Hi Carol
You are right that some features won't work for you until you've made some posts. For instance you need 5 posts (
either starting a thread or replying to other threads) to be able to use the PM (
Private Messages) system.
I'm sure you've already spotted the "
Getting started" thread at the top of the "Newbie Room" and have had a read, and you've already spotted that "The Thank You Room" exists for saying thanks to people, so I guess you've already started browsing around. So just have fun in the forum and you'll soon find that you feel right at home. We were all "newbies" once, and this is the first forum I'd joined (
after looking at a few and finding nothing that made me want to join them) so there are others around who've been through exactly what you are and are all ready to help, all you need to do is ask.
GG