I've Found My "!" - The Musical

Well!   (see, it's back.  My "!" !!)

Yes indeed, for I have been grateful and often deeply touched by your sweet comments left on my earlier post.  So I thought it best to write a little (or a lot as it turns out!) about what you've said and what's hit home with me, rather than to go in long detailed individual replies which may sometimes repeat themselves.
TP tells me this is a lonnng post.  My indignant response was that this is more a note to self, but I hope you take the time to skim  through just to see if our hymn sheets are in sync.  And I've thrown in some music to ease the pain!



It's not just me, it's most bloggers

The thing that comes across time and time again from comments is that most bloggers go through this feeling of doubt, this should I stay or should I go" stage. 

 Personally speaking, Bloggers' Block isn't the issue for I have literally a ton of drafts of ideas for posts I've accumulated.  I think it's more down to time and my retired person's sense of life being  a dwindling finite commodity.

So thank you fellow bloggers for sharing your own experiences here -  that it's normal to have doubts.

How am I doing?

I don't monetise this blog so can't measure my "success" in terms of £.s.d.

My only measurement tools are comments and post views.  If they are not robust then I get the feeling that I really am just talking to the ether.

So I have to ride the storms and not get too bogged down with the numbers, I guess.

Break from "fashion"

Some have suggested taking a break from the clothes posts.  One key driver of my blog start up was to improve my outfit choices on a day to day basis.  Instagram has in a way taken over the role that the blog had so maybe now is the time to get back on track with my original "visions" for the blog with more variety of subjects relevant to a mature lady's life.

Though in case you're wondering, I still have plenty ammo in my wardrobe to shop it ad infinitum!

So the disciple of putting my daily outfits on a public platform works for me but maybe I can now make the blog less clothes-centric.

Beauty

Laurie mentioned that I haven't written a beauty post for some time.  Oh how I am aware of this but time, inclination and technical challenges have prevented me from giving these ideas legs.  But I will, and soon!

So beauty posts ideas are there and will soon be rolled out, my dears.

Writing

Within a few short weeks of writing posts I realised that a surprise dividend was the writing aspect.  Duh!

I loved English and essay writing at school and in another shape that continued as my career grew. The writing stopped when I myself stopped working so the blog quickly filled that void again and I have ideas on other directions I can take this.

You seem to like my writing style and my, er, wit, so I'm pleased that I can sometimes bring joy and a fit of giggling to your day!

So writing needs to stay with me in whatever form I come up with going forward.

Friendships

I won't dwell on friendships too long.  That's another surprise dividend of blogging and I am so grateful for all the friendships I have built up through this page.  Blogging friendships can only be created through reader's  comments, so I would encourage finding a few minutes to leave even just a line after reading a blogger's post - if nothing else than to let the blogger know someone's out there!

So the friendship of blogging is something that has immense value and I'd love that to continue and grow.

Posting regularity

I play around with various patterns of regularity but consistency is not my bag, not my jam.  If I monetised the blog, that would need to change.

I fear writing less frequently would result in a most unwieldy post for you to read and comment on, so perhaps this isn't the route for me.

So I think I my current level of two posts a week works for me and I hope it works for you too.

Instagram

A few of you have mentioned that I've been "killing Instagram" since my August debut - I'm taking that as a compliment!

There are many negative aspects to Insta which I won't dwell on here.  The positives are few but of great value, like the discipline of taking daily photos, feedback is practically instantaneous (duh, Instagram, the clue's in the name?!) and it's relatively quick to post.
And apparently some of you enjoy seeing me pop up there each day!



So I'll keep up the Insta during this transition and for the foreseeable.

Out and about

Many of you gave me the welcome feedback that you enjoy my out and about posts.  I haven't been out and about much this past year as what with TP's health problems and an ailing cat, holidays and the like have been near non-existent. 

But you seem to like posts of my outings on my local turf and spring is just around the corner ...

So I thank you for showing that you enjoy this type of outing post and I'm on the case peeps!

Food

Some of you mentioned your interest in food posts, restaurant visits, etc. and I'd like to get back on track posting some recipes of my favourite dishes and meals to aid another project, so I'm seeing synergies here.  I've rather blocked out thoughts of yummy food in the past six months in order to lose weight, to be honest.

So I hear ya and I'm with you, I will return to my core need to post more recipes and food-related posts.

Lifestyle

A few have suggested homey stuff and that is right up my strasse (is it a girl thing?!).  My home is not anywhere close to social media perfection!  But for some time I have been aware that I've neglected my home and if this blog had been so good at improving my daily dress then this (or another) blog could surely do the same thing in upping my game, housewise.  I have a few projects bubbling up right now!

So again, increasing the posting of home-related stuff is something I definitely want to do.

Island Life

A few readers have expressed an interest in my island home.  I drafted some rough posts about Guernsey last year.

So, I hear that you are interested in where I live and I'll work at giving those drafts some teeth.

And phew, you know I think that's it!

My declaration of a lost exclamation mark has turned out to be one gigantic fest of feedback and ideas.  My grouch has turned into a readers' survey - my sincere thanks to all who contributed.

I hope this post doesn't come across as egocentric,  it's not intended that way as this blog is a two way experience and I'm grateful that you chose to tell me what you'd like to see on this page.

I get the feeling that we are singing from the same hymn sheet on what interests us and what we like to see and read about.
And taking a line from Bridget Jones, you seem to like me "just as I am"!

And awww heck, I just can't resist this one either - 

Thank you ❤ and a la perchoine

Mary XXXXX.