When I began this blog, some ten years ago, it was for the express purpose of both promoting my writing and discussing writing in general. Since then, although I have certainly used it for that purpose, promoting my books and zines, posting the occasional poem, writing the occasional review of other books, and posting discussion topics on the subject, the blog has almost inevitably drifted into other waters. Since I enjoy travel so much, I began to post photographs and memories of those travels. I put up pictures of my artwork, since this seemed an obvious (and free!) place to promote them. Articles on the British countryside, mythology and folklore, and customs. Like most people, I have wide interests and this is a good format to record them in.
The Old Weird Albion, by Justin Hopper. Reviewed in 2019
One of my great pleasures has been the meeting of minds. We follow each other, read posts and comment, foment discussions. And it is a safe place! Unlike social media, it is very rare for strangers to barge in and attack other users. And on the very rare occasions this happens, it is easy to just block them. This makes it a much more enjoyable place to spend time. And there are no algorithms pushing contentious posts at the reader.
Mount Everest, photographed from Tengboche in Nepal from a post in 2021
But for the last couple of years I have been rather tardy in both posting and reading other’s blogs. Part of the reason for this is that since being retired, for some reason I seem to have less free time than I did before. I’m not really sure why that is. But I’m still here. And to get myself back into the swing of things, as well as writing some new posts, I’ll probably re-post a few of the posts I put up a long while back, which many of my current followers won’t have seen.
Recycling is good, after all.
A piece of my artwork.
Mick Canning 
Nicely said. These safe spaces are precious.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Definitely. It’s a jungle out there.
LikeLike
It’s great connecting with you Mick. I have always enjoyed your posts. Happy blogging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Rupali. I’ve always enjoyed yours, too. I think yours was one of the first ones I followed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m looking forward to reading more of you, Mick.I agree, WordPress is one of the few safe spaces where you can be yourself. A good crowd too – I don’t think I’ve ever had to block a troll on here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Michael. I’ve only ever blocked one, I think. Hopefully they’ll be the last one, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a delightful read! Your words capture exactly what makes blogging such a rewarding space — the genuine exchange of ideas, creativity, and connection without the noise of algorithms. It’s wonderful to see you returning to writing and sharing again — and yes, recycling past posts is a great idea; good writing deserves a second life!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It is indeed a rewarding space. None of the noise and aggression of social media . It’s rather like slowing down.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Mick, it’s nice to see you back to blogging more regularly. Nice artwork 🌝
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Robbie. I’ll try to be more regular, anyway…
LikeLiked by 1 person
✊🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
totally get it, Mick. I’m in the same boat!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s our challenge, Pam!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blogging for ten years is a long time, Mick! You’re one of many who experienced a busier life after retirement. There are many things we put aside waiting for our retirement. I think I still have the post of a poem you wrote in response to my post. I’ll find it.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Ooh, that’d be interesting to see, Miriam. I don’t think I put anything aside until retirement, though. I just seem…busier…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Still, being busy at retirement is good. I remember a friend said that her dad seemed to be lost after retirement because his job was his identity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’ve known a few people like that. Fortunately, I’ve never had that feeling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been pondering the same thing — doing a little recycling of posts as a way of priming the writing pump, so to speak. I was astonished when I realized how much time has passed since last I posted at The Task at Hand — even though my mind is constantly pondering various topics. Apparently I need to commit those thoughts to paper, or at least to cyberspace. No one can read my mind!
As for reposting, I have no problem with that. After all, we read favorite books more than one time, and often watch a movie more than once. Some of my favorite music is in a regular rotation, and I don’t tire of it. Some of our best posts deserve to be offered up again!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m glad you think that. It sometimes feels as though reposting is simply cheating, although I wouldn’t repost something I’d used recently unless I had a particular reason to do so. And I like your analogy of using it to prime the writing pump.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes blogging is a world I could never have imagined, let alone imagined taking part in. When we first used to hear the term bloggers it was people earning money, from sponsors I presume, offering advice on cooking or whatever… I have no idea what it was about as I was not interested and knew little about the internet.
One of the good things about WordPress is to you can post as often as as little as you like, take a break and return.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, all of those things. Those professional bloggers are certainly there, but you only see them if you choose to do so. Unlike social media, where they get pushed into your feed.
LikeLike
You’re right, Mick. The WordPress community of bloggers is a very good one. Welcome back!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Ann. I was still there, just kind of observing from the sidelines.
LikeLike
The time factor of retirement – I’ve been retired for 12 years now and each day I wonder how the dickens I ever had time to go to work!
Nice to see you active again, Mick.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’ve been retired around six years. And it does feel like my days are more than filled! Active…ish, Stuart!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great to reconnect here, Mick. Blogging took a backseat to many other things for a while, until I finally decided to carve out some time again and get back on track and ‘catch up’. At the moment, I’m mostly about birds. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whatever you’re about is bound to be interesting, Bob. Looking forward to reading more.
LikeLiked by 1 person