The Sunday Roast

Over The Hill? Never Say That About Sylvia ...

This week's interview is with Sylvia K,
who writes the blog Sylvia From Over the Hill.

Here's the first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

Two years ago my son in Seattle decided I needed a keeper -- well, not really, but he travels a great deal, has a dog, is not married and the economy was headed downhill and he felt we could both benefit from my moving to Seattle and into his house. He provided a lovely space for me, but it was a difficult change for someone who had always been outrageously independent.

That first year was very difficult for me and when I visited a friend in Portland, Oregon, she gave me an article about blogging and suggested it would be a way for me to, not only occupy me, but would give me a reason to go back to writing -- something I had done for much of my life.

I played with it at first, but very quickly got deeply involved in not only writing again, but taking up photography -- something I'd never done before. Blogging has brought so much pleasure into my life, so many wonderful people and opportunities, that I can no longer imagine not doing it.

What's the story behind your blog name?

One of the first things that people seem to refer to as they complain about aging is that you're "over the hill" and it always had a negative conotation. But it seemed to me that the further over the hill I got, the more things seemed to make sense to me, the more beauty I was able to see, the more joy I discovered.

My original blog was "The View from Over the Hill", but between computer and Google problems, I lost access to the blog and had to start over. I didn't want to change the original message so I just rearranged the words to, "Sylvia From Over the Hill".

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

The best thing about being a blogger is the many wonderful people you meet, make contact with, the chance to exchange ideas. It also gives you the opportunity to join with others in the various memes and those have been one of the most fun things of all for me. It is those memes that got me to experimenting with photography and while I still have soooo much to learn, it has given me an opportunity to express myself in ways other than just writing.

And the friends I have made, the feelings of love and friendship with and for people that I would never have met without blogging has made it one of the best things I have ever done.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Don't be afraid to try new things. Don't be afraid to express yourself. Look for those memes that tweak your interest and get involved. Visit other people's blogs, read what they have to say, leave comments. These things lead people to your blog and the interchange begins and once it does, the fun never stops -- nor does the learning and the wonderful experiences that come with the interaction.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

Now, that is a difficult one because I have read so many that spoke to me, that offered me a new way to look at something, that informed me about other countries, cultures, people. Some just offer incredible beauty through photography. But I guess one of the first blogs that I read early on that made a deep impression on me was Octogenarian. His blog is still one of my favorites, he always has something meaningful, educational, wise and historical to say. I can't give the name of just one post because they have all been so significant to me.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

Another hard question! But I think perhaps when I began posting a series of mine called, "Looking Back", just as a way looking at my own life over the years, the one post that I feel was most significant was entitled "Looking Back - A Personal Look at Color", which told the story of my marriage to an African American, in the 1960s, in Texas -- where inter-racial marriage was still against the law.


Today's Sunday Roast with Sylvia is the 83rd in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

The Sunday Roast

Over The Hill? Never Say That About Sylvia ...

This week's interview is with Sylvia K,
who writes the blog Sylvia From Over the Hill.

Here's the first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

Two years ago my son in Seattle decided I needed a keeper -- well, not really, but he travels a great deal, has a dog, is not married and the economy was headed downhill and he felt we could both benefit from my moving to Seattle and into his house. He provided a lovely space for me, but it was a difficult change for someone who had always been outrageously independent.

That first year was very difficult for me and when I visited a friend in Portland, Oregon, she gave me an article about blogging and suggested it would be a way for me to, not only occupy me, but would give me a reason to go back to writing -- something I had done for much of my life.

I played with it at first, but very quickly got deeply involved in not only writing again, but taking up photography -- something I'd never done before. Blogging has brought so much pleasure into my life, so many wonderful people and opportunities, that I can no longer imagine not doing it.

What's the story behind your blog name?

One of the first things that people seem to refer to as they complain about aging is that you're "over the hill" and it always had a negative conotation. But it seemed to me that the further over the hill I got, the more things seemed to make sense to me, the more beauty I was able to see, the more joy I discovered.

My original blog was "The View from Over the Hill", but between computer and Google problems, I lost access to the blog and had to start over. I didn't want to change the original message so I just rearranged the words to, "Sylvia From Over the Hill".

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

The best thing about being a blogger is the many wonderful people you meet, make contact with, the chance to exchange ideas. It also gives you the opportunity to join with others in the various memes and those have been one of the most fun things of all for me. It is those memes that got me to experimenting with photography and while I still have soooo much to learn, it has given me an opportunity to express myself in ways other than just writing.

And the friends I have made, the feelings of love and friendship with and for people that I would never have met without blogging has made it one of the best things I have ever done.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Don't be afraid to try new things. Don't be afraid to express yourself. Look for those memes that tweak your interest and get involved. Visit other people's blogs, read what they have to say, leave comments. These things lead people to your blog and the interchange begins and once it does, the fun never stops -- nor does the learning and the wonderful experiences that come with the interaction.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

Now, that is a difficult one because I have read so many that spoke to me, that offered me a new way to look at something, that informed me about other countries, cultures, people. Some just offer incredible beauty through photography. But I guess one of the first blogs that I read early on that made a deep impression on me was Octogenarian. His blog is still one of my favorites, he always has something meaningful, educational, wise and historical to say. I can't give the name of just one post because they have all been so significant to me.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

Another hard question! But I think perhaps when I began posting a series of mine called, "Looking Back", just as a way looking at my own life over the years, the one post that I feel was most significant was entitled "Looking Back - A Personal Look at Color", which told the story of my marriage to an African American, in the 1960s, in Texas -- where inter-racial marriage was still against the law.


Today's Sunday Roast with Sylvia is the 83rd in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

The Sunday Roast

Not Just A Flash In The Pan

This week's interview is with Eddie Bluelights,
who writes the blog Clouds And Silvery Linings.

Here's the first of the standard questions.Why do you blog?

My reasons for blogging are different now compared with when I began. I have always wanted to have a crack at writing - at first I saw blogging as a vehicle to develop my untested writing skills and to relate my ambulance experiences to ‘an audience’. Little did I appreciate just how difficult a task lay ahead of actually 'gaining an audience' and just how persistent I had to be to make any success in blogland. By success I mean receiving comments and acquiring followers.

I wrote a post about all this entitled A Blogging He Would Go! but suffice to say that once or twice I almost gave up entirely, having acquired just two ‘animated’ followers, a woman trying to sell me wallpaper and someone considering I required the services of a dating agency! Geepers! I already have one ‘trouble and strife’ – isn’t that more than enough? Two would be impossible!! My first post was a serious one about losing a dearly beloved renal patient and only one person read it - I was very disappointed but I did not realise at the time it takes time to get established.

My reasons today for blogging are entirely different. I love writing, reading other people’s work and posting my comments - but it is all very time consuming! Of course for me the most rewarding aspect of blogging is receiving comments for one’s labours. Time is sometimes rather limited so it is not always possible to visit people as often as I would like but one has to have a balance with life outside blogsville.

I started comedy and creative writing with my Mickey the Budgie stories and these caught on with some folks who signed up as faithful followers. From then the enterprise grew very gradually with a wider audience gained, resulting in turn with more comments received, responding to subjects like a Harley Davidson motor bike boasting in broad Shakespearean just how great he is and this led me to suppose what life would be like today if we all talked in broad Shakespearean.

Blogging becomes a bit addictive after a while and I think the reason for this is the social aspect. I have made some very good friends and email a few really close people regularly. To stop doing this would be a wrench for me now. The television does not get a look in these days but my wife thinks I am totally crackers for spending so long in this other world!! - a world which in many ways makes much more sense than the outside world in which we live.

What is the story behind your blog name?

The name Clouds and Silvery Linings originates from a Stanley Holloway monologue, The Return of Albert, in which Mr Ramsbottom tries to console his wife after their son has been eaten alive by a lion, remarking to her, “Let’s look on the bright side, mother, what can’t be helped must be endured, every cloud has a silvery lining, and we did have young Albert insured.’ It just seemed to fit like a glove to an idea I was trying to achieve at the time, posting some sad stories sometimes mixed with some funny stories, with not much in between – a sort of bi-polar approach. My good friend Janine at Sniffles and Smiles does the same thing with her blog with very good effect. Incidentally Janine and I started out in Blogland at about the same time.

My other blog, Plato’s Procrastinations is a fun blog and I used a ridiculous but catchy name to suit my rather over-developed sense of humour, with Plato and Socrates living at a recently excavated site where they somehow come back to life and are currently holidaying in Rhodes together. If they ever come back I shall be really ‘stumped’ – I’d be completely lost with their far superior intellect!! Incidentally on this blog I have posted most of the Stanley Holloway monologues, including, The Return Of Albert.

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

I see blogland as a community and a large family of wonderful people with each person as an important constituent member, rather like the inhabitants of a beehive or an ants' nest - all different – all contributing in his or her own special way for the good of the community. I love trying to encourage new bloggers, fully realising what a struggle it is to get going and achieve success. I have met some wonderful people - many are now personal friends – helpful, friendly, encouraging and talented.

I see some friends, or even strangers, who are sometimes upset about something or other and it is a privilege to try to reach them and cheer them up a bit; leaving them a word of hope, a spiritual cuddle, a kind word - anything to help them. Along the way I have met some truly great writers, photographers, artists, poets and story tellers. Some leave me standing from an academic and intellectual level – some poetry and poetic writing is way over my head, yet I can tell these friends want to come and visit little old me from time to time and usually they like what I do and like what I say. They seem to all like my humour.

I love leaving witty and humorous comments here and there, particularly for the ladies – it is all such good clean fun and they all seem to come back for more. I see the blogging arena as a stage where I can unwind and perform and make people laugh and sometimes make them cry with a sad story. It is a huge escape valve for me from the outside world which I call Cosmos Diabolicus.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Crumbs! That’s a bit difficult for a fairly new boy! However, I remember some of the mistakes I made and would advise new bloggers of these pointers which I had to learn how to rectify the hard way:

1. Don’t make posts too long like I did. 700 words is enough because the reader wants to see 20-25 people as well as you during this sitting and if he sees a huge mountain, no matter how well dressed, he will not read it all. He cannot. I know! I'm a fat one to talk!

2. Even in a serious post inject some humour to break up the rhythm and make them read on.

3. Use photographs and always take a camera – everywhere! I have missed some great photos by not doing so – a car on fire, some animal stories lost because I missed some unusual situations. Just one photo can make a short story, like my recent Peacocks in my garden - they just dropped in from nowhere - clean out of the sky, and this time the camera was there, ready for them.

4. Try to make posts relate to personal experiences. This is something I have started to do much more recently and it is beginning to unlock more doors. People can understand these and relate to theses posts, like my recent ambulance stories I am doing, or my bird nest boxes.

5. This works for me, but be careful. Flatter the ladies, including some nice compliments in your comments. I love doing it and if done tastefully and politely it will win you friends. But always make sure your Dr Jekyll is in total control of your Mr Hyde – I have gone a little near the mark once or twice – naughty boy! But I know no offence was taken – thank God!!

6. Persevere – Rome was not built in a day, as Lola will tell you. I think the real answer is commenting on other people’s posts regularly, which alas I cannot do enough of at present due to pressures at work. Be witty and interesting in your comments - and above all be genuine.

What is the most significant post you have ever read?

Bearing in mind I have been on the scene only seven months or so and I have not yet met every talented writer, I have some really great recommendations. There are several bloggers whom I must read, every time. If I had to choose just a few I would chose Meredith Teagarden of The Things We Carried, currently on vacation. In my view her post which moved me most, almost to tears, was Men in Black and White and Khaki. At this moment in time I would rate this post as the finest I have ever read - anywhere! All of Meredith’s posts are wonderful and I would not miss reading any.

Another truly great writer is Janine at Sniffles and Smiles, currently taking a well deserved rest, and all her posts are POTD material, some sad and some funny. In fact Janine has had more POTDs than hot dinners and all her output is a 'must read'. She is conspicuous by her absence right now and we all miss her.

I do not like mentioning just two great writers because there are many more. For me personally I like Lola at Aglio, Olio & Peperoncino for her all round ability with her fabulous menus and historical postings – all meticulously researched, crafted and presented – so interesting. And I can tell you she is a lovely lass as well with a great sense of humour (thank God) – a real poppet and she is very tolerant of a 'kitchen ignoramus' like me who has 'two left spoons' when it comes to cooking. She, too is on vacation currently, as is my next choice, another great writer, photographer and good friend, Cherry at The Girl from Cherry Blossom Street and I cannot forget a great talent and highly popular lady and a celebrity, Debbie at Dishing with Debbie.

You see we all meet people in blogland whom we really like – everyone I have mentioned is a good friend of mine, including some of my more recent introductions to whom alas there is no time to mention. In fact I know there are other great people out there I have not met yet - I'm looking forward to it.

Jim at Suldog is a real treat to read and I love ‘sparring’ with him – we have had some great battles recently but underneath it all he and I are real softies. Jane at Gaston Studios always provides an exceptionally interesting story. And there are many, many other super writers, Erin at Woman in a Window and Michael at The God of Another World to name but two - these are two in fact who are a little too clever for me but are good friends. You see I could go on and on – quite simply I feel greatly privileged to be doing this Roast because actually I look up to all these people and admire their work greatly. Forgive me not mentioning other greats - time and space is limited.

And, of course David’s rhymes, anecdotes and posts at Authorblog inspire me to add my bits and pieces - I love doing that.

What is the most significant post you have written?

It has to be my fun post, They’re Off: Bloggers’ Grand National in which all the principal riders were bloggers and their horses were their blog names. This was such great fun to write and everyone seemed to love it and all wanted to win the race so badly – some want another race next year, crumbs – how the ‘ell am I going to do another one??? It is a pity though that some really great characters have emerged since this post, previously not known to me at the time of writing, and the race would have been much better with them in it - just imagine Jim at Suldog in it as well!! The mind boggles!!.

This post broke all the blogging rules – it was far, far too long but I got away with it because it had to be very lengthy to achieve the end result when everyone was shattered with sheer nervous exhaustion. When the race was finished the poor commentator nearly had a heart attack - his voice was an octave higher and in musical terms he was speaking Presto Agitato and with a huge Crescendo. I was stretched to the limit of my creative writing ability to keep attention throughout this very long and gruelling race – I made the horses talk, I met a lovely lady en route and several of us spoke in broad Shakespearean whilst all the rich American punters got impatient and threatened to ‘bust my ass’ if I didn’t get on with the race and to quit talking that Shakespearean crap!!

Other posts I enjoyed writing were Mickey the Celibate Budgie and Mickey the Lovesick Budgie – these really caught on with my early readers. I have written a three part love story, And Lead us not into Temptation, a five part play, 767 Weddings, 2 Irate Vicars and Almost a Funeral. And, of course I have written more humour and some serious material as well.

Currently I am relating my ambulance experiences - there are some very funny memories and some very sad ones as well. I issue a warning as a preview of coming attractions! I am working on another big production where we can ALL have some great fun - another 'biggy' like the Grand National - watch out you may be in it! Watch this space - but it will take a while to complete.

If someone two years ago had told me I would have done all this I would have called them stark raving bonkers. Not even in my wildest dreams would I have thought this could happen, let alone did happen.

In conclusion I would like to thank two people who kept me going during my early days with their encouragement – I thank you Janine and I thank you too David, and I wish all new bloggers every success with their blogs and posts.

Once again, David, thank you for the roast – as usual I have been a bit verbose and consequently been on the spit for a while and although I am well done I must get off because it is getting far too hot and unless I escape I shall soon be a burnt offering.

Today's Sunday Roast with Eddie Bluelights is the 82nd in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

The Sunday Roast

Not Just A Flash In The Pan

This week's interview is with Eddie Bluelights,
who writes the blog Clouds And Silvery Linings.

Here's the first of the standard questions.Why do you blog?

My reasons for blogging are different now compared with when I began. I have always wanted to have a crack at writing - at first I saw blogging as a vehicle to develop my untested writing skills and to relate my ambulance experiences to ‘an audience’. Little did I appreciate just how difficult a task lay ahead of actually 'gaining an audience' and just how persistent I had to be to make any success in blogland. By success I mean receiving comments and acquiring followers.

I wrote a post about all this entitled A Blogging He Would Go! but suffice to say that once or twice I almost gave up entirely, having acquired just two ‘animated’ followers, a woman trying to sell me wallpaper and someone considering I required the services of a dating agency! Geepers! I already have one ‘trouble and strife’ – isn’t that more than enough? Two would be impossible!! My first post was a serious one about losing a dearly beloved renal patient and only one person read it - I was very disappointed but I did not realise at the time it takes time to get established.

My reasons today for blogging are entirely different. I love writing, reading other people’s work and posting my comments - but it is all very time consuming! Of course for me the most rewarding aspect of blogging is receiving comments for one’s labours. Time is sometimes rather limited so it is not always possible to visit people as often as I would like but one has to have a balance with life outside blogsville.

I started comedy and creative writing with my Mickey the Budgie stories and these caught on with some folks who signed up as faithful followers. From then the enterprise grew very gradually with a wider audience gained, resulting in turn with more comments received, responding to subjects like a Harley Davidson motor bike boasting in broad Shakespearean just how great he is and this led me to suppose what life would be like today if we all talked in broad Shakespearean.

Blogging becomes a bit addictive after a while and I think the reason for this is the social aspect. I have made some very good friends and email a few really close people regularly. To stop doing this would be a wrench for me now. The television does not get a look in these days but my wife thinks I am totally crackers for spending so long in this other world!! - a world which in many ways makes much more sense than the outside world in which we live.

What is the story behind your blog name?

The name Clouds and Silvery Linings originates from a Stanley Holloway monologue, The Return of Albert, in which Mr Ramsbottom tries to console his wife after their son has been eaten alive by a lion, remarking to her, “Let’s look on the bright side, mother, what can’t be helped must be endured, every cloud has a silvery lining, and we did have young Albert insured.’ It just seemed to fit like a glove to an idea I was trying to achieve at the time, posting some sad stories sometimes mixed with some funny stories, with not much in between – a sort of bi-polar approach. My good friend Janine at Sniffles and Smiles does the same thing with her blog with very good effect. Incidentally Janine and I started out in Blogland at about the same time.

My other blog, Plato’s Procrastinations is a fun blog and I used a ridiculous but catchy name to suit my rather over-developed sense of humour, with Plato and Socrates living at a recently excavated site where they somehow come back to life and are currently holidaying in Rhodes together. If they ever come back I shall be really ‘stumped’ – I’d be completely lost with their far superior intellect!! Incidentally on this blog I have posted most of the Stanley Holloway monologues, including, The Return Of Albert.

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

I see blogland as a community and a large family of wonderful people with each person as an important constituent member, rather like the inhabitants of a beehive or an ants' nest - all different – all contributing in his or her own special way for the good of the community. I love trying to encourage new bloggers, fully realising what a struggle it is to get going and achieve success. I have met some wonderful people - many are now personal friends – helpful, friendly, encouraging and talented.

I see some friends, or even strangers, who are sometimes upset about something or other and it is a privilege to try to reach them and cheer them up a bit; leaving them a word of hope, a spiritual cuddle, a kind word - anything to help them. Along the way I have met some truly great writers, photographers, artists, poets and story tellers. Some leave me standing from an academic and intellectual level – some poetry and poetic writing is way over my head, yet I can tell these friends want to come and visit little old me from time to time and usually they like what I do and like what I say. They seem to all like my humour.

I love leaving witty and humorous comments here and there, particularly for the ladies – it is all such good clean fun and they all seem to come back for more. I see the blogging arena as a stage where I can unwind and perform and make people laugh and sometimes make them cry with a sad story. It is a huge escape valve for me from the outside world which I call Cosmos Diabolicus.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Crumbs! That’s a bit difficult for a fairly new boy! However, I remember some of the mistakes I made and would advise new bloggers of these pointers which I had to learn how to rectify the hard way:

1. Don’t make posts too long like I did. 700 words is enough because the reader wants to see 20-25 people as well as you during this sitting and if he sees a huge mountain, no matter how well dressed, he will not read it all. He cannot. I know! I'm a fat one to talk!

2. Even in a serious post inject some humour to break up the rhythm and make them read on.

3. Use photographs and always take a camera – everywhere! I have missed some great photos by not doing so – a car on fire, some animal stories lost because I missed some unusual situations. Just one photo can make a short story, like my recent Peacocks in my garden - they just dropped in from nowhere - clean out of the sky, and this time the camera was there, ready for them.

4. Try to make posts relate to personal experiences. This is something I have started to do much more recently and it is beginning to unlock more doors. People can understand these and relate to theses posts, like my recent ambulance stories I am doing, or my bird nest boxes.

5. This works for me, but be careful. Flatter the ladies, including some nice compliments in your comments. I love doing it and if done tastefully and politely it will win you friends. But always make sure your Dr Jekyll is in total control of your Mr Hyde – I have gone a little near the mark once or twice – naughty boy! But I know no offence was taken – thank God!!

6. Persevere – Rome was not built in a day, as Lola will tell you. I think the real answer is commenting on other people’s posts regularly, which alas I cannot do enough of at present due to pressures at work. Be witty and interesting in your comments - and above all be genuine.

What is the most significant post you have ever read?

Bearing in mind I have been on the scene only seven months or so and I have not yet met every talented writer, I have some really great recommendations. There are several bloggers whom I must read, every time. If I had to choose just a few I would chose Meredith Teagarden of The Things We Carried, currently on vacation. In my view her post which moved me most, almost to tears, was Men in Black and White and Khaki. At this moment in time I would rate this post as the finest I have ever read - anywhere! All of Meredith’s posts are wonderful and I would not miss reading any.

Another truly great writer is Janine at Sniffles and Smiles, currently taking a well deserved rest, and all her posts are POTD material, some sad and some funny. In fact Janine has had more POTDs than hot dinners and all her output is a 'must read'. She is conspicuous by her absence right now and we all miss her.

I do not like mentioning just two great writers because there are many more. For me personally I like Lola at Aglio, Olio & Peperoncino for her all round ability with her fabulous menus and historical postings – all meticulously researched, crafted and presented – so interesting. And I can tell you she is a lovely lass as well with a great sense of humour (thank God) – a real poppet and she is very tolerant of a 'kitchen ignoramus' like me who has 'two left spoons' when it comes to cooking. She, too is on vacation currently, as is my next choice, another great writer, photographer and good friend, Cherry at The Girl from Cherry Blossom Street and I cannot forget a great talent and highly popular lady and a celebrity, Debbie at Dishing with Debbie.

You see we all meet people in blogland whom we really like – everyone I have mentioned is a good friend of mine, including some of my more recent introductions to whom alas there is no time to mention. In fact I know there are other great people out there I have not met yet - I'm looking forward to it.

Jim at Suldog is a real treat to read and I love ‘sparring’ with him – we have had some great battles recently but underneath it all he and I are real softies. Jane at Gaston Studios always provides an exceptionally interesting story. And there are many, many other super writers, Erin at Woman in a Window and Michael at The God of Another World to name but two - these are two in fact who are a little too clever for me but are good friends. You see I could go on and on – quite simply I feel greatly privileged to be doing this Roast because actually I look up to all these people and admire their work greatly. Forgive me not mentioning other greats - time and space is limited.

And, of course David’s rhymes, anecdotes and posts at Authorblog inspire me to add my bits and pieces - I love doing that.

What is the most significant post you have written?

It has to be my fun post, They’re Off: Bloggers’ Grand National in which all the principal riders were bloggers and their horses were their blog names. This was such great fun to write and everyone seemed to love it and all wanted to win the race so badly – some want another race next year, crumbs – how the ‘ell am I going to do another one??? It is a pity though that some really great characters have emerged since this post, previously not known to me at the time of writing, and the race would have been much better with them in it - just imagine Jim at Suldog in it as well!! The mind boggles!!.

This post broke all the blogging rules – it was far, far too long but I got away with it because it had to be very lengthy to achieve the end result when everyone was shattered with sheer nervous exhaustion. When the race was finished the poor commentator nearly had a heart attack - his voice was an octave higher and in musical terms he was speaking Presto Agitato and with a huge Crescendo. I was stretched to the limit of my creative writing ability to keep attention throughout this very long and gruelling race – I made the horses talk, I met a lovely lady en route and several of us spoke in broad Shakespearean whilst all the rich American punters got impatient and threatened to ‘bust my ass’ if I didn’t get on with the race and to quit talking that Shakespearean crap!!

Other posts I enjoyed writing were Mickey the Celibate Budgie and Mickey the Lovesick Budgie – these really caught on with my early readers. I have written a three part love story, And Lead us not into Temptation, a five part play, 767 Weddings, 2 Irate Vicars and Almost a Funeral. And, of course I have written more humour and some serious material as well.

Currently I am relating my ambulance experiences - there are some very funny memories and some very sad ones as well. I issue a warning as a preview of coming attractions! I am working on another big production where we can ALL have some great fun - another 'biggy' like the Grand National - watch out you may be in it! Watch this space - but it will take a while to complete.

If someone two years ago had told me I would have done all this I would have called them stark raving bonkers. Not even in my wildest dreams would I have thought this could happen, let alone did happen.

In conclusion I would like to thank two people who kept me going during my early days with their encouragement – I thank you Janine and I thank you too David, and I wish all new bloggers every success with their blogs and posts.

Once again, David, thank you for the roast – as usual I have been a bit verbose and consequently been on the spit for a while and although I am well done I must get off because it is getting far too hot and unless I escape I shall soon be a burnt offering.

Today's Sunday Roast with Eddie Bluelights is the 82nd in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

The Sunday Roast

He Can Close His Eyes And Think Of England

This week's interview is with The Brit,
who writes the blog Spinning The Wheel.

Here's the first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

I put off having a blog for a long time, I guess I did that out of fear really: the unknown and the fact that having a blog shows every part of you as a person, at that point in my life I wasn’t sure if I was ready to meet the world in close-up as I was going through some tough times. I’m a British guy living in Brazil, far away from my family and friends at home. I do have very good friends here in Brazil, of course, as I have lived here for ten years now but other expats will know that feeling of a kind of loss and detachment from "home" and having a blog seems to connect everyone from all parts of the world in such a wonderful and genuine way, a little bit of "Home Sweet Home" away from home...

The day that I decided to sit down and create my blog I was instantly immersed into a different world, a virtual universe where wonderful caring people reside.

In the beginning I wrote insignificant and quite empty posts, I felt quite lost really, but then I decided to just be open and honest and write about me and my life and then I was hooked, it’s all been a wonderful release, a real lesson in self-therapy. My life so far has been a rollercoaster of incredible highs and devastating lows.

I’ve experienced terrible loss and was buried in a deep black hole for three long years after my Mother passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in the UK. If I could have had a blog back then it would have brought me out of the darkness faster. Blogging and writing my poetry truly has saved me as I was going quite crazy at times, I see that now.

What's the story behind your blog name?

I’m a huge fan of the British singer/songwriter George Michael and one of his greatest hits is "Spinning The Wheel" The words in that song really resonate with me, he always writes such wonderful lyrics and he truly is a poet (you only have to listen to "Jesus To A Child" to know that) his songs are full of wonderful metaphors and meanings; some easy to find and others hidden deep within the verses, I’ve always been a huge fan since forever.

Plus the title "Spinning The Wheel" is like spinning a wheel of fortune and seeing where it will land... fate and not knowing what the future may bring, guided by some unseen force... and I feel, and have felt, that way in my own life many times.

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

Without a doubt all the truly fantastic people I meet! Every day I am so surprised and extremely touched at how many truly wonderful, caring and genuine people are out there in the land of blog! Also how many truly talented writers there are out there just waiting to be discovered! It’s a world of incredible people and their wonderful words, it’s like a huge living library of great personalities!

Some months ago I went through a very bad break-up and it was the people in my blog circle of friends that helped me through it all. People were sending me e-mails of support and concern and I truly did appreciate that and let them all know it. I had more comments and e-mails of support and love from my blogging friends than I got in the real world and it’s at times like these when you really do see how lucky you are to have met such kind, warm, genuine, caring and utterly fantastic people in the blogasphere – people who I never thought existed before I had a blog.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

This one is easy: Speak the truth and never give up! Just be yourself and write always from the heart. It doesn’t matter if you are writing about some terrible or wonderful experience in your life or if you are just writing about a day at the supermarket, the important thing is to be genuine and write exactly what you feel, from the heart, that way the inspiration comes thick and fast.

And when you read a post on someone’s blog always leave a comment ... remember that they, just like you, have spent a long time to write that post and have let you know a bit about their life. I always leave comments and I always reply to comments left on my own posts too, it’s a mark of respect and gratitude, I guess they call it "bloqiquete" now.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

This is the most difficult question as I have read so many and have found so many wonderful friends by reading so many fantastic blog posts. But I love reading about people’s lives and experiences and one that does stand out in my mind was from my dear friend Maggie May that she wrote in 2008 called RestingPlace, all about the sad passing of her dear son-in-law. That post really stayed with me and I got extremely emotional reading it, and the subsequent posts that she wrote, about this huge loss brought upon her, her daughter and her young grandchildren. The grief and heartbreaking loss just poured off of the page.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

Hummm ... difficult ... but I would have to say "Scenes From Another Room" – My Story: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5 as this series of posts are so extremely personal to me and I spent more than four hours writing each one.

I totally poured my heart and soul out onto each and every page, every bit of happiness and extreme sadness that I have experienced over the years. I cried ever such a lot whilst writing it all and especially when I was writing and remembering all the heartache and extreme loss I suffered when I lost my dear Mum to cancer when she was only 56 years old and how I had to return home alone on the loneliest 12-hour flight of my life, knowing that I had already lost her. I just looked out of the window as I flew above the clouds and cried for 12 hours.

But my story continues ... I’m extremely happy here in Brazil, I went through an extremely stressful time over Christmas, New Year and for three months afterwards, when my relationship of 13 years finished, but my life has changed for the better once again and I am living an extremely happy life with a new partner who I absolutely adore and who also adores me.

I haven’t been this happy in many, many years and I’m in a state of well-deserved joy, so it’s a very happy and rejuvenated blogger who is answering your questions right now – I want to thank you very much for this honourable pleasure David! I really appreciate it!

Today's Sunday Roast with The Brit is the 81st in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

The Sunday Roast

He Can Close His Eyes And Think Of England

This week's interview is with The Brit,
who writes the blog Spinning The Wheel.

Here's the first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

I put off having a blog for a long time, I guess I did that out of fear really: the unknown and the fact that having a blog shows every part of you as a person, at that point in my life I wasn’t sure if I was ready to meet the world in close-up as I was going through some tough times. I’m a British guy living in Brazil, far away from my family and friends at home. I do have very good friends here in Brazil, of course, as I have lived here for ten years now but other expats will know that feeling of a kind of loss and detachment from "home" and having a blog seems to connect everyone from all parts of the world in such a wonderful and genuine way, a little bit of "Home Sweet Home" away from home...

The day that I decided to sit down and create my blog I was instantly immersed into a different world, a virtual universe where wonderful caring people reside.

In the beginning I wrote insignificant and quite empty posts, I felt quite lost really, but then I decided to just be open and honest and write about me and my life and then I was hooked, it’s all been a wonderful release, a real lesson in self-therapy. My life so far has been a rollercoaster of incredible highs and devastating lows.

I’ve experienced terrible loss and was buried in a deep black hole for three long years after my Mother passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in the UK. If I could have had a blog back then it would have brought me out of the darkness faster. Blogging and writing my poetry truly has saved me as I was going quite crazy at times, I see that now.

What's the story behind your blog name?

I’m a huge fan of the British singer/songwriter George Michael and one of his greatest hits is "Spinning The Wheel" The words in that song really resonate with me, he always writes such wonderful lyrics and he truly is a poet (you only have to listen to "Jesus To A Child" to know that) his songs are full of wonderful metaphors and meanings; some easy to find and others hidden deep within the verses, I’ve always been a huge fan since forever.

Plus the title "Spinning The Wheel" is like spinning a wheel of fortune and seeing where it will land... fate and not knowing what the future may bring, guided by some unseen force... and I feel, and have felt, that way in my own life many times.

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

Without a doubt all the truly fantastic people I meet! Every day I am so surprised and extremely touched at how many truly wonderful, caring and genuine people are out there in the land of blog! Also how many truly talented writers there are out there just waiting to be discovered! It’s a world of incredible people and their wonderful words, it’s like a huge living library of great personalities!

Some months ago I went through a very bad break-up and it was the people in my blog circle of friends that helped me through it all. People were sending me e-mails of support and concern and I truly did appreciate that and let them all know it. I had more comments and e-mails of support and love from my blogging friends than I got in the real world and it’s at times like these when you really do see how lucky you are to have met such kind, warm, genuine, caring and utterly fantastic people in the blogasphere – people who I never thought existed before I had a blog.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

This one is easy: Speak the truth and never give up! Just be yourself and write always from the heart. It doesn’t matter if you are writing about some terrible or wonderful experience in your life or if you are just writing about a day at the supermarket, the important thing is to be genuine and write exactly what you feel, from the heart, that way the inspiration comes thick and fast.

And when you read a post on someone’s blog always leave a comment ... remember that they, just like you, have spent a long time to write that post and have let you know a bit about their life. I always leave comments and I always reply to comments left on my own posts too, it’s a mark of respect and gratitude, I guess they call it "bloqiquete" now.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

This is the most difficult question as I have read so many and have found so many wonderful friends by reading so many fantastic blog posts. But I love reading about people’s lives and experiences and one that does stand out in my mind was from my dear friend Maggie May that she wrote in 2008 called RestingPlace, all about the sad passing of her dear son-in-law. That post really stayed with me and I got extremely emotional reading it, and the subsequent posts that she wrote, about this huge loss brought upon her, her daughter and her young grandchildren. The grief and heartbreaking loss just poured off of the page.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

Hummm ... difficult ... but I would have to say "Scenes From Another Room" – My Story: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5 as this series of posts are so extremely personal to me and I spent more than four hours writing each one.

I totally poured my heart and soul out onto each and every page, every bit of happiness and extreme sadness that I have experienced over the years. I cried ever such a lot whilst writing it all and especially when I was writing and remembering all the heartache and extreme loss I suffered when I lost my dear Mum to cancer when she was only 56 years old and how I had to return home alone on the loneliest 12-hour flight of my life, knowing that I had already lost her. I just looked out of the window as I flew above the clouds and cried for 12 hours.

But my story continues ... I’m extremely happy here in Brazil, I went through an extremely stressful time over Christmas, New Year and for three months afterwards, when my relationship of 13 years finished, but my life has changed for the better once again and I am living an extremely happy life with a new partner who I absolutely adore and who also adores me.

I haven’t been this happy in many, many years and I’m in a state of well-deserved joy, so it’s a very happy and rejuvenated blogger who is answering your questions right now – I want to thank you very much for this honourable pleasure David! I really appreciate it!

Today's Sunday Roast with The Brit is the 81st in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

The Sunday Roast

Blogging With True Religious Fervour

This week's interview is with Sharon,

who writes the blog Dances With God.

Here's the first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

I began blogging after reading other blogs. The creativity, the journaling, everyday life of other people, great stories, inspired me to move from just journaling and working on a book I was writing, to the blog posts. I enjoy blogging as an outlet for comedy, inspiration and connecting with others.

What's the story behind your blog name?

About a month before I began blogging, I begin my first year as a seminary student. Especially during the first four weeks and continuing through the first semester, I was presented with interesting facts that caused me to question so many things from my childhood experience of church, my faith, and what God really is all about.

I felt that everyday in class was a dance with God. The thoughts that went through my head, my prayers and conversations with him began to be like dancing on broken glass, or tiptoeing through the tulips. That was the best growing to know God experience that could have ever happened to me. By the time I started blogging, I began to like my dances with God and thought it would be appropriate to title my blog just in that manner. I shared in my profile that I am a pastor.

I have met people, whom I have enjoyed conversations with, all is fun and great, even inspiration and when they stop to ask, "What do you do?" I respond and say, "I am a pastor". Those same people look at me as though a holy cloak was thrown around me and they too, begin that "God dance". It is often a challenge to help them recognize I am just another human, working my way through life, as they are.

Our differences are the callings we have answered because of the passions that drive us. Yours are inspiring us with wit, poetry, rhymes, and incredible photography. Mine is being a pastor; a pastor that lets people be who they are, where they are. After all, don’t we all need that?

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

I have met the most amazing and wonderful people since I have become a blogger. I continue to find new blogs that I follow. I have grown as a person because of people I have met.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Be sure you are okay letting the entire world in on what you have to say. Show up, tell your story, and don’t be attached to the outcome. You will have people who love what you have to say. There will be others who aren’t kind. Be who you are and don’t let someone else dictate what you do on your blog. Be original.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

David, this is the hardest question. There are so many. Some help me grow spiritually, like Braja at Lost and Found in India. Some have incredible true stories like Jane, at Gaston Studio. Jane’s adventure and ability to tell her story puts her readers there with her. Otin at The Wizard of Otin blows me away with his fiction, his depth and character and his ability to sound superficial when the whole time, he totally gets life the way it should be.

Michel at Facts are Strictly Optional is the funniest, most comical person I have ever had the chance to read about. The way she writes about her everyday life, brings tears of laughter and side-splitting humor. She is a gem. I believe the most significant post I have ever read is from Shannon. Her post Live Your Truth was spoken well, it made a statement and would make a great presentation for all pastors to read or hear.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

The Pastor’s Mirror is my most significant post. My goal was to give people an inside look at my life and see that we all have the ability to rise above circumstances and turn our lemons into lemonade. I believe that message was received just as I intended.


Today's Sunday Roast with Sharon is the 81st in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

The Sunday Roast

Blogging With True Religious Fervour

This week's interview is with Sharon,

who writes the blog Dances With God.

Here's the first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

I began blogging after reading other blogs. The creativity, the journaling, everyday life of other people, great stories, inspired me to move from just journaling and working on a book I was writing, to the blog posts. I enjoy blogging as an outlet for comedy, inspiration and connecting with others.

What's the story behind your blog name?

About a month before I began blogging, I begin my first year as a seminary student. Especially during the first four weeks and continuing through the first semester, I was presented with interesting facts that caused me to question so many things from my childhood experience of church, my faith, and what God really is all about.

I felt that everyday in class was a dance with God. The thoughts that went through my head, my prayers and conversations with him began to be like dancing on broken glass, or tiptoeing through the tulips. That was the best growing to know God experience that could have ever happened to me. By the time I started blogging, I began to like my dances with God and thought it would be appropriate to title my blog just in that manner. I shared in my profile that I am a pastor.

I have met people, whom I have enjoyed conversations with, all is fun and great, even inspiration and when they stop to ask, "What do you do?" I respond and say, "I am a pastor". Those same people look at me as though a holy cloak was thrown around me and they too, begin that "God dance". It is often a challenge to help them recognize I am just another human, working my way through life, as they are.

Our differences are the callings we have answered because of the passions that drive us. Yours are inspiring us with wit, poetry, rhymes, and incredible photography. Mine is being a pastor; a pastor that lets people be who they are, where they are. After all, don’t we all need that?

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

I have met the most amazing and wonderful people since I have become a blogger. I continue to find new blogs that I follow. I have grown as a person because of people I have met.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Be sure you are okay letting the entire world in on what you have to say. Show up, tell your story, and don’t be attached to the outcome. You will have people who love what you have to say. There will be others who aren’t kind. Be who you are and don’t let someone else dictate what you do on your blog. Be original.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

David, this is the hardest question. There are so many. Some help me grow spiritually, like Braja at Lost and Found in India. Some have incredible true stories like Jane, at Gaston Studio. Jane’s adventure and ability to tell her story puts her readers there with her. Otin at The Wizard of Otin blows me away with his fiction, his depth and character and his ability to sound superficial when the whole time, he totally gets life the way it should be.

Michel at Facts are Strictly Optional is the funniest, most comical person I have ever had the chance to read about. The way she writes about her everyday life, brings tears of laughter and side-splitting humor. She is a gem. I believe the most significant post I have ever read is from Shannon. Her post Live Your Truth was spoken well, it made a statement and would make a great presentation for all pastors to read or hear.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

The Pastor’s Mirror is my most significant post. My goal was to give people an inside look at my life and see that we all have the ability to rise above circumstances and turn our lemons into lemonade. I believe that message was received just as I intended.


Today's Sunday Roast with Sharon is the 81st in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

The Sunday Roast

Inspired To Reach New Literary Heights

This week's interview is with Muthering Heights, who writes
the blog Muthering Heights And Other Senseless Sensibility.

Here's the first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

Well, the short answer would be that I blog because I can! But to elaborate, I blog because I enjoy the pursuit…not so much the pursuit of writing, as I have never found my writing to be terribly interesting, but more so to connect and communicate with other people en masse, as I have little time to leave the house, and after three successive pregnancies, little memory on which to rely on to prompt me to call anyone!

I have also found that connecting with other bloggers has allowed me to learn quite a bit from persons that would never have had the opportunity to encounter otherwise. The blogging community is an amazing place, filled with lovely people!

What's the story behind the blog name?

I have always enjoyed a good play in words…nearly as much as I enjoy classic literature! (But not to worry, Jordan and I are certainly not Catherine and Heathcliff!)

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

(Allow me to preface my answer by noting that I will soon be giving birth to my third child in three years, which should suffice to explain that I do NOT get out much!) The best part of blogging, as far as I am concerned, is the opportunity not only to share my life with others from, but also to cultivate positive, edifying relationships with other people.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

I would advise a new blogger to get “out and about” in the blogging community as much as possible. I have found that to be, by far, the best way to connect with other readers/writers!

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

This is a difficult question, as I have absorbed so many interesting and engaging bits from the blogging community. I couldn’t possibly narrow it down to just one!

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

I’m interpreting “significant” as the post that has touched the highest number of people in the most meaningful way. In that case, my post detailing my 100 pound weight loss has been the most significant. I have received an incredible amount of feedback about the inspiration and encouragement my story has provided to readers in many different areas of life, not simply those struggling with health issues!


Today's Sunday Roast is the 80th in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

The Sunday Roast

Inspired To Reach New Literary Heights

This week's interview is with Muthering Heights, who writes
the blog Muthering Heights And Other Senseless Sensibility.

Here's the first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

Well, the short answer would be that I blog because I can! But to elaborate, I blog because I enjoy the pursuit…not so much the pursuit of writing, as I have never found my writing to be terribly interesting, but more so to connect and communicate with other people en masse, as I have little time to leave the house, and after three successive pregnancies, little memory on which to rely on to prompt me to call anyone!

I have also found that connecting with other bloggers has allowed me to learn quite a bit from persons that would never have had the opportunity to encounter otherwise. The blogging community is an amazing place, filled with lovely people!

What's the story behind the blog name?

I have always enjoyed a good play in words…nearly as much as I enjoy classic literature! (But not to worry, Jordan and I are certainly not Catherine and Heathcliff!)

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

(Allow me to preface my answer by noting that I will soon be giving birth to my third child in three years, which should suffice to explain that I do NOT get out much!) The best part of blogging, as far as I am concerned, is the opportunity not only to share my life with others from, but also to cultivate positive, edifying relationships with other people.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

I would advise a new blogger to get “out and about” in the blogging community as much as possible. I have found that to be, by far, the best way to connect with other readers/writers!

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

This is a difficult question, as I have absorbed so many interesting and engaging bits from the blogging community. I couldn’t possibly narrow it down to just one!

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

I’m interpreting “significant” as the post that has touched the highest number of people in the most meaningful way. In that case, my post detailing my 100 pound weight loss has been the most significant. I have received an incredible amount of feedback about the inspiration and encouragement my story has provided to readers in many different areas of life, not simply those struggling with health issues!


Today's Sunday Roast is the 80th in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.

The Sunday Roast

If You Can't Find Tarzan, Just Call On Jane

This week's interview is with Jane,
who writes the blog Gaston Studio.

Here's the first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

I started blogging as a means of getting traffic to my retail website, Gaston Studio, but after reviewing many online shop owners and finding that all they did was show what items were in their shop (and I found that boring!), I decided to change tactics completely. I started posting stories from my life and that’s when things took off.

What's the story behind the blog name?

It’s simply the name of my online shop (incorporating my surname) and the way in which I signed up at Blogger! If I had it to do over again, I’d name it Going Places because this can refer to the physical, emotional and spiritual places to which we go.

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

Undoubtedly, the people you "meet" in blogland. I’ve found some wonderful people that I would truly like to meet in person and I can’t think of a better compliment than that. Also, the comments offers an insight into the commentator as to their reaction to posts on which they comment; and, into how they somewhat react to current events.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Since I’m still a newbie myself, I can only offer some simple ideas: First, sit down with pen and paper and think about what you want your blog to say about yourself. Second, come up with a name that conveys that idea. And third, be honest with and to your readers.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

Social Angst, which was posted by Snowbrush in 2005. The posts this dear man writes comes from his heart, his soul and his gut; you may not agree with everything he says, but he’ll surely make you think. Mind you now, I haven’t read all of his older posts but Social Angst struck a cord with me immediately upon reading it.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

Young And Ignorant, which I posted in May of this year. The events of this post really taught me many great lessons. Firstly, how important it is to be aware of what’s going on around you, especially when it comes to people and current events. Secondly, although I was certainly aware of racism, it never occurred to me just how much hate there was for other human beings, and I vowed my children would never judge another person by their color or religion. Thirdly, once you’ve become aware, you can trust your instincts. And lastly, to try and make wise choices in life because the choices you make rarely involve only yourself.


Today's Sunday Roast with Jane is the 79th in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.