A lot of IMAP "server not responding" even ts today?

[#1]

Outlook express (correction it is live mail) seems to be throwing a lot of server time-out messages today, specifically the no response in 60 seconds one. This had been going quite well for a while. Has anything changed?
Also is there anything I can set in OE to make it drop IMAP sessions when they aren't in use. I believe part of the problem is the server is configured to auto-disconnect clients after a set time?
Update: It seems to be always the "default" mailbox throwing errors.

[#2]

A real long-shot: if your Windows Live Mail is timing out on IMAP receiving (and you have a decent connection!), logon on to PN webmail and have a look at the first email you have been unable to download. If it is from an old  Mac running the Microsoft Entourage email client, read and delete it.