..Apologies...

Apology appreciated, Darren, as are your attempts to sort out the speed of the forum. They haven't worked thus far, however - it's taken me forever to open this thread, then I got redirected back to it twice when I was trying to answer. I love HItched. I've been here a long time and I'd love to see it continue, but I fear that by the time this is sorted everyone will have moved on. It hasn't been efficient since you changed the format and the recent efforts are likely to be too little, too late. (I'd love to be proved wrong on that.)

Your day, your way hun ? Or at least, your site your way.

I hope it does speed up again soon, it has been a bit of a pain in the bottom to say the least.

What Lumpy and Loof said really. Thanks for the apology & explanation though.

Thanks for your apology, Darren, it's appreciated.

I too am a long time user of Hitched and it (and it's users) has seen me through many a bad time. I really hope you can sort out the site issues as I would be sorry to see it go.

What Holio said. And thanks for the apology/explanation ?

Thank you Darren, as a long timer, apology accepted.

See, we're not all mean and grumpy ?

As everyone else has said really. The apology is greatly appreciated and personally I'd like to thank you for all the hard work that you and your team are putting in to try and make this place work.

Hitched and Hitchers have seen me through the highs and lows of the last <mumbles number of years> and I would hate for that to change.

For what it's worth, I shall be doing my best to chat more and keep the conversations flowing. Although, I'm boring, so doubt anybody will reply to me ?

WSS!

Decent of you to apologise.

What de Hole said for me too. I like it here.

Can only echo what the others have said. Thanks for the apology!

Apology or not though, the rival forum seems to be thriving at the moment. Although the novelty may wear off.

The speed seems to have improved today.

I'd go over to the other forum but I can't be bothered.

I can't be bothered to re-register either. If this dies a death then so be it, it's been fun.

I do believe the other forum will go the same way. The same old story applies as us not having anything new to say to each other. Does the new forum mention here a lot? If so, that's got to be a subject that won't last long.

Will miss chatting to P&P about QPR though. I belong to a few QPR forums but they're all so negative at the moment. Ho hum.

I appreciate the apology. I've become very fond of Hitched but Darren, you've never once replied to my emails about listings. You didn't reply on the thread over on WP where a number of HIBs were asking about listings. I couldn't log in for nearly 2 months and got no response to my emails then. I've been trying to give you my business for the best part of a year and you don't want to know. So where does that leave me?

x

Agree with Baron.

Whilst everyone else is on the other forum I will continue to post on both, but I hope that they come back. I can see why they are staying. The other forum is a fun place to be at the moment. But this place has speeded up again so I don't see why it can't transfer back. OT does need fresh blood every now and again to stay interesting. And how are the amusing nutters going to find us over there?

Oh Chicken, I'm not "gone", so there's plenty of Rs chat still to be had over here, or over there.

To answer your first question though . . . not really. Of the top 50 posts, only 4 are really hitched related - 2 from newbies asking about some old hitched lore (eg in jokes, smut friday etc), one bemoaning this site being down again and another passing on Darren's latest apology - a few moans, some guilt but nothing un-necessarily bitchy . So from that point of view, I don't think people are running out of things to talk about. And of the 500+ members a large chunk are ex-hitched lurkers who for whatever reason felt unable to contribute on this site - I know there was sometimes a bit of an atmosphere and it could be intimidating. People are also inviting friends to join - friends that might have thought it wierd being invited to a wedding site.

Will it last ? Who knows. If Darren and Dean sort out the speed and functionality over here than I think many people will move back or at least post between sites. That said the new forum has a very different feel to OT - it's easier to use, pacy, and outside some of the imposed constraints here. Some have compared it to how Hitched used to be, but I think that's unfair - every forum is different and this one will have to find its own niche / identity. WP and BT have remained loyal (if that's the word) so Hitched will keep on running - maybe this is a blessing in disguise for D & D. As you mention, things were stagnating a touch and maybe this is a shake up that will bring new blood to OT ?

For now I'm enjoying being over there, but I'm not one for burning bridges.

As for the Rs - I'm not getting twitchy yet, it's a marathon not a sprint, but we certainly seem to be distinctly average at the moment. Another weekend and another bout of optimism looms - I'll feel much better once we get a win or two under our belts (the likes of Newcastle, Boro and the baggies are making it look easy !)

?

Don't leave me P&P ...... <clutches ankle>

3 pts tomorrow I'm sure.