Just get yourself onto Skype and talk to the world for free (assuming the kids aren't using all your available bandwidth).
There is nothing like talking to fellow modellers around the world. It allows you to see and talk to the members, rather than just read what they have to say.
If I am having a late night (or early morning), the east coast of the US (5 hours behind) is in full swing, and an hours chat makes the time fly by.
A few modelling sites now have a Skype area, and arrange calls for certain times and evenings between members. You can even set up conference calls, so a bunch of you can get together and chew the fat.
John
