I'm clearly not the only one who is getting a tad irritated by our free forum hosts of late. The board has been very slow and appears to be locking people out and generally being offline more than usual.

Sooooooo, what's to be done??

Option 1 is to leave as it is because it's great warts and all.

Option 2 means paying a nominal amount (say £5 each) and setting up somewhere else - we would have to leave behind all our posts as the backup and export facilities have kindly been disabled by the owners of Forum Up. Other than that, the format would remain largely as is and members would be free to come and go. Donations would be optional and membership would not be limited to donors. We would operate until the meter ran out of money.

Option 3 means paying a nominal amount (say £5 each) and setting up somewhere else as a private forum where applications have to be made to me or another nominated party along with the obligatory £5. Again, we would operate until the meter ran out.

The meter should last 1 - 2 years depending upon numbers paying.

I'm open to suggestions for options 4, 5 and 6 etc but would welcome all your comments. I'll reveal my preference when the posts get going as I don't want to colour opinion from the off.......

Well can I chip in my thoughts for what they are worth?

1) I like this site because it is free and we have found some great new members, who might not have found us if we were private/subscription only.

I would prefer not to be a private forum from that point of view (option 3). This site is sometimes accused of being a tad unfriendly to newcomers, but I think that is largely because we all rabbit on at each other, which can be intimidating until you realise that we are all bonkers anyway!!

My feeling is that if we are a private club, we will lose the input of new members and the club will fall apart in time as we get slightly bored of each other (no offence!). New blood is good!!

2) I am guessing that option 1 is not really a 'goer' - at some stage it is all going to fall down on this free forum. I also guess that Bagpuss has to devote more time behind the scenes than we appreciate, trying to get it back up and running. So that leaves option 2 as the best option (given that I can't think of options 4,5,6 etc!).

3) I am more than happy to chip in a £5 every now and again to carry on being able to 'chat' to my friends here. I am reassured that donations will not be mandatory so we should not lose anyone in the transition. I would hate that.

4) I hope the meter does not run out in the future!! I don't want to be logging in and find that everyone has disappeared into the ether. I am paranoid enough to think you are all hiding from me!

I am happy to go with the status quo and the majority decision when we have all had a good think about it. Just thought I would write my thoughts as they occur to me now to kick things off. I reserve the right to do some more thinking about it though!!

In the meantime, I think we should express a HUGE vote of thanks to Bagpuss for setting this forum up in January when things were rather unpleasant elsewhere and for his continuing management of the site which goes on largely unseen and unthanked. THANK YOU!

Yay for Bagpuss !!

I will go with the flow but like Steve said if it was members only it may go stale after a while. Much as you guys are great the odd break in from evil rex and the like make for an interesting time.

Option 2 - £5 is a snip to keep it free to others - maybe block off one or two threads or make them read only to people who do not pay but other than that, keep it free. I assume that if the meter ran out, we would all have to chip in another fiver (or £100 or whatever else the index linked amount is going to be )

I can't make a rational decision cos too busy tittering at these replies. Typical of us

That Evil Rex was a laugh wasn't he Admit it! Who thought it was Lots?

yes, we agree that bagpuss is wonderful.
he set up this lovely site and runs it with such a light hand which (when we come to think of it )is how come we love it here so much.
thanks BP xxx

as to the poll, if we move away will max and the others be able to find us? can we keep our name?

we'll gladly pay the fiver to follow you lot whatever you decide. i think i'd go for option 2 if our friends can still find us

Max who ? I think he's trying to avoid us

he'll remember us when his basil goes manky or his onions don't bunch
and we won't say things like "hmph, remind me of your name again"
or "you seem familiar although vague" and that sort of thing will we wardy?
WILL WE WARDY????


by the way, the other place does voluntary contributions but they seem to have as many technical probs as we do (or are theirs different?)

if Max's onions don't bunch I'll be the first their bunching em for him

Perish the thought that Mr Lovely has anything less than perfick veg

If he does then us, we, can go oop t'North and sort em art for im like (as Dom would say)

All for one and one for sommat or other Max was here at the start so will be here at the finish WON'T YOU MAX

Bagpuss, I'm more than happy to pay a fiver or more if need be - because of this site I've got friends up and down the country and I can't put a price on that.

I wouldn't want membership limited to fee payers cos then we'd never get anybody new - whatever is decided I'll go with the flow

Perhaps Max is Evil Rex!!

[Memo to current members: if you ever feel like leaving, do say goodbye so we know you are ok etc! Otherwise we will just worry about you!]

Okidoke,I've had a hum and a ha and got told to "shurrup!"

I'm for................ option 2...

As to Max, when he lifts his head above nappies, onions, gawd knows, all it takes is an email with the new link, and sorted! I don't see why we cant keep allotmentsnstuff as the name, but different bits about the sides, please do, cos gonna name and shame tomorrow......

I AM NOT EVIL REX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Name and shame who/what, Lottie?

option 2 for me as well same reasons as above name and shame hmmmmmmm i wonder and nope she ain't evil Rex and neither am i i been to his web site and there are loads of em and i was thinking that those dinosaures were extinct

Miss Lots is gonna name drop

Option 2 for moi

name drop how many does she have

I'd go for Option 2 too. Happy to pay a fiver or so to be able to keep coming here. Re other members being able to find us if we move - could an email containing new address be sent to everyone before this site disappears?

Lots - who are you naming and shaming?

Would this site actually dissapear after we shift or would it be like a ghost site with tumble weed rolling round the broom cupboard ?

Think so Bags but not just tumbleweeds, our spirits too spooky

OOOh Lots is being sinister aint she.. We're all thinkin it's us and we've done sommat wrong. Someone's gonna get moddered (in a Taggart kinda accent)

Oh come on Lots spill

I'm frightened Wardy. She might get the mega prod out

Be afraid Be very afraid


Don't think I've done owt wrong have you?

Not intentionally. Still frightened though

Think I am playing catch up here ... I know you guys have had problems, but the strange thing is I never have

Anyway, whatever is decided, PLEASE DON'T GO WITHOUT ME

Whatever the fee I'm up for it

Me too. Perphaps we should hide in the broom cupboard. There was a replacement bottle of sherry placed in there yesterday after someone who shall remain nameless was in there dusting