It has been a long time since I posted anything here. My analytics suggest that some people still visit to read an article or two. I started Big Dreams over 20 years ago. I know that because I have some web archives going back to 1994, which is a long time. (Find the way back machine, then search for Big Dreams) But in the last few years, my focus and energies have been elsewhere. It's not that I abandoned Big Dreams, but you only have so much time in the day. As you put time into one thing it closes off the chances of doing another.

I’ve been suffering from a bad cold, which followed a bad flu and several other illnesses. It seems like most of the winter went by with me struggling to function while under attack by various viruses. I don’t know if I am just more prone to illness these days, perhaps my age is a factor? I know many other people who are also sick, so I wonder if there is some especially strong virus strain that is going around the world this year. It seems that having taken the flu shot has done me no good.

Hello again,

Hope you are doing well with 2013, and the year of the snake. We have already had the Western new year, the Chinese new year, and this month we get the Persian new year. So the year is well and truly begun. I recently upgraded this site from Joomla 1.5 to 2.5, it seems like it never ends. I have to keep up with the newer versions, which include improved security that thwarts some of the hackers and their exploits. It is never foolproof, as I have long ago learned. These days I just keep backups for when I need them. Trying to hunt down any malicious code and clean it out is usually impossible, and a restore from a recent backup is the easiest solution.

Hello again, and welcome to Big Dreams. I hope you are doing well this year, this month, as you read this article. I just upgraded from Joomla version 1.x to 1.5, and it took some time to get it all working again. I managed to migrate the content over, no trouble, but the comments didn't make it. I am not too worried. It means the slate is wiped clean, and ready for you to add new comments. Today's column is on working less and living a more balanced life.

On Saturday July 4th we were in Birch Bay, and decided to go for a paddle in the afternoon. We had to wait until the tide was in, since the bay is a shallow bay. When the tide is out, it goes a long way out. At low tide it is better to go digging for clams rather than trying to paddle.

This Saturday we went to Barnston Island for a bike ride. The island is located in the Fraser river, just north of Surrey and south of the Pitt Meadows airport. You have to take your bikes over a small ferry to get to and from the island. The route around the island is about 10 km.

How is the economy affecting you? Have you noticed any changes? Until September I was working on a project for a large company, but when that finished they said there was no new work. I got the same response from lots of places.

I like my coffee, so much so that I buy green beans in bulk and roast them myself. That way I get the freshest coffee, and I can roast it the way I like.