I don't understand

Finally, after yet another security update, I didn’t manage to get to one in time. An attacked wiped out the database of my old blog using a Wordpress vulnerability. Fortunately they didn’t get any further into the server, but it’s opened my eyes to the risks of managing a webapp with such a poor security track record. It’s not worth it.

I’ve therefore switched my blog over to tumblr and pointed planets at the new feed URLs. I’ve also taken the opportunity of providing planet-specific feeds so that I can post unrelated garbage and not worry about it cluttering up feed readers. Sorry if you’re spammed. The full feed is here, if you want it.

In summary: maintaining web applications is a pain in the bum and not worth the pain unless you really have to (have crazy customisation requirements). Don’t do it kids.

Below knee leg cast.

2 weeks and 6 days ago I went bouldering at the Nottingham Climbing Centre. Unfortunately, I left with only one functioning ankle due to a mistake at the top of a route. The other one managed to get itself a lovely bimalleolar fracture. The pain was surprisingly not so bad, I just really didn’t want anything to touch it at the time.

I was in hospital for the best part of a week for some surgery, which apparently went well (anaesthetic is seriously fast acting and bizarre — “This will work fast” / “Surely it can’t be th*zzzzzzzzzzz*”). Got discharged with a cast and crutches with instructions to put no weight on the gammy leg. All being well, I’ll hopefully be getting the cast off on the 21st, just in time for Christmas, and will be able to walk shortly thereafter.

Overall, having the cast isn’t awful, just limiting in a few seriously annoying ways.

• Carrying things (especially drinks). Both hands being occupied with moving your body means that it’s rather difficult to carry anything around. Hopping is the skill to master, but it’s next to impossible to hop a cup of tea around. :(
• Going long distances. On the Monday after I got out (which was a Thursday), I decided to try and walk the 1-1.5ish miles into work. That was a massive error. It took an hour, having breaks every couple of minutes to catch my breath. Now it’s been a few weeks I have noticed my cardio and arm/remaining leg muscles improving somewhat, so perhaps it wouldn’t be so awful. Still be very conservative in estimating your range. I’ve been taking a lot of taxis, which gets terridly expensive.
• Elevation (not the terrible U2 song). For the first several days after the operation, the leg had to remain elevated. If I had it down for more than a minute or so, the blood pooling in the foot caused serious discomfort. This was another major limiting factor in getting around. Fortunately it seems to have eased off now and I’m able to sit like a relatively normal person in the pub.

There’s also bathing (the cast needs to be kept dry) and stairs (I live up three flights of stairs). Oh, and the muscle has seriously wasted away where the leg has been immobilised… looking forward to seeing the comparison when the cast comes off.

I made the mistake of reading a message board where people talk about their recoveries taking months and years, which isn’t really what I wanted to hear. Went in for a check up the other week and the doctors seemed positive about the progress, so I’m hoping that mine will be relatively smooth. Still looking at several months of physio though. Mainly I want to be able to get back cycling as soon as possible. That will be my first goal (will save me 7 quid a day on taxis anyway).

The most important thing to me is having someone (or a few people) to help out, especially in the first few days post-discharge, in the whiny-bitch-everything-is-so-hard-i-cant-do-it phase. Thanks Rosiepops ♥ ♥

Too Many Cephalopods… (by Hansi Singh)

I want to knit something awesome like this.

This is what the BBC/Experian’s analysis says about Nottingham.

explodingdog:

where the fuck are his feet?

laneypic

smokedontsmoke:

Love Inks = Wave Goodbye

Super scaled down quite pop project Love Links fresh out of Austin, TX are looking for a label to put out some of their music. But, in the meantime you can go stream what could be a nice little EP over at their bandcamp. And even download this single Wave Goodbye.

They describe themselves as “two boys a girl and an analog drum machine”. And when you listen to their music, that’s about all there is to it. Love when bands can scale things down, and make good music at it’s core.

This is pretty cute. And that.

Sweating, shaking, smouldering, weeping a little bit. Don’t mess with habaneros, kids. They are stronger than you.

habaneros (by thechilliking)

Allo Darlin’ - Dreaming (via nikvestberg)

I have been right addicted to this little songlet lately. Used to deny loving the twee, but HELL, why hide who I am? YESSSSssssssssssssssSSSSSSSSs

If you ever find yourself needing to recover a dropped stitch on your knitting without a crotchet hook like I just did, follow this bad boy.

I recovered it back to front somehow though; anyone know how I should have done it to get the stitches on the right side? I have been alternating knit-purl rows.

Welcome to my new monthly post series: CDs wot I bought just after getting paid, where I attempt to sound like I know about music by writing two sentences about each of my new CDs.

Or just end up sounding like a twat. You decide.

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