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On Thu, Oct 10, 2002 at 10:56:06PM +0100, Jon Still wrote:
Anyone else got the datacentre blues?
Post Office Datacentre was blues worthy. You needed "a change" or "an incident" to get in. That is to say, unless the system had broken, you were not getting in without approval. The change request system was so conveluted, it meant you had a minimum of three days. Upon arrival, the change request would never had been passed on, so you'd sit between two sets of razor wire, waiting for seven phone calls to allow you to proceed. When you got in, being a contractor, the people didn't actually recognise you, so there was tons of "can I see some Id" etc. Mobiles phones off, you took your pass and started on your way. The mid range hall, where I used to do most of my work, was bright, being lit by tubes and had enough background noise to make you have to raise your voice slightly. There would always be one squeak and that, with the lights, was enough to give anyone a headache. Seeing as it was so difficult to get in, you always rodre more work off the back of a single change. This was a bit naughtly, but since the process was so annoying, it meant that things actually got done. So, you'd be in there all day. No windows, a bit chilly, bright tube light, rumble and squeak. On your own, one phone line which was always in use. No mobile, no friends, none of your normal manuals, etc. In there all bloody day, on your own, with only the occasional passing centre staff member[1] for company. Get me out of here! Cheers Steve [1] Data centre staff werw a cross between Neanderthal man and vampires, being only just capable of laying a network capble and putting a DAT tape in, whilst happy to do the madest shifts. -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG Mail majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe list" in the message body to unsubscribe.