Maudlin Christmas Message

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I was pointed at ILX at a low point in my life, by my old friend Andrew L. I was severely depressed, and not coping at all well. I needed things to occupy and distract and entertain me, and I joined a whole load of mailing lists. I guess Andrew thought this would be a good addition to those.

He was sort of wrong, because ILX has been a hell of a lot more than that for me. I quite quickly felt as if it was a kind of second home, a place where I'd meet vaguely like-minded people with intelligence and knowledge, who have largely turned out to be very interesting and likeable too. It's taken up a significant place in my social life too - I've met many of the London ILXers several times now, and consider many of you friends rather than simply names on the internet. (Actually and less explicably, I would say that of several who I haven't met too.)

Anyway, I thought that this time of year was a good time to say thanks. I'm not sure how well I'd have got through what has been a difficult year without ILX, but in any case it's given me a lot of happiness and stimulation. Thank you all, and have a great Christmas!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 20 December 2002 23:12 (twenty-three years ago)

That's great, Martin--keep coming back! We need ya!

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 20 December 2002 23:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Merry X-mas to ya Martin~

― Kim (Kim), Friday, 20 December 2002 23:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Happy Christmas Martin! Have a good one!!

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 20 December 2002 23:27 (twenty-three years ago)

i feel the same martin...and i think just about everyone is glad to have you here, both online and at faps etc. i hope next year sorts itself out better (the italian gf must be a good start to the year at least?)

merry christmas martin

― gareth (gareth), Friday, 20 December 2002 23:28 (twenty-three years ago)

frohe weihnachten martin!!

― geeta (geeta), Friday, 20 December 2002 23:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Martin!! It may sound perverse but I am glad that you had to dig so deep back then, to the point of associating with disembodied mentalists - because I am very glad to have gotten to "know" you in this odd way. The generousness and forthrightness of your style and personality set an example for me. I don't doubt that others feel the same way. Merry Christmas!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 20 December 2002 23:38 (twenty-three years ago)

fat props and happy christmas, m to the skidmore - yr a charmer.

― naked as sin (naked as sin), Friday, 20 December 2002 23:38 (twenty-three years ago)

merry christmas martin!

― rainy (rainy), Friday, 20 December 2002 23:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Aw, thank you all. This moves me greatly. (Am I sounding like Anthony? I hope so.)

And Gareth, you're right. My relationship with Rosa is looking very promising indeed, and I'm pretty crazy about her. We've not spent more than about 24 hours at a time together yet, but we'll be together almost all the time from Sunday for a good while, so if all this goes well, I shall start thinking about all sorts of big changes.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 20 December 2002 23:47 (twenty-three years ago)

God bless us...every one!

Seriously, though, Martin, I'm with you. It's near impossible to put together as intelligent, interesting and witty a group offline.

― webcrack (music=crack), Saturday, 21 December 2002 02:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Rah for Martin! For he's a good soul he is. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 21 December 2002 03:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Merry Christmas Martin - and happy New Year and the like.

― Al Ewing (Al Ewing), Saturday, 21 December 2002 04:18 (twenty-three years ago)

yep merry christmas martin, and all ilxors. i am also glad i found ilx, it has saved me from what would have been a slow and painful death by lack-of-stimulation.
so, i wish everyone a great festive season ( whether you choose to celebrate or not ) and hope that the new year brings good things to all :-)
btw martin, you are one of my fave posters here, and i really hope it all continues to go well with your new gf.

― donna (donna), Saturday, 21 December 2002 04:28 (twenty-three years ago)

Merry Christmas Martin!

http://members.rott.chello.nl/e.visser25/OzPlacemat2.jpg

― erik, Saturday, 21 December 2002 11:18 (twenty-three years ago)

ILX is the best discussion group I've ever come across, online or off. Every other online group I've ever participated in has either dissolved out of boredom and degenerated into stupid in-fighting. If you're familiar with usenet at all, you soon realize how amazingly NICE people are here. Anyway, a Merry Christmas and a gear new year to you all.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Saturday, 21 December 2002 11:23 (twenty-three years ago)

ILX is the best discussion group I've ever come across

I'm not familiar with other groups but I don't think I want to know now.

― erik, Saturday, 21 December 2002 11:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Glad your life feels better with ILx in it, only fair since ILx feels better having you contributing to it. Have a good Christmas, from one old git to another.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Saturday, 21 December 2002 11:52 (twenty-three years ago)

That wasn't a maudlin message at all Martin - it was lovely.

I would echo what everyone else here has said about this little community .... you are a fantastic group of people - interesting, intellectually stimulating, extremely funny and very kind. I count myself very lucky to have accidentally stumbled across you all on this great big information superhighway, and privileged to have been accepted by you as part of it.

What Justyn said about childish in-fighting on other boards is true - one of the first things I noticed about ilXers was that even when you argue you do it so very nicely, intelligently, and without so much as a hint of malice.

Very best wishes to you, Martin, for a wonderful Christmas and I hope 2003 is kind to you.

In fact - Merry Christmas to one and all. I have presents to wrap and cards still to write so I may not be around much for a while, but I will certainly be thinking about you.

Now, where did I put that virtual mistletoe...........?

― C J (C J), Saturday, 21 December 2002 12:51 (twenty-three years ago)

see u in the new year martin!!

― mark s (mark s), Saturday, 21 December 2002 13:17 (twenty-three years ago)

I am pleased to have done my bit (even if Martin is more popular than I've ever been!)

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Saturday, 21 December 2002 17:52 (twenty-three years ago)

see you in the newest year we got, martin!!! i mean you're almost *squints eyes* as good as Milan Barros (sp?)!!!!! honour the ice!!!!

― dwh (dwh), Saturday, 21 December 2002 18:04 (twenty-three years ago)

All that and a safe flirting environment to boot! Merry X-mas Martin, and all the rest of ILX...

― Mary (Mary), Sunday, 22 December 2002 00:02 (twenty-three years ago)

Huge thankyous all round! All the kind words mean a lot to me.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 22 December 2002 11:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Martin, it's a pleasure to know you - you're a gent.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Sunday, 22 December 2002 12:15 (twenty-three years ago)

As Doc C beat me to it, I'll second that: you're wonderful, and you deserve the best holiday/year ever....

Onward and upward, and I hope we can hang out in the new year....

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Sunday, 22 December 2002 15:46 (twenty-three years ago)

hi martin.

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 22 December 2002 15:50 (twenty-three years ago)

merry christmas!!

― doom-e, Sunday, 22 December 2002 16:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey Nichole - are you still in the UK?

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Sunday, 22 December 2002 17:12 (twenty-three years ago)

I hope she is, Dr C! I was looking forward to doing lots of hanging out with her in 2003!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 22 December 2002 17:44 (twenty-three years ago)

And me! We luv Nichole!

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Sunday, 22 December 2002 20:49 (twenty-three years ago)

aww and thirded, Dr C! and happy christmas Martin, you're grebt! :)

― katie (katie), Sunday, 22 December 2002 21:10 (twenty-three years ago)

I hope you have a merry xmas martin!

― DG (D_To_The_G), Sunday, 22 December 2002 22:06 (twenty-three years ago)

I too was ironically disappointed by the non-maudlin nature of your message.

what's the 2000AD for Happy Christmas?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 23 December 2002 13:03 (twenty-three years ago)

Martin, that message is not maudlin at all and very touching. I’m glad to have been part of ILX if it’s helped you (or anyone else), even if I’ve only been around for a little while. ILX has helped me a lot too and I couldn’t have worded a better thank you myself. Hope you have a great Christmas and New Year.

― smee (smee), Monday, 23 December 2002 13:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes, that was more of a thoughtful and touching message than a maudlin one. It's nice that ILX has been able to help some people.

― Nicole (Nicole), Monday, 23 December 2002 13:54 (twenty-three years ago)

La la la. Lovely. I will now go and find some kitten pics to post...

― Alan (Alan), Monday, 23 December 2002 13:57 (twenty-three years ago)

Christmas Kittens?

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 23 December 2002 13:58 (twenty-three years ago)

OK
http://www.mschloe.com/xmas/kitten.gif

bleh

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0744568196.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

and otherwise

http://heart.buffnet.net/kitten.jpg

― Alan (Alan), Monday, 23 December 2002 14:06 (twenty-three years ago)

YAY!! You rule Alan!

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 23 December 2002 14:09 (twenty-three years ago)

we all rule, ev-er-y-one of us. HO HO HO! Merry christmas, readers.

― Alan (Alan), Monday, 23 December 2002 14:14 (twenty-three years ago)

Ho ho ho and a bottle of rum! We are the ILX christmas pirates!

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 23 December 2002 14:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Isn't it YO Ho Ho? Where's g-kit when you need him......

― smee (smee), Monday, 23 December 2002 14:21 (twenty-three years ago)

dude, it's the x-mas remix!!

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 23 December 2002 14:33 (twenty-three years ago)

a merry cockfarming christmas to everyone!

― rener (rener), Monday, 23 December 2002 14:47 (twenty-three years ago)

I may be merry but I shall certainly not be doing any farming, especially not farming of cocks!

― smee (smee), Monday, 23 December 2002 14:51 (twenty-three years ago)

And me! We luv Nichole!

Aw, cheers Doc C (and Martin, as well!) Yup, still in London-town. Freezing my butt in the cold doesn't leave me much time to post, nowadays.

Still, I look forward to seeing more of you both! Coming to Pete's Xmas FAP?

Alan, applause from a fellow scary mind!

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Monday, 23 December 2002 19:14 (twenty-three years ago)

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