rips…

…and other disturbances…

connection: temporary solution…

As mentioned last month: we have been given the “go ahead” for proper, fiber-optic, broadband in my area. However, there are so many obstacles on the route – land owners standing in the way and things like that – that I doubt it'll be realized this year.

As of 23. April I am testing out a satellite internet connection – a dish – as a temporary solution. Its 1Mb/128Kb bandwidth and inherent latency is far from what's needed to be fully active on the web today, but it sure beats what I've had up until now.

After a few days I got the connection upgraded to 2Mb/128Kb bandwidth, which is max available on ASTRA2Connect. Helps a bit for general surfing.

Since I expect to have to live with this temporary solution for a while, I may as well get used to the modest bandwidth and slight delays. Stability is greatly improved, and this means less frustration. As a result my blood pressure may at least go down to more acceptable levels – less chance of a heart attack.

bad memories:

The wireless connection I have had as only option for the last couple of years, has been a complete disaster. Now and then the connection has actually worked, but if I say it has worked acceptable for maybe 10% of the time over the last two years, I'm being awfully kind.

For days and weeks on end I have had to battle for hours and do a number of reloads for every page/site I needed to visit as part of my work, and often ended up with incomplete downloads of regular web pages. A flock of homing pigeons would probably have worked far better…

Failing connection has definitely ruined my day, and staying on line has cost way too much money for little to no return. Up until now there has been nothing I could do about this communication disaster, but now – thank God – it's over.

The wireless modem isn't obsolete, it just doesn't work around our place because of long distances and subsequent weak signals. It may still come handy as a mobile connection, so I'm keeping it and changed to a “pay only for time in use” deal.

springtime on the farm…

The black heifer with a leg-wound is coming around nicely, and is now back on pasture with the other animals. The wound is not completely healed – will take a few more months, but the bandage is off, nature is doing its things, and she seems to be doing fine.

As is quite normal when an animal feels it is being particularly well treated and cared for, this heifer acts a bit like a pet now – very trusting and friendly and ready to play. We don't mind that, of course, but as she grows up to weigh around 550 kg – typical weight for a fullgrown NRF cow, we are glad she doesn't have horns.

Even the most friendly cow can wound a human by accident, when all that weight is put behind two sharp horns. Be sure: I know what it feels like.

The lead cow has very sharp horns, and she sure knows how to use them to control the other cows in our small herd. Good thing she's a small and very calm and friendly Jersey cow, weighing in at only around 350 kg.

Even better that this little cow produces her fair share of high-quality milk, but that is of course another matter entirely. Quite important on a dairy farm though.

Calving season started 21.April. That day a tiny female Jersey calf walked with its mom all the way from the top of the hill back to the barn – with a little help and guidance from us.

We're expecting the next calving any day now, but after that we're not quite sure about dates. We have everything ready for those calves whenever they arrive, so exact timing isn't important.

sincerely 

Hageland 20.apr.2009
last rev: 29.apr.2009