The redoubtable Welsh blogger, Miss Wagstaffe has marked his/her first three months in the blogosphere by a review of his/her 20 most popular posts - and asked his/her blogroll to do the same. Since this blog has been going for over two years, the first three months are a bit out of date, and there were not many comments then anyway. So I'll post on how I think the site has gone.
In the beginning, I did not expect the blog to survived as long as it has. Incredibly this is the 847th post. It would be nice to stagger on to 1000 and receive a letter from the Queen - or whatever happens. I feel a bit like David Beckham. I don't have a lot of visitors, around 300 on weekdays and 150 at weekends -which is puny compared with the popular UK blogs. The record number of visitors was 731, attracted by a post I wrote about the Assembly coalition talks, basing it on three little bears.
The blog has changed a lot, as have the tone of the comments. In the beginning, it was based on National Assembly internal politics and gossip. Few comments, and all generally good natured. Over time the blog became more opinionated, and comments became less good natured. I'm doing fewer family based blogs because they prefer to be left out of it. And I've dropped irony and general p***taking, because I don't seem to get away with it without causing offence in the way I used to. So since its not fun anymore - it will be dropped.
To stay alive a blog has to react to comments, and change, or stop accepting comments altogether. So there's likely to be a bit less opinion, which generally attracts negativity, less family news, and less Assembly stuff as I lose touch - unless I become involved in something relevant of course. I'm likely to indulge my passion for sport a bit more, and the countryside a bit more, and gardening as the nights draw out, and more UK politics as I try to get to grips with Westminster issues. I hope there will continue to be comments, to which I will always respond, in order to encourage debate. I'm hopeful that I might make the 1000 before conking out and going birdwatching.
8 comments:
I'm only a recent arrival to this blog, but I do hope to see it continue providing its view of rural Wales that I've not encountered elsewhere. I'm a son and resident of Tennessee, but my heart lies in Ceredigion (for both sentimental and professional reasons); and the mix of town & country, MPs and AMs, Cymraeg a Saesneg that Wales represents for me is a heady brew that I've lately enjoyed quaffing here. Onward and upward, good sir.
Second Historix, "Onward and upward, good sir".
historix and christopher - I need another 150 posts to qualify for my blogging equivilent of a mesage from the Queen. I admit that I was asking myself if it was worth it yesterday. I've rejected comments because they were just plain rude, without bothering to make any worthwhile point. I welcome disagreement if its based on a genuine opinion. And one of them had the brass neck to comment again today, complaining that I'd not published. I can never understand why anyone visits my site if they don't want to read it. anyway, the mood has passed.
Lot more kick in you yet Glyn.
Hay come on Taid - thee and me need to keep going and keep the young uns on their toes.
I get down often when there is such a need for major problems to be considered and Ams play didley instead and local authorities just do more of the same because they dont get the supportthey need. Then I get some really challenging and thoughtful comments and off I go again.
christopher and VM - as I said there are still 150 posts to write!
Thanks for taking up the challenge, and I suppose, taking it further.
Glyn
I think you are providing some coverage that is not done much elsewhere - notably of rural and farm-based questions, which is one reason why I read you from time to time.
The only other politically blogging farmer I know is Theo Spark...
So I'd encourage you to continue.
I've been looking for a "farm questions" occasional guest poster for months without really finding one.
Matt Wardman
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