Take Your Fair Use Policy, And Stick It Where The Sun Don't Shine

Guess what? A couple of days ago, I received my third and final email from my ISP regarding my allegedly excessive internet usage. This in spite of the fact that they don't actually say what constitutes 'excessive' anywhere. As a result, they have taken it upon themselves to throttle my access, with everything going along at a crawl, if I could connect at all. Time for a call to Customer Services, methinks. So, I spent over an hour on the phone to a call centre in India (actually, I was on hold for most of the time). Despite ranting furiously at the poor sap on the other end of the line, I got precisely nowhere.

I told them that I'd had a final email from them regarding their so-called "Fair Use Policy" (hah!), and the email also said that I could request a MAC code (the code which would allow me to take my custom to another provider). Surprise, surprise, the guy couldn't find any trace of this email, and it was obviously more than his life - let alone his job - was worth, to dish out a MAC code without proof. Not only that, he couldn't even see any evidence of me having exceeded their limits. Grrrrr.

Anyway. He gave me an email address to write to. So I did. I sent a somewhat caustic email demanding a MAC code, so I could get the hell away from this bunch of shysters as quickly as humanly possible. Much to my surprise, they complied.

So, I've now signed up to a new ISP, with no download limits, so no need to worry about that in future. And a helpful customer service department for a change. It'll take about a week for the migration to take effect, and it's a bit more expensive than the other lot, but I guess you get what you pay for. Pay peanuts, get monkeys, as they say.

Funny thing though. Even though I'm still with the old ISP for another week or so, the speed has gone back up. In fact, it seems faster than ever. How peculiar!

Free Lunch

...and they say there's no such thing. Well, they're wrong. I got one today. The occasion was one of the company's annual(ish) discussion days, where our department talks about what we do, how well we do it, and how we could do it better.

I've only been back a few weeks (and only three days a week, at that) so I felt I didn't have much to contribute to the proceedings, not having been there long enough to make any judgment. I was, however, quite happy to go along for a day out of the office, and the aforementioned free lunch (including one alcoholic beverage of my choice - drinking on the job, shocking behaviour).

Tomorrow though, it's back to normal. I'm getting my first crack at doing some project development work for a client since my return to work. And a chance to find out just how much I've forgotten while I've been away. Should be interesting.

Hello again

On my way into the station for my train home from work last night, a guy spots me (I guess I cut a fairly recognisable figure) and starts coming towards me. He says hi, and it takes me a moment before I twig where I know him from. Frequent readers (both of you) will probably have guessed where this is heading. That's right. He was one of the guys I know from the slammer. One of my close neighbours from D-Hall. I was Cell 8, he was Cell 6. Just a couple of (locked) doors along.

I guess it was bound to happen sometime. He's the first of the gang I've met since I got out. Wonder if I'll run into any more?

The Boot

The frame may be gone, but in its place I have one of these to give my leg a bit of support over the next few weeks. It's what they refer to around the hospital as a 'moon boot'. You can see why.

The good news is that it's considerably more comfortable than the Ilizarov (not difficult), making walking a whole lot easier. Also it's removable - so I don't have to sleep on my back anymore. It's a lot less scary looking than the frame too.


I'll probably have to wear this for about six weeks, after which, perhaps I'll be able to wear a normal shoe (which I haven't done in 2-and-a-half years).

And another thing. I noticed in my notes that the orthotist at the hospital who fitted me for the boot wrote that I had been 'instructed in donning and doffing of the boot'. Until then, I'd never realised that 'doff' was the opposite of 'don'. I suppose it's obvious when you think about it... don/doff... on/off... I just never made the connection. Wow. You really do learn something every day. Not always anything useful, but still...

...Gone

This morning I had the op to remove the Ilizarov frame which has been my constant companion for the last thirteen months. It was a pretty quick procedure, taking less than an hour. At the moment my leg is bandaged up, although they might put a cast or a support boot on later. With any luck they'll do that quite soon, as I still hope to get out of here no later than tomorrow. More good news: for a limited time, hospital internet access is free. Wish I spotted that before I forked out for a £10 PatientLine card. Ho hum.

Going... going...

Hurrah. Finally, after thirteen months, I'm getting the Ilizarov frame removed next week. This news put me in the best mood I've been in for a long time. So good, in fact, that not even another snotty email from my ISP could spoil it. These guys, incidentally, are obviously taking the piss. But that's another story.

The plan is for me to go into hospital next Monday, have the frame removed on Tuesday, and get sent packing on Wednesday. No hanging around, then. Suits me - it was a different matter a few months ago, when I would have been leaving hospital and going straight back to you-know-where. But it's a different story - I don't want to have to be cooped up in hospital for a second more than is strictly necessary.