email server connection seems intermittent - clues anyone?

[#1]

Since mid Feb my email doesn't seem to work as it has for the past 10!! When I connect with the PN server to get my emails I now more often than not get this error message:
The connection to the server has failed. Account: 'mail.plus.net', Server: 'mail.plus.net', Protocol: POP3, Port: 110, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error: 10060, Error Number: 0x800CCC0E
I can close Outlook Express, then a minute or two run it again and it connects perfectly. The puzzle is, why it fails to connect and then a short time later it connects just fine. It seems like the PN server is busy, but I guess that is not the case. I'm on XP (sp3) and OE 6.
I did contact PN support who suggested to delete the "old" account and make a new one, which I did and that didn't help.

[#2]

I think this is a time-out problem, taking too long to complete the transaction. Do you have an antivirus program scanning incoming messages? You could try increasing the time-out setting which I think is in advanced settings.