So after 12 years I’ve finally caved in and downloaded “You got the love” by The Source (featuring Candi Staton). This is pure Capital Radio, white stilleto, dance-round-your-handbag pap/pop I know, but I’ve always liked it for its simplicity, dread bassline coupled with the most simple three-note arpeggio (take note Michael bastard Nyman – they did it better than you ever could).
To the meat: Friday night was superb and, despite the amount we all drank, memorable. Sadly it was Nedene’s leaving do. She’s going back to South Africa to get married.

I spent the week checking various logs et al after the department of computing’s server got Pwn3d last week (taking out another UoL college at the same time). The hackers weren’t as good as the last lot we had (over 5 years ago) but they did introduce us to a real-life instance of the Suckit Rootkit which is such a cool concept that I could never get angry – even though our h4x0rZ are clearly script kids working for a warez group. Sad little men. The odd thing is that none of the machines I manage were hacked, despite being really, really far behind on patches. I put this down to manually patching the services that matter and also not giving too much of a fuck, because, should I ever get hacked I have all kinds of nice forensics in place to show me how they did it. That said, I still don’t know how they got root. I’d really like to know, so if you know those involved then please let me know. No legal issues, just my own curiosity. Respect etc…

Sweeney! I sent off for the new Sweeney DVD box set of series 3 last week and it turned up yesterday. Consequently I’ve been on a Sweeney binge all day. Let me tell you, if these are an accurate example of “network video” releases then I give them my full support – they rock. It’s got a PDF of the Sweeney annual, clips from a Sweeney related Morcome and Wise, This is your Life and even a Thames TV trailer. This is what they want! And the episodes, especially those by writer of “The Italian Job” and “Sweeney 2”, Troy Kennedy Martin, are masterpieces.
er…that’s it…see you later.

Despite my recent decision to be less candid when dealing with other people’s names in this blog, when it comes to my own life, I’m planning to be more candid than ever.

So, after a nine month waiting time, due to the GP relying on Royal Mail to deliver the referrel to the local hospital, I finally got an appointment. OK, the woman who phoned Michele yesterday got the date wrong. OK, they phoned me again to reschedule it earlier than before…but at least I got an appointment.
If you’re squeamish then please look away now.
I have been diagnosed with a condition called “lichen sclerosis” (do a google) which involves my fiveskin becoming too tight to be useful. In Janurary the helpful people at the Guy’s Hopital clap clinic diagnosed this and told me that the only course of action was circumcision. Fine, I thought, and went to see my GP. He immediately recognised the problem and sent a referral to Lewisham Hospital. They never got it. Did I tell you about Royal Mail ?
To cut a long story short, I got an appointment today. He took one look at my nob and told me that I have Lichen Sclerosis and need my fiveskin removed…I FUCKING KNOW THAT!. I’ve known that for 9 months! Oh well, at least the surgery divison have the “reservation” now. I also need a week off work afterwards (well, every English non-Jewish bloke reading this will understand that). BTW – please can you spend a second or two admiring me for being ok about showing my nob to at least three professional people…
As next week is when I start my new working regime, I’m a tad concerned. My replacement, “Sue”, is going to be great but will need a while to get her head around our way of doing things. She will cope tho.
Today was one of the most hectic days ever. I had a million tedious “little” jobs to do, combined with doing some serious development work (getting IMSP address books working with Squirrelmail and various other annoying stuff – you don’t care!).

Humph has been more affectionate tonight than he has for weeks. He’s green, fluffy and we love him.

Goodnight.