New Zealand

We drove to Brisbane on Saturday and had a pleasant stay (as usual) with John and Val. Mondaymorning we had our flight to Auckland, New Zealand and from the airport we drove straight to Rotorua for a few days in the thermal active area. Lots of steam coming out of the ground everywhere (and the smell of rotting eggs). Very impressive !
Wednesday we returned to Auckland, and today we were at the Australian Consulate.
Yes: I got my visa. I am now a resident of Australia! Howz that for this old fellah.

Desert Dwellers

By far the best commercial slogan I ever heard: Desert Dwellers, Camping Equipment in Alice Springs: "IF WE DON'T HAVE IT, YOU DON'T NEED IT"

this is the plan

Next Saturday we will drive to Brisbane, Monday morning a flight to Auckland, rent a car and drive straight to Rotorua. We will stay there two nights, return to Auckland on Wednesday. On Thursday afternoon I have to call the Consulate to confirm that I can get my visa on Friday. And on Saturday we will return to Brisbane again, me as a resident of Australia. How's that !

My visa is approved

I got my phone call today with the case officer of the Australian Embassy in Berlin. We had a pleasant chat and a few more questions, but the end result was: MY APPLICATION IS APPROVED !
I can pick up my visa in New Zealand. I have to be there for 4 days. So Pam and I will have a short overseas holiday. A few days in Rotorua and a few days in Auckland. We are making arrangements right now to do that next week.

Ubuntu Linux

I have been thinking of doing it many times, but never really dared. But yesterday, I decided I had to: Delete Windows from my computer and install Linux.
I had all sorts of troubles with good old MS-Windows so now was the time. I prepared everything, downloaded Ubuntu 10.04, burned a boot-cd, and made a backup of all files that I needed.
The most difficult part was to export all my existing email and address book. You cannot import them straight away into a Linux mail client from Outlook.
Next step: boot from CD and install.......fingers crossed.
Guess what: I am "as happy as pigs in shit" : everything is up and running. Internet via Firefox, email via Thunderbird with all my old mail imported, Picasa for my pictures (8760), Skype. OpenOffice instead of MS-office, all my existing doc's and spreadsheets available !

Mayke

A new healthy baby girl born in Maastricht (3930 gr, 54 cm) . Congratulations to C&E. Pam and I are very proud and very pleased that all went well.

More progress, at last

Today, at last, I got an email from the Berlin Immigration Office. My case manager wrote: "please call me next week to discuss the last steps of your migration application."

Looking forward to that phonecall.

Now it is only Coen who I am waiting for to call me !