Given that recently I've been informed that my post are unwelcome, please ignore any of mine that are still on this site, eventually they should end up at the bottom of the heap. I had hoped to meet some people here that would exchange ideas/thoughts about things going on around the world and to possibly make some new friends. While I have made a few on this site and appreciate the people that have been helpful in finding things I find it would be better to just delete this site from my favorites. Thank you to those of you that have been friendly and I wish you well.

Susanne, I gotta admit that I don't read every single posting on this site, so I'm really curious to know what negative reaction you've been getting. I'm still a relative newcomer to this forum, so perhaps I've missed out on previous squabbles between you all, but personally, I've enjoyed reading your postings. God damn, there are already enough people who have either quit this site or who are still tuning in but pretending to ignore it. Please, don't become one of them Susanne. In the words of an ex British politician - "don't let the b******s get you down!" Or, let's start a new thread about the beauty of Scotland (only been to Inverness 3 times, and yes, it's wonderful).

Susanne, I have been there a few times myself (and I guess a lot of us have). But then again I think this site is fun and I don´t want to miss being part of it. There are a few people who do rub me the wrong way but I try to take most things with a pinch of salt. Don´t try to be serious about anything it´ll backfire you won´t get anywhere.

BTW, in my experience when you have been hurt by somebody and you get back to that person, they´re usually sorry and appologize (apart from Dizzy - he will always accept your appology though, where is he by the way?), because afterall we are a nice bunch of people.

Susanne - you must be feeling a little brow-beaten by Jim1, who has been aching for a pro-republican sparring partner ever since GIJoe slithered back to Hicksville. To paraphrase Whitesnake, "Could it be love that he's feelin'?"

Apart from an overbearing anglocentricity, I find expatica discussions are like a glass of squash - 75% watery stuff, 25% cordial. Sometimes you'll find traces of acidity or bitterness. But mostly they're just refreshing.

But look on the bright side. At least expatica's got an in-house circus monkey called 'kathaksung'. He keeps us all highly entertained with his conspiracy library.

Susanne: If we all took Jim1 insults to heart and left the forum he would be chatting to himself....this "argument" is coming from a guy who said

"Since I left the United States in 1989, I can't really say that 9/11 had anything to do with it.

However, now that George W. is in the White House, I find it even more comforting that I reside abroad ! (in Belgium"


However Susanne I am sure there are a lot of your fellow US citizens who are only here for the short term will have been happy to have received the news you posted, whither it is good or bad...it keeps them in the know so to speak....

Susanne, please don't take it personally. You are offended, but I am sure that Jim1 does not want to reach that you should stop your posts. Right, Jim1? Susanne, I am thinking that there are very nice people on this discussion board...and I hope you see after these posts that you are welcome.

It's a shame that some people attempt to ruin an otherwise pleasant experience. I think most of us have enjoyed your participation in this forum, and I'd hate to see one or two people have that kind of "control" over who posts and what is posted. If you read this, Susanne, keep in mind who the obnoxious posts were coming from. A good forum will have a diverse clientele--you'll click with some, you won't with others. You can ignore some posters while engaging with those you can actually exchange ideas with.

Susanne don't be so melodramatic. Post as often and as much as you like and ignore what anyone else says, especially anyone who clearly is spoiling for a fight about anything & everything possible. The solution here is to give as good as you get, and not roll over and give in.

Susanne, I apologize. The last thing I ever intended to do was insult you or drive you away from this site. Believe me, my digs are meant to engage you in a debate not to attack you personally. They are said with a big smile on my face. In fact, the only person I am known to insult is my overweight cat, who I call shithead !

Belgophile is right, I got so use to sparing with GIJoe on these political issues, I miss the excitement. But remember, if I ever met GIJoe in a bar, I'd buy him a drink and I'd help him out if he were down on his luck.

So Susanne, come back and fight another day or at least on the political issues. Everyone on this thread is right except annickburn, but of course, she is probably suffering from her daily nicotine withdrawal !

p.s. the reason it took me so long to reply is I never look at most of these other topics.

Oh my God, Jim, your poor cat! Maybe it's not charming too, but may I propose you to change the name in "Garfield"? I think this would have the same intention...
Concerning Susanne I personally find that you have done now the right thing, it's never easy to apologize, and I am sure that you did not want to upset her, Belgophile has really found the right words.
Susanne, now it's up to you, hope you will read these postings and join again.

you wimp Jim...

Bloody hell! All of a sudden we're breeding a colony of Majory Proops.

Colony of what ??

Showing your age, Kew (my grandad told me about her, honest)

Age has many advantages.

Youth and enthusiasm will always be overcome by old age and treachery (apparently) <img src="../images/emoticons/ytongue.gif">

Guys, I honestly respect your gray head but please can one of you explain to me who this Majory Proops is ?? I mean I need to know was this a dig at Jim or at Susanne ??

Vij, Majory Proops was an agony aunt for one of the British tabloids. She died not so long ago, so any Brit who claims not to have heard of her can't use age as an excuse, but perhaps just better taste in newspapers.

Vij! You spelt "grey" the American way!!

Oh my gosh, Marcel, I have been assimilated !!!!

Marcel! You spelled spelt like the grain!

Thanks for the lesson, but I was only trying to be as humorous as you. (I have a graduate degree in English, and can you believe that even in the US we learn about "spelt"?)

You are past passively brilliant! But do try to find your Bulgarian keyboard, won't you?

Prise all the keys off, put 'em in a bag and shuffle 'em. Replace at random...it works even better than an AZERTY board.