chembake

ah Bill ....... you do make me laugh!!!
Your wife obviously MUST have a patient nature & a really good sense of humour... (or she doesnt read this site!!!) lololol

As for Chembake..... the world would be REALLY goddammed boriing if we were all the same and this forum is like good foods..... needs spicing up occasionally - even if it does give you a belly ache from time to time lolololol

I don't think he's completely given up on us yet. There's a post from him regarding a book recommendation on Jul 5th. It's in the book recommendation thread which is under Recipes if my memory serves me right.

I'm hoping that in his own time he'll start popping in a bit more regularly and share his time and knowledge with us again. I think the variety of inputs and advice from people with different experiences is what makes this forum an excellent resource for learning.

Matthew

As for me if it really matters or not, noticed somone on Dans site who has a familiar tone and character, bad mouthing other bakers solely by looking at pictures in a book (Maggie Glezers), his aka is Techie, have hm if you want him girls, you enjoy him for what he is worth, I will do what people say when they don't like a television commentators words, change the channel or turn off the tube!

Jeremy

[quote="Jeremy"]
have hm if you want him girls, you enjoy him for what he is worth,

Jeremy
[/quote]

????????????????????????????

Edit: Never mind. Let's get back to talking Bread.

We'd rather have you, Jeremy! You show us your photos!

sorry TP, all I meant was if want him you all can have him!

Jeremy
P.S. working on some croissants, Ninas Rye and a Miche from J Hamelmans book!

Gosh, you're really got your hands full! Croissants...that's one thing I'll never be able to do in my kitchen, too hot, and no air-con. Envy, envy.

Hear, Hear!

I'm with Teresa.

Let's have some Group Huggg!

[quote="northwestsourdough"]
As for me, I think you should accept chembake back into the forum. We all know what he is like, but were willing to accept a little "sour" for the occasional "sweet".
[/quote]

This forum is run by the people in it, not by me. Personally I am happy to let chembake return, assuming he wants to, if he can make ammends with the people he has upset. From the feedback I got from some members, chembake would have to put in a lot of effort before those members would join him for a group hug.

I did go to great lengths to accommodate chembake, even giving him his own forum where face-slapping is acceptable. And I agree that the offensive remarks took place in the face-slapping area. However some of the remarks escaped into Personal Messages (PM's) and caused grief.

Chembake has offered an invaluable service, but can the forum tolerate his cursive way of making a point?

(BTW - chembake's membership still permits him to join in this discussion if he wishes to.)

Graham

Goodness me. I have just read the 'offending' forum posts!

Hilarious!

I want Chembake back. For the same reasons that I tolerate my mother-in-law .... ummm ... actually ... quite the opposite, actually.

I might actually LEARN something from Chembake. His acidic manner doesn't appeal to everyone, probably appeals to no-one, but he KNOWS A LOT. And whilst I would seem to be one of the people that Chembake despises (I post my photos, I beg for kind words, I show off), it actually took me a while to work up the courage to post images of my daggy breads. And the reason that I have done so is so that PEOPLE LIKE CHEMBAKE, who are experienced, can SEE what I've done and constructively criticise.

I am YEARS from being anywhere near even being able to understand what Chembake is even talking about ... but very kind people like SourDom, Bill44, Graham, TP and Teresa ... and Mick ... the list goes on ... generously offer the benefit of their experience to me. And my bread improves as a result.

Chembake has a lot to offer the more experienced bakers (ie. not me). And really, if you don't like his language or his manner, ignore him.

But let him in.

Carol.

LOL, do you notice that it's [i]we women[/i] who want chembake back? Tells a lot about us being the more tolerant ([size=9]and wise[/size]) gender. *guys, guys, don't hit me with your baguettes!*

Looking back at that thread, it's hard not to have a good laugh. Like Carol said, it's quite hilarious. Let's all just roll on the floor (laughing) together. I feel a group hug coming.

I don't think it's the question of 'letting him in', but whether he wants to be here. There were victims of cutting words on both sides of the fence.

p/s Sheesh, the MIL problem is universal.

[quote="TeckPoh"]
LOL, do you notice that it's [i]we women[/i] who want chembake back? Tells a lot about us being the more tolerant ([size=9]and wise[/size]) gender. *guys, guys, don't hit me with your baguettes!*
[/quote]

Reminds me of the one "Why are women made beautiful with soft smiles and graceful curves"?..................So men will love them.

Why are women also made so dumb and stupid?.......So they are able to put up with men. JOKE JOKE JOKE!

Bill the Chauvinist.

Well, well... hilarous it can be but I think it's the "ego" game here. Sometimes we just have to be practical aye, extract what is useful and discard the rest...
I would say, "you win some, you lose some"...

TP, Bill and Don ... I think it's a combination of all of the above.

There are many reasons why I love this forum, and why I am really quite fond of the folks who post ... TP because everything she touches is BEAUTIFUL! Her preparation of food is everything mine is not! Mine might taste OK, even pretty good ... but TP's bread/sweets/everything is the whole deal. And I love to look! AND because she willingly shares her knowledge with beginners like me. I might not ever make pretty food, but I am making good food.

Bill ... you're not a chauvinist! I think you're spot on! And you are generous with your time, your photos, your experience. I learn from that. And all the other folks here, too ... Dom, Teresa, Mick ... Jeremy! You all have different stories to tell, and they're all good. Geez, I can't see Coffin Girl's posts without thinking "I have to go buy some nice scallops!" And it is all the different ideas that turn up in posts ... it's all good!

Even Chembake!

Don ... all forums need to be treated like that ... the "John West" theory as you alluded to, take the best, leave the rest (or at least giggle at it). It's simple. I don't like canned asparagus. I don't buy it. I don't eat it.

But I suspect Chembake's problem, or rather OURS with him sometimes, is that we are here for very different reasons.

I would hazard a guess that most of us like to try to make good food to SHARE with people - family/friends/neighbours - whatever. I'm not trying to compete with the artisan bakers or commercial bakers or even the really, really good bakers! I want to make great bread that I can share with people. And talk and eat and drink and laugh ... all at the same time. Even if I snort and it comes out my nose! Don't care.

That is why I aspire to make good food!!!

And because I could easily tend towards gluttony!

Bill, please bear this in mind.

A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument*.

*Argument (ar/gyou/ment) n. A discussion that occurs when women are right, but the men just hasn't realized it yet.

p/s...Just read Carol's post above mine. Aaackk! I'm thoroughly embarassed...not worthy of your praises. But.....I'm liking it.

TP, love the explanation and agree. As an old dog I have learned a few tricks along the way, and one of them is that when my wife speaks I keep my mouth firmly shut.

I am not henpecked, and I have my wifes permission to say so.