Skipping through the blogger-sphere?

There's a funny thing that happens on the internet. You read something and you think you know all about it. You see a small snippet of someone's life, and you think you know that person. Well, I think I can safely say, that you don't know me. How could you? I've lived 99.9% of my life outside of the Twitter-and Blogger-sphere. But now that I'm here, I want to share more with you, and I would like more of you to share with me. My profound Blogger observation of the day: blogging is interactive. There was recently a discussion on the Mumsnet Bloggers Forum about this, about how we Bloggers paste a link to our latest blog post, and run, without even looking at the entry above ours. I have to say I have done this, mainly because at first, I did try and read a good half dozen or so, and comment, and almost never got a comment back. I still read the front page of Mumsnet Blogs, as they roll over, and I do like the Featured Blogs, and I comment on most blogs that I read, because someone has taken the time to write something original. 

But the best way of connecting with like-minded people, not just Bloggers, does appear to be on Twitter, the micro-blogging platform (see my new Twitter local heroes here). Clever people can say a lot in 140 characters, or less!

With another hat on, I write a blog about life in an English village with two Boxers (dogs not fighters, as one Twit said). My latest blog post is about locally sourced and produced food, and why I think pubs and restaurants should be proud to use local ingredients when designing their menus.

In my most recent past, I was a scientist. I love Science. I am and always will be a Biologist, one of those traditional scientists who wants to understand the basics of Science, and teach others all about it. Now, I use writing to interact with others about Science, about how Science is all around us, and how we all use Science everyday. I have recently written about the use of Mind-body interactions in chronic illness, a subject very close to my heart.

And in (almost) another life, I dabbled in the art world, a world I felt so at home in, although not a very good artist myself. But I connected with people through their art and mine. Painting and drawing have always been part of my life. My doodles are legendary, they unlock my inner self, much like a meditation. I have always felt strongly that more people should be encouraged to create; it is a way of expressing yourself even if you can't find the words to say how you feel. 

So the next time you are tempted to just gloss over someone's blog, stop, read and interact. People are amazing, and each one of us has an important story to tell.

Follow @Shackleford_LB

Local heroes

I've had a Twitter epiphany! A fellow blogger declares her weekly Twitter and blog awards, which I think is a very good idea. I think we can take this idea a bit further though, and would like to start my own Local Hero awards. I have been networked into a couple of local to Godalming networks, and I hope these networks will become stronger.

So, as a start to my Local Hero (Twitter) awards, and not to be confused with Community Heroes at Surrey Life magazine, I nominate the following :

@garlicwoodfarm for traditional breed beef because I believe in high quality locally sourced food

@Sandysviews for his thought-provoking blog and considered #FollowFriday's

@SurreyLife for a great magazine which promotes our wonderful county

@Puppy_Views for amusing cocker spaniel tweets and because today is #happyfursday

@HypnotherapySy because what he does is very important

@claz0r for her charity undertaking this year

Of course, there are Local Heroes not on Twitter or blogging, and we shouldn't forget them even though I can't name them here. I have chosen to post this here because it's part of moving on from bereavement. Believe or not, I have found some wonderful characters on Twitter, real people with genuine talent and kindness. They and others are a constant reminder that keeping people close to you is important. And just as important, is making new friends and developing new networks.

You might have your own Local Heroes, can you nominate someone from one of your networks? I'd love to hear your choices.

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Step 1. I am a blogaholic

I admit it. I went 'cold turkey' from blogging over the weekend. It was horrible. I wish my husband was at work so I could rummage in blogs, comment and write, write, write. I even made secretive notes on things I want to blog on, and have a private book of blog notes. I think I am addicted. So when I saw this today, I knew I was not alone. There is support out there, albeit from other addictees.

So the first thing is, I need to linky up with more blogs. I have done this. I am linked up to the Blogaholics Party. I have been tagged - a first for me, too. I want to do the Around the world in 80 words linky too, and all those lovely Love All Blogs memes and blog hops are so inviting....

Perhaps I'll just start this Monday morning with a snippet of Village life since coming back from holiday. Isn't it strange how being away makes you appreciate what you have at home. Our Godson was on holiday with us. He is four. A lively chap, poor eater, but game for anything. One day we took the Sugar Cane steam train from Ka'anapali to Laihina. We could hear the tut-tutting from fellow tourists (mainly Japanese) as we chugged past a particularly ugly area of discarded garden furniture, and other assorted litter. Fly-tipping. How awful we thought, in such a lovely place. How disappointing then, to come home and find the same in Shackleford! A TV, smashed-up furniture, and litter, lots of it. I wish I knew who did this?

Apart from that, it has been a lovely week in Shackleford. The snow took its time to melt, it was mild over the weekend, so we got a chance to re-stock the wood pile. (The 'boys' have settled into their routine, currently asleep on the velvet duvet!) I was looking after one neighbour's cats while they were away skiing. I enjoyed that, sweet little creatures, so gentle compared to the Boxers! Sadly, another neighbour's cat has gone missing and we hope that he is just trapped in someone's garage or shed while they have been away for half-term. We do have a problem with speeding, though, and I pray that Ugo is not injured somewhere.

I collected a painting I bought from the fabulous Rob Green. We went to Dad for roast lamb done in the Weber BBQ, surely a bit too early for BBQ but delicious none-the-less.

It is five years since The Burglary. A nasty event for anyone but made worse because the scoundrel was still in the house when I got home. And it was four months to the date since the first burglary, in the same week we finally got the insurance pay-out. The Police dogs gave chase and he hasn't come back, although to our knowledge he has also never been caught. I am healed though of the trauma now, but it was quite an ordeal from which I thought I would never recover, but that's a story for another time.

I have made new Twitter friends this week (I hope I'm not on my way to becoming a Twitter-holic too) and I hope we will be able to grow the followers of @shacksurrey our new Village Twitter account.

OK, I've sated my thirst to blog. I'm off, to leave you to read in peace.

Follow @Shackleford_LB

A work in progress

I am not yet complete. I have a lot to learn. As I get older, I am enjoying the learning a lot more than when I was younger and wanted to know everything. I am not afraid to fail, but I do love the small successes which more and more are all my own work.

I must admit, I did feel a twinge of envy at the established Bloggers and Tweeters, safe and smug in their Blog- and Twitter-doms, kings and queens of all they survey. However, as I get better at blogging and braver with tweeting, I am feeling the love.

It's all about the networking. Building a delicate thread of having something in common. Perhaps the topic of my blog is too painful for people to embrace, but I hope that it will provide support to some. In the meantime, I have expanded my stories, telling tales about village life from the dog walker's point of view, and writing more sensible stuff about science in modern life. 

I hope that by reaching out to different groups of people I will be able to spread the word about choices in end-of-life care, a one-woman campaign. A work in progress, much like my new veggie patch - I must start somewhere.

Follow @Shackleford_LB