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@ Sunday, 09. Mar, 2008 – 13:08:55
Occasionally in life we all have to undertake tasks we'd rather not do; this is one of those times.
It is with considerable regret I inform you that one of my oldest blog chums has decided to call it a day and hang up his keyboard; I refer to that doyen of Yorkshire wit, Grumpybloke.
Those among you who know GB will undoubtedly miss his presence here as much as I will and I’m sure you’d want to join me in wishing David all the very best for the future.
rowtheboat
Pro 
Bye!!
RunDontWalk
Pro Why did he go? Lindow is gone too.
Usksider
Pro Yes, I'm really sorry to see two good friends leave...
GB was finding time hard to come by and as we all know, when that happens something has to go... he felt Blogland was becoming stale so I think it was the obvious choice.
GilraenH
Pro My Goodness - I had not even noticed Lindow's departure! How sad.
Usksider
Pro I missed him leaving too... I think maybe it was a quiet exit. 
oh no, i take a break and lose two friends. I will miss them both. But I can see how Blogland can be time consuming, I joined when I was on a high, you've has seen me through lows and back up to a high.
x
Usksider
Pro Over the past two years I've been both high and low... as I'm sure you know... and have seen people come and go here... but I'm going to miss these two... they are great guys and posted some interesting stuff! 
bye.
Munzly
Present company and friends excepted, but BCUK has been going downhill for some time, and many great contributors have gone.
I'm in two minds myself.....
Usksider
Pro Not you as well?? 
Munzly
I've given up my Mardlingham and Munzly blogs as too much effort for too little readership and only update Squit when I find something quirky to post. This "Groups" thing, apart from Photography, which can't really fail, is a damp squib. There are 69 members of the Writers Group, but only a few bother to post and nobody makes any comments - seems to me that apart from a few regular interactions between friends, there's really nothing going on in BCUK worth the effort.... need I rant on?
Usksider
Pro Actually no... I feel much the same. As I posted here, I feel the whole group thing is killing Blogland. Visitors and comment numbers are considerably down here; very sad really.
Munzly
I see Kev is now consolidating into his Thespian persona and presumably giving up humour - so more change is afoot.
Usksider
Pro Yes I noticed that too...
lee954
I'd been wondering why I seemed to have a couple fewer friends.
I'm still staying on though.
Jembajr
It's always sad when some-one decides to go but I guess if you're not getting anything out of something anymore then the best thing is to let it go.
Usksider
Pro Yes, I think you're right.
mycorneroftheworld
I wrote a post about it this morning. I do feel sad when people leave. If you have been a regular visitor, you kind of feel that they are your friends and when they just leave, it feels sad to be "left behind" like that.
But I fully understand that people have other things in life that is more important, I just hope that they did not leave because something bad happened in their life. I do wish them all the best of luck! 
At least I promise to tell you all if I decide to leave!
Usksider
Pro I've been very lazy today and not checked my friends posts... actually I feel pretty guilty about that... but frankly I'm just knackered and can't be bothered... somebody slap me!
You're right though, it is sad when people leave us... and yes, I'll let people know when I'm leaving too.
la_spice
Please check this idea out:
http://ideas.blog.co.uk/2008/03/09/bloggers-leaving-3843789
Usksider
Pro It's an idea isn't it? May well work, depending on the attitude of the user.
la_spice
We all know that it wouldn't work in every circumstance and we've seen many examples.
I recently deleted a friend who hadn't been active for a while and he was upset that I'd done that. I find that when you've a large number of blogfriends you have do the occasional 'pruning' of your list or it gets out of hand.
Usksider
Pro I do a bit of pruning from time to time too - my criteria is simple and based on last comment/last post. You never get it right for everyone of course...
la_spice
That's my rule of thumb too and I never simpy accept invites without first seeing if there's some common interest or the like.
Usksider
Pro Yep, me too.
la_spice
Some people seem to amass a large number as a 'status symbol' and are forever checking their stats (which we all know aren't accurate). And then there's the unhealthy "blog envy" that seems to simmer all year and boils over just after the "Bloscars"
Usksider
Pro Yes indeed... a bit sad really isn't it?
la_spice
I guess the blog is just a reflection of the real world!
Usksider
Pro Just like real life reflects Blogland...
la_spice
Did I ever tell you I once got accused of "blogging for blogging's sake"!!!! 
Usksider
Pro Isn't that what blogging is? I'm confused... no, not dot com...
la_spice
Exactly!!! - I first bit of your comment I mean!
Usksider
Pro What did you say in reply?
spiritbird
Pro I guess you only get out what you are prepared to put in. That's why the photography group works so well. It is always interesting to see other peoples pics and techniques, it helps to develop your own skills at the same time as giving ideas in a friendly rivalry. I can understand the disappointment of few comments, I suffer the same thing on my other blogs. Still, as long as we few stalwarts keep going it can still serve a purpose and be fun.
Usksider
Pro I have to say there have been times when I've wondered why I bother... something I consider important... or interesting... or maybe a very good image... and no comments...
chassy
Hey Usky, sometimes it's purely a timing thing. If you don't get on here for a couple of days (or less if you have loads of friends), you miss your friends' posts, and find yourself missing even more if you try to check out individual friend's back-dated posts, and I know I keep missing loads of good pics and things because I get the odd look at older posts by peoples' links and stuff, but it seems odd to comment so long afterward.
Only occassionally also I have found myself feeling flat, unable to comment but still humoured by the banter going around and the excellent photographs and stuff, but I feel uncomfortable about commenting on one after having passed on others worth commenting on, so if other people have anything like this going on for them, the lack of comment could be nothing more than us missing a good post!
Like now, I've got to go, and I've only just started reading posts (from the back-end, anyone else do that?), so I'm going to miss some more, oh well, can't be on here 24-7. Night now Usky! c.x.
Usksider
Pro That certainly happens Chassy; I know I suffer from not getting around all my friends blogs. As you rightly say there are not enough hours in the day.
Something I think would be a benefit here is an indicator that a blog has been read. Many a time I read and don't comment for whatever reason.
chassy
Hi Usky. How are you today? A bit miserable out-side, hope it's not infectious.
Good point about an indicator of viewers per post, wonder what the team and anyone else would think?
Hope you are well Usky. I've a visitor this avvo so won't be about, just trying to get the emails down whilst I've an hour to myself, although, stomach's begging for food so I think I'm going to have to toddle off and grab some brekky. Hope you have a good day Uskers, and weekend if I don't get back here. All the best now Usky as always, Chas.X.
Usksider
Pro My day has not been all bad; hope you can say the same Chas.
chassy
'not all bad' or 'not at all bad?' Hope it's the latter.
Mine's not been too bad really, but it's left me a heap of books and bits to find places for that remained till today at an abode I left nearly ten years ago! Strange, only recently talking about memories weren't we, and these books are all the books my husband and I bought when he was alive, and a few of his bits. Ho hum.
Usksider
Pro Things didn't go quite as I'd hoped today, but mostly so not at all bad.
I bet there are a whole range of memories in those books and bits....
chassy
Sure are. We spent alot of time reading together, mystical and magickal books we were interested in, and fantasy novels, candles and smellies burning, it was a very nice aspect of our marriage. Sounds strange, don't think me weird, I'm more mainstream now!
It's strange now seeing the covers though. I got a buzz seeing books I remember as being very good, so I will start digging through them soon. See just how much I've forgotten!
Usksider
Pro I don't think that at all strange... you should see my library; no-one could ever describe me as mainstream! 
chassy
Morning Usky! Sorry, I keep forgetting to say bye before I log off, hope you had a good evening, and a good nights sleep? Had to sign off, felt very tired for some reason.
Sounds interesting though Usky 
, what books are keeping the dust off your shelves?
Usksider
Pro Worry not m'dear, you're forgiven. 
Books: well there are all kinds of things really. I have titles that range from a treatise on women posing as men in Nelson's navy to technical manuals, taking in scientific and natural phenomena alongside works on myth and magic, and of course a varied batch of fiction.
chassy
Hello Usky. How are you this fine day?
I haven't been about for a few days, hope your weekend went well and the weeks been good so far.
An interesting collection there Uskers! Women posing as men in Nelson's navy! Something ironic there somewhere considering the modern implication of 'being in the navy'. (No disrespect Uskers, sea-farings a proud tradition and rightly so. I have a deep love of the sea, as did my father who came from Portland, Dorset) Very interesting stuff Usky. Myth and magic Serious stuff? Authors? Some of the books that came over are way beyond my comprehension, John Dee and the likes. I don't think St Peter's Hospice would want them (!!), if you are interested or know anyone who might be, let me know. Will be interesting having a natter at some point. Do you have any interest in the kabbalah? Did you ever read Piers Anthony's Immortality series? Any Dione Fortune fiction? I don't read much these days. I used to get so absorbed but with the onset of numerous TV channels and computers, there's so much interesting, and just plain fun, stuff at the press of a button, books pass from under the coffee-table to their final resting place here as shelf-protectors without more than a glance. Oh well, one day maybe....
Well I hope you are enjoying the sun over the water there Usky, it's been shining here all day so I'm assuming it's the same for you. Hope you are feeling well also? Take care, are you up and about totally now?
Hope you are having a good day Uskers, thanks for the conversation!
Chas.X.
Usksider
Pro Hi Chas
Oh yeah, serious wiccan/witchcraft stuff. I was really interested way back and never parted with the books. Titles by Crowley, Gardner, Murray, le Vey and many others. I'd certainly be interested in catching sight of your books.
I've never read any Piers Anthony, but seem to recall reading some Dione Fortune years back.
It's all too easy to settle for 'instant' entertainment these days isn't it? As you say, there's so much available.
Yes I'm well thanks and fully mobile now - hope you are too. A chat is always welcome.
Usky
menhir
It was on the cards. GB has been busy with other things. I am also restless and some people who have been here less time, make similar comments.
BCUK design tinkerings haven't helped and the groupie alignments haven't taken off.
I have actually been looking at my old American interactive blog and keeping an eye on one or two others; that is, if I wish to continue to blog.
One of the things I like, same as Munzly, is a range of interaction, much of the interaction seems to be one way.
Usksider
Pro Yep, we're pretty much in agreement then... as commented above. Maybe BCUK will see a few more of us leave then?
menhir
You're pretty restless too, are you?
Usksider
Pro I'm not keen on the way some aspects of Blogland seem to be going. That said, I'm not looking to leave just yet.
menhir
I know what you mean. I've just had another blog friend ask me to keep her informed, she is feeling the need of pastures new, too.
There are so many blogs that are dependent now on the 'editor's choice' (dubious practice) to find a friends community. New blogs on on board are hard to find, if you can find them and this site has gone the same way. The word that comes to mind is 'Control'. Big Brother is guiding what you can and cannot do.
Usksider
Pro Well yes and no... no-one controls my blog, except me.
menhir
Sure, but how people get to it, find it, whether it's recommended or not, its overall visibility, is controlled.
Usksider
Pro Can't argue with that.
EthelRed
I noticed a few days ago that GB had gone. I too shall miss him, he always wrote interesting posts and seemed a caring person too.
I suppose I can't really comment here without admitting that yesterday I deleted my blog although I don't think anyone has noticed! I am still in the Photography Group.
Usksider
Pro You deleted your blog? Gosh... no I must admit I hadn't noticed... I'm sad to hear it though...
frankofyle
People may well come and go but I'm staying. So there. Hope that doesn't sound like a threat. Sorry to see Grumps and that young farmer chap pack it in but hey, life goes on!
Definitely - hope he's well and happy x