For a guy who’s taking a break I sure am posting a lot
on Jul 27 in Uncategorized by DanI think it was Confucius who first said:
Wise man does not start tinkering with blog theme at midnight on a school night
Ah, and how right he was. But I received my brand spanking new header image from Lee in my email box this evening and I’ve never been one to delay my gratification.
If you’re reading this in google reader why not wander over and gasp in awe and amazement at my new look.
When I first started planning Hadrian’s Walk over a year ago I was pretty convinced it would spell the end of my blog.
I knew that one of the major hooks to get press coverage would be the fact that there were so many bloggers coming along on it. But in order to exploit that hook I’d need to mention my own blog in all my press releases.
I’ve never attempted to be anonymous on this blog, I’ve never really seen the point. I’ve never been convinced that publishing my full name, shoe size, or pictures of my kids faces is going to expose my family to gangs of rampaging murdering pedophiles. In fact I’m quite proud of the fact that I’m willing to stand up and take ownership of everything I write here, even if 98% of it happens to be drivel.
However, by having my name, photo, and blog address printed in the local paper I took the risk that one of my patients would see it and start coming here. Maybe even start commenting.
I have lines between my personal life and my professional life. These aren’t flimsy lines drawn in the sand, they are hard, solid lines chisled into granite. I need to be able to keep everything separate and boxed up or run a serious risk of burnout. I made the decision when planning the walk that if my professional life began bleeding into my blog then I’d unfortunately have to let it go. It’d be a shame of course, but a sacrifice worth making.
But as it stands I think I got away with it. And so the blog goes on.
However not without changes. There’s been a crescendo building up around the walk for the past few months, both here and in my everyday life too. And now as the resonance of the final chords are fading away perhaps it’s time to switch metaphors and start a new chapter of the book.
I think I’m going to move away from “Daddyblogging”. It’s a label that, although always proud to wear, never really fitted me. In addition parent blogging, at least in the UK, has become far too entangled with commercialism, competitiveness, and exploitation. I’ve had enough of it to be honest, and it’s time for me to move on.
Of course in real terms this makes absolutely bugger all difference to anything. I’ll still be pumping out the same old crap that I did before. But I’m going to make a conscious effort not to care what lists I’m on, what rank I’ve been assigned, and which “target group” a bunch of PRs are trying to cram me into. In fact I’ve gone further than that and requested to be removed from every directory, table, and index that previously made me feel uncomfortable. I have gone from having a fairly high profile in my little corner of the internet, to having all but vanished into the ether .
Yes I’ll get fewer readers, but you know what? Fuck it, I don’t really care. It’s never been about the numbers on my statcounter anyway – it’s about the friends I’ve made. I’d rather get three comments from people I know and like than 100 from a sea of interchangeable faces. I’ve made some great friends through blogging, many of who I’ve now had the privilege of meeting in person. And withdrawing from a few stupid lists and shedding off the shackles of genre blogging isn’t going to change that.
So this is it. The start of a new phase for All That Comes With It. The blog is dead. Long live the blog!
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« « Hadrian’s Walk final total| A post of Awesomeness » »
Daddy bloggers are crap anyway. :)
.-= Idaho Dad´s last blog ..Idaho Dad Walking – Day 0 =-.
oooo, spartan.
Why do I want to talk about 300 now?
You’ve hit the nail on the head about the problem with non-anonymous blogging. I’m not very good at separating my private and professional life, and it can get messy sometimes – I’d imagine even more so in healthcare. Congrats on dodging the bullet.
.-= Jeff´s last blog ..The 1 reason to walk out of Inception is… =-.
You said a bad word.
I actually really like this minimalist look for the blog and of course I look forward to your ramblings to continue.
There’s something nice about starting with a fresh outlook (and theme!).
.-= Lee Sargent´s last blog ..Inception – no spoilers just lots of love =-.
I’m staying. Love the look. Post when you want. I understand the hard lines between personal and professional. I certainly don’t walk into job interviews and say “hey, guess what, I do silly reviews of cereal and post them on the internet! In fact, that’s how I met the guy I moved to NYC for!” because I just don’t think people at my job are worthy of that information. :)
Um, anyway, hi!
.-= Poppy´s last blog ..My birthday weekend! =-.
Onward and upward!
.-= Jayne´s last blog ..Helloooooooooooooo- yo sexy readers & Maryborough twain lovers =-.
i know how you feel about being a daddy blog. when i was getting going i didn’t know what sort of blogger i was. all i knew is i was home days with the kids and only working part time so i sorta embraced that angle. as time went on it was clear that i was not a daddy blogger – and that was even before i realized that i was a photo blogger.
anyway just blog what and when you want and we will be happy when we see whatever it is that we see whenever we see it.
.-= PG´s last blog ..The Hot Corner- Under The Lights 174-365 year 3 =-.
“I’ll still be pumping out the same old crap that I did before.”
I’ve changed more than a few nappies in my time. Some would say I’m somewhat of an expert on crap. Believe me when I say, “This ain’t it!” Love your work, and the New Look! Blog Long and Prosper!
OK, I didn’t write that last bit… :)
.-= SG-3´s last blog ..Perhaps this is Pandora =-.
I can’t quit you Dan!
.-= Seattledad (Luke, I am Your Father)´s last blog ..Let Freedom Ring =-.
Does this mean we haven’t managed to get rid of you completely then? Note to self: must try harder next time. ;)
.-= Clair´s last blog ..Tick tock body clock =-.
The new banner looks sweet! As you can tell by my latest post title, I don’t go in for all those damned labels either.
.-= beta dad´s last blog ..Im nominated for Smuggest DIY-bag Hippie Foodsnob Daddyblogger!! =-.
Oh for the love of Moses.
.-= Martin´s last blog ..Changes =-.
Yay, the blog is back !
Everyone I work with knows about my blog, they think I’m barmy, it does mean that I can’t write about them though, which is a shame.
However I understand how you wouldn’t want to mix your work and pleasure, that really would be a recipe for disaster, as it is my work colleagues just sit a bit further away from me during tea breaks…
Still talking the same old crap? I’ll stick around then. Specially if you do another one of those what does porridge taste like if made with Coca Cola videos. Just no videos of you playing the ukulele please
More ukulele!
And more of the same old crap too please.
Love the new look. What you say makes a lot of sense, I shall look forward to seeing where you go with your blog.
.-= Jenni´s last blog ..The Gallery – A Novel Idea =-.
Amen to all that. Bugger stats. Bugger lists. Bugger the grubby popularity contest to acquire readers and advertisers. I say blog what you love, whatever that is, and be welcoming. But you already do that. So Chapeau! (Sorry, missing the Tour de France already.)
I wrestle with the issue of how public/private to be, mostly for the sake of sparing my kids future embarrassment rather than to do with safety. The “WP Sentry” WordPress plugin helps a lot with that. Many of my posts these days are visible only to family, beyond that some are visible to people such as your good self who have registered on the site and then there’s the public posts. It’s a good system for managing privacy.
.-= Steve´s last blog ..Last call for Hadrian’s Walk =-.
welcome back? :P
.-= Arjan´s last blog ..Youtube Saturday – Ting Tings – We walk =-.
Oh man, I thought you’d be gone for longer than that. No willpower, that’s the problem with UK mummy bloggers these days.
Many hearts for the new header, and I have to agree with the content of your post too. Roll on the new old blog!
.-= Catherine´s last blog ..Wedding present fail =-.
Yeah, I’m giving up Daddy Blogging too.
;)
Good to have you back dude!
.-= Insomniac Mummy´s last blog ..The Gallery – Sycamore Gap =-.
Well, some of them anyway :)
Actually it’s not the Dad bloggers that are the problem. Notice I said “parent bloggers”
Is it because my physique reminds you of one of the warriors? I must admit, you aren’t the first to point it out…
I’m planning on cluttering up the sidebar a little more, but yes – I really like the black and white
I’m not sure it’s about posting when I want, it’s about regaining ownership of the reasons why I blog. Or something. I’m not sure really.
And don’t let anyone tell you reviewing cereal is silly. You’re putting yourself on the front line there and providing a much needed public service. Much needed.
were you a daddy blogger? I didn’t notice!!! sorry, I only really remember the chickens from your family circle!!!!!!!!!! As for the title, that’s exactly what I thought when your name popped up again! Cool header though :0)
Oh, had you gone somewhere? Welcome back.
Like the new look very much.
Sure this is not just a reaction to England’s poor World Cup performance?
I’m not sure I suit being any sort of blogger to be honest. And I’m pretty happy with that really.
“Blog long and prosper” Damnit, I’m very tempted to have that as my tagline
You’ve a fever, and the only cure is more Dan
It’s funny. The moment I took the pressure off myself to blog I started getting the urge to post again
Lee’s done a great job on it, I’m really pleased with it!
The exact meaning of your comment escapes me. So I’m taking it to be a supportive, yet wry poke at my ability to stay away from here for more than five minutes. Yes, No?
I hate to break it to you Gary, but you work from home. Those people sitting near you on your tea breaks? They don’t really exist.
What about what ukuleles taste like if mixed with coke? Or porridge?
After my stunning debut as a member of Hadrian and the Walkers I’ve been practicing the Uke like never before.
Did I hear a rumor you have one too?
Thanks :)
Cheers Steve. I appreciate it. And grubby is right. At first I was quite excited by getting some cool free stuff and having my name on various lists, but it’s left a film around my blog that I felt I could wipe off only by bleaching myself with a revamp/relaunch.
Not that i was really away. As I say, as soon as I took the pressure off myself I felt the urge to post come flooding back
I intended being gone for longer.
If I’m brutally honest the thought of doing 6 “what we did on day 1, 2, 3, 4, etc of the walk” filled me with dread, so I jumped ship. Then when I knew I didn’t have to write those posts the urge to blog came flooding back.
You notice I’m ignoring the mummyblogger crack :)
omg is that ‘Dear {fill in name}’ gonna appear on every reply send by email? That would make it far too English :P
I’m not sure that my vague absence even qualifies as going somewhere, but I did mentally so that still counts right? :)
I never really was a dad blogger no, but I thought of myself as one – and so there was dissonance between me and my blog.
Now I’m just whatever I want to be :)
If I’m honest with you I welcomed England’s poor performance. Made all those bloody football fans shut up :)
really? It does that? Hehe.
My old comment thread plugin wasn’t working with this new version of wordpress so I installed a new one. It’s not easy to tinker with unfortunately.
I don’t think my blog fits into any categories either. It is what it is.
When my Mum was dying I gave my blog address to every man and his dog as a way of getting info out to friends and family fast. Before that my blog had been semi private. It took a lot of getting used to and I have come to terms with that now and hand my card out to everyone now.
My blog is evolving and changing as I am. life isn’t static so why should a blog be?
I like the new look. nice and clean. very nice.
Do you really have a pointy head? I have to say it wasn’t noticeable when we met although it would explain the desire for a Buff or Indiana Jones hat.
Fraid you’re stuck with me too. I think of you as a chicken blogger.
Oooh, I do like me a bit of minimal. Nice.
:-) Very wise man, that Confucius.
I don’t feel like a mommyblogger either, but if you blog about your life I suppose your kids are bound to come up sometime eh?
I think being categoryless is definitely the way to go. Sure you’ll never get to be a “pro-blogger” that way. But those guys are all arses anyhow.
My head is practically perfect in every way.