Well, wasn't that a fun weekend?
Friday evening Ali and Megan had departed for a weekend Guide camp. Matthew and I had tucked into sausage & mash & beans, and the dishes were now all cleared away. With a glass of wine in hand, a peaceful evening lay ahead.
Just on the spur of the moment, I saw and joined in the blogging experiment at Elena Johnson's blog. I posted my entry, added my details to the formidable list of participants, and took a sip of wine while I decided what to do next.
*Ping*
Darn it. The kids have left the sound turned on again. I'll check on email later.
*Ping*
*Ping*
Huh? Has the ISP's spam filter broken down or something?
But...no!
Comments.
Already? Palms sweating, I checked my stats. Holy pageloads, Batman! People are visiting. And what's this? A new follower?
And so it went on through Saturday and into Sunday. A frenzy of visits and comments, while I tried to keep up (in between shopping, cooking, and carpentry) and perambulated through some of the 193 other varied and insightful posts.
If that excitement all sounds a bit lame, please note that I can still remember the surprise, earlier this year, when my first follower showed up and the first comment appeared. And it is only one week since I celebrated breaking into double figures.
Bear in mind, also, that I started this off with no expectations other than providing a handy archive for my family and friends on the other side of the world to keep in touch with goings-on here in more depth than the occasional phone call, email, and annual newsletter. So, as a confirmed sociophobe and resolute non-networker, I stand in awe of all you venerable bloggers with followers in the hundreds. How do you cope?
For the benefit of visitors, here's how I try to work. I appreciate every visit and treasure every comment. If you value your time as much as I do, then I appreciate that you spend some of it with me and I believe in responding to comments as quickly as I reasonably can.
And all you new followers, thank you for joining the family here at The Bald Patch, and I hope you take the time to drop by again. What you see here, in the very nearly 100 posts on offer, is pretty much how it will probably continue.
In turn, I will look you up, hunt you down, seek out your blogs, and get to know you. It might take time because I'm still feeling slightly overwhelmed, and I'm still grazing at the feast of advice on how to write compelling characters, but I will get around to it. So please be patient.
Now, once more, as is our usual custom on a Monday night, curry and beer is calling me.
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14 comments:
Oh geez! My boyfriend's from Germany and his mother recently visited the family and brought us back candy and.... curry ketchup! He was in awe and begged me to try some as he gobbled it down with his french fries. Needless to say, I didn't enjoy it. In fact, it was hard for me to believe anyone could enjoy it! Which brings me to ask, where are you originally from?
Curry ketchup? Now there's a novelty! I remember curry flavoured potato chips (or "crisps", as we called them in Britain).
Did you know that chicken tikka masala was once elevated to the status of England's national dish, beating fish & chips, and roast beef & yorkshire pudding?
Anyway, I spent my student years and subsequent adulthood surrounded by Indian restaurants. I can pretty much guarantee that curry ketchup has little in common with the wonderful variety and subtlety of true Indian cuisine. I don't pretend to get anywhere close either, but Ali & I both enjoy my home-made efforts.
To answer your question properly, I am originally from an island called Guernsey, sitting between England and France. Lots of French connections but officially part of the British Isles.
I did notice a lot more activity on your blog recently. Congrats, Ian! :)
curry . . . the whole world is better with curry . . .
Yeah, it's suddenly livened up David. I'm sure it'll quieten down again but I hope a few people choose to stick around.
Julie, too right! The world would be a poorer place without curry. A fact that most folks this side of the Atlantic haven't fully grasped yet, I think :-)
Haha I had no idea, Botanist, that it had been England's national dish. Thanks for the fun fact (With no sarcasm intended.) I've never tried Indian cuisine. I wouldn't trust any local Indian restaurants either. Plus, I'm picky, vegetarian,... did I mention picky? Oh and by the way, I've responded to your comment on my blog but just incase: Please take a picture of your fort; it sounds awesome!
Lettucehead, did you know that much of Indian cuisine is vegetarian? Anyway, I'll make a note to take some pictures of the fort another time, but meanwhile here is a link to an earlier post that has some pictures from when I was working on it.
Greetings friend,
I will be checking out your blog, with much fascination, to see how your new life in beautiful British Columbia, transpires.
I am actually from British Columbia and experiencing a rather interesting time living over here in England.
Right then, that's it. I'm off for some 'toad-in-the hole' and some 'spotted dick' but that's another story:-).
Take care, eh. With respect, Gary.
Hello Gary, we've been here a few years now, and still learn new things regularly. If you're interested in our early experiences, check out the "Immigration" label in the side bar. I've written about some of the differences we encountered and adjustments we made, maybe you've already met some of them in reverse living over there.
If you have any questions about life in England, don't hesitate to drop them into a comment and I'll try to help.
Enjoy your spotted dick...LOL, wonder how many Americans reading this will have any clue what we're talking about!
Hello again.
Whoops. Your profile threw me off a touch. I was under the impression that you were somewhat newly arrived to British Columbia. My apologies.
I shall check out your 'Immigration' label. Thanks.
In so far as England, I have been here, on and off, since 1987 and thus, I am very familiar with life here and, of course, BC.
I was actually checking to see if you had any questions regarding BC. lol
I have done blogs about British food and the various, rather strangely named foods. Okay, I'm just off to enjoy some 'bubble and squeak':-)
Cheers and thank you for linking into my blog.
With respect, Gary.
I had no idea! I'll have to check it out then. Thanks. OH, and awesome pictures :)
Thanks, Lettucehead. I'll have to take more up-to-date pictures though, the whole area looks so much different now that plants have matured around it.
Awww, you're so cute! (Why do men hate being called that? It's an honor in the woman's world!)
It is an honor to have a new follower. Even in the hundreds! Coping deals with having to make sure that I visit my followers' blogs so that they don't feel neglected. I try to juggle about 3-4 a day.
Thank you for following my blog, I appreciate it! :)
You're welcome, Elizabeth. I can see blogging/following/commenting taking a bigger slice of time in future. And I guess I can take "cute" in the spirit in which it was intended :D
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