winny’s blog

This title is Dutch, for ‘stof’ means dust and that is what this is all about, but is looks also very much like the word stuff of which this is also about.

I have this MacBook with which I’m writing all of this, since oktober last year. Not to old is it? So when I discoverd more and more dead pixels on my screen I went back to the store the other day with my laptop. There they looked at it and told me it wasn’t dead pixels at all but dust ore something like that on my screen. And he went with his nails over the screen. Which gave me the creeps becouse I always am very carefully not to touch it and he even scratched it!
And then he took some cleaning fluid, brushed it on the screen and whiped it. And I must say… perfectly clean. So I bought this fluid at once. iClean it is called. What else.

And since I was there anyway, I also bought me a standard for the MacBook and a keyboard with wire and a mouse without. Might be better for my RSI. And it is beatifull stuff. Aspecially the mouse is a beauty.

When I changed my flight from the 12th of april to the 23rd of march they told me that everything would be exactly the same, only the date was differerent. In fact I wouldn’t even need another comfirmation.

So when that confirmation did come next week I didn’t look at it. Until yesterday. Then I found out that my flight from Amsterdam to Gathwick was not planned at 7am, as requierd, but at 9.30am. That seems more convenient but the risk it far to great for there is only 50 minutes in between flights in London.

Last time I had this flight in december my luggage did not arrive until the next day. If there is a small delay I will miss the flight to Antigua or they wouldn’t even let me go to London for when the plane leaves Amsterdam to late they know for sure I’m gonna miss the flight. Paul had that last year. Which was nice for my girlfriend and me becouse he did sail another day with us on my boat back home. But for him…

So I had this interresting conversation with BA. They wanted me to pay for this change to the early flight. I did not think so!
Finally we came to an agreement. They changed the flight to 7am and I am not paying anything. I can live with that

The last days i have been busy with preparing for my taxreturn, incometax and VAT. The VAT has to be done right when I’m back from Antigua, before the first of April. The income tax can wait but I’d rather have it done. Boring stuf though!

I was never very fond of doing my administration but as long as I could send invoices, I could see the fun of it. Now that I can’t even do that… boring.

But on the other hand, not beeing able to send invoices means beeing able to go to Antigua isn’t it? Only one week and then I will be off.

As of from yesterday afternoon I could not sent e-mail. Now I know what the solution is, it was a very simple problem (which problems always are, isn’t it?).

But it took me hours and hours talking to several helpdeskpeople yesterday and today. They all want to know the problem, they al have a stroke when they find out I have a mac (which is not te problem at all), they all finally don’t know the solution so they say it is on my side. Once I was even send to the Windows helpdesk.

But I could recieve mail, could internet, could phone (since I have an all in one connection also an interesting fact) only could not send mail.

Finally I asked my very helpful digital women-on-the-web-netwerk for help and one of the girls said; it looks like you are connected with another network then your own. Isn’t your wireless computer by accident connnected with one of the neigbours’?

And that is was!

Not one of the helpdesks could think of that and it’s there job. OK, my frustration is stil showing, I know, sorry. They can’t help it, they have only the very simple information to give the screen is showing them. And they are not selected by nobelprice winning kwalities.
And I’m glad there is no problem anymore al last.

It is very decadent, i know but this time I went to France. Jill has a very nice house in Bion which is only 8 hours drive. Took time for several stops on my way.

We drove around on Friday. To St Malo. Very nice ancient town within walls. Turned out that I had been there before but that is a whole different story.

Here is a picture of me on that wall.

And the weather was so good. We sat in the sun for a cappuchino and an Earl Greche tea. Did not even have te wear gloves
On my way back I passed the Pond de Normandie. Gorgeous, isn’t it?

Now we are leaving this evening I have some pictures that illustrate our good times here.

We had several very good massages, facial, nails as you can see below. We had much sunshine, sat in the jacuzzi, sauna…

And we made a hike through the coastline with beautifull cliffs.

We also hired a car on saturday and drove along the coast and to Monchique, which is in the mountains. Very nice ride with awsome blooming mimosa trees in the valley. Te balloons are from a market.
Yesterday we made a boattrip on the river to Silvas. Very nice old town against the mountain. So the narrow streets are all very steep. Pictures are not yet organised, no text and not selected but it gives an idea.

the other night we had an astronomer who told us everything we wanted to know about the universe and more. We went outside to see for ourselves. It was really great.

We could see Upiter with the rings very clear. He showed us several constellations.

Never had a manicure or a pedicure before, but here it’s all in the game. Not too bad, I can tell you.

My nails are black now, all twenty of them. I’ll get a picture to show here.

Well, how’s that! Me, the black, and the french tips of Anne.
s that!

Am now in Portugal since monday. It is gooood.
Weather is lovely, sun is shining, the wirlpool is hot! Really enjoying ourselves.

Even did the aerobicsclass and had a wonderfull walk yesterday afternoon. See how gorgeous this house lies against the hill. Swimmingpool is good too, although the water is still cold.

I went to the movies tonight. The prestige. To be honnest, I was not very impressed. It is about two magicians fighting and spying on eachother to have the best performance. In the end it is not trics anymore but magic, which can not exist of course.
Although the theme is interesting I found it rather boring at the end.
And the worst thing is I got a fine for parking at the pavement. Ok, I know it is not allowed but everybody did it and we were not in anybodies way at all. Did they really have to fine me for that??? Bugger.

But hey, the predict up to 20 degrees C. in Portugal, so who’s complaining? Tomorrow in the afternoon we will leave from Rotterdam Airport.