Even though Marion is not around this weekend (the poor girl has to work), it has been a rather nice weekend so far.
Last Friday it started after work with a company BBQ. This time no photo’s. In the morning half way to the train station to travel to my work, I discovered that I forgot my camera. Didn’t had time enough to go back home to pick it up.
Anyway, the BBQ was at the “Paviljoen Zeezicht” at the town of IJmuiden. Nicely at the beach, so the sea was in sight. Although I live now more then a year rather close to the sea, it is still something I love to see.
Sadly the weather was not very good. Lots of rain and cloudy, but I have to admit that I saw the sun once or twice… for a moment ;).
There was a nice group of people, but I realized that the company has grown a lot since I joined. Many new faces.
The food that was served was not bad, but a bit too salty in my opinion (it was more a buffer then a BBQ, but that was okay with me). They served some pretty nice beers though. I enjoyed myself throughout the evening with some nice glasses of “Leffe Blond”.
Some of us (me included) spend a part of the evening playing some card games. And why not? We were there to enjoy ourselves and we did.
At a certain time people started to leave (there was a bus going back to the company for those had their cars parked thee for instance). I belonged to group that was left over (what else is new :P). We sat outside a bit more a chatted and laughed some more.
Mic was kind enough to bring Tom and me back to Heemskerk (Tom and I were both by public transport). So I invited them to my home to have something to drink. Both like a good whisky a lot. So I was happy I could serve them a nice Bowmore (single malt, 12 years). I had another beer because I had a feeling it would not be wise to drink whisky after all the beers I had.
All with all, it was pretty late when I went to bed.
Saturday, Hans (also a colleague of mine) helped me to bring away some old junk. His car can pull a trailer. So I rented one and it was just one ride to bring it all away to the refuse dump. It was not really a lot, but it was occupying space that I could use otherwise very well.
In return I could help Hans with some computer problems he had. Being able to help each other out is a nice thing to do.
After Hans left I could do something I was planning already for a long time. Since I bought my new media centre, I was not able to use my Popcorn Hour not anymore, which means that I couldn’t stream media (movies, music, photographs) that is stored somewhere on my small network to media centre to watch/listen to it (not only my own local network as a matter of fact, but also from the Internet… which is just a network of networks 🙂 ). This problem was caused by the fact that at location in my apartment where the media centre and TV stands I only have one network-connection. And the new BlueRay player uses now that network-connection to connect to the Internet.
Sure, solution is simple. Place a switch next to the Media Centre and you have more network-connections available. That is exactly what I did and now I have the 4 network-connection there. So I linked up my Popcorn Hour again and I can stream my favourite radio-stations from the Internet again (or play any other media from my network or the Internet).
I just realized that I may have to buy a new router as well. My current router has one WIFI connection and only Marion normally used that when she uses her laptop at my home. But my new iPhone uses that WIFI connection as well when I am home… Luckily those routers are not that expensive.
Just skip the technical part above if it doesn’t interest you. Just know that I am rather happy with the computer, audio and video stuff that I have currently 🙂
I changed something else in my house Saturday of which I think it is pretty cool. I installed a projection clock on top of the cabinets in the kitchen, so it projects the clock on the wall of the kitchen. I think it is pretty awesome.
It uses LED’s for the projection beam, so it is not using a lot of electricity. But still I will buy an time-clock so it switches automatically off during the nights and when I am to work. The clock itself runs on batteries and will not be effected by this.
This morning I will clean my house a bit, do some laundry and such. But for the most I will take it easy.
As said, a nice weekend so far….
Your network problems are over? So you do not need a cable to your living room? 😀
BTW, the time-clock switch will probably use more energy than the led projector will save if you tun it off ;P
No need for another cable anymore, but that doesn’t mean your not welcome anymore :). Time to arrange something again… Didn’t you want to visit the beach?
Concerning the light consumption of the led projector, the same thought has crossed my mind. So I did some investigations on that. This LED projector is using more energy as the time-switch. Not much, but still more :).
Something else is that I don’t want it on during the night. When I am asleep I want my home as dark as possible.
I shurely want to visit the beach and drink 1 or 2 beers with you in a nice cafe. But i have a busy schedule this summer……… So i will not be able to come to heemskerk before September…..