Just over five years ago I wandered into WordPress with the intention of practising my writing, gaining some publicity for the Quercus Community group and learning a bit more about Social Media.
As things turned out, I did learn to write faster, even if the accuracy and quality is a bit uneven. The group closed. I’ll say no more about that or I will find myself dwelling on how we were stabbed in the back by a hypocrite. I realised, after a while, that I wasn’t meant for Social Media. If they had Anti-Social Media I am your man.
I first learned there was more to WP than just writing about myself when I read a few posts. One that stuck in my mind was by some doddery old geezer in Hampshire. He pottered about, took photos and ended all his blogs with a description of what he had for tea and what he drank with it.
Five years later I’m addicted to his blog. Whether this is because it’s deceptively beguiling, or whether it’s because I’ve turned into a doddery old git is difficult to say.
His legions of followers argue for the former, but a quick look in the mirror also suggests the latter is not far from the truth.
And that sums up my WordPress experience – gentle addiction. I have really missed the reading and writing and companionship over the last week while I have been condemned to cyber-limbo. This applies to all of you who haven’t been mentioned too.
This post is a bit gushing and upbeat for my taste, which I blame on reading all these Pollyanna-style American blog posts. Don’t think it’s going to be repeated. I missed you all. I’ve admitted it. And I don’t think we need to mention it again.
I am now going to visit the blog of a man whom I regard as my spiritual mentor. Thanks to him I now take my porridge with salt and water and have learned more about choral singing than I am ever likely to need, bearing in mind that I have a voice that grates like the creaking of hinges on a crypt door.
Those of you who require an antidote to the modern fashion for inappropriate cheerfulness could do worse than join me.
I’m off to find some photos now, probably the ones of sunrise which I unwillingly took a couple of days ago when, due to the stupidity of an auctioneer, I had to go to the Sorting Office to pick up a parcel.
Hi, Congratulations on 5 years, sir. I very much enjoy our little community, and I pop in whenever I can. It makes me happy, it teaches me, it exposes me to different foods and ideas and plants and animals. And the company is like none other.events plugin for wordpress
There are plenty of well-balanced, free-thinking, creative people on WP, which isn’t always the case in life or on the internet in general. 🙂
Why thank you so much Josie. I agree the only reason I’m on Instagram is accidentally discovering some absolutely remarkable artists, so I signed up. I’m waiting for zucknut to screw it up and then I’m gone.events plugin for wordpress
Congratulations on 5 years, sir. I very much enjoy our little community, and I pop in whenever I can. It makes me happy, it teaches me, it exposes me to different foods and ideas and plants and animals. And the company is like none other.
Thank you. My previous attempts at blogging had all ground to a halt after two or three posts but there was something about WP that kept me here and kept me coming back.
I am very nosey about the lives of other people. 🙂
It’s been wonderful for me. I started it to get my father’s deteriorating scrapbook online and 7 years later I have made friends with so many good people, learned a great deal and improved in more ways than I can count. I have people like you to thank for that!
It’s obviously grown a lot since your early days – it’s now a massive resource and a mine of information. Always an enjoyable place to visit.
Why, thank you very much. I haven’t forgotten the questions you patiently answered for me over the years too. I so remember the farm!
Yes, how the years go by… 🙂
As you well know, as a Yorkshireman I don’t like anything, even other Yorkshiremen, but I do like reading your posts, they make i larf, when they’re supposed to do. Congratulations on the 5 years, may we see many more 😉
Thank you. You are truly a gem amongst Yorkshiremen. Though, to be fair, the competition is not particularly strong. 🙂
😂😂 I have to agree there 😉😉
🙂
An excellent post, Quercus. Well I would say that wouldn’t I? So pleased you are back. There are worse addictions – like political statements on Twitter.
It’s good to be back, particularly as Jackie is taking some great photos. 🙂
I take it you didn’t mind the “doddery old geezer” bit?
One day it might sting, but not yet 🙂
🙂
It’s a term of respect and affection. 🙂
It is certainly addictive, I walked away from all social media including blogging but blogging has drawn me back and I also love the people who occupy the blogging universe. I certainly noticed when you didn’t post for a few days.
You are too kind… 🙂
WP has been a wonderful community for me, too!
🙂
Totally agree – and I was only saying to my family today how lovely and supportive the WP community is. A very different vibe to other platforms 🌿
Yes, I tried a few others but felt instantly at home here.
It will be kippers next!
After an episode with a fishcake fifty years ago I fear anything with small bones. Sounds silly, but a sardine scares me more than a charging rhino.
I like WordPress, too, and have learned a lot of things from different people whose blogs I’ve followed–sometimes just about how different people deal with what life throws at them. My problem is I just can’t read all the blogs every day. But I do try to get around to them once a week, which is as often as I USED to post. I don’t go in for the false cheerfulness or fakery of Instagram, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong being cheerful if you actually are. Most people write the occasional post on something that’s been hard and people rally to support. I think of you as a bit curmudgeon-y, Quercus, but there’s an edge of humor to it and your photos are often lovely (you’ve got me making scones again). So I hope you’re back. I still can’t like people except in the stream after I’ve read, so I’m hoping that comes through. And yes, Derrick is addictive.
🙂 As I said to Laurie, I think there’s a genetic difference as optimists are more likely to look for a new life. All the optimists went and they left people like me behind. 🙂
I think there’s something to be said for the type of personality that would make such a journey (weeks on a ship!) and then look at the hardships as an opportunity. Not sure how much of that is left proportionately to population or geographically and how it could be broken out historically, but it would be an interesting research project.
I went round the SS Great Britain in Bristol a few years ago – it took a lot of immigrants to Australia in the nineteenth century but I wouldn’t have done well as the beds were about a foot shorter than I am.
People were smaller then.
That’s true. I was quite a lot smaller fifty years ago, now I think about it. 🙂
Thank you, Lisa
🙂
I, too, love WordPress and feel incredibly enriched by the many blogs I follow, including yours. As far as being an upbeat American… right now, in the state we are in, being positive almost feels like a rebuke to all the ugliness that has been tricking down from on high
Gotta agree, Laurie.
She’s normally right. 🙂
I think it’s genetic – only idiots and optimists would think of sailing across the Atlantic to make a new life. The optimists blog and the idiots took to politics!
Oh, too funny! You just might be on to something there.