Why can't I use Search or forum tools

I have just registered and asked about backgammon. I tried to do a search within this forum but it just sits there doing nothing (same with forum tools). Am I being a tad dumb or should I have done something else to entitle me to use these facilities

1) Wrong place to post this (so topic moved to somewhere more appropriate...)
2) The forum's been more than a little bit wonky lately (probably due to some server problems). This stuff's been affecting everyone, even us staff.