We've had a home in Spain for more than 14 years and it is now our permanent base though we retain a small home in the UK.
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The Summer of ‘09
Ironic really that after yet another awful summer, the sun is finally blasting on the day we leave the UK for our summer exodus to Spain! Sure, we’ve had some nice weather but most of the time it’s been raining – as usual.
I’ve been frantically beavering away to make sure I have all of my toys up to date… the Omnia phone now sports the latest Windows Mobile 6.5 along with the new sat-nav software – not to mention the all-new Skype 3.0 which FINALLY handles voicemail properly.
My new wireless IP camera turned up from China right at the last minute and appears to work a TREAT, I’ve upgraded the laptop to Windows 7 (NOT the final version which is out to manufacturers in the USA but not here yet, but the final release candidate) and I’m taking a decent webcam for Skype so I can still do my all-essential meetings (I knew 5 weeks of actual holiday was a pipe-dream).
The laptop is kitted out with some new 360 degree panorama software I’m itching to try out, as normal photos really don’t do justice to our place over there and finally it looks like Iberbandits have sorted out the broadband thanks to help from a gentlemen over there by the name of Roger Thory who’s been most helpful. We’re heading off at 11am with our friend Fay who’s with us for the first week or so, no sign of anyone having flu – and the temperatures in Spain promise a hot start.
Of interest I’ve been struggling with some less than ideal webcam software over there which was quite slow (I originally put it down to the broadband) until the idea struck me to setup Skype on a new identity, hook that to the webcam and simply set it to auto-answer only from known contacts – a simple double-click on my Skype here and I have video and sound from Spain! “Simples” as they say on the “Compare the Meerkat” advert! Saldy even the latest phone software can’t tackle the video – yet. At the last minute I’ve created some new accounts on Skype so I can keep an eye on the office while I’m away using the same idea.
A matter of hours now and we’ll be on that plane… I can’t wait.