I will get blasted for what will be perceived as critical or negative... and I mean no disrespect to Lynda nor Sheila, since you have given tirelessly on this forum...

... but I don't find any posts from Lynda, with all these questions on Scotland since last September. There were quite a number of questions in a short span in September, and then all of a sudden, they stopped.

Presumably, your personal e-mail communication with Sheila took off from there. And readers of this forum never got to share in any of what was shared. if some of it seemed personal in nature to you, then so much the better.

But questions that are really NOT personal get mailed to many "regulars" on this forum, and it undermines how the forum works for everyone.

If Sheila, or anyone else... spent the majority of time answering questions in private e-mails, and a much smaller fraction contributing here...

... then how would anybody know that people like her exist?

Hope you have a great trip, Lynda.. and come back here and share your impressions...

Best wishes,

Rex

Mòran taing to Sheila for her good counsel and humour!

Hi there, Rex. I see you're back to being the Forum policeman

Now, I KNOW that you know how many times I've posted here, since I discovered this place. I haven't a clue.

I can tell you that I have sent her 31 email since she appeared here; many of which are in the "have a bottle on wine on the terrace" level. we've also discussed, without acrimony, both politics and the Superbowl.

I have undertaken to do a complete route guide once Lynda's itinerary is fixed. It, like my 104 saved documents, will be posted here for all to see. So you'll get some benfit (or some boredom) after all.

Sheila, I think you should charge Snoopy at least fifty guineas!

It shouldn't matter to the rest of us how many private emails you have made to Fodorites and I don't think explanations are necessary. I just appreciate how you have helped me.

Gosh, I never realized that people who contribute here aren't supposed to spend their time on personal e-mails. Live and learn.

jeez Rex, I've always defended you but that post is uncalled for. So what if She has personal contac-- but she equalizes it here, and is not a poster who just throws out URLS. She is the only source of info in her area WHO CONSTANTLY POSTS.We appreciate all who give their advice in other areas, but she's special because she extends herself like someone wanting a pin or a small map odf an area.Let's give advice, information and not knock other posters. We are all here. I hope, to share travel, and life styles without being made to feel small.

YOU GO..MIMI!!!

You've got it RIGHT!

I knew in advance that I would be criticized, and I accept your criticism.

It's an opinion. I wanted to share it first and foremost with Lynda.

I share it with everyone who writes directly to me. and then I try my best to answer their questions, and encourage to take - - as much as possible, if they are not seeking PERSONAL information - - to take it back to the forum.

I hope that the forum benefits from all opinions.

Personally speaking here, I love hearing everyones opinions on these boards, about Travel,Hotels,etc..not other posters.
I think there are times when one should keep ones opinions to himself.

Dang! I'm way out of line. I've had literally hundreds of emails (sent and received) with travel info from and to Fodorites. I guess I better start cutting and posting.

Shelia, I think you are great. Always cheerful, never bossy, always helpful. Thanks for your gracious, interesting, and frequently humorous postings.

There is nothing further I can add, and I will not dig my heels in and mount a defensive stance. The contributions by Sheila, by grasshopper, and many others are - - yes, of course - - greatly treasured.

I apologize for the fact that my posting led to this inflammatory exchange.

That's very gracious of you Rex. I'm impressed.

Now let's all take chill pills! There's so much vitriolic stuff flying around here lately. I think I'll go howl at the moon for awhile.

And so have you been very helpful, Rex, lt us not attack one another.
happy travels, happy talk...

Yes, Judi, my comments were in jest, although it pains me to admit that . . . And I would be honored to be able to call Sheila my friend. I try to inject as much vitriolic stuff and ascerbic claptrap as possible onto this forum while trying to couch my comments in terms of travel. Sheila called me for what I am (narrow minded, right-wing, bobble head, so I called her a wide minded, left-wing static head) and earned my respect with her candor.

Snoopy

Wow, if I ever thought that sending a compliment- for all to see - in Sheila's direction, would create such a stir.....I imagine I would have done it anyway. She so deserves such gratitude.
I was reading along seeing that others agreed when I came across the message from Rex. My heart sunk and I felt the same feeling that I had back in September - or whenever it was that I dropped off. Incidently, this was my 1st posting since then.
Messages like his actually sent me "off-line".
I 1st discovered this forum after having bought Fodor's Great Britain '03. I also was reading other publications beginning my planning for a Summer '04 trip to the UK. Once I isolated the locations I thought we might want to visit, I began posting various questions to this forum. Having never participated in such an excahnge before, I kind of fumbled through - even doubling up on my questions at times. By and large I was receiving helpful and friendly advice but there were a handful of replies that began to make me feel a bit out of my element. I am not easily discouraged but I figured I didn't need to subject myself to feeling so awkward.Thus, I stopped posting. One individual even suggested that I had not done any research and that I was just throwing out questions, as if to be asking everyone else to do the work for me. It was through countless hours of research that I was even able to ask any questions!!
Anyway, Sheila offered to critique my plans, I accepted, and we struck up an on-line friendship. Yes, I have continued to pose many questions to her re: my upcoming trip AND we have discussed numerous other things. I feel blessed to have found her and I have this site to thank for that.
I will, at the conclusion of my trip, post our highlights ( and likely lows ) in gratitude to what I have learned here - which has been a lot. That is how I feel I can contribute.
Thanks to all of you above who offered supportive comments and for also offering gratitude to Sheila.
And thanks again Sheila - you're the bomb!!!

I must add my admiration for Sheila as well. A year ago she was extremely kind and helpful to me while I was planning a trip to London. Thanks to her I had the experience of a lifetime. Since there is no way for me to adequately thank her, I have tried since then to find some way to pay-it-forward, as it were, but with little success. I just hope she knows how grateful I am, and how much her help means to so many of us.
Erica

virtual flowers and champagne for everyone with good wishes.
And to everyone out there who are kind posters, with no ax to grind, with no upmanship, and who love to share their knowledge without "ättitude"
"That describes Sheila.

I actually have a Sheila Shrine that I built in my back yard to honor her travelogue greatness. I suggest a pilgrimage to Dallas,TX to view the shrine and offer some sort of appropriate sacrifice, such as empty malt Scotch bottles, in hommage.

I'm sorry, Sheila. I JUST couldn't help myself.

In loving jest,
Snoopy

I agree. Sheila sure is a sweetie. Hi Sheila!! Still using my spurtle!!

Aahhhhh Spurtles! Thank you dancin, reminds me that I must go dig mine out of the boxes from the move and use it some day
Thanks from a wee Yank to a wee Scot