Time for me to say thank you.

[dls]

It is a good time for me to say thank you.

First of all you keep me on my mental toes. I have to think my way through the problems and question posed daily. This can sometimes be like digging for the truth through a miasma of non-clarity, but that is how the world is.

As has been pointed out, sometimes gracefully, and sometimes less so, I get things wrong. I do find it difficult to admit when I am wrong, but the regular exercise of confession makes it a little easier.

I thank those who have the courage to set their very personal problems before what must sometimes look a rather daunting collection of anonymous individuals. I do think that the members who have this courage are often rewarded by honest, educated and robust discussion.

I thank the wide collection of non-professionals who bring a wonderful, vibrant mix of real litigation experience, wisdom, and an occasional off the wall surprise well worth the wait.

Last, the generally non-identified professionals of different degrees who expose their thoughts and workings out here to a degree of critical appraisal not suffered at home in the office.

We do get things wrong. This is not a comfortable place for some, but for those who manage to find assistance here, the assistance can be real. It is valuable and distinct without being measurable, or quantifiable.

And last, a thank you for your patience. If I made more money from this, I might be able to afford a more rigorous back up system, but the sophistication and determination of the attacks appears to go along with the advances made in securing systems from attack. There will never be a 100% answer. I just need to move from 98% to 99+%.

[Booboo]

Sweet.

But David, if it wasn't for you, this forum would be...well, Swarb just wouldn't be here.

I respect you and the hard work you've put into this baby. In Swarb1 I found answers to some really difficult questions. It was useful to gain knowledge.
Knowledge that I still use today.

Also, I think it's important to remind some that the time spent on the forum is free time.
It's easy to get a little frustrated with legal professionals who may offer suggestions which are perhaps not seen to be suited to the individual - at the time of posting - but these suggestions - when the mist soon disappears - are valuable and ultimately free.

If a poster does get upset with a response - they have the option to take their backside off to a law firm and pay the price of a consultation.
I do understand the need of having a tiny rant every now and again - in a strange way, it can be good for the soul - but only if we all learn and grow from them.

[Slartibartfast]

Good heavens, David. We are all in your debt, no thanks are necessary.

[zebedee]

As has been pointed out, sometimes gracefully, and sometimes less so, I get things wrong. I do find it difficult to admit when I am wrong, but the regular exercise of confession makes it a little easier.

Have you tried catholicism? Better than a hairshirt.

[Sparkle]

Good heavens, David. We are all in your debt, no thanks are necessary.

I couldn't agree more and also the prfossionals who also make the board. I know everyone does but some ALOT more than others with their expertise.

[bemusedandbewildered]

Good heavens, David. We are all in your debt, no thanks are necessary.

]

Hear hear. I found a treasure chest when I found this forum. It has got to be one of the best - if not the best - on the net.

[tim2]

When i found this forum via a goggle search, i was gob-smacked there were no catches when signing up. (in term of joining fee)

You guys, experts, in normal working hours charge an absolute bloody fortune - and yet, as best you are able, you give it here for free!

It always amazes me just how ungrateful some posters can be of that very fact, especially when they don't receive the answer they were hoping for.

On a personal note, I agree, this is one of the best forums on the web. Why.... because it is a valuable resorce of free information - a casual researchers gold-mine. Bullying has no place on swarb, and time is given to explore beneath the surface - are my top 3 likes about sawarb.

Thank you dls for everything you do to keep the board running.

[Finvarra]

David, you are by far too self-effacing and magnanimous in your praise of others.

Your achievement with this forum is monumental.... many others would have wilted under the burden it undoubtedly provides for you at times, but you always come through: come through for us!

And as for us, your forum members, you have taken a rag-tag collection of miscellaneous folk of diverse knowledge, experience and backgrounds and melded us into a "family" of sorts that brings us together in a common purpose and gives us laughter, joy, frustration...but most of all to your regulars, a sense of belonging that is very rare.

Gratias ago tibi et salutent vos

[dls]

And again, thank you - all of you.

I have re-instated the site statistics, and in a slightly better format.
There is no doubt that:
1) The hack attacks have made a substantial difference to the popularity and visibility of the site.
2) You have (if reading this), stuck with us.
3) The figures are coming back. We hit a new high (post hack) yesterday of 1800 page views, of which 721 were of the main site, and the balance in the forum.

It is true that I have worked hard at this, but it is equally true that it is necessarily a task dependent on a proper group of individuals recognising some of the subtleties involved in re-establishing what we had, and doing the necessary.

In some ways, we are bettered structured - and more resilient - than before.
Thank you.