Brewsterware

Well I have managed to reinstall Windows XP and most of the programmes that I use.

I’ve also managed to sort out my dual monitor issue. The problem was that windows thought that I was trying to extend my desktop onto the TV output on my video card. I got round this by installing the catalyst software that came with the card, and this showed me all three video outputs, and allowed me to choose the second monitor to extend the desktop desktop onto.

I’ve really been missing the dual monitor setup while it hasnt been working. I’ve read one or two reports that it increases productivity and can vouch for that.

Well, it seems like I spoke too soon. I had to reboot my system (It usually goes without a reboot for about 5 days), and the display driver refused to load, even after being unistalled and reinstalled 2 times. I’m currently running in VGA mode which is pretty unusable 🙁

I guess I am kind of lucky as I have managed to go without a complete windows reinstall for a couple of years, so I know I am well overdue. There are a ton of programs that are installed that I never use, and I have swapped out various bits of hardware so I’m sure there are a load of drivers that need to be cleaned out.

This recipe for rolled pavlova comes from my Aunt in New Zealand

Ingredients:

Eight tablespoons of sugar
Four egg whites
One desertspoon of cornflour
One teaspoon of vanilla essence
One teaspoon of vinegar

Beat the egg whites until stiff and gradually add six tablespoons of sugar. Add the vanilla essence and vinegar. The mixture should have soft peaks:

Fold in the remaining two tablespoons of sugar and spread the mixture evenly on a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper. My baking sheet is approximately six by twelve inches. Bake for about twelve to sixteen minutes at 180oC. When you take it out of the oven it should look something like this:

Leave this to cool. Whip up some cream, and fold in some summer fruit being careful to not let any fall into any open mouths. Here’s some I made earlier 🙂

Spread this mixture over the baked pavlova:

Roll this into a swiss roll – the pavlova will easily come away from the paper. Here is what it should look like:

HEY!!! Who’s eaten my pavlova!!!!

Well, after two turbulant flights I am finally back in the UK – it’s good to be back 🙂 Not just to see Levinia, but also to get away from the terrible lift type music that was all over the hotel that I stayed in.

My main host, Mike, suggested changing the screen refresh rate on my second monitor as this has been refusing to display anything for the last two months. However, when I got home to try this out it is miraculasly displaying my extended desktop 🙂

There is still a problem though 🙁 This second screen is only displaying a portion of the extended desktop…

Had a blast this evening in downtown Greenville with some of the guys from MIS, even though Chris Elrod tried to through pizza over me twice! The place we went to even had cider which is pretty rare in the US.

I’ve uploaded a few more photos to my Greenville album as well.