2006 reprise

» Another year went by.

I didn't blog much this year. Here's a short summary of what happened in 2006. (Note: Most of this is personal, so if you're here for Python stuff, feel free to skip. :-))

The most disturbing event was probably my dad's heart attack. Fortunately he survived it, and is doing reasonably well now, to the point where he can slowly resume work again.

We finally moved. Not very far, but at least we now have a home we can call our own. Sort of. ;-) 'Twas quite a struggle to get everything done. Apparently many mobile home companies around here are not actually interested in selling you anything. Anyway, not everything is an improvement: less space, higher mortgage, lousy internet connection (that last one is somewhat important if you work from home).

After 2½ years, I visited the Netherlands again... just to leave again after 4 days, after an argument with my parents. (Well, it's a little more complex than that, but that's the gist of it.) Sigh. I'm going to try again in January.

I finally found somebody I had not (and still haven't) seen for over 20 years, and whom I missed a lot. We were planning to meet in January (when I will be in the NL again), but as luck would have it, her computer/internet gave out, and I haven't heard from her in over two months now... so I probably won't see her after all. :-(

As for the bond with my stepdaughter, this saw highs and lows too. Right now I'm not sure if there even is a bond. And that's probably all I should say about it. :-/

Programming-wise, I didn't do much... didn't have the energy. Until recently, that is. I did tinker with some stuff, which was all spawned in late 2005, though. Hopefully 2007 will be better in that regard.

I got myself a Mac again. So far, this has been a much happier experience than the previous attempt. (Read more.)

I went to MetroCon.

I know ~~five~~ six people (friends, family, ex-colleagues, etc) who had their first child last year. Mazzeltov to Karin, Ron, Bram, Annelies, Sarah and Marjolein. (What's that sound? That's my biological clock ticking loudly... :-D)

(Overall, 2006 wasn't so bad... better than 2005 when we had two deaths in the family.)