A wonderful wedding

My bestest bestest mate in the whole world got married and it was a great day. I had asked him what he wanted me to wear as best man and he said whatever I like.

So I thought suit.

Not my usual wear but I was happy enough with that. I had worn it only a few months earlier to my interview so I didn't even think about it till the morning, Shaved, showered and ready to go I put on my shirt and tie and then oh shit my trousers don't fit. Too many pies well probably too much gack in the evenings watching TV to be honest but there we go. Nothing I can do about it at that time with only half an hour or so till we leave so my lady said try your chinos they're a bit looser.

Not looser enough it seems for my expanding girth! 4 sets of trousers later I resorted to the trusty black jeans, shirt and tie and suit jacket combo. Not forgetting the ever present shades

Crossing the road I saw a cool black dude with a funky hat.

 I nodded to him (cos I'm nice like that) only to find that 2 minutes later he is there at the wedding too :-)

Waiting around taking photos of guests and then we amble up to the little room in the registry office where the wedding is to take place and it is quite a small one. 3 rows of chairs and not enough for every one so I end up standing in the corner with Kathryn the other witness whilst the registrar organises it all.

The bride came in with tears and many of the female guests joined her. She looked really pretty in her green dress and the groom looked dashing in a mod suit :-)

The words were lovely just what they wanted and as is always the case the service itself was over all so quick. Outside we went and took plenty of photos although I tried to take photos of the photographers taking photos.

Then off to the pub convoy style. A lovely pub out in the countryside, modernised but not in a bad way after a fire gutted it. Stepped over the well and nearly crapped myself as my brain registered that I appeared to be standing on nothing above a 30 foot drop. Luckily the reinforced glass saved me from a drenching but still, I avoided walking over it again.

Auntie NamNam was there with her face painting kit and the poor woman didn't get inside the pub for ages as she painted flowers, butterflies and monsters on the children's faces. Brill she is, they looked fantastical and uberwunder. She also painted a face onto the back of my head which caused much amusement to all.

Spent an age yacking with B More. Interesting conversations from batty to deep. Interrupted by a flower faced girl saying Traci would like a coffee when you come in. More yacking and general hilarity before petal cheeks returns to utter the line

Traci would quite like her coffee                NOW

Ah blast, damn, quick, off to the bar I go, order coffee only to let it sit on the bar for another 5 minutes whilst I natter with the groom before dashing over to pass the coffee to my patiently waiting wife.

The hungy monster was eventually placated and wow what a meal. I had Gammon with egg pineapple a HUGE mushroom on one plate with another two side dishes one with hot freshly cooked crispy chips and one with cauliflower cheese and cabbage. Masses of food and wonderful it was tasty, fresh, hot and I enjoyed every bit.

Time was getting on and after a trip back to the grooms house to help put the ducks and chickens to bed I made my best mans speech HA HA I should say this but I'm not allowed, I should make rude jokes but I'm not allowed so heres to the bride and groom. Cheers

Off home we went tired but happy and contented after a fab day watching two very lovely and special people make their promises to each other in front of their special peoples. It doesn't get any better

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Passwords and sharing everything

I wonder if you can help she said.

Sure that's what I'm here for. What can I do for you?

So and So didn't print out her marks ready for this meeting and I can't get hold of her to get her password. Could you tell me what her password is so that I can get this document.

I'm sorry I can't do that

But I need this, like now, for this meeting. She should have done it yesterday. It doesn't matter anyway, I used to know what her password was till you made us change it every month. Can't you just give it to me? She only works part-time and this is always happening. I need to get to that file right now. Oh I wish she'd answer her phone. Couldn't you jut give me her password and then change it for her.

I'm sorry I can't do that. I don't know what her password is and there is no way I can find out. I should be able to get the file for you anyway. Whereabouts are you?

Two minutes later I get a phone call. It's ok, you don't need to bother. I've got the document now.

I didn't ask and I don't want to know. There is only so much that we can do here in IT. We appear to be making it difficult all the time.

Passwords must be more than 8 characters long. Must include 3 of four types of characters : little letters, big letters, numbers, characters. Passwords must be changed every 42 days. Passwords cannot be the same as any of the last 24 passwords. Passwords must not include any account details forename surname etc.

For the users this seems to be so much trouble especially when they feel that they only need their passwords to access their email or Company specific sites.

But there are so many other factors. Passwords give users access to their own folder on the file server where they are supposed to store all their personal files. Also access to the teams folders for access and storage of team specific documents. It authorises use of various printers depending on where in the organisation and which team they work. This can be so that they can print to the printers in their building and not print to somewhere 15 minutes walk away (although that does happen) but also so that their printing costs can be allocated to the right budget. Passwords give access to team storage folders. They will give access to areas of the sharepoint server (if it ever gets up and running properly. They allow users to VPN into the network.

All penny pinching, nit-picking rubbish designed to hinder the user of course! But then what about their personal development plans and reviews? Users get their own copy  that and in general store it on their personal drive on the file server. They wouldn't want to give their colleagues access to that I am sure. Or the emails calling their boss for every name under the sun at the end of a bad week. Or worse, the email their best mate sent only to them about that afternoon in the store cupboard with the maintenance manager. Of course, as IT bods we have access all areas and some of the things we see in peoples personal folders are, I am certain, meant to remain private.

Then there is the issue of the team folders. You don't want everyone to have access to the HR teams folders to see references, pay scales, discusion meeting minutes for the latest employee. Nor do you want to allow everyone access to Finance with bank account numbers etc etc.

Then there are the people who want to believe they are doing it right. A newish member of staff called me in to help, so I went to her office and sat at her desk. She went out to get coffee whilst I was there. I needed to reinstall a couple of bits and whilst sitting waiting for the machine to start up and run a couple of updates I noticed the persons notebook next to the keyboard. Now, I am not the nosey type but there staring me in the face on the top page were obviously usernames and passwords. So I had a peek and sure enough on this page were account name and password for that person. User name and password and URL for logging into the finance system. User name and password for logging into the personal records system as well as a few others.

 When the user came back I pointed this out and he said well there is so much to remember I need to write it down. I understand I said but look at it this way round. I have just come into your office and you have gone out of the office to get a cup of coffee for me cos you're a nice person. But you've left me here with your computer and all the passwords I need to cause no end of trouble or mischief. If you need to write it down I understand but do not let it out of your control, keep it in your handbag, purse, phone cover whatever just not out in open plain view.

To be fair tot he person involved she got it straight away and wasn't put out by me putting my foot down with a firm hand. She tore the pages out of her notebook there and then and salted them away in her handbag.

Not all users are so accepting mind. They want to do things their way and their way only and any other way is wrong.

Security - It doesn't matter what the geeks say and do its the general populance who are the most security lax and will always continue to be I believe

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