Internet issues

Hi there lovelies!               Hallo Mädels!

I trust you had a wonderful Christmas :) Just a quick note to let you know that I'm currently experiencing internet problems, due to a system error from my provider. This, of course, affects my online business and you can imagine what type of conversation the provider and I had! But, regardless of my ranting...the answer is always "we're working on it", as if that's supposed to calm me down!
So, I'm trying to figure out how best to get internet access without having to go to the library. I do have one of those prepaid internet sticks, otherwise I wouldn't be able to type this, but it is slow and won't allow me to do much.Thankfully I scheduled my Monday moodboard way in advance, so you'll have something new to read this coming Monday. If you don't hear anything from me after that, you'll know why ;-)

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Meine Lieben, ich hoffe Ihr hattet ein wundervolles Weihnachtsfest :) Ich bin leider in die (Zwangs-)pause geschickt worden, denn aufgrund eines Systemfehlers meines Internetanbieters habe ich keinerlei Verbindung, was natürlich als Webshopinhaber richtig schlecht ist...
Ihr könnt Euch sicherlich vorstellen wie das Gespräch kürzlich mit dem Kundenservice des Anbieters abgelaufen ist (ich erspare Euch die Details) - die Antwort lautet immer gleich "wir arbeiten dran". Als ob das mich beruhigen soll!
Für den Notfall habe ich eines dieser Prepaid Sticks, dann bleibt mir zumindest der Gang zur Bibliothek erspart, aber die Verbindung ist eher wackelig. Ehrlich gesagt bin ich schon froh, diese Zeilen schreiben zu können. Zum Glück habe ich für den kommenden Montag meine Collage schon lange im Voraus geschrieben, denn die möchte ich Euch ja nicht vorenthalten. Und wenn Ihr danach nichts mehr von mir hört, dann wisst Ihr ja warum ;-)

Internet connection - finally!

I switched on my computer this morning shortly before 8:00 a.m. as I always do and - nothing.
(panic mode ON)
I called the provider straight away and got a recorded message saying that there's a technical problem. Later on the news I heard that due to roadworks on the main highway a vital cable got cut leaving the entire state I live in without an internet connection!
It's 7:30 p.m. and they've supplied us with a temporary connection, because people all over are getting highly annoyed, not to mention frantic! So here I am just getting started on my work. Looks like it's going to be an all-nighter.

Technical thoughts on Monday

What have I done lately? Well, for those who have been reading along will know that I'm trying to set up my own website. I have been researching the internet and checked out some books on the subject, and have narrowed down the options available to me. Of course, hiring a company to do it was out of the question from the start! They cost from Euro 1.000 upwards and it's not guaranteed that you will be able to manage the content. Some companies charge extra for that. Another option would be to ask a friend of a friend of a friend who is a techie to set it up for much less than that, however I would have to make do with a basic design lacking any sort of originality. But you know me...just like this blog I have my heart set on a unique template that is totally me. At least I have done two important things on my 'to do' list. I have registered my domain name and I have secured web space. There are a few online sources that provide a complete package - template plus installing a programme that lets you have complete content management - for about 200 US$. You will need to learn how to use and optimize the programme by yourself via a handbook, which you can download for free. The programme most commonly used is Joomla, and I found out that they have a German version since beginning of this year - which is useful since I happen to live here and would mainly be targeting the German-speaking market. Hubby, who is much more adept at all things technical installed Joomla and a couple of other technical applications which are necessary for this programme to run. My next job will be to study the handbook and see if I can, in fact, create my own template. That's the challenging but also exciting part. The programme lets you do a 'test-run' before you actually transfer the data to your web space. So, I will be fiddling with that in the coming weeks, learning by trial and error as usual :) I will blog about my progress every now and then, and let you know what works and what doesn't. Hopefully, I will keep my sanity while I embark on this endeavour! Have a good week!