noiasca:
check your ground connection.
Connect the ground between the PCF board directly with zero NOT with your big breadboard.I asume your larger breadboard with the mess of wires doesn't provide ground / VDD on all rails because the blue and red markings are interupted.
So put away all unnecessary connections and only connect the PCF with your ZERO. And do again your tests.
P.S. you can upload pictures to the forum - you don't need a third party picture hoster.
I suspect this problem:
yes i know how the breadboard works. thanks for the advice anyway and I did as you said (ground straight to ground) but still serial monitor doesnt get past connecting... also I checked the connections and they are all good
how do i sent pictures from quote reply?