Ye Olde Inn

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Just click on the user name of whoever you want to send a PM to and you'll see the 'send private message' link.

Path 1:
If you find a post from someone in a forum, you can click on PM, like on the bottom of the second screenshot.
This will automatically quote the topic as your topic for the PM and the post itself at the top of your PM to that person.

Path 2:
Click on "X new messages" as in screenshot 1 and go from there.

I will try to be even more clear than KK by adding some arrows to let you see the buttons!
Option 1: click on PM button to contact that user directly (indicated by the red arrow in picture 1).
Option 2: click on the "0 new messages" link (indicated by the blue arrow in picture 1) next to "user control panel" to open your inbox and then (see second picture) click on NEWPM button (indicated by the green arrow in picture 2) to create a new message.

Right on! I think i finally got it down & its embracing, so thanks for your help everyone! Now I gotta figure out how to erase this post:)

don't.

It could help someone else.

only if you retitle the thread.