Max - I told you at the Getaway that the Mudcat has literally changed my life, definitely for the better.

I quite often visit the UK and am grateful for the threads on local sessions, giving me the opportunity to visit different folk groups around the country. Redsnapper - where are you? I wopuld love to get to visit sometime when I'm over.

I must admit to being more of a lurker in the music session as I do not feel that I have sufficient knowledge of folk music to really make much of a contribution but I have learned a lot from the vast store of knowledge of those who do contribute.

In general I love the BS section. I can catch up with friends, laugh at the wit of some and even lock horns with others. I now have many friends on three continents, something that would not have been possible without this site.

At the risk of inviting opprobrium from certain quarters I would agree with Max about the two members he has suggested should leave the forum. Whilst both make valuable contributions to the music threads they both make the forum a more unpleasant place to visit. If they are unable to change they should be the ones to leave - the fact that their attitudes drive good people away is not, IMHO, acceptable. It is frustrating to find, again and again, that either of these posters are using the site for their own very selfish purposes, to the detriment of the majority of the membership.

However, whatever happens, Kendall and I will do what we can, within our means, to financially support the Mudcat. I would be happy to pay an annual subscription fee if it meant that this site kept going. We will put items on the auction and I will be talking to the other members of our song circle about possibly taking ua collection when we meet.

Long live the 'Cat!