It’s hard to believe, but it’s three years since I started my blog. I paid a company a modest amount of money to host my website for three years, although I suspected that the web-hosting business was like any other – they give you a great rate at the beginning, then offer you a renewal price that’s astronomically high and hope that you’ll accept it because it’s such an effort to take your business elsewhere. Moving your website is a lot more challenging than switching your car insurance. My friend and invaluable blogging adviser laughed and told me not to worry because most people get tired of doing it long before the three years are up.
Well, it is now three years later and I’m still here. My hosting company did, in fact, increase their charges, but only by 450%. I think they’ve been taking lessons from our energy suppliers. The idea of migrating my website to a new host was daunting to say the least, but I do have a family of techies to help if needed and I am nothing if not thrifty. I also resent being ripped off. So I took the plunge, changed companies, fretted over the challenges of website migration and here I am. On track for another three years.
It did make me wonder whether I wanted to continue writing my blog. I haven’t exactly set the world on fire, but maybe that’s no bad thing. Internet obscurity is a blessing really unless you’re ambitious or attention-seeking. Trolling, cancelling and Twitter pile-ons are very ugly and not for the thin-skinned. To be honest, it took me about 60 seconds to decide that I wanted to continue. I like doing it and I enjoy all the comments I get. I love them, in fact. My blog is also a bit like a diary. I glanced back at something I wrote during the pandemic and it was a window right back into that strange time. However, the opportunities for disorderly behaviour were limited, to say the least.
Although a friend of mine refers to my blog as “drunk and disorderly” and I have to admit that I do enjoy a gin and tonic, it doesn’t really describe my life that accurately. I’m not sure that “letting myself go” does either. I am a great admirer of Margaret Atwood, who I think has something insightful and intelligent to say on pretty much every subject, and so I was much struck when reading her book Cat’s Eye recently to discover that she had views on this very topic. Her main character says: “Letting yourself go is an alarming notion; it is said of older women who become frowzy and fat, and of things that are sold cheap. Of course there is something to it. I am letting myself go.” Well, frowzy and fat indeed! I am wearing a new pair of pink trousers as I write this!
Margaret Atwood wrote Cat’s Eye in 1988. Another world and another time. I am sure that older women view themselves very differently in 2022, even if others don’t always agree. And I bet she has a very different take on things 34 years later. I have decided that I’m quite happy to let myself go and will continue to do so for another three years.
And I’m very happy that you have decided to do so and congrats on moving your hosting all by yourself – no small undertaking! As for letting ourselves go, I’m all for it, but in the fun and fabulous way rather than the frowsy and fat ; )
I really don’t think I could have set it all up in the first place without you. Thank you for all your help and for letting yourself go to London with me!
I’m not sure about being Frowzy, though maybe that’s what my children think of me!
So pleased you are keeping going for another 3 years, you cheer my Fridays enormously, though envy comes in now and then.
Never ask your children what they think of you – it’s the road to despair!
We could do with less of the world being on fire right now, so you continuing your blog is just fine with me!
Well done for facing down the exploitative capitalists by moving your host.
Although I’ve probably moved to a new exploitative capitalist.
I’m really pleased that you are continuing your blog. Norman and I enjoy it immensely
Thank you so much.
Yay Sheridan. I love receiving this in my email every week, or is it every two weeks or maybe once a month. Anyway, I read it every time . It seems you have accomplished the transition seamlessly. so glad you are continuing.
It’s usually every week if we’re not travelling, but it’s been a bit erratic over the last month or two. Selling and buying houses in Britain is very fraught and I’ve been distracted. My brother told me it only takes a month to sell a house in Canada – you definitely have the right approach. It’s more like 4 months here. Anyway, the house is sold and we’ve even found a new one. Maybe we’ll be in it in time for Christmas!
I, too, am very pleased you’re continuing with the blog, Sheridan. I admire the way you come up with topics, as well as very much enjoying your style of writing.
I think ‘letting myself go’ is a very apt title. You take a topic & let yourself go by exploring how it relates to you, as well as offering thoughts on other peoples perspectives…….as in this current blog with Margaret Atwood.
Keep ‘em coming…….& enjoy! I do!
I suspect that we might just be moving house to provide me with new material for my blog!
Very interesting as usual. I for one am very pleased you will be continuing your blog and I look forward to news about your move, new home, etc.
And a lovely photo of Jasper. Thank him again for the much needed company and purring the other evening. xx
He was in kitty heaven.