I just tried to access Schlock Mercenary, to get the following message:

"The data center at which Blank Label Comics is housed had a catastrophic failure early this evening, blowing out three walls of their power room. They are anticipating that systems will begin coming back online Sunday afternoon, but until then, temporary sites will be put together to give you additional information. Troy C. Belding Bookworm Computing with Blank Label Comics"

*THREE* walls? I'd love to know exactly what happened...

So, got home from NYC, went to check my email, with no luck. Fine when I left last sunday, not fine today.

Turns out that my domains had expired two weeks ago. My contact details with them were buggered, so the reminder they send through never got to me. So I've just had to jump through several hoops to get my domains re-registered, and will have several more before I finally get the DNS information back to what it used to be. If I can remember it...

Grr. not happy.

http://ccgi.peteramey.plus.com/MyBlog/

I joined Praxis in October 99. Peter has had, over the years, a strong influence over my development as a software engineer. I'll miss him.

So, last night in this flat. Aside from a camp bed, a hoover, the router, laptop and me, it's empty. I don't think I've ever been in the flat when it is this empty. Everything echoes oddly.

Last night should've been my last night, but a party ending at 4am kinda put the kibosh on my early morning cleaning session. Still, pretty much everything has been done that can be done, upto and including washing all the woodwork down with sugar-soap. This place hasn't been this clean since significantly before I moved in... There are a few bits and pieces that the landlord will need to sort out, but it's pretty much done.

So, up early tomorrow to load remaining few items into the car, take meter readings and head off to St Albans.

This is wierd.

So, I'm pretty much moved in now. Phone has been connected, broadband ordered. All I need to do now is unpack stuff... and there's rather a lot of stuff to unpack!

Sorry to all who have asked recently regarding the flat-hunt. I've been kindof busy...

Everything regarding the contractual side of the flat has been sorted, leases signed, standing order mandates set-up etc. etc.

Last Friday was my last day at Praxis, and, although I left with my to-do list unemptied, I was actually quite impressed with just how far I managed to get through it. In a shift from the normal leaving speeches, I was grilled -- the whole thing turned itno "An Audience with MJW" kind of thing. Which was quite cool, as I got to throw a few more insults around prior to departing. 32 people turned up for the meal in the evening, with more in the pub before hand.

Saturday, and a farewell to the dive club. I kind of re-purposed a birthday party for one of the club member's girlfrends into a good-bya party, and was really touched when I had a presentation from the dive club as well. I got home from the party at 4, and slept through sunday rather than packing as I'd intended.

Monday, and the van I hired was dropped off at 8am sharp. An hour and a half later, my assistant turned up to help me pack everything into the van. The first thing we loaded was my futon mattress, which ended up being moved time and time again as we reshuffled stuff. Still, we were on the road at 12.30, in St Albans by 2.30, keys picked up and fed by 3.30, and the van unloaded by 5. Back on the road to Bath, and home by 8.30.

Tuesday, and despite me being quite plain when I ordered the van, there was no prompt pickup at 8am. I live in a residents parking zone, so was rather annoyed to be baby-sitting a van for several hours until they finally deigned to turn up... but only after I'd phoned to complain.

Still, managed to get everything else packed on tuesday, but too late to make a return trip. So, wednesday comes around and I'm still in Bath. Slow start, as I couldn't really summon the enthusiasm to do any moving. Still, I eventually get underway around 1.30, having replaced the wing mirrors on the car (don't ask).

And I'm driving up the A46 towards the motorway, listening to an article about The Prisoner on Radio 4, when there's a bit of a rattle and, in my rear-view mirror, I see the rear half of an exhaust. And cars swerving madly to avoid it.

5 minutes later, and that would've been on the M4. NOT something I would have enjoyed.

So, I'm now sat in The Bell, having a small drink (non-alcoholic, of course!) waiting for Kwikfit to put a new exhaust on the car... Maybe I'll get to the flat tomorrow...

So. Last day. Last hour, even, of this job.

I joined in October 1999, straight out of university, and am now moving to a new job, in a new area. I'll have an entirely new set of people and problems to get used to.

Truth be known, it still doesn't feel entirely real.

And a happy birthday to suslikuk

For anyone who's ever role-played, you might like to head over to Websnark and check out the following article regarding a recent death...

http://www.websnark.com/archives/2008/03/lower_the_flags.html