Allow me to raise the tone with this question. There's a copy of Enya's Womble menstruation song, Orinoco Flow, to whoever gets it right.

Which religious leader pleaded: "Let me be full dead ere I be dismembered?" and what was his fate?

Just cos you've got nothing good to say, doesn't mean you can't post.

As the late Blanche Hunt said to son-in-law Ken Barlow, if you're not going to enjoy the misfortunes of others, you're going to have a very long and unhappy old age.

I'm not quite sure which notorious thread you were referring to but, like I said to Adman, who has similarly left the parish of late, I always really liked reading your posts and like I wish I'd said to Adman, please remember that should you ever reconsider, the broad church doors will be flung open for you. A very Merry Christmas to you.

I joined a month or so ago, and whilst only being a newcomer, I do always enjoy your posts. A broad church needs perspectives, dissension and variety - there's no worth in everyone standing round carrying signs that mostly say 'hooray to our side'!
To echo Vorgongod, a Merry Christmas to you.

...I guess I ask this of people who are still around: Do you think anyone would actually notice if you left this site? I wouldn't expect anyone would notice me gone.

I have seen a few postings lately referring to comers and goers (Archie Whatsit I think left?), does it really matter so long as there is a quorum and the spirit/style of the site is maintained?

Why? Anyway, I think kb's question is a good one and I'd like to broaden it: is there an archetypal Word blogger? I've mentioned before that this is the only place I blog because I love the general tone of the place and the fact that there are always some nice people around who want to tell you about things you might be interested in, or debate a point with you. I also love the way the most innocent of questions can unleash a cascade of insightful, often poignant contributions (the recent 'What would you tell your 16 yr old self' being a case in point). Perhaps all will be revealed in The Lamb in January!

Jamsodonnell. For it was he. A quick check reveals many posts started and some with hundreds of replies. I had to check because RobertC is not a name that stands out to me but Jams was much more, well, original.

Everyone is here today gone tomorrow but there is no need to go away. Take a vacation, come back refreshed but don't be a stranger. As for that Archie feller...I'm sure he's bloody itching to corect sum speling misstakes.

What's with the dramatic announcements and grand exits ?

It only takes a couple of minutes to scan the latest blog posts, and if there's nothing of interest I get on with some other non-work

More often than not I will read things but not post anything at all

is itself bigger than any individual blogger. Or something like that.

" Jams will return in a different guise." - ooh you big tease you!
Seriously - don't go - take everyone's advice and have a break. This is a broad church, we can't all agree on everything, and people do seem to get rather snippy at times, but don't go and do an Archie on us. We need a man of your consummate taste on this blog. Stuff the bloody X-Factor, lets talk about important things, like Joe Boyd's Witchseason roster, or Kate Bush's Babooshka video!

Isn't really reason enough to do a Valparaiso..

again. Sorry. Got the loin nettles.

I'm not quite sure why you, and others recently, feel the need to make these dramatic grand gestures and bid an emotional farewell. I'd really like to know.
The truth is most people who come here will probably not notice, and I don't mean that unkindly.
I used to post here some years ago before the site got its first all-singing all-dancing make over, and I'm sure there are others from that time who still around, the only one I remember is James Blast - and that's because his name stuck in my mind and because he's Scottish, as is Mrs P.
I'd be surprised if he remembered me from that time, it's only the internet after all.
I post every now and then, and currently have one going on the seven days hot topics, but would I be missed if I move on tomorrow? Not a hope.

I've never heard of him, but he sounds a dodgy sort to me.

… say, after another of my postings has suffered the onanistic fate of falling on stony ground, I've considered such a valedictory gesture - rather in the manner in which, as a teenager, one would fantasise about dying tragically and then imagine the reactions of various friends/enemies/family members ('What if I DIED? That'd show them…'). The great thing here, of course, is that you might get to enjoy the subsequent wailing/gnashing of teeth etc. Never did it though - always seemed a bit pointless. And something always brings you back… back… back…

Adieu. Sayonara. Be seeing you.

Until we meet again.

In the morning light

Goodnight. Don't let the bedbugs bite.

ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Of whom did Henry VIII say, "I like her not."

Catherine of Aragon?

the fruit of his own royal loins?

It's the reputedly ugly Ann of Cleves, as played by Joss Stone in The Tudors.

OK, another triv question, not Tudor related. Of all Saint Etienne's single releases why might Sarah Cracknell be less well disposed to Only Love Can Break Your Heart? The answer is not, 'Because it's a cover,' it's something else. But what?

Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale

The Beatles - Because

Eric Carmen - I'll Never Fall In Love Again

What creature connects the following people in song: Paul McCartney, Burl Ives, Neil Hannon, Jim Morrison and Bob Dylan?

The cover of Echoes by Pink Floyd is a close up of an ear underwater, but what did the members of Floyd originally want shown on the cover?

The landlord of this gaff has decided to run his version of the questions over here :

http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/its-nearly-end-term-so-you-can-pla...

what a copycat.

What was the anti-Bargepole campaign? Was Bargepole the annoying pillock who wrote everything in the third person?

Merry Christmas and goodbye

I agree grand gestures of departure seem odd. these sites are like like TV if you don't like the show just turn it off =- no need to go public.

Having said that I have noticed that topics of recent months have been very Britain focussed.Fair cop- its a British mag and most contributors to the site are Brits but being Australian I have little to add to most threads.

What keeps me on the site is the wit,the articulate expression of views and some pretty deep knowledge on topics I am interested in ....on occasion.

i happen to agree with Robert C on some of the nastiness. For example - "you still here then?" and this bit from JQW "What was the anti-Bargepole campaign? Was Bargepole the annoying pillock who wrote everything in the third person?" This was quite rightly criticised by Robert C. As he said, it is just plain nasty.

what have I missed?