We've watched our daily visitor numbers hit the thousands and keep on growing. We've also been consistently informed and entertained by the emails sent in each day by readers. So - as you might have noticed - we've decided it's time to tweak the system and place greater emphasis on reader comment and contribution. We want the Rat and Mouse to be a community as well as a blog - a place to argue, discuss and ask and answer questions. So - a few days ago - we switched on the blog's comments facility. Now, we're testing out a forum, and if things take off, we'll import our membership into something a bit neater, and host it with the Rat and Mouse. I really hope you'll join up and make extensive use of the place. The Rat and Mouse has forged some good relationships with professionals right across the property industry, and I'm also hopeful that some of these people will be on hand to offer advice and answer questions. (If you're a property professional - please feel free to drop by and introduce yourself in the plug in section.) I don't - and you shouldn't - expect a busy, thriving community to develop over night. Forums (fora?) have a necessary gestation period. But unless a few of you break the ice... it won't happen. So I'm counting on you.

In the meantime, I've moved an interesting (and perhaps surprising) comment thread over from the blog before it drops off the front page. It's about the second-homes debate - you'll find it here - please let us know your thoughts.