GoY News: A new design is coming...

will look forward to seeing the new design..... it wiil be good to have bigger text and pics....

Cannot wait......as "they say" bring it on.........well done and thanks.

how exciting, cant wait, great work lads ;o))

Oooer look forward to that - thanks for the pre-warning, I would have thought I had done something wrong.lol only just getting used to it as it is now.

ok thanks for the advanced warning.

Does that mean we won't have an Outbox, like we have on here? I can't find one on the bird site...

sounds good

I agree with the comments ( I would also have thought it was me!) but like Bamboo hope we don't lose useful tools

Bamboo, you will still have an outbox. There is no functionality being removed on Thursday.

Okay - ignore my separate Contact You thing then!

sounds good to me as well.

Thank you for advising us in advance. Having been born a Luddite I readily get upset when changes are suddenly thrust on me ;-).

Any chance for short video clips?

I hate it when supermarkets change things on the shelves..old age I suppose..but thanks for providing such a super site..I love the plant suggestions on the left hand side to match the subject flower..MOST helpful..as are the tags which Meanie kindly explained to me how they operated.

No, tetrarch, we all hate it, whatever age we are, when supermarkets move things around - means the shopping takes twice as long cos you can't find anything, and that's the point - it makes you walk all around the store and maybe buy more.

A fresh new look for GOY and the winter months.....sounds like a challenge for us to tackle the new design...I'm up for it too!

Thanks for all you do behind the scenes to keep everything in order here....much appreciate the site and the friendly contact with everyone.

Thankyou for the warning Ajay, I `ll be on red alert in case my system reacts like it did last time,lol.......

Oh :-/
Is it me ?
I find the bird site too basic and i can't get a few of its sections, such as blogs and certain replies/comments, to load what i've posted :-/
And yes, i too dislike change :-/
Hey ho :-/

Thanks for letting us know Ajay , it's been good up to now so it can only get better .... :o)

If all the features are being retained and GOY is getting larger print and photos it can only be a winning formula It certainly works well on Ispyabird !!

Thanks guys :-))))

Sounds helpful!

I've just looked at I spy and I'm joining tomoz, didn't know about it before!!!

looking forward to it

The notification in advance is very thoughtful, many thanks. : o ))

'Change is Good' - - - - ( it's a Buddhist thing ;-))

I shall look forward to the new GOY, and thanks for letting us know in advance.

Change might be good, but it's also difficult...

Still learning this one !! Lol. Eeeeekkkk. `=0)

Thanks for the advanced warning Ajay, , much appreciated, and for all the work you guys do behind the scenes too! GOY just keeps on getting better! :~)))

Thanks for the advanced warning, guys! :-))

I very much like the idea of bigger photos & bigger font face. The thing I'm not so keen on is the black text on a white background - I very much like the present green background as I often find a white background is too hard on the eyes. Green is a more relaxing colour & it also goes well with the content of the site.

Do we get the "Smilies" I asked you about some time ago? Or must we continue with the typed signs?

You're right about black text on a white background, Balcony, it bothers me too, but if you visit the bird website, you'll see its not too bad.

Thank you Ajay and Peter.We managed to find our way on the original GOY and if as you say it will be easier for you both to maintain we must take that into account.
We are used to asking for help from each other and can always use the 'contact us' if anything major crops up :)

I agree with Bizzyb ....it even rymes.

Look forward to seeing the changes.

THanks for the advance warning and for the brilliant site

I like the larger print on Ispy site and hooray for larger photos. I rather like the green background too but will look forward to these changes and glad to hear all else will stay the same. :o))

Will look forward to seeing the new changes to Goy bigger pictures will certainly be welcomed, and thanks to you both for the great job you do;0))

We'll see what Thursday brings. Personally I like the format as it is and prefer it to I Spy a Bird, like Louise I find it too basic and childlike. I like the green background too as it is restful on the eyes.
Don't forget the old adage.....If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

brilliant and look at the response from members . it kind of ironicly sums up the whole guest thing realy . i look forward to it . take care bye for now .
ps everything changes , nothing stays the same .great site again .i just had issues with gusts and thaught the format was fine .

Looking forward to the changes, I'm just getting used to Ispy, so hopefully I'll be ok. Thanks for keeping us updated!

Thanks Peter and Ajay... you've been doing great so far...will be interested to see how it all pans out!

Looking forward to the new version :]

I t sounds great cant wait..

I like the sound of the new design and if it makes things easier for us all (You guys included) then I'm all up for it.
I will send a separate comment about guest questions!

Looks like mine might be the first negative response - don't like big changes - never have :o(

And I've been to I Spy a Bird and I can't stand the layout there... so didn't become a member...
Ahhh well it'll get me used to big change I suppose. I don't mean to be a whinger - just a Luddite :o)

Great news. I don't always like changes, but the ones you're proposing sound good. Well done!

Looking forward to it ..:o)))

How exciting I love this site already so really looking forward to seeing the improvements well done both of you

I have just joined I spy a bird site and have to say that I don,t like the lay out!! It could be because I don,t like change but I really think that growsonyou is far better laid out and like some previous members I prefer our grey background as it is far easier on the eye.

I have just viewed I spy a bird site and felt I had to sit further away from the screen, larger print and brighter background doesn't seem to agree with my eyesight ! Will make an opinion tomorrow when it's all change.

thats how I felt too Shirley ,but no doubt we will get used to it I suppose.!!

took me a bit to get use to ispy a bird peeps but its ok, we get use to things, i do prefere the page on here to who has posted new pics and blogs though,but love the large pics and text

I don't like changes sorry to say it, will our homepage still be the same or is it going to be more difficult with the changes, I know you work hard on Goy but I like it just the way it is, sorry to be a party pooper

Sounds good to me!

Sorry but I like it as it is too. I'm not keen on the I Spy layout, but as everyone says, as long as we still have all the same basic things we have on here now , well I expect we shall all get used to it. Us oldies are a funny lot, we dont like change.

I agree, if it ain,t broke why fix it !!

well like it or not look at all the old faces on this question i havnt seen for a while . that must be a big plus .

I find GoY easier to navigate than Ispy as everything is on my homepage ready and waiting for me, things I commented on etc. It just doesn't seem as obvious on Ispy. I do like the idea of larger photos and text though. I find writing blogs directly on to Ispy more difficult too but that may just be me! Perhaps Ispy should have been made the same as GoY rather than the other way round?

I have just re-read what I have written above and it sounds like a complaint! It is not meant to be - I enjoy both sites and will try to adapt :)

Leigh, your new avatar is giving me the creeps ! Are you in Halloween mood already ? Sorry, but I have to avoid looking at you for too long !

Ere, not so much of the old, Nosey, lol! I'm holding judgement till I've seen the new layout...

Yes, I'm intrigued and will withhold until then.

thats just an expression and not litteral bamboo . personaly i was only botherd about all these guests myself and like the old layout . nothing stays the same and you cant ever please all the people all the time i guess . as for shirly if you look more carefully at my avitar it is just a lot of people with not many clothes on but i guess if it scares you then it does lol .

I've been back to the bird site and see what you mean, maybe its the green or the way this is laid out but it seems more ' friendly 'silly thing to say I know but I don't enjoy using the bird site

No, me neither - there's somehow a sense that you're in isolation on there, but let's wait and see - there's no questions section on that site, and that makes a difference. I bet Ajay's fed up with all these responses, lol! And that's even before its changed... I bet he's looking forward to tomorrow - not!

At least 3 people have probably noticed that I haven't been around here much this year. No argument at all with the site just think it is better to keep quiet and be thought a fool rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt, so I have been just popping in and watching. Agree with NP about 'Guest questions' though. I think if anyone wants to ask a question they should have the common decency to join and tell members just a little about themselves.

He he, I'm sure no one thinks you're a fool, Sarraceniac, nice to see you back anyway... I've done some foolish things in my time, but that doesn't make me a fool, any more than it does you.

Really looking forward to it, the more you think about it the more it grows on you, lol. julien

Just to point out Bamboo there is a questions page on Ispy..you will find it inbetween photos and blogs.It is quite a thriving one too.....

Really? How on earth did I miss that then - is it obvious?

Aye Bamboo..On front page in a line..Members..Photos....Questions..Blogs.

I don't cope well with changes but am willing to try and if I get stuck I know I can ask for help,after all being on G.o.Y. has helped my computer skills no end I managed okay on I Spy a bird it is different and I am gaining confidence each time I visit.

will the new layout still have favourites on our main page so we know when members have new pics and blogs, ispy doesnt seem to have that, or does it ray/jane ?

Not available as yet Sandra on Ispyabird but Ajay has stated that all options on GOY will remain and only text and photo size will change.

Obviously as relatively new site changes to Ispyabird will be progressive as membership increases.Much like the way GOY has developed.

Hope this is of some reassurance.

For those who find the white background too bright you may just need to reduce it.There are plus and minus buttons at the bottom of your monitor screen.

It would have been better if we could have voted......I don't think I shall be using it much if it's like ISAB....didn't like that at all...thought it was a very odd format. Shall miss everyone though, that's the trouble. I can understand having larger print but why change everything else....it's very good as it is.....:o(((

thanx ray, thats good to hear ;o))
janey i think its just as ray said just bigger print and bigger pics, so please done dissapear on us ;o( lets just see what happens

Thanks for that info, BB, very reassuring :)

Here Here Janey I agree with you,I have been thinking the same about using it again, like you I would miss everyone terribly, I so look forward to my afternoons with GOY, but now feel doubtful, lets see what tomorrow brings,

Thats okay Gee...thank you.......

Yes ... thanks BB ... it doesn't sound as tho' the boys are going to change anything too drastically!
Anyone know what's happened to Bizzyb? Or is he just playing on the Buddhist 'change is good' thing?

Oh dear I hope nobody is going to leave.give it a chance, i think the i spy format is much clearer than this so will wait and see.

dont jump the gun no one has seen it yet .

Fluff, I've sent you a PM. Bizzyb is now called Bampy ! Mystery solved. : o ))

Well...as some will know I am not known for keeping to a regular sleeping pattern!

So it is 3.10am and I'm just toddling off to bed BUT not before I post a positive comment. The new layout of the forum looks really good. I've had a quick scoot around the features and I am favourably impressed.

Thank you Peter and Ajay for taking this bold step to modify the site. I really am excited about exploring it more completely at a more reasonable hour tomorrow.

Night all!

Well it is here and I have to say it is better that I Spy a Bird - I expect I'll get used to it in time - well done boys ;o)))

I didn't add any comment until I actually saw the changes.
I think it is clearer than the old design, and will probably be easier after I get used to it.

However I don't like the icy colour of the surrounding area. But that is only a minor thing I suppose.

I haven't seen the bird site because I have a phobia of them lol

Additional comment :-
I've just tried to add a photo but was told it had to be a certain size.
I've never had that trouble before, so there's a drawback to start with.

And How do I get back to my 'Home Page' ?

I suppose there have to be 'teething troubles' :o)

Additional additional comment ;o)
I've tried a different photo and it has 'taken' - so I don't know what was wrong with the first one.

Hywel, find your Homepage by clicking onto 'Your Options' at the top of the page.

Well, i've had a little scout round now and the verdict ......
It's like we've been 'dumbed down' :-(

Thanks Louise. I didn't realise that .

totally agree Louise--- I understand why the've done it but really wished that the'd kept the green-- even if only around the edge
It all feels cold and unfriendly--- hope that they havn't thrown the baby out with the bathwater----- :-((((

After having another look I have to say this new design doesn't look as warm and welcoming as the old one. It might be easier for some to read but I find the tabs at the top are not very clear. Also I find it a nuisance having to click on that arrow by my name on the top.

And the whole thing looks so icy and 'cccccold' :o(

lol Pam . we both put the same views at the same time

Cheap, bland and characterless......I'm surprised at you Ajay and Peter!

I have to sit further away from my screen now that the print is bigger, certainly not as nice to look at as the old site, colour is all wrong!! Blue no no no!!! Green for gardening, will get used to it I suppose, no like no like.

I agree Janey and Barbara !
The more I look at it the more I think 'Horrible' :o(

I feel as if I am in one of those cool trendy minimalist lounges. All beige and 'wooden' flooring. No warmth or character.......conforming to current fads. Why the slight delay as I type out these words? Can we have taupe borders please to complete the impression of 'chuck out the chintz' and put old stuff in a skip? I can see those BLUE strips out of the corner of my eye.......definately not green!

Another problem - It's difficult to see the pm's when there is no space between them.
And I think it would be better if the number of new pm's was put separate from the other comments. - No chance of that I don't suppose.

I'm with you all about the pale blue, it's too cold. However, I LOVE the new logo...it is very nice and very pretty! I like the larger font, easier to see and I'm glad that the photos are going to be bigger...that's a great improvement. I believe the new layout of tabs will take a little getting used to, but I think we will adjust in no time at all. :)

I am not so keen I dare say I might get used to it but it is not G.o.Y.

It's painfully, painfully slow to load :-((((((((((((

do not like !! why change ????? there was NOTHING wrong with old site. Perhaps it would have been a good idea to ask members before changing?

Are you connected with the BBC? They have just released a 'new look'; it, too, is awful.

Why, oh why, did someone spend time and money in making something, with which most of us were comfortable, into an unfriendly mess?
If you were deperately looking for something to do, why not grab a spade and 'double dig a trench'. Far more satisfying and useful!

Sorry dont like and colour hurts my eyes much prefered old site .

Sorry think this is Awful.

Strikes me its not that much different really, Scotkat, except the pics are larger and clearer and the text is bigger, and it certainly looks much more up to date, more in keeping with other sites. Don't like the white background here much, bit glarey, that's the trouble with old eyes, they don't adjust quickly enough, or possibly at all, ajay and peter - you won't know that, you're not old enough yet, lol! But it's not unbearable, just slightly less easy on the eye.
Didn't take any longer to load than the old one - is your processor a bit small, Louise? Or using an old browser?

Its more in keeping with other sites Bamboo because they've changed too! It can only be down to money, it was far superior before, really attractive and welcoming, this is like looking at an empty paper before an exam.

Well having gone through most of the features, I think it will be alright. Only comment really is that it feels a little impersonal at the moment, and unwelcoming, but it is not as bad as I feared. We all have to just get used to it friends.

We'll get used to it Janey, human beings hate change, so we all react like that, but give it a month or so and we'll be using it just the same as the old one... At the moment i feel I've lost an old friend, probably like you, but I know it'll pass...
There is a price for bigger text though - have to keep moving up and down the pages more often using the cursor or the mouse, that's a bit irritating, but can't be helped if you use larger text

Right now I don't like it, I have been on twice hoping I would get use to it, I really don't like the blue its far to bright on the eyes, I will give it ago again later today, but I am not sure, I much prefer the old GOY it was warm and friendly I find this cold and as Cinderella said unwelcoming.

I like it.much clearer, i can actually see it now without my specs. Well done lads. :0))

I guess you were ready for lots of thumbs down and dislikes but to be honest when I logged on this morning I thought I had stumbled onto a kids site by mistake.
To my mind the colours are awful, the text is far to large, it's slow to load and difficult to navigate. I could have lived with some of the changes but not the colours and the size of the text.

Sorry to be so down about all of your hard work but I'm sure you wanted our opinions and I guess you're getting them.

Yorkshire, it's just a feeling associated with loss - you've lost a friend, or that's what it feels like. It'll pass, and this will be your friend instead! We're all still here, and all the features are too.

OK, can anyone tell me how to get back to my "homepage" without logging off and then back on again?

Ian, go to top of page and click on 'Your Options' and then Your News.

Bamboo, no, it's not my PC being slow and Ian's just noticed it too.

Thanks Louise,

I'm not stuck on this page any more! Lol

I can't understand why its fine for me then - I never log out or in, Ian, just get back on using the last message sent from GoY that there's a message for me, and then navigating from there round the site. And I've been in and out of my homepage 6 times since I came on a while ago without any trouble.

Check out the photos though, boy, they're so much better...

Louise I'm on the works computer and it is taking GOY ages to do anything, soooo slow. Also the glare from the white and blue is giving me a headache. Sorry but I really don't like it and won't be able to look at it for very long. I agree with Bamboo that the pics are better but hate the colours and big txt.

Sorry, P&A, I have to agree on the glaring white - I've just read all the comments on here, and my eyes hurt. I also agree about the blue - everywhere is soooooo blue!

Why aren't there gaps between PMs? That's difficult.

i can find my way around OK, yes, but it does look a but like a Primary School site - sorry, but it does to me.

I started a blog last night - I hope I can carry on with that....
I just checked it, and the photos won't come up on a preview. I'll have to contact you about that. I simply can't start all over again, guys!

On a positive note, the bigger photos are a brilliant idea, though - and guest questions on their way out? Yes please! Why not now?

I went to the latest photos, clicked on one. and then couldn't find a next button to go to the next photo. It will be a drag hitting back every time. Also agree that the new look is a bit harsh.

I can't stand the blue and white, what happened to the green???? It's supposed to be a gardening website for heaven's sake - and the white is very glary. Sorry but the more I see of it the more I dislike it :o((((( The 'options' button is a complete waste of time if you ask me and If you type quickly, like I am currently doing, the words take forever to come up!

For those who are finding it slow to load, it's time to ditch Internet Explorer as your browser!!! I consigned it to the bin years ago (too slow and too big on your hard drive). I'm on Google Chrome, with Mozilla Firefox as second choice.
Not sure about the blue to be honest, but at the end of the day, surely the layout isn't the star of the show?

jus come on ... i dont like the writing... it was better to read the other way... its making my eyes ache.....and when you look at pics.. you cant go on to the next large pic without going back to all the small pics or am i missing something... i dont normally wear glasses for computer work but this is hurting my eyes....and ive only been on a few mins....
do like the bigger pics though..........

I like the new layout but i agree they should have kept the green background as it is less harsh than the blue and white, but i'm with Bamboo the photo's are much better

You're missing something Holly - the rectangular box next to the photo with two thumbnails and two arrows!

It's the white background that's the problem, Hollyeves, bit glary, makes your eyes ache

I wouldn't think it could cost much more to go back to the old green, after all my picassa photo storage gives me innumerable background colour options. many of the comments find-- like me--- the white much to glaringly impersonal, I know we may have to ' get used to it' but how many people do we lose along the way or stay here for much less time at each visit--- listen to us boys please -- its important!!!

I've done a contact us thing about the white...

Love the logo and the larger photos are great. Don't like the delay while I am typing this, and agree with others who dislike the white background and blue 'frame'. Also it seems strange to have a 'drop down' list to negotiate back to home page etc. Much simpler how it was before and perhaps the larger print didn't need to be so large!

My husband just took a look at this new site, he said he could not sit in front of the screen for more than a couple of minutes as the blue is bad on his eyes, he said it should be green as its a gardening programme.

for once in my life i agree with bamboo its easy to use looks fine thow as i said before it was the increase in guests that i thaught was real pain personaly as the old site was fine to .

Three cheers then Nosey, lol! But I've been thinking about it - I belong to another garden website which has a totally white background, and it doesn't trouble me at all - but this one does, so it must be the white and blue together, and the size of the print - it's too big, so you've still got a lot of white and blue glaring at you all the time...

well looking at all what people are saying it seams the colour is the biggest problem thow not for me . perhaps just make the pages a different colour . sorted lol .

Don't like it. the whole thing is just too bright. May well give up and go elsewhere.

surley the hardest bit of the change wasnt the colours so perhaps it should be changed for the common good .

AND we asked for real smiles--- where are they?--- its all loss for us, going backwards, sorry boys :0(((

I have visited this site nearly everyday for the last 12 months and am so dissapointed that I can only look at it for a few minutes at a time now before the glare is just too much. I don't want to leave but may have to.

Thanks for all the constructive feedback, we do appreciate it. We are busy fighting a few bugs including the delay seen on some comment boxes which seems to only happen with Internet Explorer (and apparently happened with the old design too).

There should be no speed difference with the website apart from larger photos take longer to load. There was one period this morning where we briefly broke the website so sorry if you were slowed down then.

If you have detailed feedback please do send it in via the contact us link so we can keep track of it and sorry if you don't get an immediate reply from us.

Btw, if you click on your name next to your pull down options box at the top you are also taken to your page.

The conversion of the photos to the new size is ongoing but is a slow process and has a long way to go. You should get a feel for the new photo size with the new photos being uploaded and the last couple of 1000.

Meanie is right about Google Chrome...much quicker!

i have found the same Annella.it has made my eyes hurt........

Pleased to say that unlike the April change my system has accepted the changeover without throwing a hissyfit, being an avid fan that is a relief to me, lol.
I might get a bit lost for a while but that gives me an excuse to stay on longer and try everything out ,that to my way of thinking is no different than when I first joined and had to find my way around in the first place...
The only thing I am having a problem with is I`m afraid the white background, due to the fact that I have an eye condition I am susceptible to light and have to wear dark glasses, they however will not work against the glare on a computor so the original background was more suitable in my case, I`m not computor minded and wondered can the background be changed my end, hope that doesn`t sound daft?
Otherwise I`m happy and thankyou for your hard work....

I am having the same problem with the typing it doesn't work as quick as my fingers and I am definitely slower at typing than I used to be. So annoying.

I would like to know if the background of white can be changed as I also hate bright light, my eyes are affected badly by white background. Anyone with any solutions please?

Thanks meanie.... didnt see it ther eon the right.....: O ))

I'm not finding any trouble with the text being slow when i type... but then I'm using Mozilla firefox...

Thanks for the Google Chrome tip Meanie :-))

It seems slow on some pages and better on others. really slow on this page but much better when I reply on other pages really weird.

I do find the background of blue to be a bit overpowering...it seems to be the first thing my eyes want to look at. Overall though I am pleased with the revisions to GOY. I prefer the larger type and I am not having any problems with typing not going fast enough (and I type at about 85wpm) so I think the problem may be with your browsers. As already been said, IE is very slow..I have firefox and may switch to Google Chrome as this has been recommended.

It'll mean an adjustment for us all but we can surely ride this out and help each other to find our way around. I don't want to lose anyone from the site....please stick around. :)

Just spent half an hour or so on the site and no problems - just this page where the text lags behind!

My biggest gripe was how pages could hang for a second or two whilst waiting for adyieldmanager (or something like that) - it's now sorted.
General concensus seems to be that the colours are a little too harsh, but I'm sure that can be addressed.

I have had to resort to my old reading glasses and move my chair back, as I do not like the white background either.

Has anyone noticed when you reply to 'things you have commented on' they no longer disappear from the list, you have to click seen now to make them go.

Took me a while to find everything, but I like the new design.

Annella - mine is working fine. Just refresh the page and see what happens. Unless it's this post, which seems to get a new comment every few seconds at the moment!

The brightness issue can be dealt with by turning down the brightness of the screen. My white background is now a light grey and not so glaring. Probably easier and quicker with a laptop than a desktop monitor.

Trouble with that is, I'd have to reset it every time I did anything else, and I do a lot else on my computer...

Not easy at work..

Thankyou Bulbaholic, will try that.....
Annella does your boss know you`re on here?,LOL...

No Lol :-))

when I went onto GOY this morning there was a picture of my front door on I assume was my home page, I have tried 4 times now to find it and I can't, do we not have a home page now like we did before, this blue and white is killing my eyes,

Yorks.. click on your avatar pic above.... does that help ?

I have just read all the comments since my last one and I can already feel my eyes straining. I changed the text size on my site and got no end of complaints about it and I can fully understand why now.

Things are still happening slowly and loading takes forever. Oh and I am using Google Chrome and I regularly clear my browser cache so it's not that either!

Oh TT thanks, the other thing is if your still on is I just looked at a picture but can't find out how to go back to my home page,

Funny thing, when I click on this blog and scroll downwards, what's white currently is actually a paler blue, until it settles and then comes up white, and that's actually much easier to look at, although not so easy to read text against.

Pleased to say hubby has shown me how to adjust my brightness, thanks again Bulbaholic, I`m a happy Goyer.......

Please do not get rid of guests questions as this will make this site too exclusive! Can the font be made a little smaller, but larger than the original. Also the lines between pm's are impossible to see, they are there, but they are the wrong colour. Sorry do not like the glaring blue and white, much prefer the soft green.

Yorks.. when looking at a photo, click on the underlined word Yorkshire at the top of the page...

[on the left of where it says YOUR OPTIONS ]

... the click should take you home ..

... does that help ? :o)

yes it worked thanks TT,

:o)))

Thank you Bulbaholic much much better can take off the shades now - you are a star :o))

just got in and had forgotten about the change lol i like it as its so clear and love the bigger pictures to, im sure we will all get use to things, having been on ispy a bird i guess its not such a shock to me, good work guys ;o))

Agree with Bamboo....
I don't wish to reset the brightness each time I wish to use other sites/emails etc.

nor do i......

Its so bright I have to keep getting up and walking away from the computer, wish they would change it, makes my headache.

me to yorkshire....

If you use a laptop, or have an adjustable monitor, just tilt it a bit. Has the same effect!

First impressions...I like it! Am I swimming against a tide of opposition here though??? At work at the minute so will have to have a proper gander tonight.

I quite like the blue...

i have changed the brightness and tilted it back... but still makes my eyes hurt....

I have switched my brightness to 1, and it hasnt changed a thing! I am working on an old banger though! Really dont like the glare.

has anyone else noticed that when you go to a page it goes blank blue-- then pale blue with writing then white--- the blue with writing is better but doesn't stay!

im not getting any probs with the colour or brightness, its just nice and clear, sorry others are though ;o( good luck

Have altered the contrast also which has helped a lot.

At a guess Pamg, you're still using Internet Explorer. With Google Chrome if you look carefully you can just see that effect for a split second (and it is a split second)!

O.k. We seem to be finding our way around now, we have given it a try so now I think its time the blue is changed back to green, then maybe we would all feel happier, we will all end up blind at this rate.

I like the new design. It is in my opinion an improvement and it looks a little more professional. I agree with many of our members about the colours and the brightness. This is a gardening site and the designers should know that the members favorite colour is the green and not the white and blue.

I agree with Costakis ...

The new design is okay, the larger photos are good ...

... and I like the font size ...

but ...

... the pale green background would be better please ...

... not bright white and sky blue ... Thank you ..

If members would prefer the light green, ask Ajay and Peter, and say so on this blog ...
... so that "management" know your opinions ...

Although all the hints and tips sound good it not an option for me ,as the computer is a family one and we all use the computer for various things. I might try sunglasses!

Yes green pleeeeeze :-)))

im ok either way, dont have a problem with turquoise but i guess alot seem to, we are all different and cant please everyone i guess, so im happy to go either way lol

I must agree, I find the page glary, prefer green and my screen is wayyyy behind my typing. Have to change to Chrome. Other than that its fine. Just change the colour!

You're not old enough for it to be a problem yet, San! Some of us are unlucky and it starts before 50, but the lens of the eye thickens as we get older, specially from 50 onwards, so we find brightness difficult to cope with. I personally find driving past a lit petrol station at night a painful experience, makes my eyes hurt - and this white on here isn't much better... but I think it's the contrast really - when the page is pale blue, before it "settles" it's easier on the eye.

Just changed to Google Chrome. Eeeeek! dont like that either!!

Think we all need to ask P & A on the 'contact us', then we might be heard! I have sent a message on contact us to ask nicely!! (pretty please) Have taken my contrast down to 15 and the goy screen is now a dirty grey colour, much better than white! :0)

No Bamboo....I don't agree humans dislike change, I usually welcome change as it means a step forward, but feel with this site, it has regressed and not progressed. The format and design of the whole site does appear to be amateurish and not of the standard we had previously been used to. Obviously its Ajays and Peters decision on how they wish to develop it.

thanx bamboo didnt realise thats what it was, i must have started with that cause i cant bare headlights at night, awfull, but like i said im easy with whatever others want.

Well we're all different - I agree with Costakis, I think it looks more professional rather than home made - just need this glary colour combo sorted out, and the text made just fractionally smaller...

all you can do is wait for the lads to say something, should be on sometime soon to see how its going.

Right, I've found the answer - sunglasses - I've got 'em on over my reading glasses, much better.

Maybe if we all go through the 'contact us' we can get something sorted. I'm 50 and my eyes are playing up Bamboo, I don't drive at night anymore as headlights blind me and I agree about the txt size.

I really, really do not like this new dumbed down site. What was wrong with the old one? The print is far too big means I have problems with my varifocals. A white background is not a good idea. To cap it all the site is as slow as a snail! I am seriously considering whether I want to continue with.

It has slowed up this evening - been okay for me all day, but v slow now.

Yes, the site has slowed down a lot this evening but that will likely be down to high traffic. MG...I have verifocals but haven't found any problem (I am using a laptop though and that may be why).

A couple of days down the road and the boys will likely have tended to our comments.

Blimey I hope so, I've had these sunglasses on and off several times already

GoY will soon be showing ads. for sunglasses ... ;o) lol.

The sunglasses help now my son's know I have totally lost the plot!

:o)))

I agree with Bamboo about light and getting older, I have always been a driver and never found headlights or even the sun to be a problem until the last few years. Now it is definitely painful to drive at night and I've just realised that I'm looking at the keyboard as I type so I don't have to look at the screen (I don't usually!) I liked the old colour scheme as it was so individual but this is just (to my mind) amateurish. I also notice that the page width is a lot smaller, is this to make room for more adverts or is it just another oversight?

Too funny you guys....lol

Oh dear think the boys may have to change it back to green and lose the white, it is very hard on the eyes even with the brightness and contrast changed. Think I have changed into one of those GRUMPY OLD WOMEN. LOL

I just went into the bathroom and wondered why it was so bloomin' dark - I forgot I was wearing the sunglasses, dear oh lor'

Here here Bubaholic !!
As I said yesterday the brightness can be altered on your screen either in your options or the buttons at the base of your screen.Surely if it's bright on this site it will be on any other that you visit with a white background.Or is it the difference between Daz and Persil ?!!
Thank you Ajay and Peter you have simplified the the site for those who are computer phobic.
You can please some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time !

Font size is too big, do not like the blue sides or the centre white background. Apart from that, all ok !

I have noticed that the adverts seem to have taken over now Ian...

I have found that turning down the brightness is helpful with everything else on the computer. Obviously I had it too bright before!!!!
I would like to see the 'blueness' toned down - no problem with blue although green might be nicer - and a return to a normal font. Maybe the text background could be a 'not quite white' shade.

I like the bigger photos otherwise I preferred the old set up.

I'm afraid I hate the new colour scheme. The white background is harsh on the eyes and being a gardening site a pale green would be much more appropriate.

I've dipped in and out a few times now and after visiting other sites I just don't think I can stick this colour scheme for very long. My site has a white background but I think that paired with the darker green border and box border etc. it doesn't stand out so much. Perhaps the problem here is the simple layout where the white just isn't getting broken up?

Another thing, what has happened to the PM's? they are now the same colour as the other comments apart from a narrow blue "Private Message" banner and you just cant tell them apart!

Aster: I belong to another garden site which has a white background with black print - and I don't have a problem, and I suspect its because the point size of the print is smaller, and therefore the page is pretty full with print, thus reducing the glaring whiteness of bare space - and without a coloured outer (the blue). And I type in Word which is a white screen, no trouble with that once I get going, again because it fills up with text and is surrounded by dark grey. And its a sort of dull white... And because I do a lot of typing separate from being on here, changing the brightness/contrast is not an option... so I'm sticking with the sunglasses

Annella - I haven't seen any adverts at all except the banner at the top and the RSPB on the right...

You probably have an adblock program running in the background Bamboo. I do and see nothing but the RSPB stuff.

Well its news to me if I have - I certainly saw them yesterday, before the revamp. Does that mean everyone else is seeing ads that I can't?

Only one complaint from me, I agree with the majority......it's good to be green. :o))

Sorry guys, but I have to go with the majority here, I have even toned down my monitor screen to a grubby grey too, cos this just pulls on the eyes...and I've only got one working one! The blue just doesn't work for me, bring back a soft green please! Love the photo size, don't mind the new layout but these colours are just plain harsh on us of advancing years....any chance of toning it down....?

I cannot type on here ... every sentence is taking 5 - 10 seconds plus to upload...really off - putting!! Maybe just busy traffic as I've also written a tester blog (not to publish) with photos & that was fine.

Not too keen on the white ... what's wrong with a bit of nice green for gardening?!
Bigger font is fine for me ... as long as you have a plug - in mouse to scroll up & down!

The photos on my blog could only be uploaded singly but were really fast compared to the 3 you could do before.

As I type it is taking longer & longer ... 14 seconds now so I'm off! :o(

The ads have disappeared on mine except for the birds and they can stay as I like them, I`ve been around the site and found nothing to complain about, I certainly do not feel as though it has been downgraded, I explained my own reason for liking a duller background, its got nothing to do with age or me not being pleased with change, I wish I could like white, bright backgrounds but I`m better off than a lot of folk ,........
This blog is like meeting place, LOL..

If you're not seeing ads then I guess there must be an ad blocker working Bamboo although it's odd you could see Ads yesterday and not today.

Hear Hear for the green for gardening.!Hate the glaring blue,and didn't mind the whie at first,but now I have been on for a while,I feel the same,getting a headache,which isn't something I am prone to.I had trouble too,not being able to preview my blog and pics,before I published,so had to take a chance in hoping it was ok..I'm not having a problem with the speed,or the bigger print,and I was able to upload 3 pics at a time alright. I too,have eyesight problems,so the bigger print is better for me.Everything else I have tried,seems ok...but please get rid of the blue...I use Firefox,and seems satisfactory.

I appolagise to every one, i thought the colour was ok this morning,but after coming on now and then during the day, my eyes seem very sore. i am sure it's the blue. Please bring back the green.

I've been using my PC quite happily for some time now and am quite happy with the settings. Now along comes the 'new and improved GOY' and I am being told to adjust the brightness control. Sorry guys - this does not wash. If I turn it down for GOY, I will need to turn it back up for every other website I use and I do not intend doing that. Definitely a thumbs down from me

Exactly Andrew... why should we have to faff around with changing brightness just for GoY!

Have you read enough yet Ajay?

:)

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say this topic is getting very repetitive and boring....If Peter or Ajay are around perhaps they could close this particular discussion? Not being mean, just a bit fed up I guess.

I award Ajay the Truffle Award - as my 'official GoY duty' - lol.

Am I the only one to be happy with the new design? dumbed down I don't think so....no problems with typing, love the the larger text, can alter my page width, (could do that before though) blue perhaps a little harsh, but nothing that I cannot get used to, and my eyes are old ones , sorry folks but a thumbs up from me, and a sorry to those who do not like it, I use Firefox too (excellent) and at the moment no adverts....great.
Whiston I agree we have all had our say now!!

I'm definitely not liking what I'm seeing here. Why oh why when something is working do people feel the need to change it. Especially on the net. I just can't keep up with it and it's very off putting. Please go back to the way it was I miss that nice green colour too.

I have to agree with many of u I had to adjust the size but the white is painful my eyes hurt now from reading all ur comments. The old way was far superior to this. Sure miss the soothing green I haven't explored the rest of the changes yet but don't like what I've seen so far. somehow I don't think I'll visit here as often as I did.

Sorry third message.
I just tried to find my home page and I can't find my way around this mess. I don't see my homepage,avatar or pic or anything. Really why do people make a mess of something that was so nice?

Angie...I've replied on your blog.

I've just scrolled down reading all the comments after mine and I realised that its not uncommon over 50 to have night vision problems (I'm 58 and gave up driving in the dark many years ago---I wonder if it affects long or shortsight more?---I've one of each!--- I do hope its sorted soon I've not even looked at my homepage(news---less friendly--not mine anymore?) and I'm off

I'm finding the new set up fine no problem, BUT the blue and white are too bright, bring back the green and it will be fine. My sight is not perfect helped along by having had cataracts sorted in both eyes and I haven't used glasses since, but the glare is troublesome.

Thanks everyone. Believe it or not we are not out to deliberately upset members :) We're taking in all the feedback and it's clear there's an issue with the colours. The thought of all of you sat in your sunglasses has got us laughing, but grateful for GoYers who just want the best for the website.

We're also fixing some bugs, including the slow typing which affects pages with lots of comments on Internet Explorer.

Thanks Ajay ...

I'm wearing my Hallowe'en theme sunglasses ...

... orange pumpkin-design frames ...

... ideal for a gardening site ;o)

yawnnnnn.

At the risk of being over technical and boring, this is for Pamg- re the vision thing as we get older - we all end up with presbyopia, which is a form of long sight which only affects older eyes - long sight in younger people is called something different that i can't remember. So shortsighted people still have presbyopia as they age, despite remaining shortsighted - weird, ain't it. Best we can hope for is cataracts, then, like Docbob, they remove the cataract and the lens of the eye, and replace it with a nice, new, plastic (I think) lens which means you mostly never need glasses again, and your vision won't change. Course, the price is that you can see yourself very clearly for the first time for years,which in my case certainly isn't something I'd relish....

That's fascinating, Bamboo...

... will interest others as well as Pamg ...

Tulsalady ... sorry to read your eyes are sore, making you yawnnn...

I'm still wearing the sunglasses - they're now permanently on the computer desk, ready for GoY...

LOL :O)

Hiya Terra no it's just that i'm bored with all these comments. why doesn't Peter and AJ change back to green then i think we will all be happy.

Thanks, Ajay....your input was positive and I'm a happy bunny this morning. )

Keep smiling Whistonlass

Tulsalady - they're waiting to see what the general input is for 2 or 3 days before they start tinkering with things, so all these 'moans' (comments) are valuable input for them I'm sure, if a little tedious to read. I wonder if they need sunglasses to look at this blog too... bet they don't, lol!

Hey driving glasses do the job nicely, gives a nice warm glow to the screen! Hilarious 8=)

You gotta laugh aintcha, I`ve got it sussed at the min,lol, I don`t possess any sunglasses, as I said I have to wear glasses that go black cos of my bad eye,they don`t change indoors ,its cold outside, so tried Bulbaholics suggestion, also found if I tilt laptop on its back its not so bright, don`t you try it with monitor tho you just might
break something,......
Its not boring Tulsa, its entertaining, I can see Terra`s next blog : Goy`s Outrageous Spec`s Club......
Oh heck forgot what I came on to say in first place,
Thanks Ajay, not standing on my head yet,lol......

I've trolled round for a day and I must be in the minority, especially of us wrinklies. I like it. Boss lady likes it too. She doesn't actually do much gardening but she thinks the site looks great with our art deco house. So it must be OK. Lol.

Hi Sarra... nice to see you on GoY :o)))

Thanks Lincslass for your comment...

I'm having a rather difficult time these past months with a problem I can't discuss on GoY, and you cheered me up...

How about a new GoYpedia category ....

Sunglasses and Shades ??? Lol.

LOL. Anytime Terra,.......

Well, I don't like change very much,but after a couple of days playing around with it I really don't think its that bad. I certainly wouldnt consider leaving the site as I get so much pleasure from it.

High John, nice to see your comment. I do like the big letters reminds me of school and nice and easy to read for us ancient ones.

just realised what else is missing, i was reading Hywels blog (AAGGH--about christmas!) and realised that you have to comment or ignore it as you cannot now say that ' I like this ' Is it a permanent loss do you think?

Interesting, hadn't noticed that - do a Contact Us about it, Pamg, while they're still in tweaking mode!

Pam..there is a 'like' box located directly before the Comments box...near the top. Can you spot it? Just click on it and hey presto..it's done :)

Hey Pamq, that would be sad wouldn't it? Sometimes if you're busy its nice to acknowledge to that person that you 'like' their blog, if you havnt time to make a comment! Sorry W.lass, we crossed paths there!

You click on the "like this blog" in the group of phrases above these comments ... is that what you mean ???

She's right...

Not a problem, Grandmage....just so long as Pam gets the message...I'd not like her to miss it and feel she couldn't 'like' a blog. x

I've got the message thankyou, but 'like this blog' didn't mean the same to me!---- 'I like this' would have been better ( pedantic --moi?)

I think you click on the smilie face just above the comments. If you look at this one it currently says 32 likes. (But I guess it all depends on WHEN you look at it? Lol)

Oops, sorry Pam. We posted together then! Lol

Ian you dont click on the smilie face, there is an oblong box above saying 'like this blog', you click on that and then the smilie face increases its total!
(phew, takes a minute to get to the bottom of this page!)

Hello all, we thought we'd try a slightly darker blue and an off white background to the right - any eye strain now? any better?

If you are on Internet Explorer you may need to reload the page to see the change (just press f5).

Don't click on the smiley face, Ian.
Click on "like this blog" slightly lower down, and it will increase the blog likes count on the smiley face.... Lol.

sorry Grandmage.. posted at the same time ...

I have noticed a few tweaks today, thank you Ajay :-))

can't we have the off white all over if we can't have green (moan moan moan-- go-on --say it! and that smiley face cant we have access to him--- ours are always lying down half asleep ;-)))) grumble grumble grumble
((its coldout and its dark and its raining and goys changed)

Thankyou really Ajay, I know you are doing your best Pam xxx

Pam do you live near enough to me to get a hug hun? :-)

thanks Anella-- I'll have a virtual hug (((000)))--- I feel a lot better now, I've made cottage pie for tea that should help xxx

Yum :-))))

Keep smiling Ajay and thanks for all your efforts.....

Not helping me much, Ajay, still too glary where I'm putting text... putting the sunglasses back on now...

Just noticed PMs are now light blue - can't we have that instead of this white?

Sorry Ajay...still bright :(

I agree Bamboo it's where the text goes that is soo sooo bright not just around the edges

Actually, I think its worse with that slightly blue fading to nothing on the right - I'm now getting 'after vision' problems, seeing streaky lines where I know there are none... I mean 'after image', you know, like whenyou look at a bright light and still see a blob for a couple of minutes afterwards...

I agree, still too bright on the focus point

Grandmage..Press your 'End' key..(right hand side of keyboard on mine) to whizz down to the bottom,and then press 'Home'key to whizz back up again...Wheeeeeeeee.:o))

Hello Bloomer..Wheeeeeeeeeeee

I'm afraid the more I use the new layout the more I dislike it. I rather think I'm leaving.

Is it possible to have a dynamic "skin"on the website. That is we canset our own text colour and size locally? The contrast between the text and the background has reduced compared the old design and what I see know. This is making the text harder to read. The black text is ok as I write but the posts are difficult.

anchorman dont you think thats a bit dramatic, it doesnt change whats on here or the people, give it time and see what the outcome is, i can understand if the colour affects members with brightness but as for the layout i dont think its alot different, but thats me, and im ok with colour to but then again i dont mind if its changed either, im easy and not making a fuss,

Oh Bloomer...you are just so clever! I've never known about the end and home keys before.....that sure speeds things up for the better! I am really chuffed now :)

AM.....can't you give it a little while to settle down? You are so helpful on this site and would be missed.

its on the right you will see the pics with an arrow either side homebird, hope iv explained ok

lol yw homebird ;o))

Oh dear...I'm not comfortable with this new look. Getting neck ache as I have to wear varifocals and now my own comment seems to be shouting at me. Text is much too big, colours are cold and uncomfortable to look at, whole site seems less cosy and friendly and it's giving me a headache. Sorry, need to get away from the screen for a bit, I'm going for a cuppa.

oh dear seabird so strange how its affecting alot of members ;o(

Seabird...I've got verifocals but use a laptop and it seems I don't get the problems I would have looking at a desktop computer screen. I can understand the neck ache thing...I'm sure the fellas are working to correct the difficulties we are experiencing. Patience is all I can say for now........

i agree Wlass, rome wasnt built in a day and it must be hard to please everyone, infact it impossible i would say , but im sure the lads will do their best to accomadate ;o)

It only took the day to change the original, surely one more day and it could be changed back and then we would all be happy bunnies! Please lets 'go green', for all our sanity.
Bloomer, you are marvellous, 'home' & 'end', didnt know they exsisted but now, fantastic, wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Thank you ever so.

it doesnt only take a day to do something like this, creating a site takes time and it was only the initial change over that took a day Grandmage, just like when we had to change tv to digital, but im sure if the guys can do anything they will, i love the larger text and layout, colour fine but dont mind if it goes back to green, but lovely bigger pics is great

I'm sure it didn't all evolve in a day, Grandmage...there will have been lots to do before getting the revised website up and running.

Glad you were helped by Bloomer's suggestion...it is such a simple tip...I didn't know about it either! lol

ps. I have been pm.ing this afternoon and evening and I have noticed an oblong box that says, thank you for your comment or glad you liked this, etc. and this said box is in our beloved green!!! So it could be brought back, because it is there at the top of our page. Oh we wish.
W.lass, you know what I mean by a day, I exaggerate, however !

just need to give the guys time to catch up on comments Grandmage, dont worry to much ok,, hugs

Ok San.b I will try not to be too upset, bless you! x

Think if they brought the green back we would not be able to see the new logo, maybe that is why they changed the background colour scheme, we could have had an autumnal tree though and then we should have been able to pick it out, sigh! Green is my favourite colour.

your welcome Granmage x

It's ok, Grandmage...here's a (((Grandmage))) hug for you too.

Oooohhhhhh, just what I needed, thanks friends. x
ps. Bloomer has made my day/year with the discovery of the weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee keys.!

Made mine too....how crazy that I hadn't known about the weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee keys before now! lol

W.lass we are easily pleased. x

The colours looking better, much happier with it now.

If they could tone down the whiteness of the central area it would be much easier on the eye.

Congratulations Ajay - "Conker Award" LOL

LOL, you lot are beginning to sound like high speed yoyo`s..........

lol...Lincslass....I think it's the late hour...I'm getting giddy now...1am :)

12 noon here ;o)))

Just turned 2.35 am and I'm off to bed...hopefully to sleep!
Night Pip.

Night night Jacquie :o)

Up again...can't sleep...now it's 3.55am...this is just crazy!

I spent hours but could not include photos on my blog... Ajay please help...

Grandmage and W.lass..glad you are enjoying whizzing up and down with your 'home' and 'end' keys..Lol.I was grateful when I was told about it too....pleased it put a smile on your faces ,just what we need at the moment,and better still ,if we go back to being 'green' :o)))

disappointed to log on this morning and still see bright blue and white !!

Just logged on hoping the blue would have gone completely, what a disapointment, please lads, lets go GREEN.

Go and see Oliveoil's blog everybody,about how to change and customise your own screen to your own desirable colour! I have done it, it takes two mins. and hey presto, I have a green screen with blue and orange lettering,(my choice,looks nice) Its wonderful, have a go and so much easier on the old eyes.Lol.

somehow i missed the advanced notice of changing the look of Grows on you, so it was a shock to find everything different
sorry, not too keen ~ seems more clinical
if it makes loading up photos easier then it will help
i liked the friendly, green version better, this feels as if it is leaving spaces for adverts instead of just the garden things

Grandmage, now you've done that, does it carry through to all internet sites you use? I just want to change GoY, not anything else, is that possible?

I have just had my first proper look around this "new" GOY - and like so many of you - I dislike intensely the blue and white harsh colours. It is very hard on the eyes and despite reducing the size of the font (which hasn't affected other sites - just checked) I am feeling the effects already. It is like a kids' school jotter - all blank and unfriendly. Why did we need to go for blue....green is so much more natural and restful....especially on tired and retired eyes. Many people can not cope with it.
As for negotiating around the site - well I guess we will get used to it - but WHY CHANGE...like lemmings - we have to follow the trend for change....WHY
Since being ill I have not been around here much but honestly - the idea of this horrid cold and icy look to what was a very easy and friendly forum puts me off the idea of a cosy winter chatting to old friends.
Sorry to be one of the dissenters, Boys....but it is a definite thumbs down from me.

I'm off to check out Oliveoil's blog....I'm intrigued and especially as making adjustments on GOY will not affect other websites. Whey...hey.............:)

Oliveoils blog is excellent but if you're using Firefox you'll need slightly different instructions. I've added these to Olive's blog

I've now got the small text back but the colour change is "foxing" me for the moment.....

Will try it again..thanks AM.

good idea BUT don,t want my other web-sites changed just GOY. surely this site could easily be changed back to what it was as it was great then.!!!!

Oh dear....reverted back to website settings on here...the text went too small and the colour settings I tried (several) were all too garish...back to the blue and larger print I guess.

Just had another read through all the comments and it seems to me that the consensus of opinion is that the harsh unfriendly icy blue and white colour-scheme gets a definite thumbs down and if this was changed back to our "Gardening Green" - we would all happily adapt to the other changes.
SO...why not meet us half way Boys and do just that...end of problem!!!!!
PLEASE....and thank you in anticipation!!!!

Yep, Whistonlass, the colours are all too garish. And it changes all the internet stuff, including my email system... Alzheimer, I wouldn't mind if it was just pale blue on this bit, don't care about the green, just as long as its not this white...

Ajay, Peter, yoo hooooo Please change the glaring white background, it really is a problem for most users who have commented. Pleeeeease reassure us that you are at least considering it. :-)

has anyone else noticed that todays advert for beefburgers ( on my homepage) is directed at me-- for my hometown-- even though I give my area as eastmidlands--- is this for all of us for our nearest town --- is this a step too far?

pamg.... i have found that after looking at various websites... then i go onto here an advert for the website i was looking at comes up on the right hand side.... strange isnt it... its always something i have been looking at.... a while back i was looking at littlewoods furniture online.. then when i came on here the same furniture advert came up......

I have just added a comment on Tiger's blog,about toning it down,and the information he helped with.I am very happy now,if the text stays grey,much much better.:o)

i dont like the grey text............ ive had a headache for the last 2 days.. due to being on here i think....

Couldn't agree more....as I have been on here today for the first time for ages and have also consumed more paracetamol than usual.....coincidence? Maybe!!
I just want the old mellow green back....pleeeeeease!!

PS as for adverts....quite bad enough that I have Summer House adverts but when I keep finding one for "Brain Training Games " - I do get a bit paranoid....I know my "name" is Alzheimer - but really.........LOL

why would I look at beefburgers tho? its not a thing I do-- if it was ads for local garden centres then maybe --but I don't display my nearest town-- not happy :-(((

i dont understand pam what you are saying about nearest town etc, please explain

Hi Bloomer, sorry been out today you asked me about other sites changing colours, well yes they do, but I am willing to suffer that for a while UNTIL GOY GOES GREEN AGAIN ! My home grown green screen is great.

I hate that advert - I've seen it as well, Pam and Sandra - and the town is nowhere near here, so don't worry. Just a co-incidence. I also can't bear the google Chrome advert - it makes me feel dizzy. All those flashing whizzy colours! Help - get me off here - my eyes acha and my head aches.

i dont get ads on mine , nothing which im glad to say, think i stopped the ads but cant remember how cause ian told me a long time ago now, and dont have google chrome either, son said not good, so stick to what i have, hope your eyes and head soon recover barbara, i must be the only one who isnt have a problem with the new colour and text, its lovely and clear to me and i can see the text great, sorry guys

i wonder why i get ads on mine.....when i was looking for a new soffa the ads were on here...... things id been looking at on other websites.... i thought i was being haunted by soffas...... then i was thinking of getting a new bed and was looking on internet at them.... again when i came on here the ads were of the beds i had looked at..... very strange......i said to my son i cant get away from beds and soffas.....lol.... but no beefburgers......

I have beefburgers on mine,

maybe just for you up north then....lol

ask your son holly how you can stop the ads, i hated them keep popping up grr.
it is possible as i did it, so yorkshire maybe you can ask someone to .

i will..... but they shouldnt be on goy should they.....

Do GOY get any commission or payment for letting these ads in?

which town Yorkshire I put my area as east midlands and it comes up on the ad as leicester ( I'm sort of in the middle of leic. notts & derby but the county is leicestershire, do you recon ' big brother is watching us??'

probably Grandmage, amazon certainly direct ads to you on past history but thats a selling site -- this is not!

My experience from other websites/forums I have belonged to is that ads help to pay for the running costs....if you are concerned or want more detailed information you could send a "contact us" request to Ajay or Peter.

I can understand that Whiston, its the privacy angle that concerns me

I'm still hoping the blue panels at the sides will be replaced with a pleasant shade of green....

but what I LIKE with the new design ....

and I like it A LOT !!!!!!!

... is how CLEAR and EASY it is now when writing a private message ... I used to struggle to see when composing those...
...and now it is easy and user-friendly ...

... so, thanks to "managment" for that improvement... :o)))))))

TT, why not change to your own chosen colour scheme? I now have light grey with purple writing, its very nice and easy on the old eyes. Just hope I will find out if GOY change back, Lol !!

"Management" needs to know the general reaction to the blue colour panels ...

...newcomers to GoY could be put off by the bright blue panels, and that could be enough to deter GoY from attracting new members ...

... just trying to be constructive ...

Try mid green text with medium to light grey background. It is very restful and very "gardeners green"

For me it works well with other websites. Infact with most other sites I prefer it to how they used to be

I've tried every combination (including what you suggest AM) but the problem arises when I go to my email or facebook pages...the same combinations just do not work for other sites I use.

I'll have to be patient until we get some more detail from Ajay and Peter...I can manage with things as they are for a little bit longer.

My email isn't changed . Maybe this is because I'm using Firefox?

I'm not on Facebook and only regularly visit Flickr and the Guardian Talk pages.

Has anyone read the advertise section at the bottom of the page beside contact us?

No...I'm using Firefox too (I'm meaning my Gmail...private not anything to do with GOY). Any other suggestions, AM?

Annella...I have no advertisements beside the contact us at the bottom of the page. I think it must be something in your own computer settings that needs changing...but I don't know how to help you....very sorry.

i have Wlass right next to contact us it says advertise then about us,but you can get rid of advertising on your computor settings some how,

I meant read the advertising price when you click on that section Wiston....San how do I get them off ?

I don't think you can delete the "Advertising" word....or disable the function, Annella. I clicked on "Advertising" and this link came up....http://www.growsonyou.com/pages/advertise

If you cut and paste that link it will explain the purpose of having the word on the bottom of the site. I misunderstood what you meant and was looking for an actual advertisement.

My son is going to speak to me in a couple of minutes and I'll pose these questions to him and get back to you.

I have no ads either,and like W.lass,using firefox.

You probably have an adblock ad on loaded in Firefox.

I have and it blocks virtually all ads on all sites. Very useful!

Whiston

Are you using Outlook Express? If not maybe that is why you're affected

Try tools>options> content>colours

then uncheck the "use system color" box

uncheck the "allow pages to use own colour" box

Set text to a mid green

set background to a light grey

set visited links to mid green

set unvisited links to the same green.

If you do all that you will have exactly my set up.

If your email isn't OK then, then I'm afraid I don't know why.

I may go with Firefox then Anchor!! Wiston I read that they charge £500 a month for each advert, which I can understand but I would like some of my screen back...

If you have Firefox which I find much better than Internet explorer then just google Firefox adblock and it's very simple to download for free.

I've only had it for as month or so but it's very good at blocking ads.

Check out the other firefox ad ons. I use one which allows me to download youtube videos with one click( I think it's called Firefox download helper)

Thanks Anchor, I have 2 teenagers here so that helps..

annella thats the thing i cant remember as ian on here ran me through it a long time ago, but i didnt have to download anything to do it, sorry i cant remember ;o(

Annella...I don't think you'll gain any of your screen back...I just have a large area of blank screen to the right where ads would appear if I didn't have them blocked.

Once you download Firefox then go to this link and you can download to block ads. Hope that helps.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865/

That's ok San, I will find out how & thanks hun xx

Thanks Wiston, at least it will be less distracting :-)))

You're welcome...I went all the way to Canada to get that help for us...lol Talked to my son on googlechat and he gave me the link. Unfortunately he can't help me out with the colour problem...hey, ho.

He has done well though..Lol, I'm on here in between X factor, sad I know but I love it :-))))

I'm avoiding X Factor by the skin of my teeth....I've not enjoyed this present series at all. You are multi-tasking, Annella....what all women do so well! lol

Hope the Firefox ad-ons works for you.

Burgers ... in Southampton ... all you can eat... Grrr!

Hundreds of comments from previously happy/contented/secure/sure - footed/serene & loyal Goyers who are now ...
upset/angry/confused/disorientated/annoyed/frustrated/colour - blinded/headachy/Firefoxed ....

And for what? A more up - to - date site? Is that what we need?

Some good points ... some improvements ... thank you for those boys but some disappointments ... as you surely knew there would be. :o)(

I just hope they have read some of the comments Fluff or contact them via the 'contact us' at the bottom of the page as I have done :-))

I've got adds now :-( Hate them with a passion.

I think its like most things in life that we enjoy that are free, the name of the game these days is, suck them in, get them hooked them try to make money out of them with adds adds & adds!
I understand everyone wants to make money but when you have a nice thing going why screw it up? One change at a time we might have been able to get use to but so many in one day, aaaaaaaaaaaaah!

I have noticed that with other sites, facebook, picnick etc. They just lose me after so many changes. I logged onto Facebook a while ago and wanted to check out the group app. it's changed for the worst! I give up! I've too much to be doing to be wasting my time trying to figure out new layout ever other day or week. Enough already!

I like the idea of being able to block out the adds if I can figure that out I be a bit happier.
Sorry I'm really grumpy today, it was a doozy of a week now my gardening escape has put the cherry on the cake! Oh dear why can't good things not change?

I'm with you all the way on this Angie

People need to change stuff for changes sake. It's a damn nuisance

Don't even get me started on supermarkets moving stuff arounf the aisles!

:)

I'm with Anchorman on this one

We've found that if we click on the 'Safety' box on the tool bar at the top of the screen when uploading Google, then delete the Google page while 'In Private' loads up, then click on the 'home' button, you then get Google with a safety barrier which keeps out some ads. We have much less bother with silly ads since always doing this. Hope it helps GoYers?

Safety box?? Nariz. eeek where? Would be grateful for some help please.
Anjie, I too changed my colour on Goy but found I couldn't stand my facebook as well, it was awful, so I changed back to original and everything is fine except GOY !

I've just read the 'terms of use and privacy' at the bottom of the page, interesting and worth reading --including that the ads are powered by 'google' and 'google' knows where we are of course. My system on this pc doesnt allow me to post photo's but the use of them is an interesting one.......

Pam, I have just read the privacy terms that you found and I have pressed the 'opt-out' button but dont think anything has happened, we shall see.!! These adverts are called 'interest based ones', so they know all about us, spooky.

I couldn't see an optout button on my homepage or profile just a thing about recieving emails Is that it-- I removed the tick
and yes the internet is spooky and i try to be careful what I put on it!

Disagree ... I have an advert for a sushi bar in Brighton ... I wouldn't eat sushi if you paid me ... certainly wouldn't drive to Brighton (about 16 miles from me) for a plate of it !

Grandmage Thank for that tip. I just checked it out, and removed a number of so-called interests. Also read GOY privacy notice too. Think I might delete my pic! It's not right that they claim to own them in a sense.

Ditto Shirley! I'm 53 miles from Southampton & never frequent MacDonalds ... but ... I do know that Google can put on ads to mirror what you have been buying ... I've had nothing but trainer ads since I looked at the Skechers I've just bought. :o(

Thanks Pamo for you info. too Yeah I don't like what they said about everyones pics.

Angie, I can't find an optout box-- only one about emails.....

the site gets £500 per month for each advert so I won,t hold my breath for them being removed!!!!!

Pam, go to the terms of use & p.bit at bottom of page, click, on the terms page is a paragraph about google, about three down, on this google para. at end of para. is a click here button. Click it, that brings you on to an 'advert & privacy' page which at the right hand side should have a blue button saying 'opt out', press it and see ! Ok. 80)

Hi PamG....if you go back to that "Term of Use and Privacy" at the bottom of this page and click it ....then scroll down past the e-mail bit and find the GOOGLE heading - you will then see the opt-out highlighted - click on it and you WILL find the page on cutting out the cookies and adverts etc....good luck.

OOPS - two minds and all that Grandmage!!!

Thankyou very much-- BOTH of you , will wait & see with interest!
I've had enough of Goy now ( never said that before!!) I'm going to the garden centre for a bit of retail therapy ;0)))

Just a wee bit of feedback from a netbook perspective. The default layout is a bit too big so I have to scroll right to see the full page. I can zoom out to fit it on but then have to zoom back in on the next website.

Hi Pamsco.....can you not adjust your font-size and page by going to the bottom right corner of your screen where there is a % sign and adjusting it according to you own likes? I reduced mine as soon as I came on GOY a couple of days ago as it was way too big for me too - and it has stayed the way I wanted and hasn't altered any other sites.
Anyway - have a nice trip to the GC...I am very envious!!

'Bottom right corner of your screen, where there's a % sign' - alzheimer, I've nothing like that anywhere on my screen...

me no like...........text way too large, will get repetative strain injury scrolling down the page on a blog like this!

Blimey....didn't know that you all didn't have that! I have a % sign and use the 100% for this forum and 125% when on line etc...but then - I do use the old-fashioned Google and IE...I am too long in the tooth to go Chrome or Firefox etc...LOL It sure made a massive difference when I came on here a few days ago and was faced by the huge print size etc....eeek! I know I am in the very early stages of macular degeneration....but don't need BIG PRINT just yet....LOL I shouldn't jest - but really - it did look like a kids site and not for adults.

PS Mageth.....you don't need to scroll down my dear....just go to the top right corner of your keyboard and you will find button "END" - press it and you will be taken right to the bottom of the page! When You want to go back up - just press the one above called "HOME" and voila you are there!!!

Mageth....you can get to the top and bottom of a page quite easily, without scrolling. We were given a tip a couple of days back and I learned the action for the first time...we have been laughingly calling it the weeeeeeee keys....lol

At the top right of your keyboard there are two keys (one under the other) that say "home" and "end". Using these you can either go to the top of the page you are viewing (select "home") or the bottom of the page you are viewing (select "end").

I hope this helps you out.

yes.....but what if I want to read everything inbetween? : )

Well........scrolling it is, Mageth....:) Looks like you got 2 lots of advice there...cross-posted...lol

Yup...a lot of minds with the same helpful thoughts!!
Worth while though.....LOL I hate scrolling and learned that trick very early on with GOY....as some posts go on for yards!!! if you want to go up or down more gradually - then go to the "page up or down " buttons - also up in the right hand corner ...very handy too and work for me!

Well, if nothing else, so many of us are learning new things about how to use our computers, so thanks for all the advice Goyers! I tried the colour change as well, but hated how it affected my other sites too...so gone back to original...ho hum! I was the same about the adverts...mine were coming up with burgers and all you could eat for a £5, but the joke was that it was in Birmingham! I live in Wiltshire!!! A long way to go to spend a fiver, wouldn't you agree?lol.Implemented 'Ad block', and now they are gone, but gnashing of teeth now means I have to visit the Dentist!!

mine changed from Leicester to Birmigham!--- Hi Flori, hows things, we're not taking too well with the changes are we, thinking about it it was proably too much at once without any real consultation, I find it hard to believe that the survey called for a white/blue screen!
and sweet Raffi is he a happy boy

Just nipped through to my old laptop here where I - in a wild moment - installed Google Chrome...now there IS a cause for gnashing of teeth.....anyway - there is no % at the bottom of the screen on it - so bang goes my ideas about reducing the font size on here .....OMG...it is like being back at school with a flamin' blackboard ....eeek.....I am off back to my usual laptop!!

I was viewing photos on someone's page just now and there were all kinds of ads popping up, coming in from the side etc. Now I can't understand that as I have adblocker too.
Any ideas why?? It doesn't appear to happen on my own page.

Can't help you there I am afraid as it doesn't happen to me ...TG Just the usual recommendations of where to buy the plant on the pic....as it always does.

Hi Pam, good to hear from you too...Raff, still holding his own so far...
I, like so many, are struggling with the glaring screen, I did turn it down but that affected all my other site too, so back to the original....ho hum...I live in hope that I will log in and find my favourite soothing Green screen again......

I am beginning to feel neglected, no adverts, just one at top of the page on right, I do run an ad blocker it never worked on the old site lol
Also I do not have top and bottom keys on the right of my keyboard.....help where are they?

you can have my flashing beefburgers or spinning google chrome if you like! its so that I can't be here long, after being here this morning I had flashing lights in my eye-- like the start of a migraine, worried me as I was in the garden centre and I lost bits of vision, it passed and just left a 'dull head'

nice to hear you are all well Flori, if it wasn't for the lovely people here.......

Bloomer, dont you have at the bottom right of your screen a small magnifying glass with + sign, mine says 100% you can alter this to larger or smaller 75%,using the drop down menu, you can then choose which size font you prefer!

PS.... I think the % sign is only there if you are using the older Google or IE.....not the Firefox or Goggle chrome I found out by trying my old laptop which has Chrome on it...and no % signs!!

Ok. Alz. my computer is an old banger. Lol !!!!

Oh dear, Alz - I haven't got a % button, or a + and - so I can't do that bit. I've been to the Terms and Conditions bit and clicked on the 'opt out' but....I STILL have the awful adverts!

I am 'really' fed up with all this. It's still a glaring white and I still get eye-ache and a headache after a few minutes.

Spritz have you pm.d the boys to beg? I have, for what it was worth!

we're all trying our best to persevere but when it affects our health then changes should be made

Instead of interesting and cheering me at the moment its the reverse effect--- permanently grumpy.....

Likewise Pam. ggggrrrrrrrrrr !

Hi Spritz...I have found out that I am old-fashioned and as I still have the original Google and IE ....I do have the % button....but that if you have the Google Chrome or Firefox - they don't and so they don't let you change the font size....sorry.
I too have pm'd the boys as I guess the more input they get the better is the chance of reverting to our lovely old greenery! I sure agree that from a medical point of view these stark blue and white colours are really very uncomfortable - to put it mildly. We live in hope of going green again...which would soothe the ruffled feathers of a large majority of GOYers and our eyes too.....LOL

Spritz, sorry to hear you're having problems. If you go to the top toolbar you should see 'view'. Click on that and about halfway down there is 'zoom'. That takes you into the % thingy. I have gone to 'custom' and taken the size down to 120 and it has sorted it for me. Additonally if you have an FN button on your computer (mine is bottom left next to CTRL) you can use this in conjunction with F5 and F7 to increase or decrease the brightness. Hope this works for you. Good luck.

I understand everyone is trying to help each other BUT the ONLY people really able to do anything are Ajay & Peter, I've sent a sad Pm and hope they understand as I am truly fearful for the Goy we knew

Thanks Gee, just found my zoom thingy and Ctrl + and -, that has reduce the font size a lot! You are a star!

Oh Gee - no 'View' button, nor FN. I am just at the end of my tether. Thank you for trying to help. I'm glad it helped Flori, anyway! :-(((((((

Got to go - can't bear the glare....oh! that rhymes! ;-O

Hi Gee....the Fn button doesn't always work that way and certainly the F5 only refreshes the page and the F7 turns on some weird "Caret browsing"....and not the type of carrots we like on GOY.....LOL LOL I guess it depends on the way your keyboard is set up!!!
PS I suspect the VIEW button isn't always up if you use the newer browsers either Gee....I have it - but then I am old fashioned and have the old Google and IE so all knobs and whistles are there...LOL

surely if such a large numer of members are unhappy with the colour of the pages, they should be changed back--- SIMPLES !!!

Couldn't agree more Helen60G ...definitely SIMPLES ....and I have pm'd the boys with exactly that sentiment. The other changes are easy but this color thing is truly upsetting everybody!

and the flashing ads! athough at the moment is turf and what look like alliums-- ( and not moving ........)

Thanks very much for that advice, Gee! :-)) I din't think it would work so I hadn't tried that option. I sometimes use it to zoom into pages with really small fonts but have never used it before to make a page font SMALLER, unless I'd made it bigger before! So thanks again!

I PM'd the "boys" a couple of days ago asking them if they could find an intermediate size font & asking them if we could return to the old green pages!

I use "Ad Blocker" on my computer as well. I've had it for a year or longer. I installed it when my computer was running so slow it took for ages to load a page. :-(( It did get a bit better with that programme but the fault lay with my computer not the pages. I needed to upgrade the Memory Module. Now with a 1 GB memory module plus the old 256 mb module I sail through the internet & it has become a joy to use the computer once again! :-))

With Firefox you can change font sixes by doing this

Tools> options> content and look for the fonts and colours section.

This will change fonts on all websites though

Does anyone else think that the photos are less sharp now? I've tried tipping my head right back to look down my nose through the varifocals but I can't seem to focus them properly and I get neckache. Specs were new this year and I haven't had this problem before.
If I position myself to see the screen comfortably my arms aren't long enough to use the keyboard!
Does anyone know where I can get a minifying glass?

ive noticed that about the photos too Seabird. Im sure the boys have put a lot of work into these changes, but at the very least i think they should change the background colours, its really painful to look at the screen

I've made font smaller following Gee's advice, but it makes the blue wider lol:-(

Folks I have the answer and I`m really not joking, mind you it will cost you over £400.
Take one 10yr old grandson, add one very young dog called Brynner who absolutely loves grandson, let them meet in sitting room before one has chance to remove laptop to safety :
Result= 1 broken laptop.
Solution new laptop with more buttons so can alter brightness very easily...There is a but though, one now has to learn about new computor...LOL..

EEEK....sounds like a steep learning curve ....think I will just wait for the boys to change the colours back to normal gentle green.....LOL

Yes, I have to say it would have been better, lol.......

Oh dear...luckily you were able to replace the laptop, Lincs. I'm nervous when our grandkids are here because they all want to use my laptop and it's passed around like a new baby.....and I just hold my breath and hope it doesn't topple onto the floor.

Good luck with your new laptop :)

I'll wait for the guys to sort it too. Not being pc literate I can see I'll get in a right mess if I try it myself.
(Hope they don't go off on holiday first to recover from all these comments, or go to the pub then give us a pink screen.)

A pink screen might be less dazzling on the eyes!

;-)

I've now got used to the colours I've set for Goy and all other websites.

They are now all less dazzlingthan they were and Goy is once again easy on the eye.

I still don't like overall look of the site and far prefer the earlier version.

I got some feedback from the "boys" today & it seems they are sitting up & taking notice of what we are saying as they've told me they will be making some changes again next week. It seems nonetheless that the font size is not only a headache for us but for them also!!! Don't hold your breathes too long but we may yet get back our green background! They haven't said so much to me - but they say they have had a lot of comments about the white background.

Thats good news Balcony - watch this space - (intermittantly for health reasons)
Thanks for the update.

Lovely to have the update, Balcony. Thank you.

I've had advice from helpful members about:

1) getting rid of the DREADFUL adverts
2) changing the colour of the screen
3) changing the font size.

I CAN'T DO ANY OF THEM.

So - I'll be contacting P&A as well, because I don't like GOY any more, and I'm still getting headaches.

Me neither Spritz.....getting used to it now....though I can't stay on too long as it gives me a headache, the contrast between the blue sides and white background is too great...and I'm fed up with the burger advert constantly flashing. At least they could be plant and gardening adverts.....I thought it was great before and enjoyed looking at the home page heading photos of our gardens.

I miss the homepage heading photos of our gardens too Janey . The new home page really is very poor.

i'm afraid I think the new look is all round poor and I just don't know why it needed to be changed.

I've set all my websites to a grey back ground with dark green text and I'm happy with them but ofcourse that doesn't improve the layout of GoY although now at least I have no problems with glare

I have now written to P&A. I do hope that they reconsider.

I've told them that the burger advert is unacceptable, and that the google chrome one makes me dizzy, plus all the other things we've already said.

like the new layout. very bright and colourful. and the easier to read larger text click-ons are good aswell. nice job old pip. ha ha

Well thanks Balcony .. did you by chance send Peter and Ajay a comment in which you ranted claimed you were depressed , psychotic or ready to plunge off a cliff ?

Or perhaps as I suspect , give a more balanced perspective suggesting that most members felt the white screen too intense.

For those that presented with reason and were prepared to acknowledge that some improvements have been made of course a calmer screen would be ideal answer.

To those that ranted incessantly would condemn them to white screens , flashing lights , sirens , whistles and Pink Floyds track Brain Damage .. headaches ? have some of you any idea what this has been like to read ? madness.

erm re ads .. complaining about bird ads and praising google chrome saw the awful spinning disc replace them ..

I love green paint .. dulux does a fantastic range in variety of calming shades its brilliant cant be beaten ...there , plaster my screen green please ..

I award you the "Crocus" Award, Ajay...
I too live in hope, Flori!!! (Have PM'd you...)

the ads are what keep the site going, as firms etc pay to advertise, also i agree with alot BB had to say, the guys work hard to keep their site going and even if some are not happy i think its not nice to rant on, just a nice msg to the guys is enough i think, and it is a free site so cant complain really, so lets not keep on about it and sound ungratefull guys, it spoils everything dont you think.

Well said, Sanbaz!

thankyou Nariz ;o)

Morning San, have you thought that people are getting increasingly cross and frustrated because after all this-- and another blog we have had NO feedback ( other than tinkering with the blue) and maybe just a word from the boys to say that they understood and would see what could be done would calm things, at the moment frustration at being ignored fuels the fire

well said Pamg, being ignored does fuel the fire

i understand that pam but they have to give it a few days to get the comments, so all we need to do is give an oppinion then wait, all you can do, no point in everyone getting worked up, doesnt do anyone any good to get stressed believe me, im ok with new look but i really do understand if it doesnt suit all, im not having a go just trying to calm things down, and maybe they are having a weekend with their families, cant be here 24/7 can they. lets just wait and see and im sure they will look at all comments, private and other wise, x

Thank you Sandra put so much better than me ...aye Pamg my sense of frustration however is based upon those who approve of the changes.

We may well be in the minority and obviously would not like to think of the majority suffering for example with the white screen.

You ve only got to scroll back through this or read others blogs to know that approving the changes some or all - has been met with some strong reactions and little regard seems to have been shown for those entitled to express them.

The blogs were clearly posted away from this thread as any sense of approval was likely to be drowned out ..think it would have been respectful to allow one blog to accept approval comments only , no matter how few it ended up with.

thanx ray, i hate bad feeling and dont want to fall out with anyone over this "small problem" when i have more upsetting things going on in my private life ,im going to leave this blog now and hope it all sorts out and everyone can be happy again x

I do see what you mean Bb, but its not only the look of the site but the privacy issues and ownersip/copy right that also seems to have changed ( maybe it did a long while ago but only come to light because of these changes
one way or another if we want this to continue as you and San say take a deep breath -- and wait Pam xxx

Good morning. Thanks for all the feedback since Thursday. I tried to respond to most of the "contact us" emails over the weekend.

We are going to be trying a few things including greens to replace blues and the white going to off white. Which seem to be the 2 biggest issues.

There should have been no functionality changes made on Thursday, so if you come across something that isn't working as it was before then it is probably a bug and we would love to hear from you via the contact us link. We have a handful of these to fix too. Thanks to those that wrote in.

The Terms of Use & Privacy (linked below right) have not changed now or recently.

Thank you AJ and Peter for all your hard work, i realize you are trying to do your best for everyone. Good luck.

thankyou very much for your reply and all the work that it entails and hope that the improved site will " Grow On Us"
;0)))

Glad you've settled down, Pamg - I came on to catch up on this blog, and noted you said you felt ignored, along with Pipc - hopefully you don't now that Ajay has responded, but I can assure you we weren't being ignored - I did a contact us thing the first day, and the second day, regarding the colours and font size - and got a response on both occasions from Ajay, from which it became obvious they were monitoring our responses, although not intervening in public, by and large. They did ask for feedback via Contact Us, and I'm not sure that everyone who complained did that - but I am sure that, whatever we want, it will take them some time to sort it out. As I said before, I have no problem with the new site - except for the glaring white. I don't even mind the large print size too much, except I think a smaller point size might reduce the glare simply because smaller print means the page has more on it, so less white to look at. I really must go and get my sunglasses, been on here 5 minutes and now its troubling me...

what really got to me and now thankfully seems to have gone was the ad for Goole Chrome and to a lesser degree the beefburger ad, those couple with the white screen seemed awful and coloured my judgement on the rest, just relieved the flashing lights have gone and hope to settle back, I am very sorry if I upset anyone I, blame the headache, i'm better today pam xxx

You haven't upset me, Pamg - I was just worried that you might leave because you felt ignored. By the way, flashing ads have been a problem in the past for me - last year I had one that flashed on and off so rapidly (Provident insurance) I thought it would trigger a migraine, so it's not a problem confined to the new design. I hate 'em actually, but most don't flash so quickly, thank heavens.

What else is there to be said? Ajay has indicated they are listening to our comments, modifications are within reach and we are all still gardeners at heart.

Ajay and Peter must sacrifice a lot of hours to keep the site up and running and I really think a vote of confidence and a message of thanks would be most welcome to them.

I for one am going to be relieved when all is sorted and we can get back to being a happy place to visit. :)

Ajay and Peter, I did not feel I needed to use the contact us link, I had faith in your ability to read my comments on this blog, as has been said my only problem was the glare so still hoping for a lovely green somewhere. Many thanks.....

I did indeed write in....albeit just yesterday I think... but I am delighted to read that we are going to "go green" again as it IS more restful on the eyes and medically speaking is known to be a more soothing colour - which is why it was and still is to some extent used in hospital corridors etc.
How nice of Peter and Ajay to let us know that things are going back to normal and I totally agree - a vote of thanks is indeed called for - they do a great job - it can't be easy keeping a cross-nations bunch of gardeners happy!!
More power to their elbows I say...LOL and roll on the greenery!!!!

Thanks Peter and Ajay.... looking forward to the better colours....

... green is nearly here ...
Conker will be able to take off his sunglasses ... :o)))))))

and my headache swill go.....lol

If everybody had respected their request to send comments by the "Contact us" link below, as I did, before posting any comments, perhaps we could have avoided some of the "bad feelings" being publicly expressed.

It made me feel bad to read some people's comments & I avoided posting myself till I had had a chance to "peruse" the site & make a balanced judgement. I don't like to criticize people or things before giving them a chance. I wasn't happy with some of the changes but I liked others. When I wrote to P&A I tried to be positive as well as express some dissatisfaction over the background & the text size.

I would like to publicly thank them as well for all their hard work behind the scenes. Thank you P&A! :-))

Hello all, Greens should have now replaced blues for everyone and the white should now by off white. Hopefully those sunglasses and headache tablets can be put away now.

f5 to refresh the page if you can't see the greens.

Let us know what you think please.

It's green! It's green! Thank you P&A, that's sooo much better. :-))))) And the background is much better, too. You are a star!

Very nice indeed Ajay, thanks for all your trouble,

It changed before my eyes! I like it :-)

went to put the dinner on and there it was when i came back.... Thankssss

Conker and the sunflower have both taken off their sunglasses :o)
... that says it all ...

Excellent ... Lol.

Way to go Ajay, bless your cotton socks, Happy Goyer here in Lincs...

Certainly a bit easier with the off white...although personally, I preferred the blue, it was the white giving me trouble...

Terra ,hope you took a pic of sunflower in glasses,LOL......

thankyou---- thankyou---- both, soft grey and green aahhh!

Hi all, on balance I def preferred the "old" look and am finding it hard to adjust to all the scrolling. Don't know if the changes were really necessary - ?
Green so much better than odd blue. Adverts annoying but part of life I spose!
In spite of my disappointment I appreciate that we enjoy this vast site completely for free and I'm grateful to P & A for all they do. It's just that now I think I'll be enjoying it less.

im ok with it , but then again i was ok with blue to lol, whatever suits all,im easy, thanx guys

Well the new look gets my vote - I think its much more up to date and professional looking - and I prefer this font to the old one, even though its too large - the old one reminded me of an Imperial 66 typewriter... and Weeding, it was worth it for the photographs if nothing else.

Lincslass... "sunflower in glasses" ???
I guess you haven't yet seen my latest GoY pic of Conker ;o)
Lol.

I just love the current GoY font and the font size :o)))

weeding if you know someone who can sort the ads out, it can be done from your computer, iv no ads on mine, someone kindly helped me get rid of them, scrolling easy just use arrows or home and end key to go right to top or bottom ;o)) hope this helps

Thanks guys for changing the background for us! :-)) This green is MUCH better & the off-white is easier on the eyes! Many thanks again.

I did this in my computer settings aeons ago as the brilliant white always hurt my eyes.

Using Firefox I can reduce or enlarge the text at a whim just by pressing Ctrl and "+" to make small text bigger or Ctrl and "-" to make big text smaller! Don't know if the same can be done on other browsers but it certainly works on Firefox!

The green is much better.

Thank you, this is easier to look at :-))

Thanks Ajay and Peter....the green gets my vote...much friendlier on the eyes and a great improvement on the brilliant blue. Just the Homepage headings to re-instate to give the site back it's professional touch....and then by George, they'll have got it!!....:o)))

Homepage headings already done! By George A&P you've got it! Many thanks.

thanks for these subtle changes , akes it much easier to look at. Thanks P&A.

OMG ... 501 comments... where's Pip with the awards ? ;o)

Aaah....it looks like a gardening site now...and it feels more like home, just as it did the very first time I visited GOY, thank you A&P. :o))

Thank you, thank you, thank you...Ajay, so much! This is easier on the eye, and makes my time on GOY much more pleasurable..... I know that Site changes can be trial and error, and you have so many people to please, but that is down to the success you have made of a great Site, but thank you for listening and getting back to us....it is appreciated! :~))))x

WOW...just dropped in just now and what a lovely surprise I got.....Gardeners Greenery ....yippee!
It really is so much kinder and as you will already see Peter and Ajay - your efforts have been received with lots of well earned praise and favour! We love it and appreciate how hard it must have been to make us ALL happy again....now we can get back to the business of gardening and chatting....LOL Thank you both so much.

Brilliant, fantastic ,super, We have got the green back!Hip Hip Hooray Thank you very much, the sunglasses can now go back in the drawer.It was good of you to listen and give us our G.o.Y. back.It's great isn't Alzheimer

I like this green a lot better than the old green. The white could be just a little more "off".

Merci....Ajay and Peter. You've done a great job :)

Thanks you Ajay and Peter, The green looks great - I'm so glad about it! much easier on the eye and while it's not the 'home' we all know and love it looks a lot more familiar. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!

Green was always my colour anyway....it matches my teeth....Lol.

Thanks Ajay & Peter! I have to go along with the majority - glad to see the green back as it seems warmer & more welcoming. I'm sure you will tweak the other 'bugs' - typing issues, etc., and have us all back on track soon.

Lovely to enter the site early this morning and find GREEN! Thanks boys!

this is much better ~ thank you

Anchorman thank you for your very knowledgeable and helpful IT suggestions, i was able to find the adblock easily.
i think i learn as much about IT as gardening on this site but thank you anyway
perhaps it just means that a gardening community is a helpful community?

Is good to see the return of our green and we can all get back to normal. Thanks for listening to your GoY'ers Ajay and Peter..:-)))))

i've downloaded the adblock from firefox but there is still an advert for suchi at the top of this page??? and that google chrome one which is definitely not good for the eyes.