A shiny new forum is available for you to try out...
Continue reading at the Preview Site via this link: https://goo.gl/OwXWBk
The forums been completely rebuilt in the latest shiny technologies, and looking forward to you enjoying them. (I know you'll soon let me know if you don't! 
)
Mostly it's a facelift, but here's a few things that might catch you out.
1) Simpler: It's a new "simpler" display - less clutter, and not as much info.
Some people like more info, so if that's you, you can resurrect all the details by toggling the "Compact" / "Detailed" button you'll find on the Topics page.
Compact view: (default)
Detailed view:
Be aware that the "Reply"/"Quote" buttons are at the bottom of each post now, as it makes more sense as that is where your mouse/finger will be if you want to reply or quote.
2) Last Read: A new "Remember last read" feature has been added. Click on the topic, and it will remember your position, so the next time you come back and click on the topic title, it will take you to the most recent new post. If you're a "Last Post" kind of person, then click on the last poster on the right side of the topic list, and that will take you there (as it did before).
3) Subscribe: You can now "Subscribe" to a topic. This will put at the the top of the topics list for you. Any topics you post in, you'll automatically be subscribed too.
4) Device Support: The forums support (literally) thousands of screen sizes and devices now, and the displaying of images and videos is much improved.
There are many other little tweaks around, but I'll let you discover them.
Feedback:
The development is very advanced, but there may still be a few "special features" waiting around.
If you do find something broken, a new feature, something missing or inconsistnet, please click the "camera" icon, (on desktop it say "feedback"), and be specific about what & why .. or post here.
It's been in test it for weeks now, and the feedback is that it's good to go.
Many thanks to the testers, including Ben, Rhys, David, John (2x), Mark, Phil, Michael (and any I've missed) for all your efforts & comments in testing. Fantastic.
Look forward to you enjoying the new Forums too...
Thanks
Lozza
p.s. And yes, well aware of some people wanting the red thumbs to return!
Unappealing and bland, 
Sorry, probably just me, I like lots of colour and info.
If you know me in person, then its on or off for me, no in-between.
Select to expand quotemineral1 said..
Unappealing and bland,
Sorry, probably just me, I like lots of colour and info.
If you know me in person, then its on or off for me, no in-between.
+1 feels wrong.. 
Cheers for your thoughts. Select to expand quotemineral1 said..
Unappealing and bland,
Sorry, probably just me, I like lots of colour and info.
If you know me in person, then its on or off for me, no in-between.
May I ask which bit you refer to? i.e. In the forum topics, did you click the "Detailed" button to turn on all the "stats"? Each page should have exactly the same info as before; nothing less (with the exception that the first line of a classified description isn't listed in the previews on the right hand column) .. have I missed something, somewhere? Let me know, if so...
Ironically, the new design has more colours! (previous was just shades of blue ... orange, green & red have been added).
New design is also more spacy; I've been using it for quite some time now, and initially it was a shock, but am finding it really clean & easy to get around now, without the visual mess of compressed info and grey lines running up/down/left/right eveywhere! 
Hope you grow to like it, as I have. 
I don't like it. Forums mainly the rest looks fine. Could get used to it. You are the leader, we will follow.
What I don't like is even though I have been a member for 11 years, with almost daily visits, I can't lurk Heavy Weather anymore because I don't post enough?
I enjoy laughing at the antics of some of the members. It's entertainment to me. Why you gonna cut me off?
Am I supposed to get really drunk and spew lots of stuff and have internet shenanigans with the others?
Some people just want to stand back and watch it all burn.
Looks good mate ...... 
...... went to pump in Medium Size but couldn't find the new design complementary Free T-Shirt dropdown however ..... might have to suss that one out 
Like this.
Though lurkers may not contribute to the forums, they still give you page views.
How many posts till I can get back into Heavy Weather with the new changes.
I believe 9/11 was undertaken on a flat Earth, orchestrated by Peppa Pig wearing Tony Abbott's underwear, all while shooting an Adler shotgun with an Australian Flag modified as a Burqua.
Am I getting close?
Select to expand quoteWindpasser said..
What I don't like is even though I have been a member for 11 years, with almost daily visits, I can't lurk Heavy Weather anymore because I don't post enough?
I enjoy laughing at the antics of some of the members. It's entertainment to me. Why you gonna cut me off?
Am I supposed to get really drunk and spew lots of stuff and have internet shenanigans with the others?
Some people just want to stand back and watch it all burn.
To understand what you're saying: You could view heavy weather before, but now you can't? If that's the case, it sounds like a logic error has been introduce, so shall investigate for you...
"Sorry - this forum is only available long term members who have posted plenty."
That's only on the new layout. I can still access it normally.
I presume my 41 posts isn't that many. But I have been an almost daily lurker for 11 years. Love the site.
Heavy weather is the best and allows people to say what they really think. There are no winners or losers, just people being able to say what they actually think. I'm glad you allowed it to even exist.
It seems to let a few people vent in a place where they won't be arrested and put in the loony bin.
Definitely logged in. I even gave myself an Avatar after almost 12 years (Jan 2005)
Also I don't like the circle Avatars. Nothing wrong with squares or rectangles. We aren't going to put our real faces.
(Except for KiteboyDave, Mark_Australia, Doctor, MyUsername, etc)
Oh no. Have I started participating instead of lurking?
Back to my hole. Carry on as usual.
Select to expand quoteWindpasser said..
"Sorry - this forum is only available long term members who have posted plenty."
That's only on the new layout. I can still access it normally.
Ok .. that's all fixed; your should be able to read, as per before now.
You are a legend Laurie. It works. Thankyou. Maybe I'll even participate more.
I felt like I was gonna fall off the end of the Earth, if you know what I mean.
Also does anyone else prefer square avatars? Circles waste space and are made for your headshot.
Rest of the new site looks great, just not the forums - my opinion.
is the "new" icon still there ?
can't see cause I can't log in (can't remember my details...)
Dunno anout the nee one but the current one is tripping out. Glad I'm not subject to seizures!
Select to expand quotelaurie said..
Cheers for your thoughts.
mineral1 said..
Unappealing and bland,
Sorry, probably just me, I like lots of colour and info.
If you know me in person, then its on or off for me, no in-between.
May I ask which bit you refer to? i.e. In the forum topics, did you click the "Detailed" button to turn on all the "stats"? Each page should have exactly the same info as before; nothing less (with the exception that the first line of a classified description isn't listed in the previews on the right hand column) .. have I missed something, somewhere? Let me know, if so...
Ironically, the new design has more colours! (previous was just shades of blue ... orange, green & red have been added).
New design is also more spacy; I've been using it for quite some time now, and initially it was a shock, but am finding it really clean & easy to get around now, without the visual mess of compressed info and grey lines running up/down/left/right eveywhere!
Hope you grow to like it, as I have.
Front page on forums is too bland.
Sorry, but you did ask 
Select to expand quoteBuster fin said..
Dunno anout the nee one but the current one is tripping out. Glad I'm not subject to seizures!
Can you expand on that a little? i.e. what does "tripping out" mean, specifically? (so it can be fixed!)
Also: Before anybody launches an "aliens have stolen our topics" conspiracy theory(!), some topics aren't showing up on the preview site, when you're logged in. They're all there if you're logged out - it's an error caused by subscriptions, and hope to solve it early tomorrow.
Also: Found that you might not be able to delete a post in some situations - if you've accidently (for example) posted a picture of yourself nude, and need to removed and the forum wont let you, send me a pm & I'll help out.
Select to expand quoteseanhogan said..
is the "new" icon still there ?
can't see cause I can't log in (can't remember my details...)
Via the "Members/Forgot my login", I've sent you a password reminder. PM if still can't get in.. .. oh .. and new icon is yet to be built, and is on the todo list...
on iphone and ipad, not always but, the add is jumping into action and falling back again to a strobe-like effect.
Clear as mud?
I know you welcome honest feedback and I appreciate the effort it takes to run an awesome site like the breeze, so here is mine...
The weather page is fine, don't really notice too much change.
Soz, but I don't find the forum layout inviting at all. There is something about the forum setup I really dislike. Other than the colour and layout, which to my taste is a retrograde step, is it possible that the ad banners are relatively bigger or the contrast to the ads are different in some way, because after a few minutes they really irritated me to the point I exited?
On the bright side, I might actually get some work done now! 
It looks a bit bland but no big deal, people will get used to it, its just the same info repackaged. I guess were here for the info and entertaining chit chat.
Looks great Laurie.
Loads fast and clear graphics.
Less menus is always good.
Well done.
Looks good Laurie. Well done. Seabreeze is the gold standard of a well run forum
