Paddleducks
General => Paddleducks Website/Forum => Topic started by: Eddy Matthews on October 01, 2014, 04:44:50 PM
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Hi Guys,
I've been thinking long and hard about this for some time, but two things keep coming into my mind.... Firstly, after losing my wife to a brain tumour almost 4 years ago now I've just lost my interest in modelling, and secondly, Paddleducks is getting more and more quiet (has it had it's day?).
So, when the fees for the website become due again early next year I won't be renewing the hosting fees or domain name. So Paddleducks will end....
The only alternative is for someone else to take it over - I would provide all the files that run the website and the user database etc. But it would be down to that person to source a new host and set everything up at their expense. Sadly there have been offers of help in the past with the running of the site, but they just fizzle out after a while and I always end up doing everything myself - That's NOT a gripe against anyone, just a statement of the facts as I see them.
So there you have it... It's now up to someone else to take over the reigns if Paddleducks is to continue....
Regards
Eddy
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Hi Eddy
Even if I`m not that long herein, I would miss it! But I`m not firm enough to "overtake" that, and my modelbuilding projects take too much time for hosting a forum in the way it, and its members deserve.
Best regards
Gerhard
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Hi Eddy,
Looking at the birthdays it could be that we are just getting too old to do a lot. I keep doing because I'm not about "to go gently into that long goodnight". I'm just barely out of the woods with lung cancer and next year I'll be 72 so I'm looking at throttling back as well. I'll miss things here but I certainly understand your concerns and the costs involved. I don't think it has "had its day" but there are a lot of sites out there on ship and a/c modelling that we certainly have competition for members with. Maybe posting on other sites so people know we are around. However it turns out, thanks for your efforts, it has been a pleasure being a member here . Maybe one of the other UK modelling sites might be willing to take over the files and membership as part of their group. It would be sad to lose the whole thing.
dave
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Eddy, I like a lot of others will miss this site. Although I haven't posted anything for a long time. My Totnes Castle build has been on the back burner, as a traction engine has taken over. I do look in most days, but like you say, very little going on. So I do understand your position. Like all organisations a few do all the work, or even just one. Dave you are still young at 71, but I see you have reached the age when you count the next birthday. In that case I am 74, I think us elderly should keep mind and body as active as possible. A big thank you EDDY for all you have done. Geoff
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Hi Eddy,
first of all i would like to say that i have all the understanding in the world for your situation
the loss of your wife and thereafter the loss of interest in modeling ( and other things aswell maybe)
i would like to say thanks to you for everthing you did for all of us all that time
looking at the ages of the members i'm one of the younger ones but i could'nt step in to your footsteps
healthproblems , lack of time , and other things not to be mentioned here keep me from it
nevertheless i'm sure that someone in our ranks will keep the fire burning
no paddleducks would leave a big black hole for me ( and for many many others)
and although most of us never met in person, we are all one big family ( at least in my point of view)
Eddy thnx a lot for everthing you did and do for all of us
many sincere greetings from The Bombus (Lode Nicolai from Belgium)
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Hi Eddy,
Very sad to see this post on what is pretty much my first visit in a far too long a time. As one of those who offered to help sometime ago, only for personal circumstances to take over. I put my hands up in letting you down.
I know what's involved and the effort that it takes and how an event in your life can change everything. With the loss of a job and a terminally ill parent its easy to loose sight of ones hobbies and forget about other responsibilities.
Its only in the last 2 weeks that i have started to get back in the workshop after nearly 2 years away. I hope that the site can continue as someone who enjoys paddlers and finally enjoying my modelling once again.
All the best to all PD's
Ian
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I have noticed the increased silence re posting, but that could be because the body of knowledge has been built up, and it is now more a reading reference.
The problem with closing down is how to avoid losing the material. It isn't easy to archive, because it would take a full-time editor to condense the threads into a compact form. Even without compacting, it is still a lot of work to assemble the text into a series of files capable of being placed onto a dvd, but I gather that that is what happened when the forum migrated to a new host. Inevitably, photos will be separated from the text which explains them.
Much of the mood spreads across all technical hobbies: they are run by and for an ageing generation; the young one doesn't take them up. Paper publishing is waning. Many see this as the outcome of the growth of facebook: superficial and transient, not archived. With my Rail News Victoria, the workload has increased, ironically because the quantity of news has dropped: it takes more and more time to winkle out fact from opinion. I am ceasing publication with issue 300, and am devoting more time to research based on processing my photo collection. There is another magazine in the field, club based.
Keeping the forum alive costs money; closing it down takes a lot of effort. If the material can sit on a dvd (or a few), members could purchase the set for future reference, but somebody has to handle the money transfer and mailing effort.
Could Eddy supply some viewing statistics? Google searches often bring up a Paddleducks reference, so there could be many nonposters viewing as guests.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor (for five more issues).
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Hi Eddy
You asked above if it had its day? I dont think so, when I look at the members-count, every week threr are new subscribers, even I had a good long look at this forum bevore I registered. And there is not a day, I did not watch in here, even if i did not post every day.
My hope will be, that somone will keep it going on! I like this forum, because it is relativley qiet! No nonsense-posts, no badly comments, but useful hints and good respect between the members of Paddleducks, this is, where so many other forums fail.
Hope we can go on together
Regards
Gerhard, just a model-builder :whistle
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well, Roderick may be correct that people are so full of knowledge that there is nothing new to post, but I can'
t imagine. Good, bad or indifferent, the internet has willy nilly provided a great deal to read, talk about or point a finger to. I'm forever finding something new, and yes, it takes time, but I enjoy that aspect as well.
I've seen other modelling sites where replies can run a thousand words with all sorts of references--never see that here. somehow, it may be a lack of enthusiasm, but as I mentioned in my first post, it could be that we have all aged out and our next project will be 6x2x2 feet with a sort-of pointy end and paddles.
with a thousand members, hardly anyone seems to be interested enough to even make a farewell reply, so maybe, as Eddy said, PD has had its day. Maybe our "stuff" could become part of the Paddle steamer Preservation Society and we could move there--we do have something in common. I really don't know what the answer is. Perhaps putting this all on dvds or cds and making it available through someone for purchase?
We have probably lost a lot of young potential members who are otherwise occupied with useless endeavors such as ipods, iphones and internet games. Maybe a new game featuring a paddle minesweeper?
Any new thoughts Eddy?
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I would like to thank Eddy for all the time, effort and money he has invested in Paddleducks. I have been a member since we started on Yahoo, which we moved from due to space limitations. I wonder if it would be possable to go back to "Yahoo".
Regards,
Gerald.
PS Another option might be to be absorbed by another website like rcgroups as a subsection.
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I'm thinking on it awaiting some info from Eddy to answer my email.My son says he'll host the site on one of his business servers we'll wait and see not over until the lake runs dry.
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Guys....
a. I have been here since year DOT [as one of the first 12 members of the group] when PD's was on YAHOO with Paul Jordan from Canada as the host.....[12 years ago?]
b. There will be a number of complications which ever way we go :gathering
c. I have suggested a potential scenario to Eddy, however this was not considered appropriate :crash
Lets just wait & see if we can resolve the quest to maintain OUR ..... :respect :respect :respect ......PD WEB site
Derek :beer
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Eddy, I will own up to posting on (your Model Boats) (nothing to do with the mag) about the catastrophe if P.D. should close. I understand Stephen has given an option, sorry if this is not of interest. R.G.Y. aka Hammer.
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I'm thinking on it awaiting some info from Eddy to answer my email.My son says he'll host the site on one of his business servers we'll wait and see not over until the lake runs dry.
Going further on would be just great, not only I would miss it!! :sobbing
Regards
Gerhard :beer
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I'm thinking on it awaiting some info from Eddy to answer my email.My son says he'll host the site on one of his business servers we'll wait and see not over until the lake runs dry.
Damien, I don't post on here very often as I don't have a paddler, although would love to build one some day, but I do come on and view all you guys posts and the beautiful models you build................and I both commend Eddie for his stalwart and unstinting selflessness over the past years for giving us this forum, and to people like yourself who can and are able to help.....................
YOU ARE ALL STARS and I thank you all. neil.
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Eddy, you are due the highest of thanks and praise for managing Padleducks for so many years. We all understand your motives for leaving and wish you well for the future. Your friends at Darlington & District MBC will always be here for you, as we have been before your move to darkest North Yorkshire.
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My sincere thanks for all the kind comments guys....
There is still a reasonable chance that Paddleducks will continue, discussions are ongoing right now, so watch this space!
Regards
Eddy
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Thanks Neil A reply from Eddy gave the details Damien Jnr wanted, his reply Ahh just a little tacker I'll host it for free Dad. He's a good son.
Eddy's decision if he contacts Damien Jnr, no pressure just an offer of help to keep PD's going.
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I certainly agree with other members in praise for Eddy for being the Commodore of this fine forum and like others I'm relatively new just over a year but very much enjoy seeing like minded modellers posting their builds and sharing tips.
If any one else would like to take the reins please talk to Eddy to give him as many options as we can.
Damien.
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hi Damien,
glad to hear that Damien jr can do this for the benefit of all. as it would be a great shame to loose this happy site, I have been looking in for some years but don't post much, since I built my Waverley. you cant purchase this detail and advice any where else. please thank him from me personally and any body else who can assist
david
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First thanks Eddy for all your very hard work keeping Paddleducks up and running, making it the excellent forum it is.
Not an active contributor myself, that's a health issue. But I always look in (mostly without logging in), just to admire the members excellent models, build logs and of course the friendly banter.
Hopefully a solution can be reached keeping all the archives for future reference.
Perhaps the Damien snr / jnr offer is the way to go.
I do like Damien’s style, his build logs have all the errors, dropped models, warts and all. A committed forum member.
Thanks again Eddy, wishing you all the very best for the future.
Regards.
Brian.
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just read an email Damien Jnr sent to Eddy he plans to keep the current log in details so no one will have strife finding the site, Eddy is at work so won't see it for a while.
David I'll do that.
Brian I know your grief as I'm on a disability pension and my posts go on forever as I only get 1 to 2 hrs in the shed 3 to 4 days a week so I spend a lot of time at the computer I'm also a moderator on another Model Boat forum so that part is not foreign to me.
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Damien your post are very refreshing.
We all have the "it didn't go to plan" but seldom admit it. I follow your builds because you do include the mishaps and how you overcame them.
Just in case to-day I have registered on the Model Boat forum.
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Your more than welcome to join the rc model boats forum. http://www.thercmodelboatforum.com/ (http://www.thercmodelboatforum.com/)
Though Paddleducks will still be here.
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Hi folks,
i watch this topic since it started but don't know what to say.
Personaly i would like to see the site are kept running in a way Eddy kept it for such a long time. There are so many friends i will not lose but i am not good in computing so i can't help keeping it running.
Eddy, i know all the hard things you had to cope with over the last year's i understand totally you want to step back from some things.
When the bill arrives for the fee's to keep it running please let me know.
Kind regards Hans.
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Don't worry guys, Damien and his son (Damien Jnr) are going to take over everything..... So Paddleducks is here to stay! :)
The whole website will be moved to a new server, but the domain name etc will remain the same, so you won't see anything different and can continue to access everything exactly as you do now.
I don't know when the move will happen yet, but it shouldn't take very long.
My sincere thanks to Damien Snr and Jnr for taking it on - I too would have been very sad to see Paddleducks go as (although I say so myself) I've put a LOT of time and effort into it over the years!
Regards
Eddy
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Don't worry guys, Damien and his son (Damien Jnr) are going to take over everything..... So Paddleducks is here to stay! :)
Regards
Eddy
That`s really good news! Thank you for this to Damien & Son & Eddy.
Eddy, I hope you will find your joy again to build something new, and stay with us!
Regards and best wishes
Gerhard
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Hi PD's
I must add my thanks to Eddy for all his work and time keeping paddleducks going throughout the years, I learned the majority of what I know about modelling paddlers from this forum - a huge amount of knowledge here.
Being between modelling projects at the moment, I am not on here as much as in the past several years (other hobbies and DIY eat into modelling time!), however I have other builds in the planning stage, so its great news to see Damien and Damien jnr have stepped in to keep PDs going, thank you both also.
Clark
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Good news!
I think,that not all is yet said about paddlers! Let´s go on!
Andreas
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Damien has struck a snag with the download as Eddy is sleeping he can't fix it till he wakes up anything including this posted by aussies after 6am Au daylight saving time will be lost so hold off a few hours or you'll have to do it again.
Damien.
Ps: I'll let you know when it's fixed.
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Thanks to Damien and his son for taking on Paddleducks. I look forward to a safe and secure transition.
I'm not building any boats at all at present but stop by most days to admire the active member's great works!!
And Strong thanks to Eddy for putting so much into the site over the years.
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I think a rousing round of applause For Eddy is in order for the many years He has kept Paddleducks alive I wish you all the best in any future endeavors and paths you follow Eddy THANKYOU.
I'll start Hip Hip Hooray.
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I think a rousing round of applause For Eddy is in order for the many years He has kept Paddleducks alive I wish you all the best in any future endeavors and paths you follow Eddy THANKYOU.
I'll start Hip Hip Hooray.
That`s what I can only agree, and say thanks also to you and your son, to give us the opportunity of staying here!
Hip Hip Hooray from Vienna
Gerhard
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Hopefully I've made the final changes Damien asked me to do to point the nameservers to our new host. No doubt that may mean the site could temporarily vanish for a day or so while the change gets updated around the world. But don't worry, Paddleducks is alive and well! Just give it a little while for all the changes to filter through...
Regards
Eddy
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A tripple Hip Hip Hooray to Eddy for all his hard work and also to Damia. Sen. and Jun.
I am looking forward to stay with you for a long time, best regards from Switzerland, Hans.
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Guys....I am going back many years....... :thinking
We thought that Eddy was taking on a huge task in filling the shoes of one Paul Jordan [PJ] the original founder of PD's on Yahoo
However Eddy championed the task & PD's grew & grew :goodnews
We all know the site has been quiet over the past years ....however that is I suggest not due to lack of interest by PD builders & fans....but to the simple fact we represent say 1/2 of a % of people over the spectrum of model makers
I too sincerely thank Eddy for maintaining & controlling our PD's........& wish him well in the future
Having said this......any bloke that can hide a switch with a plastic cap from a Coles milk container :a102 will be OK :hehe
I also know that all members will give every support to the Damien dad & son team :beer ........ Derek
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LOL a never ending supply Derek.
Looks like everything is working well The 8 post that went missing yesterday have been retrieved and Jnr's quiet Sunday taken up with why his comp has gone slow.
This site is now hosted from Sydney Au.
Carry on chaps oi.
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Hi.
I would also like to thank Eddy for all the hard work over the years in keeping Paddle Ducks going.
THANK YOU.
To Damien, Thank you for your work in keeping this Great Paddle Ducks going.
Prentice. :goodnews
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Many thanks to Damien & Son for rescuing PD.
Huge thanks to Eddy for the many years of hard work on the site and best wishes and good fortune for the future.
Andy
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A few glitches here and there Damien is sorting them.
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I to would like to express my thanks and best wishes to Eddy ,i only hope we hear from him from time to time .
And Damien , well , something in the back of my head told me that he might be the guy to save us .
Don't ask me how or what , it's just a hunch i got .
Damien jr , hooray for you to !
England used to send ships down under , now they send a whole fleet of paddlers ;-)
lots of sincere greetings from The Bombus (out of business now due to a frozen shoulder ) :-(
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Thanks Bombus are you psychic ?
My wife has had frozen shoulder a few times I built her a cheap pulley system that hangs from a door frame with lead weight in jam tin I take some pics this morning it strengthens the muscles when the doctors say your ready.
Here we go.
In this instance the lead is in a yogurt tub and is hanging from my shed roof your Doctor or Physiotherapist Will tell you the exercises and how much weight to start with.
As we live in rental we can't leave marks so instead of a screw or clamp to mount the pulley to a door jam I made this item in the next pic from coat hanger wire and it just sits over the molding above the door way.
Hope this gives you ideas.
Damien.
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Thnx Damien ,i have an appointment tommorow (thuesday) with my dr and we'll see what has to be done .
I'll tell him about your system and see what he says about it .
For now the use of my arm is (as far as i can judge it ) around 25%
so much work to do , time to spare ,and nothing happens
we have a saying here : i don't have a sitting ass.
that makes it the more painfull to just not be able to do much .
gr from Lode (The Bombus)
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Hi Forum members.
It's all been said already how grateful we all are.
We loose far too many good things due to lack of support, now is the wakeup call “Use it, or loose it”
This phrase has been said many times before, often when it’s too late.
Luckily in this instance a swift resolve to avert a crisis. Thanks Eddy, Damien Snr & Damien Jnr.
Well done and our appreciation for the hard work carried out on our behalf in such a short time scale.
Very best regards to all the forum members, and the continuing success of Paddleducks.
Brian.
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My thanks to all for the kind words and comments about Paddleducks, they are greatly appreciated.
I'll certainly still be here, and you never know, my interest in modelling may return at some later date? But whether it does or not, I will always have a passion for paddlers both full sized and models.
I'm sure that Damien Snr and Jnr will do a great job and keep things rolling along, so my sincere thanks to both of them for taking over the reigns at relatively short notice.
Regards
Eddy
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A great Thank you to Eddy for his sterling work and I wish you well in the future. :bravo
Congratulations to the Damien's for rescuing Paddleducks. I'm on here every day and it's become part of my routine so i would have missed it. I have not posted for a while as I have not been working on Paddle steamers. I did the two famous ones and enjoyed the experience but I still come back here to find out about Steam and it's relative designs. maybe one day eh !!
Once again, thank you for keeping it alive and I'm sure more people read these columns than register for membership so you are pleasing a lot of people.
Cheers
Ken
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We do have a section for other models Ken
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I'll bear it in mind Damion. Keeping up with 10 sites every day is becoming a semi full time job. Only the afternoon left for modelling these days. :D
Cheers
Ken
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I would just like to add my thanks to Eddy and Damien to those of everybody else.
Brian
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Thanks guy's although relatively new to paddle boats and paddle ducks I enjoy both and as you probably noticed I tend to do things differently and make a book of my posts I've been a boat/ship/yacht modeller as well as planes and 1:1 scale cars for the past 50yrs and always came back to the water.
When I saw This post from Eddy I immediately sent a message to Damien asking the cost of running this as the disability pension is not huge but I knew I had to try and keep it going.
I'm exploring the Admin side a bit each day and coming to grips with it.
With the great bunch of like minded members the ducks will paddle for many years to come Thanks to everyone for their contributions.
Damien.
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Thanks a lot Damien!
Andreas
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Gee whizz...
Thank goodness the site is still here... For a couple of reasons i haven't had the time to look in on Paddle ducks.. my sincere apologies!
Eddy, I'm glad you have found someone to look after the site and sorry i haven't been the most supportive member of late.
I have only recently learn't paddler day was cancelled this year & now that the site almost drifted of the net.
My sincere thanks to you for all your hard work and hopefully get the chance chat with you some time.
To a great past and a bright future ?
All the best!
Kim
Now at the risk of bankrupting myself... I am a trader and do enjoy the benefits of this site. I'm sure the new owners may face some bills in the future ... I'm all ears... to a certain extent. ;D
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Hiya Kim,
Welcome back....where have you been ?? How's business ? Any products for us to peruse ? 8)
Cheers
Ken
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I hope the "Account Suspended" message that replaced Paddleducks last night was just part of the transfer process - it fair gave me the willies.
Brian
(Relieved to see the site up again this morning)
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All good Brian Damien Jnr missed setting the renewal date 12mth ahead even though it's free the accounting software said it wasn't paid a typical banking glitch now fixed.
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I have to admit I saw the Account Suspended notice and wondered what was happening! Good to see it was just a little glitch! ;)
While I'm posting this, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Damien Snr & Jnr for taking over the website. It would have been a crying shame to see it all come to an end. So Thanks guys! :bravo
Regards
Eddy
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Your most welcome Eddy.
I'm logged in most of the day although quiet on model posts I finally finished my Taig micro lathe (Peatol in the UK I believe) Conversion to 24v DC with a motor the same as in my mobility scooter yahoo.
Float tank is sitting on an old ironing board slowly leaking :16 my fiberglass work is not as good As i thought :oops
If the weather is good tomorrow I'll ballast the 2 paddlers.
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Hi Damien
I found this "account suspended " note also on my screen, so I tried to log in today, everything is running well. Thanks to both of you to fix it that fast :bravo :clap :bravo
Regards
Gerhard
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:c017
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:crash....all OK guys......... :beer
_______________________________________________________
Re: WEB Site Glitch this morning?
« Sent to: derekwarner_decoy on: Today at 01:43:30 AM »
Yes Derek I got an email at 12.45am this morning seems Jnr hadn't set the next due date forward a year it was fixed at 1.53am when he got home from work.
WEB Site Glitch this morning?
« Sent to: DamienG on: Today at 01:21:15 AM »
Damien
Not sure if you are aware, but we experienced a PD "WEB site suspended" message this morning @ about 0700 AEST for approx. 20 minutes....Derek
derekwarner_decoy ...Wollongong Australia
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Welcome back again. :bravo
It just goes to show how mercenary these Web folks are. I suppose you have the complete records stored 'Off line' in case you ever have to change Web host. ?
Cheers
Ken
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Damien has it all on backup as Eddy did Host wont change while Damien & I are Admin as Damien is the host through his business hiccups occur sometimes twas fixed quickly ALL IS WELL
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This topic is now closed.