Week starting: 2nd March 2026
This week was slow—machine issues derailed most of my plans.
What I worked on
Learning:
- Attended a PicoCTF session on Windows Active Directory delivered by my buddy Mr. Winter
- Started OffSec’s Gauntlet: Arctic Howl (Week 1 challenges)
- Couldn’t progress much due to machine issues
Projects:
- Found some time to review a side project we’re working on
- Reviewed the deployed site and user workflow
Everything else:
- Work was heavy this week, which didn’t help
- No CTF challenges authored
- No community sessions delivered
Key takeaways
Sometimes the week just doesn’t go as planned. Machine issues are one of those things that completely kill momentum—can’t really work on CTF challenges, can’t dive into labs, can’t make meaningful progress on technical work.
The PicoCTF AD session was a bright spot. Watching someone else teach concepts I’ve been studying gave me a different perspective on how to approach the material.
Challenges and friction
The main blocker was my machine acting up. When your primary work tool isn’t cooperating, everything else grinds to a halt.
Heavy work week didn’t leave much bandwidth for side projects or learning either.
Looking ahead
Next week’s focus:
- Get the machine sorted out
- Continue OffSec Gauntlet challenges (once I’m unblocked)
- Get back to Azure exam prep
- Hopefully resume regular rhythm
Some weeks are just about surviving the blockers and getting ready to bounce back.