| |
|
| 23.11.05 |
Main entrance
after 94 days
|
| 22.11.05 |
The
problem with the non-functioning central heating is found -
there is a leak in the system. This means that they will try
to repair it and if failing the heat exchanger has to be
replaced - latter could take 4-5 weeks. We were assured that a
mobile heating container will be arranged for this period. As
if someone read this report now after 93 days there are
workers starting to clean up the main entrance this morning -
miracles still happen these days. Car park markings are still
not done. Yesterday all of a sudden we could not fax overseas
- the new switchboard allocated our fax only the right to dial
within Europe.
|
| 21.11.05 |
Although
the heating should run "officially" for one week now
we still need to use the electric and the gas heaters. The
entire last week the heating was sort of on and off. With
outside temperatures of minus 4°C it is not funny to come to
a cold office (greetings from Siberia). The responsible
technicians tell us that they will look into it. Maybe it is a
problem where we ourselves have to find the cause of the
problem - like in many other infrastructural instances after
the floods. The main entrance to our offices still does not
look like there are businesses running..... |
| 14.11.05 |
Heating
seems not to be at its former performance yet - still need to
switch on the gas heaters. Some phones are again not working -
most numbers on new switchboard are running at lunch - except
the one of Lea - at 17.25 pm after 85 days also Lea's phone
works again - great! |
| 11.11.05 |
Mid
afternoon the big surprise - it sound like water running in
the heating radiators - and they are getting slowly warmer -
telephone of Lea Businger is still not working - new
switchboard is promised to run on Monday |
| 07.11.05 |
Already
November and still no central heating. It is getting very cold
in the office - this Monday morning it was 14°C. Not
surprising after a cold weekend (3-4°C nights). We are still
being promised that heating should be provided soon. The same
with the missing telephone lines - apparently next weekend
they want to switch over to a new switchboard. Seeing is
believing. |
| 27.10.05 |
The
new telephone switchboard still not functional - Lea's
telephone still silent - every time we ask we are told
"may be in 10 days it will work". Patience is
running short. Entrance hall downstairs has been painted
- however, entry itself still looking terrible. Neighboring
school has heating already for a few days - our building is
cold - heating is still by electric heaters. |
| 25.10.05 |
The
air conditioning of the neighboring Swissflock is working
again. Sound check by the plant manager. The normal sound
(quite a low brrrrruuuummm) of the huge fan however is
missing. They got the it totally overhauled. |
| 14.10.05 |
On
the silent (nobody informs anybody) the 2 elevators are
operational again. Cellars below need further hot air drying
and further cleaning - we think it will take many more weeks. |
| 12.10.05 |
Another
surprise! Our office is dark, server and PC's are down -
without information from the owners of the building electricity
was cut - though this time for a good purpose: an hour later
and after 51 days the normal net electricity is back. Missing
at this point are still:
- 3 telephone
lines
- hot water
from the tap
- central
heating (the seasonal cold has started)
- our marked
car parks
|
| 11.10.05 |
The
new telephone switchboard is delivered - now the technicians
can do their work and connect all the phone lines. We expect
that within 2 weeks all our numbers should be running again.
Heating with the small electric stoves is all of a sudden a
problem - consumption of fuses is dramatically going up |
| 05.10.05 |
Gas
is finished second time - no more replacements. Instead we are
now heating the office with 3 electric heaters - the fire
brigade is now much happier and we too. Electricity is still
coming from container sized generators. Rumors that a new
telephone switch coming from Ireland is passing the
customs. |
| 29.09.05 |
We
are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the registering of the
company - about 60 guests |
| 17.09.05 |
Very
cold weather and no heating in the office - temperature is
getting below 15 degr C - René Hess organizes a gas stove -
this helps at least a bit - still many telephone lines
do not work. |
| 15.09.05 |
A
bright sunny day in every respect |
| 14.09.05 |
This
morning the electricity supply was changed from the small
generator (quite unstable) to a container sized generator -
now we can plug in all equipment and use the the lights again
(coffee machine and refrigerator are important for the mood)
The problems with the bookkeeping software are solved now. New
telephone switchboard is said to be delivered very soon. |
| 13.09.05 |
Settled
in at our offices - everything works except a few telephone
lines - the bookkeeping program plays crazy - it did not
appreciate the moving |
| 12.09.05 |
The
going back is finally happening. Login offices good bye -
thanks for your kindness to host us. Server and all PC's are
moved and re-installed in our offices. Network switches are
replaced by new ones. We are able to work normal again. What a
great feeling to be back!
The cleaning up
in the cellars below continues. Main switchboard is planned to
be delivered this week. Electric current remains on generator
supply.
15.10 pm: neighboring school Dickerhof informs us that
electric current is likely to be fixed today - great news as a
stable electricity means less danger for problems with
electronic components.
|
| 09.09.05 |
Another
hectic day - Internet access looks like coming back - at 14.28
pm we have our own ADSL internet line back and we decide to
move back on Monday. The telephone lines of René, Trudi,
Patrick, Beda and the main line 2679024 are working. We
discover that the office network switches have been killed by
current overload when emergency electric current came back on
stream. |
| 08.09.09 |
Telephone
repair team made it - great! the phones of Trudi, René and
Patrick work again - Internet access ADSL lines are said to be
working but our provider TIC cannot ping the router. It looks
like Swisscom still has problems with ADSL connections in the
Emmenbruecke area. Until internet access works again we will
stay in Littau.
Important
We experienced a few cases where emails were not received -
please do not hesitate to repeat your email if you do not hear
from us within 48 hours at the latest
|
| 07.09.05 |
Although
there is nice late summer weather here in Switzerland the
situation in the lower parts of Emmenbruecke is still
dull. On a daily basis we are checking the developments. This
morning we met some electricians in the corridors.
Communication lines from the main switchboard to our offices
are old and damaged and wet - they need to be replaced and
repair/replacement work there is initiated. In an optimistic
case we might have internet access, fax and one or two
telephones working still this week. Electric current from the
standard network will definitely take several weeks. For the
time being there is only electricity from generators. |
| 06.09.05 |
Visited
yesterday some of the local production sites and warehouses
which were hit. We are missing words to describe the devastation
which we saw. There are still huge areas which could not be
cleared. Now, it is understandable why this recovery process
takes so long. Generators, spinning pumps, electricity
invertors, steam producing equipment etc have to be overhauled
(where possible) or new ones have to be bought - those
normally are not a stock item and delivery times apply.
We are still
not certain as to when we can go back to the usual Swicofil
office. The responsible of our hosting company in Emmenbruecke are over their
limits and totally incapable of managing the situation
satisfactorily. After 2 1/2 weeks a skeleton communication and
energy scheme should be possible. |
| 05.09.05 |
A
small miracle: one side of our office has electricity (from a
generator) - René and myself celebrated it with a cup of
espresso. Internet and telephone lines are still dead. Switch
boxes are still not dry. Nobody is able to give a date as to
when they will work again. The cleaning in the floors below
our offices continues. Whenever they open a new room mud and
water and debris - same story starts all over again.
Our hosts in Littau are nice enough to accept us also week
number three. |
| Weekend |
Cleaning
teams had a rest. Communication and electricity people have
been working |
| 02.09.05 |
Switchboard
looks much better now - however telephone lines to the
different offices may still not work because there are
switches on the way to the offices which still need drying up
and cleaning. Neighboring school running on a skeleton scheme.
Mail order company (one floor below us) is said to have
left their offices for good. Electricity and communication is
not back as announced yesterday. We are likely to stay in
Littau for another few days. New
picture of debris here |
| 01.09.05 |
Many
different opinions among the responsible people on the site as
to when our office is likely to have again electricity,
internet access and a functioning telephone service - these
are the 3 basics for us to be able to function again at the
Gerliswilstr. 23. Hopefully Friday will help to clear up these
clouds. Rhodia clearing their IT cellar - a container
load of IT material (incl. PC's) has to be thrown out. |
| 31.08.05 |
Work
in the switchboard continues - half of external lines repaired -
still no electricity - cable tunnels now accessible - cellars
below still full of mud and debris - new
pictures here |
| 30.08.05 |
Trudi
Zimmermann (finances) is also back to work. Visiting the
Gerliswilstrasse 23: work continuing at telephone switchboard
- neighboring rooms still full of mud and chaotic - a
lot of damages are still hidden under mud - many cleaning
teams at work - Dickerhof school has generator to run 2 PC's.
As it looks today a return to our offices is still far away -
nobody of the responsible people is daring to make a guess |
| 29.08.05 |
Moving
and installing 2 further PC's for Patrick Fuchs and Trudi
Zimmermann at Login in Littau. Patrick Fuchs (Team2) is joining
us
today.
We are
informed that electricity and internet access is expected be
fixed not earlier than 05.09.05 - cleaning and work on power
boards continues.
|
| Weekend |
Cleaning
and communication teams working entire weekend - a big
part of the water has now been pumped away |
| 26.08.05 |
Working
reduced and catching up further - local supplier partners are
still closed due to lack of electricity and communication |
| 25.08.05 |
Trying
to catch up with most urgent cases |
| 24.08.05 |
Moving
Server and 3 PC's to Littau where we got asylum in the
visiting room of Login Network - organizing office and
re-starting. Lea Businger, René Hess and Beda Ricklin can now
work |
| 23.08.05 |
Swicofil
office entrance inaccessible due to floods - office closed |
| 22.08.05 |
Swicofil
office entrance inaccessible due to floods - office closed |
| 21.08.05 |
Little
Emme river goes over the banks and floods entire lower part of
Emmenbruecke |
