As a non local I only tend to join in the general subjects or something I feel I can comment on. I have been around the forum for about ten years now and know many of you having met up a few times (and yes I am long overdue for a trip to Dover.) I steer clear of the political stuff and often the links to newspaper articles as if I wanted to read them I would have already done so in the paper or online. Having said that I love this forum because it's personal, like a family (and yes I know that can have its good and bad points too.) As with any forum there can be snide comments but apart from a few recent incidents, we don't tend to get it here because we respect each other. Alec sometimes a thread just dies for whatever reason, many a time I think well I've killed that one so you are not alone. However I'll sometimes post something and am amazed at the interest it generates, so don't give up. I think it's annoying for PaulB when people join and never post at all, they are taking up space for someone who could genuinely want to post and join in. It's a different matter if one of the regulars can't post for a while due to circumstances.
Oh and you'll be hearing more from me in the next few days (I'm apologizing in advance!)
I am at home recovering from minor surgery on my jaw yesterday to remove bone fragment following a freak accident a few years ago.