IMBB-The End Of An Era

March, 6th 2006 - Last posting day...

Well, March 7th 2006 signals the end of an era with the complete shut down of the IMBB. I know it may sound silly and even childish giving such importance to that event, but as much strange that may sound, the fact is that I found amazing friendship and comradeship and the finest sense of humour in that Bulletin Board, not to mention tons of excellent music.
It helped me during work hours, it helped me when I was feeling bored and it did help me when I was feeling down.

It’s a strange thing talking about friendship that in reality is a ‘virtual’ friendship…it’s something that, I know, many can’t conceive or understand, but it did happen, and it was good and fun. I’m glad I had the chance to meet Nael, who came from the United Arabian Emirates last June, expressly to meet us and watch his first Maiden show. And hmc_777, who came directly from Brazil to see the Portuguese show and go with us into Spain for the Lorca Festival.

I’m glad I got to know the best possible way Martin, John, Staffan, Antti, James, Anna, Suzanne, Ron, David, Stefan, Caroline, Linda, Thomas, Minos, Lewis, Heitor, Vicente, Chiel, Johan, Dave, Thiago, Richard, Hector and Simon. I was allowed to speak and have fun with Finnish, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Germans, British, Irish, Scottish, Spanish, Greek, Lybians, Americans, Australians, Polish, Brazilian and Portuguese people. I learned a lot about so many countries and customs. And as a bonus I even improved my English which was a mess a few years ago! LOL I celebrated the marriage of Martin and the birth of his little son, with a new one coming already! I met David’s son and Suzanne’s two sons as well. We talked about everything friends talked about, music, movies, friendship, family, etc etc…..so, as stranger that may sound, I would call it a good friendship. For that I thank you all. And I’m glad that I have all your emails and some of your MSN contacts (Martin: don’t sweat it, I’ll work it out someway!).

Finally I’m glad I got to meet all the guys from the Portuguese thread: Pedro, Nuno, Fernando, Nelson, Gustavo, Tânia, Emanuel, Ricardo, Daniel, João, Sandra, Mário, Logan, and I’m pretty sure that there will be more meetings for us ahead, although they will not be called “IMBB’ers Official Meetings” anymore.

It was truly an honour, privilege and pleasure to have been a part of this online adventure that was the IMBB. I have never seen a BB like this one and I guess I won’t see it again in the future. Like James said: “This whole thing may seem soppy, lame or geeky to you reading it, but I don’t care”, because it was really worth it!

It was really amazing and i know that it'll be hard for someone who's in the outside to even begin to understand what this experience truly meant for everyone in.

Thanks to everyone, for everything.