GPS satellite navigation

After Andrew introduced me to a 2,800 KM long demonstration of his Navman satellite solution, which went pretty smooth, I had to get onto the wagon.

The demonstration was our trip from Kingston to Kokkedal to collect furniture over a bank holiday weekend. The only thing that went wrong was that I drove all the way there and back, including Copenhagen sightseing in flip flop sandals. This is another story though.

My solution is an installation of TomTom version 3 which enables for download of speed camera locations and all the point of interests (POIs) you can think off. I can find any cashpoint, petrolstation, Tesco, B&Q etc. in the UK.

TomTom doesn't deal with POIs very well and thus I have installed checkPOInt 3.2 on my Pocket PC. Via a client software on your home PC you can select TONS of interesting points. There are loads from the UK e.g. buslane cameras, Sainsbury, etc etc and for Denmark Bilka, Foetex, Brugsen, Netto etc are represented. Should you find errors, you can update their database here.

Every time I synchronise the Pocket PC (PPC) with the PC, it checks my selected interests for any updates and thus there should be NO danger for missing a shopping opportunity anymore.

As TomTom (although expensive enough) doesn't incorporate European maps with their UK version, I bought a discontinued version of the Navman software, which allows me to download European maps to my PPC every time we are going to Continental Europe. These maps are a couple of years out of date but works perfectly fine for our needs.

Regarding the GPS receiver, I waited a year or two before buying and thus benefited from the extensive research & development resources that are put into this field. By having 12 receivers, the unit called GlobalSat BT338, is capable of receiving from a pocket or a glove compartment, which the first versions weren't. (They almost had to "see" the sky to work).

As there is an extensive development going on, the products are continously enhanced and thus it is recommended to browse pocketgpsworld for latest reviews.

Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK

You have probably already heard about the new legislation regarding application for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR). In short this impacts us as the "probation" period has changed from 4 years to 5 years.

For the past 2 years we have been eligible to apply for a fiancees VISA and subsequently Nicole would for 2 years have had the freedom to work where-ever she would want to. Had we gone that route, Nicole would in two years time be able to apply for ILR.

As we have been in the firm belief that if Nicole could remain working for her sponsor she would as of April this year be granted ILR and thus a British Passport holder as of next year.

With no notification the rules were changed as of 3rd April such that you now require 5 years of sponsorship before being eligible to apply for ILR. This rule change happened on the same date as Nicole was eligible to apply and thus we went to the Immigrations office in Croydon to defend our case albeit with no luck.

We wrote a letter to our local MP, Edward Davey, whom confirmed the ridicolous in the new law and promissed to write to the Homeoffice. We still haven't seen this letter.

We have now taken contact with a VISA agency whom have confirmed that I am eligible to back-date my application (as a EU citizen) for ILR upon which Nicole will be eligible to a two year probation period as opposed to the normal 4 years. And yes, new VISA - new counter... You can apply for 10 VISA's and sit here for 40 years and still not be eligible to stay in the UK.

Having said this there may finally be a bit of light at the end of the extended tunnel.

Tourist in Copenhagen (winter advice)

Strøget:

Strøget (best compared to Oxford Street) is probably the longest shopping street in Europe, closed for motorised traffic.

The street is connecting Central Copenhagen from east at Kongens Nytorv to west at the city town hall. Local tip is to go off Strøget and visit "Gråbrødretorv". The restaurant "Peder Oxe" is very popular amongst Danes. The square in itself is also well worth a visit.

Also just off Strøget is "Vandkunsten", "Løngangstraede", "Brolaeggerstraede" all medieval street. If you can find cafe Sorgenfri (I think BadstueStraede), they are famous for there luxurious open sandwiches as only the Danes can make them.

On Amagertorv right at the middle of Strøget is The Royal Danish Porcelain factory's exhibition which is very much addressing the tourists BUT on first floor getting close to Christmas they have an exhibition of "Royal" Christmas table settings which (even as me being a guy) are quite impressive.

Kongens Nytorv:
Is the East connecting point of Strøget. It is a big open square (Trafalgar) with Copenhagen's probably most expensive hotels (d'Angleterre). What is probably more interesting is Magasin (du Nord) which is in my opinion the best department store in Copenhagen.
Here up to Christmas you should try find a table in Hviids Vinstue, right next to Magasin. It is the oldest still existing bars in Copenhagen, and there Gluhwein (Gløgg) is to die for (well a tradition at least). This place is ludicrously busy so don't expect to get a seat anywhere.

Just east of Kongens Nytorv is
Nyhavn:
Which is the colourful house front you see on every single tourist book. During November it is too cold to sit outside, but still take a walk down and maybe have a look in Nyhavn 17, which is one of the most popular of the bars, they are all bars.

At the end of Nyhavn further East is Amalienborg, walk down to the end of Nyhavn and bear left walk along the water down towards the castle. This is where the queen lives.

If you are in the mood for more brisk walking, this will take you all the way down to "Langelinie" and the little mermaid. rather than seeing the little statue, bear left and walk up to the parks of Kastellet which is the oldest existing parts of the Copenhagen defence walls.

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At the other end of Strøget at the town hall you should pay a visit to Tivoli. At summer it is a bustling amusement park (Not like Blackpool, more like Kew Gardens with restaurants and rollercoaster's). During the winter most of the amusements are closed but there are winter stalls with Christmas decorations and what not. More important is, if you didn't get your Gløgg at Hviids Vinstue, try find a place in Tivoli to enjoy it.
The "Lake" is likely to be frozen (artificial don't worry) but it might be too early I don't know. If it is frozen this is the Copenhagen version of a ice skating ring.

If moving outside the centre:

Christianshavn has got some cute canals and "vor frelser" kirke is quite cool with its staircase on the outside of the church spire.
Don't bother about Vesterbro as this is the rougher BUT up and coming area.
Nørrebro is where a lot of students are living, thus many "funky" cafes and restaurants. "Sankt Hans Torv" is worth a short visit.
Splitting Nørrebro from Central Copenhagen are the 4 "Lakes" which are artificial but place for a nice walk.
østerbro is the nicest residential part of Copenhagen but besides from "Rosens kvarter" and "Brumlebyerne" it is quite residential.

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Traffic wise Copenhagen airport is very well connected with the town. Don't bother with taking a taxi in, as it will cost you an arm and take 3 times the time.

In the basement in the arrivals is a train that takes you to the central station in 11 minutes. Before leaving the arrivals terminal, stop at the ticket booth just before the escalators and enquire about "klippekort" (If you are planning to take buses and trains around). A blue one with 10 x 2 zones cost DKR 105.00 and each person will need
4 zones into the town centre (4 stamps).

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If you are into art, Louisiana north of Copenhagen is a very famous museum with after Danish terms a comprehensive collection of art together with short term exhibitions.

Helsingør is on the same train stretch as Louisiana museum. Helsingør is a quaint town, famous (in the world) for being were Hamlet said his famous words. (The the Swedes it is known for its liberal approach to alcohol)...

Ryebread recipe

Day 1
500 gram Rye grains
340 gram Wholewheat flour
70 gram Rye flour
0.75 litre Luke warm water
Sour dough from last batch

Day 2
600 gram Rye flour
2 tbsp Salt
2 tbsp Syrup
0.75 litre Luke warm water



Stir all the ingredients for day 1 together i a large bowl.
Cover the bowl and let it rest for 24 hours.

1) Add all the day 2 ingeredients and stir thoroughly.
2) Lubricate 2 baking forms with a thin layer of oil (the more oil the more crusty bread).
3) Take dough aside to generate sour dough for next batch. Put it in a small container and sprinkle genereously with salt.
4) Distribute the remaining dough evenly in the 2 baking forms and set aside to rest for another 4 hours.
5) Brush a thin layer of oil on the top of the bread (the more oil the crustier).
6) Bake in the oven at 200 C for 90 minutes.

If you don't anticipate to be baking the next batch within approx. 3 weeks, freeze the sourdough otherwise just keep it in the fridge to become nice and sour!!!
Be warned that if the container is not thoroughly sealed, the lid can burst open and make a mess in the fridge.

Don't be shy to ask for sourdough. I won't be able to accommodate your request immediatelly but will take dough aside next time I am baking.
The secret is to plan in advance. There is only 20 minutes worth of work here but the resting does take the entire weekend and thus you need to sure you are at home 28 - 30 hours after you start baking.

Enjoy baking and enjoy a great traditional Danish lunch box.

What is RSS feed

The RSS feed is a simple method of streaming basic text across to a so-called RSS news reader.

This has become really successful for news publishers and "selling adds" (such as Loot, Den Blaa Avis, Friday-Ad) where content is constantly updated and thus it is more important to bring the latest messages across than flashy photos etc.

If the user is interested, he can usually click on the header and be taken directly to the publishers site. With Google as mentioned below, this means you can have dussins of RSS feeds of whatever takes your fancy on your personalised desktop.

The most popular readers are myYahoo and Plucks.

My favorite is the Google personalised home: (Point A applies for whatever you choose).

A) Click on the RSS feed link here to the left. Copy the URL (page address) to clipboard.
B) Log in to http://www.google.com
C) Click on personalised home in the top right corner
D) Click on Add content in the top left corner
E) Within Create a section, paste the URL from our website and you will ALWAYS know whats boiling.

Teenage control

Welcome to Britain, were the teenagers are ruling - and they know it...

Here is the latest attempt to try and control them - and I love it...

Mosquito, teenage control

In short it is a loudspeaker, that kind of like a dogs whistle, sends out a really high pitch tone that can be picked up by humans. As hearing deters already from the early twenties, only the yobs will be annoyed by it. Apparently you have to hang around for 15 minutes before it gets unbearable and thus the passing by baby in a pram won't be affected.

Think about when you were younger; you always knew when there was a TV on, even if it was muted. That is the kind of tune it sends out.

The whole thing can be bought online for GBP 495.00 (+VAT)

Airbus A380 has landed in Heathrow

I wouldn't normally characterise myself as being a plane spotter but when I heard on the news that the new Airbus A380 was going to land in Heathrow's terminal 3 to check the feasibility for landing and handling the plane, I had to go up to the 4th floor to assess the monster.
After flying from Berlin via France (passing over the factory) it landed at exactly 13.20 BST

The plane is huge when compared to the other planes that landed before.
Even when the plane had landed, it was still possible to follow the movement of the tail and thus determine where the landing strip is. It kind of looked like a sharks tale moving across behind the buildings in the foreground.

At present 16 airlines have signed contracts for purchase of the planes. Each can be build within a couple of days.

Singapore Airlines will be the first to put it into route traffic between London and Singapore.

Claud Butler Levante

After patiently waiting for 3 weeks through sun and summerly spring, I finally had my new bike delivered yesterday - on one of the worst gayle force windy days in a long time....

The bike is very lightweight and with the cardboard packaging I was as sight and a half in the car park, as I only had one hand free and thus the bike was flying in the wind around me at shoulder hight!!

I didn't expect it delivered yesterday and thus as I was driving in the BMW unable to fold the backseat down. I tried shuffing it through the sunroaf without any luck. Finally I managed to squezze it through the rear door such that it was lying diagonally across the car. This meant I had to lift the steering every time I had to kick down the clutch. Not the greatest for road safety, but we managed.

The bike is VERY nice with 24 gears with STI levers such that the gears are integrated in the handbrakes. It has got carbon fibre front and stronger wheels such that it has got fever spokes.

With my new lights from Aunte Elvira and David, I was able to cycle over to Michelle and Andrew on my first night. This I managed in 24 minutes each way, which is not bad considering I haven't been on a bike for 10 years.

Welcome to the copetown blog

You are now reading the very first copetown blog. the copetown site is great for publishing photo albums and retain as a reference. The reason for the blog is that I often come across information that I would like to communicate but it is realy to small for publishing on the site or I have simply forgotten about, when I finally have the time to be dealing with it.

The blogs are not going to relate to one subject. To stay in project management terms, I think the scope is:

A place to share knowledge and experiences that interests us and would be of use/interest for family and friends.

a This can be
a Interesting web services
a cool downloads
a useful service providers
a day to day experiences
a Travel or accommodation recommendations
a Great shops
a Latest gadgets

I hope you will find it interesting and wish for a long and prosperous blog life.