the day at ... yes, you guessed right! ... twiddled with the computer. It is now as good as complete. The challenges were to put old mail accounts back, even though it is a new machine, and this is not webmail but a normal pop3 client. In addition, I want that large amounts of data (documents) is on the D drive, not C drive. Tricky for the shared documents. Last, but certainly not at least, when reusing a data disc and reinstalling with new accounts, the ownership has to be adjusted i safe mode.
The work was briefly interupted by the normal shopping, which for a change we did in our immediate neighborhood (no need to use the car) and thus included buing the cheese in the chees shop. This cheeseshop is NOT liek the (in)famous one from Monty Python - rather the shopkeeper keeps urging us to buy more :-)
We also bought a new GPS for the new car, it ended up with a Navigion 2110Max. We will see how it works tomorrow. It has worked out where I live :-)
In the evening we lit up up the fireplace - there was some sad remnants of the Christmas tree still in the livingroom, and we "de-installed" it with a garden shears and fed the fire with that. Cosy, and definitely 100% recycle and CO2 neutral.
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Day Eighteen
So far, a normal (sun)day, and yet:
This morning the wife and I went to the swiminghall, and got 30 minutes exercise, followed by lazy wallowing in the sauna, and likewise doing very little when we got home.
I am reinstalling Windows on the new machine, this time with a danish version. The wife fetched our daughter, and now they're on a quick nip down to the local café, and I'll join them shortly.
While the big machine is digesting one CD after another with windows, drivers and programs, I am writing these lines on the laptop. The evening will be busy enough, I am cooking, so I thought I'd write this days blog now (afternoon)
By the way, should any of you have set up RSS feeds, then I appologise now, as I will be doing minor edits to the previous 5 days to remove various typos, thus possibly confusing your download.
This morning the wife and I went to the swiminghall, and got 30 minutes exercise, followed by lazy wallowing in the sauna, and likewise doing very little when we got home.
I am reinstalling Windows on the new machine, this time with a danish version. The wife fetched our daughter, and now they're on a quick nip down to the local café, and I'll join them shortly.
While the big machine is digesting one CD after another with windows, drivers and programs, I am writing these lines on the laptop. The evening will be busy enough, I am cooking, so I thought I'd write this days blog now (afternoon)
By the way, should any of you have set up RSS feeds, then I appologise now, as I will be doing minor edits to the previous 5 days to remove various typos, thus possibly confusing your download.
Saturday, 17 January 2009
Day Seventeen - Movie real life incident
[This really is Day Seventeen]
In the morning, close to lunch time than breakfast, my wife and I drove our daughter to her weekend stay (which was only one Saturday night, this the first time) and then we were sort of "free". We took a walk in the shopping center, just to look but ended up spending 1000kr some cookware, a sweater and a new lamp for the enterance with low energy light bulbs.
In the evening we went to the cinema and saw "The day the Earth stood Still". In the middle of the film, after we had seen how the extraterrestials could stop all electrical power in civilization, everything went dead in the cinema! The emergency lights came on, and after a while the normal room lights. I think the film simply broke, but for a brief moment it was an exciting mix of movies and reality! Five minutes later the fault was fixed and the movie continued.
In the morning, close to lunch time than breakfast, my wife and I drove our daughter to her weekend stay (which was only one Saturday night, this the first time) and then we were sort of "free". We took a walk in the shopping center, just to look but ended up spending 1000kr some cookware, a sweater and a new lamp for the enterance with low energy light bulbs.
In the evening we went to the cinema and saw "The day the Earth stood Still". In the middle of the film, after we had seen how the extraterrestials could stop all electrical power in civilization, everything went dead in the cinema! The emergency lights came on, and after a while the normal room lights. I think the film simply broke, but for a brief moment it was an exciting mix of movies and reality! Five minutes later the fault was fixed and the movie continued.
Day Seventeen (Sixteen)
[This belongs to Day Sixteen]
It was the alarm clock that got me up that morning, not before (as was planned). Moring and getting off was "normal". Safely arrived at the office, I miss my wallet (with the drivinglicense and all that stuff). Sadly, I'll need it when I probably have to do a little shopping on the way home. I needed to discuss some stuff with a colleague, so I suggest we keep our little meeting in my car while I take a quick round trip home. I somehow manage to forget my PIN of the petrol card when I needed to fill up the car, so another round trip home to find the letter with the PIN code. At least we got to talk about all that needed work, so all this whimsical driving around did not wast any time.
The main work of today was to use some 10-15 years old software to move data from it to newer systems. Actually quite a challenge, but there was two of us to guess our way thorugh the old menus. It was a well-deserved "Thank God its Friday"-beer at the day's end.
At home an ordinary Friday night.
It was the alarm clock that got me up that morning, not before (as was planned). Moring and getting off was "normal". Safely arrived at the office, I miss my wallet (with the drivinglicense and all that stuff). Sadly, I'll need it when I probably have to do a little shopping on the way home. I needed to discuss some stuff with a colleague, so I suggest we keep our little meeting in my car while I take a quick round trip home. I somehow manage to forget my PIN of the petrol card when I needed to fill up the car, so another round trip home to find the letter with the PIN code. At least we got to talk about all that needed work, so all this whimsical driving around did not wast any time.
The main work of today was to use some 10-15 years old software to move data from it to newer systems. Actually quite a challenge, but there was two of us to guess our way thorugh the old menus. It was a well-deserved "Thank God its Friday"-beer at the day's end.
At home an ordinary Friday night.
Day Seventeen (Fifteen)
[This belongs to Day Fifteen]
Because of I was early in bed the night before, I woke early. Instead of just turning round and sleep on, I decided to stand up, make the kitchen completely clean, and then look a little more at the computer problem. Found out how to get the sound come out of the front jacks, but then it would not disable the rear jacks. It could live with that, but on the front there was only sound on one channel, so the front panel has a fault (and probably that fault is also the reason that it can not switch between the front and rear) Back to the shop on Monday.
Managed to make some morning tea and servers it to the wife as she got up. After a short but refreshing shower, I could start Day Two in my course (continued from day thirteen). I got out of the door a bit late, was further delayed in traffic, and when I arrived at the guest parking I saw the last slot being taken. So I had to drive around a little in the area (Christianshavn in Copenhagen) but was lucky to find a place not too far away and could then begin the course "only" an hour late (not something to be proud of).
Was there some more fiddling with the computer that night? Yes, a little, very little. I thought: another early evening and then I could do more in peace and quiet in the early morning, and therefore went to bed early (and forgot to blog).
Because of I was early in bed the night before, I woke early. Instead of just turning round and sleep on, I decided to stand up, make the kitchen completely clean, and then look a little more at the computer problem. Found out how to get the sound come out of the front jacks, but then it would not disable the rear jacks. It could live with that, but on the front there was only sound on one channel, so the front panel has a fault (and probably that fault is also the reason that it can not switch between the front and rear) Back to the shop on Monday.
Managed to make some morning tea and servers it to the wife as she got up. After a short but refreshing shower, I could start Day Two in my course (continued from day thirteen). I got out of the door a bit late, was further delayed in traffic, and when I arrived at the guest parking I saw the last slot being taken. So I had to drive around a little in the area (Christianshavn in Copenhagen) but was lucky to find a place not too far away and could then begin the course "only" an hour late (not something to be proud of).
Was there some more fiddling with the computer that night? Yes, a little, very little. I thought: another early evening and then I could do more in peace and quiet in the early morning, and therefore went to bed early (and forgot to blog).
Day Seventeen (Forteen)
[This entry belongs as day forteen]
Although I wrote "early to bed" on the 13th, I ended up "testing" computer a few hours more. In the morning I had to drive to an hour southbound to a customer. Completed the task at to o'clock so I drove directly home. There is always a lot of work e-mail to read and respond to.
In the evening there was a meeting of the firm's Senior Club. If you are over 50 you are enrolled mandatorily. We have many other clubs in the company: beer, wine, gadgets, running, diving, poker ... those I can think of for now. The company sponsors a little comfort (food and drink). We work away from the office a lot, so the clubs provide the opportunity to meet and keep the company spirit. The Senior Club, by virtue of its membership, ensures that our "gray gold" (= experience) remains in the company.
I also twiddled a bit more with the new computer, now that it had received a new graphic card and everything was tested in the shop yesterday. I could not get sound out of the front jacks, although it had worked in the shop. This frustrated me some (I am not thaaat stupid!), and resulted in a bit of friction in the mood of the living room and ended that day (and the reason why I did not Blog that day)
Although I wrote "early to bed" on the 13th, I ended up "testing" computer a few hours more. In the morning I had to drive to an hour southbound to a customer. Completed the task at to o'clock so I drove directly home. There is always a lot of work e-mail to read and respond to.
In the evening there was a meeting of the firm's Senior Club. If you are over 50 you are enrolled mandatorily. We have many other clubs in the company: beer, wine, gadgets, running, diving, poker ... those I can think of for now. The company sponsors a little comfort (food and drink). We work away from the office a lot, so the clubs provide the opportunity to meet and keep the company spirit. The Senior Club, by virtue of its membership, ensures that our "gray gold" (= experience) remains in the company.
I also twiddled a bit more with the new computer, now that it had received a new graphic card and everything was tested in the shop yesterday. I could not get sound out of the front jacks, although it had worked in the shop. This frustrated me some (I am not thaaat stupid!), and resulted in a bit of friction in the mood of the living room and ended that day (and the reason why I did not Blog that day)
Day Seventeen (Morning)
Seems I have gone to bed too early the last days, i.e. without first writing down the daily blog.
tch tch ...
So here I am trying to decide whether to use the "adjust blog day"-feature to make the entries appear in the correct day, or to be honset and enter everything under today.
(edit in the evening: I decided on one entry per day, though all under Day Seventeen)
tch tch ...
So here I am trying to decide whether to use the "adjust blog day"-feature to make the entries appear in the correct day, or to be honset and enter everything under today.
(edit in the evening: I decided on one entry per day, though all under Day Seventeen)
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Day Thirteen
Yesterdays computer test went on and on - 3D graphics, need a game, ended up getting caught up in the play, bed at 3am. Machine kept working fine though :-) !
This morning off to do a whole days teaching, fortunatly only two students, but I do it purely "hands on" and without Powerpoint "safety-net" so I had to stay awake. As I really like doing sort of stuff it wasn't hard, both the teach and staying awake.
The afternoon evening I managed to buy two USB sticks and a letterbox and dash home for tools, and meet my obligations from Day Five at the communitygroup's place.
A good day, all in all. Bed time now.
This morning off to do a whole days teaching, fortunatly only two students, but I do it purely "hands on" and without Powerpoint "safety-net" so I had to stay awake. As I really like doing sort of stuff it wasn't hard, both the teach and staying awake.
The afternoon evening I managed to buy two USB sticks and a letterbox and dash home for tools, and meet my obligations from Day Five at the communitygroup's place.
A good day, all in all. Bed time now.
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