Life Traveller. Been Somewhere. Going Somewhere.

Do this excellent test HERE. You will be surprised.

I'm not really back - just lurking. I've caught up with your posts, but other than a couple of comments which really needed making, I've not felt the pressure to comment. That's the way to go, I think. I'll answer all comments on my own blog sometime, but probably not today as I'm about to settle down to a sunflower roll with delicious French butter, Manchego (Spanish ewe's) cheese and some sandwich pickle. Whilst I'm munching on that, I'll also be drinking tea and reading The Thorn Birds. My life is still full of stress, my blog friends are still leaving, my house still looks like some unnatural disaster has hit it and I'm still going to escape by reading a book.

Closing Time - Leonard Cohen

Ah we're drinking and we're dancing
and the band is really happening
and the Johnny Walker wisdom running high
And my very sweet companion
she's the Angel of Compassion
she's rubbing half the world against her thigh

Remainder of lyrics here.

I found out this morning that Lindow has burnt his blog, and as far as I know without even a word of farewell or explanation, although thinking about it now, he did say he might do so a little while back. I was already feeling rather fragile and this disappearance of someone I was really fond of has not helped to make me feel any better.

The World of Blog may be a virtual world, but the emotions we feel here are real enough. We become involved more closely with people we never meet (apart from those of us who go to Blog Meets) than those we are actually in contact with in real life. So many secrets, so many emotional outpourings. And I'm thinking, I don't know if I can take it any more - if I can take the wrenches involved in each parting. Of course, it isn't like this with everyone who goes, but there have been some people here of whom I have become really, really fond and when they go, I miss them so much. Lindow is the latest in quite a line now. I'm feeling very vulnerable at this time and blogging is becoming a negative activity for me, so I think I'm going to have to go myself. This isn't to say that I won't be back, because almost certainly I shall, but I just have to move away for now at least.

Beautiful song sung here by Journey South

The first time ever I saw your face, I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the endless sky, my love

And the first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth move through my hands
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command

And the first time ever I lay with you
I felt your heart so close to mine
And I knew our joy would fill the earth
And last till the end of time, my love

The first time ever I saw your face

Lyrics by Euan McColl

One of my blogfriends Jenray aka Jenny Hunter has written not one, but two science fiction novels and they are available here.

Now I'm not a person who is fond of science fiction myself, but I feel that I can recommend Jenny's novels on the grounds that she's a very good writer, always interesting and articulate, so I'm sure her books are bound to please those of you who enjoy the genre. I know there are some of you out there. The books are available for purchase either bound or for download. If anyone buys one, please let me know what you think.

Just writing the above has made me think about the fact that there are several of you here who have written books, Sixpence (poetry) and KevinWilson (children's) come to mind just now, but I do believe there are more of you, and I'm thinking why don't those of you who have done so start one of those blog groups to promote your works? I think it would be really interesting to see who has written what and, if any appeal, to purchase same. What do you think?

Without really realising it I’m always looking for a way to escape. Every new thing I get immersed in - computer games, crafts, gardening, writing, blogging is an escape. And the one I come back to most often is blogging, that’s the one I can’t let go of. Yet I do want to let go of it. I want to let go of it because I am addicted and I don’t want to be addicted. I used to think addiction was to drink or drugs, but it can be to anything that lets you escape from what’s inside your head. I don’t want to be addicted but I do want to escape from what is inside my head. I want to escape from me.

Sometimes I think I'm very stupid, sometimes I think I'm very smart, and sometimes I wonder which of those is right.

Have I any idea what I am doing? I don't think so. I've added Feedburner to my blog in an attempt to discover just how realistic the viewing figures that Blog.co.uk provides are. I have no idea if that is what they will do. Actually the Land of Internet is a land of mystery to me. Somehow some things work, but how they do that I have no idea. Anyway, we'll see what this Feedburner thingy does. The question is, will I be able to remove it when I've had enough of it?

Oh, the widget thingy says zero readers, but I assume it is going to start counting from now on and doesn't include what has been. Of course, if it's not a daily total, I shall still not be any the wiser unless I want to do some serious mathematics (i.e. use a calculator).

There is a certain point in life up to which one is afraid of dying too soon, and after which one is afraid of not dying soon enough. GS

I don't understand what has happened to Stephi's blog. Anyone any ideas?

I find Marty Berk miming to Along Came Jones, sung here by Ray Stevens, makes me laugh. I hope you enjoy it too.