...I can log in to my accaunt...I did last year for a quick blast around Blackwood.

Dont have access to old email address used to create account.

...did something change with the login system - it looks very different around here ???

If you no longer have access to your old email address (to reset your password), but can somehow prove that account was yours (for example with a purchase receipt, etc) I suggest contacting LFS devs directly: https://www.lfs.net/mailus