The thread "umrat report" made me wonder....

..... When did "umra" start?
I've been around (mostly lurking) since before 1995/96 when Chris
Harrison (late of this parish) and Imperial College won University
Challenge.
http://www.umra.org.uk/ doesn't help -it just says that it is one of
the earliest groups created within the uk.* usenet hierarchy but gives
no date of founding.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!aboutgroup/uk.media.radio.archers
doesn't give a date either but I'm sure there is an umrat out there
who can <g>

The Birthday Monitor will tell us very soon now!

--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2019-07-05 10:59:20 UTC

The earliest post I have kept is 1995-November-5.

Post by krw
The Birthday Monitor will tell us very soon now!

I think it was 1995. The birthday monitor doesn't usually give age, only
date (though I think may do so for UMRA).

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Everything will be all right in the end. And if everything isn't all right,
then it isn't the end. - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)

Nick Leverton

2019-07-05 11:16:26 UTC

The Birthday Monitor will tell us very soon now!

But you'll have to wait 26 more days to find out ;)

Oh all right then - July 31st,"uk.media.radio.archers, 1995" according
to the Birthday list ...

Nick

--
"The Internet, a sort of ersatz counterfeit of real life"
-- Janet Street-Porter, BBC2, 19th March 1996

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2019-07-05 11:47:48 UTC

In message <qfnbia$8i9$***@leverton.org>, Nick Leverton
<***@leverton.org> writes:
[]

Post by Nick Leverton
But you'll have to wait 26 more days to find out ;)
Oh all right then - July 31st,"uk.media.radio.archers, 1995" according
to the Birthday list ...
Nick

Ah, so the string does have the year on it, for at least UMRA and me!
[Perhaps that could slowly be added, at least for Ambridge residents ..]

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Practically every British actor with a bus pass is in there ...
Barry Norman (on "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" [2011]), RT 2015/12/12-18

Nick Odell

2019-07-06 13:01:02 UTC

Post by Nick Leverton
But you'll have to wait 26 more days to find out ;)
Oh all right then - July 31st,"uk.media.radio.archers, 1995" according
to the Birthday list ...
Nick

Ah, so the string does have the year on it, for at least UMRA and me!
[Perhaps that could slowly be added, at least for Ambridge residents ..]

IIRC you have been offered the keys to the UMRA wiki so, if you wanted
to, you could compile it yourself over there.

Nick

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2019-07-06 14:24:52 UTC

Post by Nick Leverton
But you'll have to wait 26 more days to find out ;)
Oh all right then - July 31st,"uk.media.radio.archers, 1995" according
to the Birthday list ...
Nick

Ah, so the string does have the year on it, for at least UMRA and
me! [Perhaps that could slowly be added, at least for Ambridge
residents ..]

IIRC you have been offered the keys to the UMRA wiki so, if you wanted
to, you could compile it yourself over there.
Nick

If the birthday monitor were to send me the list, I'd happily edit it
and send it back (provided it's in a format I can edit), assuming the
wiki to which I've apparently been offered the keys _has_ the birth year
information.

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

In science, the more you know what you're looking at, the more magical it
becomes. - Professor Brian Cox, in RT 2017/7/15-21

Nick Leverton

2019-07-07 12:17:07 UTC

Post by Nick Leverton
But you'll have to wait 26 more days to find out ;)
Oh all right then - July 31st,"uk.media.radio.archers, 1995" according
to the Birthday list ...
Nick

Ah, so the string does have the year on it, for at least UMRA and
me! [Perhaps that could slowly be added, at least for Ambridge
residents ..]

IIRC you have been offered the keys to the UMRA wiki so, if you wanted
to, you could compile it yourself over there.
Nick

The Birthday Monitor, whilst making every personal effort to be
most patient and reasonable, reserves the right to be arbitrary and
unreasonable in the running of the Service, and, feeling that these ideas
have been discussed to death already with little or no other support,
would refer all further like suggestions to the reply frequently given
by net.legend Tim Pierce.

Birthday Monitor

--
"The Internet, a sort of ersatz counterfeit of real life"
-- Janet Street-Porter, BBC2, 19th March 1996

Kate B

2019-07-07 13:04:58 UTC

Post by Nick Leverton
But you'll have to wait 26 more days to find out ;)
Oh all right then - July 31st,"uk.media.radio.archers, 1995" according
to the Birthday list ...
Nick

Ah, so the string does have the year on it, for at least UMRA and
me! [Perhaps that could slowly be added, at least for Ambridge
residents ..]

IIRC you have been offered the keys to the UMRA wiki so, if you wanted
to, you could compile it yourself over there.
Nick

I suspect IANAOU in not wanting my complete birth date to be featured in
a public wiki, nor particularly on a private one either.

--
Kate B
London

Mike

2019-07-07 13:22:30 UTC

Post by Kate B

Post by Nick Leverton
But you'll have to wait 26 more days to find out ;)
Oh all right then - July 31st,"uk.media.radio.archers, 1995" according
to the Birthday list ...
Nick

Ah, so the string does have the year on it, for at least UMRA and
me! [Perhaps that could slowly be added, at least for Ambridge
residents ..]

IIRC you have been offered the keys to the UMRA wiki so, if you wanted
to, you could compile it yourself over there.
Nick

I suspect IANAOU in not wanting my complete birth date to be featured in
a public wiki, nor particularly on a private one either.

Even in her nineties, my mother would always reply to a question of her age
with ‘Thirty Nine’.

--
Toodle Pip

LFS

2019-07-08 09:06:52 UTC

Post by Mike

Post by Kate B

Post by Nick Leverton
But you'll have to wait 26 more days to find out ;)
Oh all right then - July 31st,"uk.media.radio.archers, 1995" according
to the Birthday list ...
Nick

Ah, so the string does have the year on it, for at least UMRA and
me! [Perhaps that could slowly be added, at least for Ambridge
residents ..]

IIRC you have been offered the keys to the UMRA wiki so, if you wanted
to, you could compile it yourself over there.
Nick

I suspect IANAOU in not wanting my complete birth date to be featured in
a public wiki, nor particularly on a private one either.

Even in her nineties, my mother would always reply to a question of her age
with ‘Thirty Nine’.

My mum's answer was always "Over 21".

--
Laura (emulate St George for email)

Jenny M Benson

2019-07-08 10:11:20 UTC

Post by LFS

Post by Mike
Even in her nineties, my mother would always reply to a question of her age
with ‘Thirty Nine’.

My mum's answer was always "Over 21".

I was (abount) 27 when my (about) 5 year-old-daughter asked a
contemporary of my mother's how old she was. Friend said she was 21.
Daughter said "My Mummy's older than you then. She's 27."

--
Jenny M Benson
http://jennygenes.blogspot.co.uk/

Peter Withey

2019-07-07 08:58:02 UTC

On Fri, 5 Jul 2019 11:16:26 +0000 (UTC), Nick Leverton

The Birthday Monitor will tell us very soon now!

But you'll have to wait 26 more days to find out ;)
Oh all right then - July 31st,"uk.media.radio.archers, 1995" according
to the Birthday list ...
Nick

Thanks Nick. So I was lurking if not at the start, soon after. At this
distance I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

--
Pete

Jenny M Benson

2019-07-07 09:34:45 UTC

Post by Peter Withey
So I was lurking if not at the start, soon after. At this
distance I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

Through all the excellent information about newsgroups supplied by Demon
when one opted for their internet service and the wonderful Turnpike.

--
Jenny M Benson
http://jennygenes.blogspot.co.uk/

Dumrat

2019-07-07 10:59:35 UTC

Post by Peter Withey
So I was lurking if not at the start, soon after. At this
distance I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

Through all the excellent information about newsgroups supplied by Demon when one opted
for their internet service and the wonderful Turnpike.

Via Min* of the snipper riffle on the Coronation Street newsgroup. I have no idea how I
got *there* in the first place, though! I think my first post on Umra was in 1999 (I seem
to remember having posted the date here quite recently, but maybe I just looked it up but
didn't comment at the time). The late Chankel was very prolific on the group at the time,
as were TNMF and Linda Fox before she was an FF.

In an unrelated question, does anyone have news of Sebastian Lisken or Iain Archer?

*A belated Happy Birthday, Min, if you're around!

--
Salaam Alaykum,
Anne, Exceptionally Traditionally-built Dumrat

Vicky Ayech

2019-07-07 11:07:33 UTC

Post by Dumrat
In an unrelated question, does anyone have news of Sebastian Lisken or Iain Archer?
*A belated Happy Birthday, Min, if you're around!

Sebastian contacted me a month or two ago to say he was in London and
we arranged to meet but I had to cancel. He had not responded to
queries on twitter about whether he is ok as we suddenly stopped
hearing from him ages ago.

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2019-07-07 14:11:50 UTC

Post by Vicky Ayech

Post by Dumrat
In an unrelated question, does anyone have news of Sebastian Lisken or Iain Archer?
*A belated Happy Birthday, Min, if you're around!

From me too.

Post by Vicky Ayech
Sebastian contacted me a month or two ago to say he was in London and
we arranged to meet but I had to cancel. He had not responded to
queries on twitter about whether he is ok as we suddenly stopped
hearing from him ages ago.

Thanks to others who have reported on Sebastian as well. He is much
missed - as another has said, his grasp of English was better than most
native speakers, but not only for that. He was very helpful on computing
matters, but not only for that too.

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Mike Jackson |\ _,,,---,,_
and Squeak /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ Shame there's no snooze button
[1998] |,4- ) )-,_..;\ ( `'- on a cat who wants breakfast
zzz '---''(_/--' `-'\_)

SODAM

2019-07-07 13:44:43 UTC

Post by Dumrat
In an unrelated question, does anyone have news of Sebastian Lisken or Iain Archer?

Sebastian wrote me a lovely email of condolence after I posted about Btms’
death. He said that Btms always made him feel welcome and that she made
umra like a little play in which she always gave him a part. It was so
warmly and delicately expressed that I asked him if I could forward it to
Mr Btms, to which he agreed.

--
SODAM
The thinking umrat’s choice for editor

Dumrat

2019-07-07 14:03:59 UTC

Post by SODAM

Post by Dumrat
In an unrelated question, does anyone have news of Sebastian Lisken or Iain Archer?

Thank you for that, SODAM.

Yes, Sebastian's Use of English is far better and more nuanced than many whose own mother
tongue it is!

He wrote me a lovely message when my mother died and was really helpful saving her voice
for me, too.

Oh dear, I think I may owe him an email since 2013. Waves apologetically at Sebastian in
case he's watching.

--
Salaam Alaykum,
Anne, Exceptionally Traditionally-built Dumrat

Penny

2019-07-07 14:16:52 UTC

On Sun, 7 Jul 2019 20:59:35 +1000, Dumrat <***@gmail.com> scrawled in
the dust...

Post by Dumrat
In an unrelated question, does anyone have news of Sebastian Lisken or Iain Archer?

I had an email exchange with Iain in January in response to something I
wrote here so he may be lurking.

--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

Chris McMillan

2019-07-08 13:16:08 UTC

Post by Penny
the dust...

Post by Dumrat
In an unrelated question, does anyone have news of Sebastian Lisken or Iain Archer?

I had an email exchange with Iain in January in response to something I
wrote here so he may be lurking.

Oh good! Hi Iain, if you’re lurking.

Sincerely Chris

Kate B

2019-07-07 14:23:13 UTC

Post by Dumrat

Post by Jenny M Benson

Post by Peter Withey
So I was lurking if not at the start, soon after. At this
distance I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

Through all the excellent information about newsgroups supplied by
Demon when one opted for their internet service and the wonderful
Turnpike.

Via Min* of the snipper riffle on the Coronation Street newsgroup. I
have no idea how I got *there* in the first place, though! I think my
first post on Umra was in 1999 (I seem to remember having posted the
date here quite recently, but maybe I just looked it up but didn't
comment at the time). The late Chankel was very prolific on the group at
the time, as were TNMF and Linda Fox before she was an FF.
In an unrelated question, does anyone have news of Sebastian Lisken or Iain Archer?
*A belated Happy Birthday, Min, if you're around!

And from me!

I corresponded with Iain quite a lot a few years ago. He was wonderfully
kind and immensely helpful when my brand-new Dell laptop kept crashing
(thanks to his input I was able to invoke the guarantee more than once -
it was eventually practically entirely rebuilt and has been steaming
along ever since. He also introduced me to Linux which was very useful
too now and then but which I never quite managed to adopt) and we
exchanged Christmas cards for a while, but we seemed to have lapsed
about four years ago or so. I hope he's OK.

--
Kate B
London

Chris McMillan

2019-07-08 13:16:07 UTC

Post by Dumrat

Post by Peter Withey
So I was lurking if not at the start, soon after. At this
distance I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

Through all the excellent information about newsgroups supplied by Demon when one opted
for their internet service and the wonderful Turnpike.

Via Min* of the snipper riffle on the Coronation Street newsgroup. I have no idea how I
got *there* in the first place, though! I think my first post on Umra was in 1999 (I seem
to remember having posted the date here quite recently, but maybe I just looked it up but
didn't comment at the time). The late Chankel was very prolific on the group at the time,
as were TNMF and Linda Fox before she was an FF.
In an unrelated question, does anyone have news of Sebastian Lisken or Iain Archer?
*A belated Happy Birthday, Min, if you're around!

No, on both accounts, Dumrat.

Sincerely Chris

Chris McMillan

2019-07-08 13:16:06 UTC

Post by Jenny M Benson

Post by Peter Withey
So I was lurking if not at the start, soon after. At this
distance I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

Through all the excellent information about newsgroups supplied by Demon
when one opted for their internet service and the wonderful Turnpike.

Likewise

Sincerely Chris

Vicky Ayech

2019-07-07 11:01:45 UTC

Post by Peter Withey
On Fri, 5 Jul 2019 11:16:26 +0000 (UTC), Nick Leverton

The Birthday Monitor will tell us very soon now!

But you'll have to wait 26 more days to find out ;)
Oh all right then - July 31st,"uk.media.radio.archers, 1995" according
to the Birthday list ...
Nick

Thanks Nick. So I was lurking if not at the start, soon after. At this
distance I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

Alex/Niles told me about it when I posted on another group. I think
Kirsten did too.

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2019-07-07 14:14:40 UTC

[]

Post by Vicky Ayech

Post by Peter Withey
Thanks Nick. So I was lurking if not at the start, soon after. At this
distance I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

Alex/Niles told me about it when I posted on another group. I think
Kirsten did too.

I can't remember exactly. I was aware of the discussions about it being
set up - ah, come to think of it, that's probably how I became aware of
it. On uk.net.news.announce or one of the related 'groups
(uk.net.news?); once I saw it _had_ been set up, I joined. (I may have
lurked for a day or two, I can't remember.)
[]

Steve Hague

2019-07-07 13:18:49 UTC

Post by Peter Withey
On Fri, 5 Jul 2019 11:16:26 +0000 (UTC), Nick Leverton

The Birthday Monitor will tell us very soon now!

But you'll have to wait 26 more days to find out ;)
Oh all right then - July 31st,"uk.media.radio.archers, 1995" according
to the Birthday list ...
Nick

Thanks Nick. So I was lurking if not at the start, soon after. At this
distance I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

Someone on another ng told me I might be interested to see a discussion
that was currently taking place on umra. The other ng was ukrc, and the
person was Mitch, who disappeared from both ngs shortly after.
Steve

Sally Thompson

2019-07-07 19:20:02 UTC

Post by Steve Hague

Post by Peter Withey
On Fri, 5 Jul 2019 11:16:26 +0000 (UTC), Nick Leverton

The Birthday Monitor will tell us very soon now!

But you'll have to wait 26 more days to find out ;)
Oh all right then - July 31st,"uk.media.radio.archers, 1995" according
to the Birthday list ...
Nick

Thanks Nick. So I was lurking if not at the start, soon after. At this
distance I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

Ditto here. Someone on uk.rec.gardening told me there was an Archers group.

--
Sally in Shropshire, UK

Penny

2019-07-07 14:24:21 UTC

On Sun, 07 Jul 2019 09:58:02 +0100, Peter Withey <***@never.here> scrawled
in the dust...

Post by Peter Withey
I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

I think Martin Clark told me about it, we'd met in uk.education.staffroom.

--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

krw

2019-07-07 17:27:52 UTC

Post by Penny
in the dust...

Post by Peter Withey
I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

I think Martin Clark told me about it, we'd met in uk.education.staffroom.

I have a feeling I read about it in a PC magazine of some description as
it described the usenet in general and lacking other people interested
in an everyday story of countryfolk thought I should investigate
further. I think the morph into a contemporary drama in a rural setting
came much later.

--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2019-07-08 01:47:08 UTC

Post by Penny
in the dust...

Post by Peter Withey
I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

I think Martin Clark told me about it, we'd met in
uk.education.staffroom.

I have a feeling I read about it in a PC magazine of some description
as it described the usenet in general and lacking other people
interested in an everyday story of countryfolk thought I should
investigate further. I think the morph into a contemporary drama in a
rural setting came much later.

Yes; the UMRA mugs say that UMRA is an everyday story of internet folk
as a sort of reference to that ... (and T shirts I think).

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

The Daily Mail has led the campaign to limit pornography - "it demeans and
belittles women," they explain, "and that's our job." (Sandi Toksvig
[scripted], News Quiz 2013-7-26.)

Peter Withey

2019-07-08 08:55:22 UTC

Post by Penny
in the dust...

Post by Peter Withey
I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

I think Martin Clark told me about it, we'd met in uk.education.staffroom.

After reading about other umrats introduction to umra this seems the
most likely way I was introduced to it. Either by an article in a
computer magazine or possibly the Radio Times. I used to buy it
regularly back then. More likely a computer magazine than the RT I'd
have thought.

--
Pete

Nick Odell

2019-07-08 09:01:00 UTC

Post by Penny
in the dust...

Post by Peter Withey
I can't remember how I found out that umra existed. How did
others first find out about umra?

I think Martin Clark told me about it, we'd met in
uk.education.staffroom.

I think I was still living in the Norfolk and Cambridgeshire borderlands
and was playing with my Dircon CD when I discovered usenet. I discovered
umra by scrolling through the uk.* list (other newsgroups were also
available and I subscribed to a lot of those too) I don't think I
actually posted anywhere until after I moved to Huddersfield.

But may I make a claim for somebody else's first posting? Brian Smith,
The Canadian Curmudgeon, late of this parish and sadly, late of every
other parish as well was a keen poster in the shed and, when I went to
Calgary for the first time we held a mini-shed-moot. We both discovered
that, as well as sheds, we had both been mad about The Archers since
forever and I introduced him to umra. By the time I went back to Calgary
and saw him again, he was regular reader and occasional contributor to
umra. He was a lovely man and I miss him.

Nick

Sid Nuncius

2019-07-08 09:40:01 UTC

Post by Nick Odell
I think I was still living in the Norfolk and Cambridgeshire borderlands
and was playing with my Dircon CD when I discovered usenet. I discovered
umra by scrolling through the uk.* list (other newsgroups were also
available and I subscribed to a lot of those too)

Yep, I found umra the same way. I didn't subscribe to any other
newsgroups, though (and I remember looking at one or two with
non-specific names which were genuinelyly alarming). I've just stuck to
umra ever since

--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)

LFS

2019-07-08 10:55:31 UTC

Post by Nick Odell
I think I was still living in the Norfolk and Cambridgeshire
borderlands and was playing with my Dircon CD when I discovered
usenet. I discovered umra by scrolling through the uk.* list (other
newsgroups were also available and I subscribed to a lot of those too)

Very wise. I found umra and the shed through people in aue and I lurked
in both places for a while. umra has always struck me as incredibly
friendly, a haven of supportive good sense. Certainly very different
from aue twenty years ago, although it's just tetchy there now.

I can't remember when I first posted here but I met Robin and Linda in
RL not long afterwards and was highly amused to learn that they thought
that the Omrud and I were a married couple as we'd both pitched up at
the same time.

--
Laura (emulate St George for email)

Serena Blanchflower

2019-07-08 13:37:42 UTC

Post by Peter Withey
On Fri, 5 Jul 2019 11:16:26 +0000 (UTC), Nick Leverton