Merddin, I can confirm that the original purpose of the Forum was to give us all a cost-free mechanism to mess around wasting time with jokes, endless games and quizzes about song titles and Portugal.
It had a another, no-less important mission, which was to provide me with new acquaintances to go drinking with. Z**
As an added bonus it has led to my wife not having to make small talk with me after 10pm in the evening.
All these missions have been fulfilled, but now it seems that sadly the Forum has been corrupted into becoming something of a noticeboard and information stream for a massive amount of people in the 3 towns area and beyond.
It educates us about the past, and also about current events and ongoing issues.
It unites people in common causes, designed to improve the area we live in.
Recently it has even begun to rebuke and remind local authority figures of their responsibilities.
Thats all well and good, but every night now I am having to wade through and dismiss lots of information and local issues, to get to the best bit where I find out if anyone is going to go boozing with me!
Seriously though, it seems that the general concensus is that the Forum is excellent, despite the odd good-natured spat that we have. So,are we getting back to normal or we are we paying a few bob to Ian and Dave's slush fund, (sorry I meant contribute to the annual subscription?)
If you close the Forum I might have to lapse back into an even deeper state of ignorance, and maybe turn tee-total.
Don't make me come over there boys, to Forum Headquarters I mean,.... wherever that is.