Folks ...

[Shaker]

Please, please, please try to treat each other with a little bit more kindness, gentleness and care, whatever our differences of belief or opinion about this or that. It's a hard, cold and cruel world out there; and whatever our beliefs about this, that and the other, so far as we can tell we only have each other. Please try to be kinder to one another.

I am formally and officially retiring from this forum, so this will be my last post. It's a sad thing, but there are sadder things. It's been a long time, and it's been a blast. The rows I've had! But what's an internet forum for if not for that.

Whatever your beliefs or non-beliefs, I'm out of here now, and as the late and to me at least great Dave Allen used to sign off, may your God - whatever you conceive him to be; copyright Max Ehrmann - go with you.

I am already sorry to leave, and will miss so many of you, and the rough and tumble of debate and discussion over this and that. But now it is time for me to retire from the fray. I have met fascinatingly intelligent people, a few crazies, and one person in particular that I have come to love deeply, dearly and truly. What a thing the internet is.

Goodbye all. And remember: be kind. It's the only thing that matters.
 

[Gordon]

I wish you well, old chap: and if you are ever passing this way again, you know where we are.

[torridon]

Bye Shakes, fare well, hope you change your mind, you were always a scintillating read, will miss you.

[SusanDoris]

You, Shaker, would not say good-bye unless you meant it; very reluctantly, therefor e, I say a sad good-bye, wishing you all the very best in all that you do.

[Roses]

Shaker, I am sorry you feel the need to leave this forum. I hope you will reconsider.

[Shaker]

I won't; but thank you for the thought.

I am not a religious man - amazing revelation to some of you, I know - but I will leave this quote, a favourite of mine, by a man who was:

Do all the good you can.
By all the means you can.
In all the ways you can.
In all the places you can.
At all the times you can.
To all the people you can.
As long as ever you can.

[ad_orientem]

We've had our fair share of spats but genuinely all the best. Enjoy a drink.

[Enki]

Goodbye to you, Sir. It's been a pleasure and an education sharing your thoughts.

[Nearly Sane]

Take care on your ongoing walk through life. Never worry about returning. You have made me laugh, cry, vituperate, and think. I have doffed my hat to you, and had words. When the sagas of religion and ethics are written, and retold over the winter fires, there will be a shuffling into the great hall, when the bard announces the Tale of Shaker, and parents will tell their children 'This is my favourite'.

[Udayana]

I won't; but thank you for the thought.

I am not a religious man - amazing revelation to some of you, I know - but I will leave this quote, a favourite of mine, by a man who was:

Do all the good you can.
By all the means you can.
In all the ways you can.
In all the places you can.
At all the times you can.
To all the people you can.
As long as ever you can.

Will do ... just need to pin down exactly what it is first... thanks for your contributions over the years.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Shakes,

I am formally and officially not retiring from this forum, so this will not be my last post.

FIFY

[Shaker]

Oh,  whatever.

I can't be doing with people being wrong.

[Anchorman]

All the best, Shaker. Lang may your lum reek.

[Owlswing]

Bright Blessings, Love and Light, and may the Old Ones watch over you and yours, Always!

Owlswing

[Maeght]

Cheers Shaker.

[Robbie]

I am not a religious man - amazing revelation to some of you, I know - but I will leave this quote, a favourite of mine, by a man who was:

Do all the good you can.
By all the means you can.
In all the ways you can.
In all the places you can.
At all the times you can.
To all the people you can.
As long as ever you can.

John Wesley.

We will be excellent to each other.  Bill and Ted.

[Dicky Underpants]

I am formally and officially retiring from this forum, so this will be my last post. It's a sad thing, but there are sadder things. It's been a long time, and it's been a blast. The rows I've had! But what's an internet forum for if not for that.

Whatever your beliefs or non-beliefs, I'm out of here now, and as the late and to me at least great Dave Allen used to sign off, may your God - whatever you conceive him to be; copyright Max Ehrmann - go with you.

Hi Shaker

Just noticed this, and I hope I'm not too late to say "moind how yeh goo boy" (in my native Norfolk). Very sorry to hear of your departure, since I enjoyed reading your intelligent posts so much. No doubt there was much more we could have chattered on about on the subject of classical music - but I think that our tastes here concurred on a great deal, so perhaps any trenchant observations might have been lacking (at least on my part - I've written about music so much over the years that I now tend to feel I'd much rather sit and listen, or indeed play, than witter on verbally.)
If you are likely to participate in debate elsewhere on the internet, would you keep your old moniker? If so, I'll keep an open eye....

[King Oberon]

Hmm...

So if I re-appear it would look suspiciously like we are one in the same... are we? 

Seems like we are destined to miss each other, after my long absence 

In saying that i see NS is now admin, the standards have really went so i see why your off 

[Udayana]

Please stick around KO! 

[Rhiannon]

Please stick around KO! 

Seconded. 

[Nearly Sane]

Hmm...

So if I re-appear it would look suspiciously like we are one in the same... are we? 

Seems like we are destined to miss each other, after my long absence 

In saying that i see NS is now admin, the standards have really went so i see why your off 

I will echo Rhiannon's and Udayana's posts even with your disgraceful slur  .

[King Oberon]

I can only assume that they had a referendum in regards to admin staff, see...... they are never a good idea

Just as well Shakers off I suppose (he's obsessively religious).

All this being nice to each other wouldn't really suit me... now bring me the head of cyberman!!! 

[Nearly Sane]

I can only assume that they had a referendum in regards to admin staff, see...... they are never a good idea

Just as well Shakers off I suppose (he's obsessively religious).

All this being nice to each other wouldn't really suit me... now bring me the head of cyberman!!! 

Referendum! Referendum! Wash your mouth out with soup! The moderation team are a benign (mostly) dictatorship.

[Rhiannon]

They locked me in a cupboard, KO, that’s how NS got the jo...

[Roses]

They locked me in a cupboard, KO, that’s how NS got the jo...

I did wonder how NS got the job!