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A short note to say I'm off: Vulture taps claws on Reg keyboard for last time

'I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by'

After five years at Vulture Central, mainly covering government technology and telecoms, I'm off.

I'll be starting a new role at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, looking into the use of algorithms and big data in governments' decision making.

What can I say other than working here has been an absolute blast. El Reg remains peerless in its ability to dissect what's going on in our snake oil-sodden sector, with humour and insight.

Of course half a decade is nothing in the glacially slow-moving world of government IT – it's basically half a Serco contract, although for substantially less money!

However, there have been so many unforgettable memories in that time – not all of them publishable.

There was the notorious incident of our colleague scandalising the news desk by making tea with the milk already in the pot; and the occasion my other colleague live tweeted a comparison of my purchase of McVities Thins with the original chocolate digestives.

Verdict: my biscuits sucked.

Of course, we've covered plenty of hard-hitting stories in that period, too. For example, our Emergency Service Network delay article being cited in Parliament and HMRC's switch to AWS also being mentioned in a House of Commons select committee hearing in the UK.

Just the other day I got an email from a fellow journo whose analysis I'd referenced in a story. He was writing to say how much he loved our use of his quote, adding his publication unfortunately isn't afforded the same editorial edge as can be dealt at the pointy end of The Reg's sharp claws.

I count myself extremely lucky to have worked for a place with the freedom to tell it like it is: something that feels all too rare at times. (And where the readers often come up with far better jokes in the comments, goddamnit!)

So long, and thanks for all the phish! ®

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