Goodbye, and thank you.

[Paul]

Hello everyone.

Yesterday I was contacted by AutoForums to inform me my services as MINI2 administrator are no longer required, and all my admin access had been removed.

An offer was made to discuss options, but after 9 and a half years with MINI2, the tone and manner of my "dismissal" tells me it's time for me to bid farewell.

It's been an amazing journey since I registered the MINI2 domain name as I thought it was "quite catchy" way back at the start 2001. You know, the new MINI, it's like the mini, but the 2nd incarnation, genius (?!).

I've met some amazing people, and had some wonderful times.

I'd like to express publicly my gratitude to every visitor and member of MINI2, none more so than the team of moderators and administrators who've assisted running the site for the community over the years.

But all things must pass, and I feel now is my time to say goodbye to MINI2.

I hope, even with the mistakes I've no doubt made over the years, I have served the MINI community well with MINI2, and of course I will continue to entertain myself, and hopefully others, in the MINI world via theSwitchback, and quite probably other future MINI related projects.

Thanks again, and goodbye MINI2.

Paul

[Goonery]

All good things .....

You started something very special Paul, and as with all good things the memories of the good times will always outweigh the bad. Thanks for everything you did here, move out, move on and don't linger on what might have been. Tomorrow is always a new beginning.

Thanks for everything

[jpw]

Firstly, Thanks for all the helpful posts you have made, You have indeed helped me with queries over the past year or so and I'm sure you have helped lots of others aswell.
Secondly, I dont understand how they can remove you as an administrator - do they own this site? I thought it was run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts? NOT by the MINI Brand?
If thats the case I may not be on here for much longer either!!
We should be able to have an impartial point of view of all things MINI and not be lead by the industry, whatever happened to democracy and free speech.

Thanks again
Jon

[Deep_27a]

Oh gosh Paul, sorry to hear!

Though not had much of a direct contact with you, your advice on here has been a great help! Not a good thing to lose a long termer, id be interested to know how autoforums came to the decision.

All the best mate, do stick around though!

[wibbly]

I suspect no one can ever quite measure the contribution you have made to making the MINI Community what it is today, and for that so many people should be thankful... I guess the MINI community certainly wouldn't be what it is without M2 and all the offshoots of it, for better or worse.

Well done and thank you for all your efforts, here's to the future!

[MINIcharged]

Thank you, and best wishes.

[SoggyCornFlakes]

Shame to see the loyalty you showed proved to be misguided and of course unrequited but AF being AF it's no surprise.

Move along Paul and enjoy better things now ( totalMINI of course ) , this place is long dead of the fun times your energy and enthusiasm made it - those memories will never fade for those lucky enough to experience it.

[Morty]

It's a pity to read this ... you made this site great , just out of a simple MINI idea Paul.
Thanks for having me as a member and moderator.

a lot of usuals and a lot of people who made this site the huge community that it once was, and no offence whatever to the current members ... , have went on, to other places, other communities and to other hobbies... I actually logged into here for the first time in months ... then to think I came here daily, hourly

I'm sure we'll meet and see each other again soon Paul.
I know you have other projects now .. and I wish you the best with those.
Keep on MINI-ing, Switchback-ing .... whatever

[Scrogg]

The final nail has well and truly been hammered in to the coffin of MINI2...

A sad day for the global MINI community

Thank you for all your hard work over the past 9 years Paul. The very best of luck with all your future ventures, whatever they may be, and to you and your family for the future.

[RVW]

Thanks for setting all this up.
Without it I would have not met so many new friends around the world or had so many MINI Adventures.
Sad Day but life must move on.

[Beastmaster]

Thanks for all you have done - its been a massive and wonderful part of my life and Peanut's too!

[ALD0]

All the best Paul, Hope to see you over on www.totalmini . com?!

This was the first MINI site I joined. You have helped form lots of long-term friendship, love relationships, raised money for charity and just getting lots of MINI in one place on runs and outings-Obviously with the help of the run organisers of course.

Cheers

Si

[goonerij]

Sad news indeed .... will AutoForums never learn

Like Aldo, this was the first MINI forum I joined and it was always well run and moderated by Paul.

Oh well, there is always the other channel

[Snowie]

Paul

Thanks for everything that you have done on here for the good of the MINI community.

Thanks for bringing me into the fold of moderating on MINI sites-- it has been a great experience and one that certainly tests your mental ability to handle difficult situations with both forum members and the Lords & Masters of the domain.

It is a shame that the lords and masters have decided to treat you like they treated some of the site sponsors and moderators on here some 14 months ago. We all knew in our hearts that they were intent on destroying what you had built arround a solid community - $$$ rule and members / sponsors are just a source of income to be maximised and not nutured....

All good things come to an end and we have proof that there is life on the other side - we look forward to seeing you over there in the not too distant future.

[55JWB]

sadly I have seen this on several other forums over the years Paul, we have not met or even conversed but as an excessive poster on other forums, I feel for you and bizzarely understand

You will go on to something I am sure and have blatantly created a fantastic 'legacy'

J