I am relieved to find that, while the thread has deteriorated in a lot of ways, mainly due to the activities of a VERY small minority, I agree 100% with a large proportion of the posters here, and though I disagree with some, their points are put in an intelligent and rational way so that the disagreement does nothing to upset or distress me. This last is certainly not the case with some people on here. I've always liked the fact that Mudcat is open to anyone to air their opinions...free speech is a very precious thing, but to confuse the freedom to voice your opinions with a perceived freedom to abuse, upset and hurt people is part of what's spoiling the whole thing.

As soon as our financial state is stable again (ie when Ted gets another job) I shall contribute. As someone says, it's like a club and one expects to pay for club membership. But clubs can and do reserve the right to exclude troublesome members.

Love Lynne