Blog like no-one is reading

Despite blogging here for many many years,  at the end of 2020 I decided on a whim to start a new blog.  I thought about it for all of a couple of days, threw a template together and plucked a name out of thin air. 

Why?

5 posts in on the new blog and I'm asking myself this very question. 

I started this blog way back in 2009 in what now seems like another lifetime,  I've had highs and lows with it since then, times where I posted like clock work, and times where the posts have been few and far between.  There have been many times when I've considered ditching the whole thing, either just stopping or even taking the whole thing offline but I think it's an amazing achievement and I'm quite proud that I'm still going it seems a shame to ditch it now.  I would have never believed you when I started that I'd still be here over 1100 posts later and more than 1.3 million page views. 

The thing is, when I started no one knew about it, I had no followers and it was just me merrily waffling away about whatever popped into my head - I've been calling it the 'Random ramblings of an expat Brit'  for many years in descriptions.  I wrote for me, or for those back in the UK who wanted to keep up with our news, it seemed like a nice way to keep a record of our move to Cyprus to look back on, and it would save me writing huge emails to keep friends up to date. 

I've never been political or controversial and although I've blogged about the boys I've always been a little mindful about what I'm posting.  As they got older I've always asked them if I can use the photos or write about something that's happened, they love the blog,  although they think it's a bit boring, a YouTube channel would be much more exciting to them. 

In real life I know a lot of people here, some very good friends and many acquaintances I've met over the years, Cyprus is a very small island and it seems everyone knows everyone it some way or another.

 

I was becoming aware that when I wrote a post in some ways it could be just like walking into the local pub and shouting it out for everyone to hear,  I was starting to overthink everything I wrote. 

Once I was chatting to someone I only very vaguely knew and they asked me about something I'd done recently,  I was really confused until they pointed out they read my blog.   I've also found a couple of people who read my blog for ages before I'd ever met them.  it's not Ladbaby or Unmumsy Mum fame of course but it's still a bit weird! 

So that brought me to the idea to start a new blog,  but it's just strange - I feel like I'm abandoning a child.   I was very excited at first but after all these years it was a little lonely, like I'm shouting into the abyss,  turns out I do prefer to shout into a crowd! 

I didn't feel like I could blog if I was 'too' happy - after all there is a pandemic going on and so many bad things happening.    I didn't want to blog if I was sad - I didn't want messages from friends being worried.   I didn't want to be opinionated - I didn't want to upset people.   I didn't want to rant - in case people I knew took it personally.     I didn't want people I didn't know to think they knew me when it's just a snapshot of a bigger picture.  

Then I thought what the hell does it matter, my blog,  my posts!

After the initial excitement of a new thing, I realised that I can't keep up 2 blogs, plus the work one so I'm merging them back together,    I don't think I'd have been able to keep up the anonymous thing anyway, too hard not to mention Cyprus in the posts, or use photos of the area! 

So look out for the 'other' posts coming up soon....