Newsvine itself makes the news today with its impending changeover.

Today, Wednesday 6th of February, 2013, is the last day for the old Newsvine as we know it - change writ large on our consciousness. In many respects, one feels a welter of emotions: poignancy, sadness, regret, anger, excitement, foreboding, dread - to name a few. No one likes change, but change and death are the only two guaranteed states in life. We cannot escape them.

Personally, the five and a half years I have spent on the Vine so far have been both educational and entertaining. I have been on a lot of websites as a writer and none of them compares to Newsvine. None has the feel, ambiance, welcome, community spirit, and comradeship of Newsvine. It has a unique atmosphere and effect, which puts it in a class of its own. 

I am certainly not the person I was in 2007 when I joined, all bright and bushy tailed, but a little naive about America’s world, and what a baptism of fire it was for me in those first days. My ready-made British perspectives on American topics jarred with some writers, while being found cute by others, and those gradually gave way to trying to understand my hosts, to appreciate their view of things, while being fiercely British in my own reactions.  I am pleased about my development to a much wider perspective, mainly because, as any outsider knows, it wasn’t always easy. But my own personality and values triumphed in the end to make me a well respected member of the Newsvine community - and for which I am truly proud.

What helped me to settle in comfortably was the simple navigational format of Old Newsvine and the ready help available from its caring members. You gradually learnt where everything was, you could see the different sections clearly: the seeds, the articles, the breaking news, the groups, and the live postings  section drawing attention. Everything in its easily identifiable place for all to see. But it grew big and unwieldy for management and change had to come.  From tomorrow, we change visual and operational format, and a new dawn begins. How will we all cope with it? Well, that’s for the next review article.

The only thing that matters now is saying farewell to a dear friend that has certainly enriched my life and I would like to encourage your tributes too. There are certain aspects of Old Newsvine that I certainly won’t miss but, thankfully, they were small irritations rather than major discomfort. I am ready for whatever happens tomorrow with New Newsvine. I will just allow myself the time to get used to it, just  as I did with the Old version, in keeping with my personal objective of enjoying every moment as much as I can, and taking things in my stride. Life is far too short for anything else.

Finally, I say sincerely, thank you Old Newsvine for making that difference to my life. For enriching it in a way I didn’t think possible. You will be long remembered.

Over to you folks!

PLEASE NOTE: This posting is entirely for paying tribute to Old Newsvine - a record of the feelings about it as it mattered to you. It means saying what you like, or didn’t like, about its format and operation. However, this special Tribute page is NOT for blaming anyone, whinging about New Newsvine, finding scapegoats, or being angry about anything. Otherwise, the comment will be deleted. 

Thank you.