Things Bloggers Would Like You to Know

Before the blog tidy, the most popular post here was a response to a Mumsnet thread about bloggers. It was a bit Mrs Shouty. The Mumsnet connection means it's unlikely to ever shift from the top spot. Each time I saw it on my sidebar, I winced.  I wasn't proud of it.  So it's gone.  Lurking in drafts as a reminder of my own up-myself-ness. 

It's been used as the basis of something (hopefully) more useful.  My reality as a blogger and a few of misconceptions I've noticed along the way.  

• It's easy peasy, lemon squeezey.  No it isn't.  Blogging gets fitted in around everything else. Creating good content regularly and sharing it so people find it takes work.  Actual work.  Even if they find it, not everyone will like it.  My thing may not be your thing. That's okay.  It's a big Internet. 

• Readers appear as if by magic.  If that was true, every blogger would be successful, with a huge readership.  Blogging is all about the long haul. Building a readership and creating relationships with other bloggers takes time and effort.  It is hard work, but not "hard work" like the kitchen and cleaning jobs in the old people's home I had at university.

• Brands offer you all the freebies.  Brands are all business and want to work with bloggers that reach the right (large) audience.  If you don't offer that, they're not interested.  Which is fair enough.  That freebie isn't really free though.  Brands want a post, links, a social media share etc in exchange.  There are a few related ones as well, like bloggers are marketing shrills writing any old nonsense for freebies / money. Charming!

• Blogging is really glamourous.  Sitting on the sofa typing, watching Endeavour ...  Yeah, right.

• Everything is seen as potential content.  Anything could be turned into a blog post or photographed.  (But just because you could, doesn't mean you should so boundaries get drawn).

• We care about the numbers. If you write it, you hope people will come and enjoy reading it. It's brilliant when they do.  But numbers aren't the be all and end all.  The blogosphere is massive and household names are the tip of the iceberg.  Most of us are just blogging on.  The opportunity to make new friends, be creative, learn new skills etc are also important.

• All support is appreciated.  Every tweet, favourite, #FF, share and comment is like getting a present.  Getting to know my fellow bloggers, realising that I actually have readers who aren't my husband and friends.  If I could high-five or buy you a coffee, I would.  Thank you so much.

Any popular myths about blogging I've missed?  Let me know in the comments.

Where We've Been Hiding ...

I won't tell you how my motivation and inspiration went missing, leading to a grand total of zero blog posts.  What I will tell you - very briefly - is what we did whilst I wasn't here ...

In the summer, we went on holiday to Cape Cod.  Family live in the area so we stay with them.  A total blessing we give thanks for regularly.  Otherwise we wouldn't be able to go as we couldn't afford it all.  We'd be staycation-ing instead.

The Tubblet started her second year of Secondary school.  She seems to be doing okay.  It's hard to tell as, at that age, everything is "Meh" and all they do is "Stuff".  

I am getting to grips with my new job.  My "new job" is basically my old job, my ex-workmate's job plus some new things that I've never done before and am having to learn.  With a spiffy new title. The work is interesting and I'm really enjoying it but it's like trying to fit a quart into a pint pot. There is only so much I can do in a day.

Rev T is doing alright.  He's busy at church and with other things like the food bank.

Plus all the usual stuff like Christmas, birthdays etc.  There are few big family things on the horizon. Some of them are happy, others less so as we journey with two sets of elderly parents and their failing health.  But, overall, it's been fun.  What have you been up to recently?

Resolutions ... Better Late than Never

 “That was the year that was —It’s over, let it go, That was the year that was —“

Last year I gave myself lots of goals.  A total self-improvement plan and make-over.  Unsurprisingly, I crashed and burned.  This year, I won’t be making the same mistake again.  I’ll make some brand new ones instead.

So new start, clean slate blah, blah … Some people make lists of what they want to achieve, how they’re going to do it step-by-step.  I am not that person.  Way too organised.  Instead, this year I hope too:

• Eat less (but better) and move more.  Enough said. 

• Do things.  Nice, fun things that we can enjoy as a family, plus a few specially for me.  Like reconnecting with my blogging friends (sorry for going AWOL), rediscovering my love of writing and tolerance for photography.  I'm not sure I can blog in the same way I was before.  Makes no sense.  Bear with me as I figure out what works now.  It'll be a bit of a mishmash for a bit, but hopefully a fun and enjoyable one.  If you've got any suggestions of things you'd like, then share them in the comments.  

• Reduce, reuse, recycle.  Buy less things, use the things I have and pass on the things I don’t. The Tubbs family isn't ready for fully fledged minimalism, but there are some good ideas we can nick from it to make our lives better.  

And something from a goals post I did a few years ago.  “Lord fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff and shut it when I’ve said enough”.  I know there is no try, only do, according to Yoda, but what does he know!

And that’s it.  How about you?  Any resolutions?  

Still catching up on those Linkys, but my list is here.  Next week, the badges will be back.  

Hello 2017. A Happy New Year to You (Belatedly)

Well, 2016 could best be described as “interesting”.  There were good and bad times, I worked and played hard and ended up feeling completely overwhelmed.  My “few days off” to get my head around things turned into a few months.  Hello again. How have you been?

In 2017, I’d like to do things a little differently.  Focus more on "what matters most” in my life, work and home.  Once I work out what they are, which it’ll be a task in itself! Apart from family.  But making it about the things I want to be doing and improving the skills I have seems more positive than focusing on stuff I don’t and intend to stop.  Or trying a ton of new things. 

Maybe spend some more time outside, getting to know my local area and breathing the fresh air.  This will mean less time online or sitting on my arse watching the TV or reading my book.

There could also be a good spring clean and declutter.  Donating the things we don’t use or love to someone who’ll use them.  More space, less housework.  I might have a bit of a blog tidy as well.  A few posts no longer represent what I want Someplace Strange to be.  On the other hand, I wrote them  and published them so maybe I should just own them and get over myself.  

I’d like to do more cooking this year.  Which means I might get round to sharing more recipes.  Note to self, remember take the photos before you eat the food!   (Perhaps not any recipes then!)

So focusing more on the things that make life great … Trying to keep things simple and uncomplicated … Finding joy and fun in a world that seems pretty determined to depress me with its jaw dropping imbecility.

So, what plans do you have this year?

Sharing with some of the Linkys listed here.  Once I know which ones are still running.  😊