I am currently partially deaf, thanks to a sexy build up of wax in my ears. I have drops (peanut oil, apparently) which are supposed to help, but first they make it worse. So my apologies to anyone at the [Nominet](http://www.nominet.org.uk/) AGM today who thought I was blanking them, and indeed for anyone sees me over the next week or so and has to deal with me constantly asking them to repeat themselves. And my sympathy to anyone who has a permanent hearing problem.